'COVID Renaissance' - Volume 53, Issue 3

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STUDENT MEDIA AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN

TUESDAY, October 5, 2021 · VOL 53, Issue 3 · BADGERHERALD.COM

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RENAISSANCE Ab c..

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With COVID-19 restrictions beginning to ease in Madison, students and professionals have flocked back to the arts scene as the city seems primed for a renaissance of its own

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LEASE RENEWAL SEASON STARTS 4

ALLEN CENTENNIAL GARDEN

As landlords begin asking students in to renew their leases, they express frustration with early sign-on dates

The pandemic has led the signature campus garden spot to adopt more sustainable practices

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BILL TO INCREASE PENALTY FOR RIOTING IS SPEECH INFRINGEMENT 17 A Wisconsin bill that would increase the penalty for attending a protest where violence is incited creates several speech issues and poses challenges to the Constitutional right to freely assemble

LIVIN’ IN THE HALL OF FAME: UW ATHLETICS’ NEWEST INDUC TEES

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Hailing from a wide variety of sports and spanning many decades, the 2021 Hall of Fame class represents the breadth of Wisconsin Athletics 2 • badgerherald.com • October 5, 2021

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Announcement of Barry Alvarez Field During the Michigan v. Wisconsin game last weekend, former UW Athletics Director Barry Alvarez took the field — which starting in 2022 will be named in his honor — to commerate his three decades at Wisconsin

Photos by Justin Mielke

October 5, 2021 • badgerherald.com • 3

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Lease signing season approaches, leaving some students frustrated ‘You live there for a couple weeks and you already have to decide if you want to stay or if you want to move out,’ student says

zoning and rent control, which are proven methods to create affordable housing in certain areas.”

In the past ten years, Bennett said At the end of September, University of downtown Madison has changed Wisconsin students are just adjusting to significantly due to an influx of luxury classes and life on campus. apartment buildings with high unit At the same time, they are already being densities. With these additions, the cost asked to commit to their living situation of housing has increased substantially for another year. because of the current market rates, As re-sign pressure mounts despite promises from development in early October, students companies that rental costs would living in off-campus housing decrease. are forced to think about Because local governments cannot signing leases for the 2022-23 approve or disprove a project based on academic year. the proposed rent charges, Bennet said Though many students local governments are especially limited have only been living in their in the ways they can proactively address current housing for about a these issues. Bennett believes luxury month, landlords have started apartment developers need to become contacting students about more accountable for the situation they renting and resigning for the put their renters in. next rental period.

“My greatest advice to anyone is “You move in, you live just to chill out because you will find a there for a couple weeks and home to live in,” Bennett said. “There you already have to decide are plenty of places around campus if you want to stay or if you and around Madison. In my capacity as want to move out,” UW junior alder, I’ve seen so many situations where Lilli VanHandel said. “Then students are taken advantage of by their you have to go about finding landlords.” new places as other people are Bennett said educating freshmen trying to decide. It feels like and sophomores about the off-campus you’re backed into a corner housing process would also help to sometimes because you’re alleviate stress and empower students trying to figure something out with information. so fast.”

One of Bennett’s goals as an With the rushed timeline alderperson is to create a city-wide to sign leases and the limited database that would include information affordable off-campus housing about available housing units at any options in Madison, students given time. are easily overwhelmed by This information would be shared the housing search. Landlords with local newspapers to be published in some neighborhoods are so students are aware of what housing setting re-signing dates as options are still available. early as Oct. 6.

Though Bennett hopes the city will Students list many reasons eventually administer timelines for as to why they are not signing leases and implement affordable comfortable with signing this housing measures, she said students early into the year. They also need to be aware of their rights and point out that the timeline of educate themselves on the options that signing a lease in Madison are available to them. is not comparable to other Photo - Landlords in some students’ neighborhoods, like the one Fritz and VanHandel currently live in, are setting resign dates as early as Oct. 6.

Students like VanHandel and Fritz said schools. they would like to live with people for at “I feel like you just don’t least two or three months before signing really know the bad parts or Erin Gretzinger a lease. With that time frame, they said it the good parts [of a house] yet The Badger Herald would be easier to settle into a routine, get or if you like the location or to know their roommates and figure out not,” UW junior Bailee Fritz the Wisconsin legislature stopped “artificial panic” that units are filling up. what they like and don’t like about their said. “Also, as far as people, you only live regulating rental periods and costs, “There is not enough affordable student current living situation. with them for such a short amount of time, landlords are now free to determine housing,” Bennett said. “This is in part due “Obviously you can find anywhere so you don’t really know if you’re good these factors on their own. Since there to the Wisconsin legislature preempting roommates. I feel like a lot of schools don’t is no longer oversight from the state the city from instituting most affordable to live,” VanHandel said. “But finding start signing until March or April, so I feel government, local governments have little housing initiatives such as inclusionary somewhere that you like and is affordable is hard.”

by Abie Thiel Digital News Editor

4 • badgerherald.com • October 5, 2021

like even [signing] around then would be fine.”

City of Madison District 8 Alderperson Juliana Bennett, the campus-area representative, said these issues stem from larger issues with the Wisconsin legislature.

The UW senior explained that because

power to combat trends such as early signon dates.

The city also used to be able to enforce that landlords couldn’t have renters start signing leases until a certain date.

But since the Wisconsin state legislature prevented the city from doing so, Bennett said management companies can create an

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UW announces $175 million in private investments for CDIS School

The School of Computer, Data and Information Sciences aims to help students ‘make positive changes in the world,’ associate dean says

by Grace Friedman Reporter

The University of Wisconsin announced plans to construct a $225 million building for the School of Computer, Data and Information Sciences.

UW has gathered $175 million so far and plans to raise $50 million more for the project.

The 300,000 square foot building will be the most sustainable building on campus, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

UW Alumni John and Tashia Morgridge donated $125 million to the project as a way to give back to the university, including $50 million through a one-to-one match. The remaining $50 million will come from the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation.

The Morgridges’ mission focuses on investing in organizations that reimagine solutions to some of today’s most significant challenges. “We bring different sectors to the table to create meaningful connections and foster innovation,” according to the Morgridge Family Foundation.

In a statement to The Badger Herald, Morgridge Family Donors Representative George Austin said the Morgridge family has supported UW in

many ways over the years.Austin said he hopes the Morgridges’ investment will motivate other donors to chip in to the project. “[This investment] will help secure the university’s place in being a global innovator in the study of computer science and data,” Austin said. “These individual schools that make up the CDIS department will all contribute to another leadership role for UW in computing Statistics and Information Sciences.”

The School of Computer, Data and Information Sciences will bring an entire new field of study to UW, combining the Computer Sciences and Statistics Department with the Information School, according to a UW press release.

CDIS will focus on societal questions regarding technological advancement by merging several highly-ranked departments. Analyzing the impacts of social media, interaction of people with data and 3D imaging are just some of the areas CDIS hopes to explore.

In a statement, academic Associate Dean for Computer, Data and Information Sciences Kristin Eschenfelder said the new building will impact new and developing majors.

“[The building] extends UW-Madison’s longstanding excellent computer science and statistics programs by fostering new programs and activities that combine questions and perspectives from the humanities and social sciences with the excellence in computing, data science and statistics,” Eschenfelder said.

There are currently 3,600 undergraduate and graduate students studying a variety of CDIS majors. The field has grown immensely over the past decade from 200 students to 2,000 students.

Over 40%of these students are doubling or tripling on majors.

CDIS will help develop a legacy at UW as many of the fields of study offered at CDIS are new areas that have not been explored yet.

“The building will serve multiple majors and graduate programs. Some of those majors exist now and some are in development,” Eschenfelder said. “We have several innovative new majors in the proposal stage that have a strong social impact but also get students expertise in computing and data.”

Eschenfelder said this new addition to UW will benefit and transform the Computer, Data and

Information Sciences department in a variety of ways.

Eschenfelder said she hopes the school becomes the foundation of a inclusive and welcoming community at UW that will attract a broad range of students from different backgrounds. She said the goal is to provide a space for students of many interests to get involved with computing or datarelated coursework, clubs and activities.

“We want to foster a community, where students use computing technology and data to improve their communities and make positive changes in the world,” Eschenfelder said.

CDIS also hopes to raise an additional $100 million for academic support.

The school plans to double its faculty to meet current and anticipated demand, aiming to attract top-notch talent across the nation with the novel prospects of the fledgling department.

“This will help fund student success through augmenting the student experience, industry partnerships, research opportunities and crossdiscipline initiatives between our departments and our colleagues in engineering, business and medicine,” the department said.

More Madison doctors switch over to direct primary care system

‘I was spending more and more time on paperwork that didn’t benefit my patients,’ Wisconsin Medical Society president-elect says

by Ben Cadigan Reporter

More Madison doctors have switched to direct primary care as an alternative to the clinic system, citing the benefits of allowing closer patientdoctor relationships and more thorough care options.

Direct primary care is a system in which patients pay a monthly membership fee for a doctor’s office and are able to schedule appointments with that doctor as they need them.

A direct primary care facility is a private practice run by one or several doctors. Under the increasingly popular model, doctors claim they can form better relationships with their patients and more directly personalize their care, according to the Direct Primary Care Coalition.

A growing number of doctors in the Dane County area are leaving the clinic system where they are given appointments by a supervisor. The clinic system can result in more patients and less time with each patient.

When doctors have a certain amount of patients they have to see every day, it can cause some doctors to feel burnt out — especially because the clinic system involves insurance paperwork, according to the Wisconsin State Journal.

With more doctors avoiding hospital care and

opening their own primary care facilities, the future of direct primary care seems to be a bright one, said Dr. Wendy Molaska, president-elect of the Wisconsin Medical Society and owner of Dedicate Family Care in Fitchburg.

Molaska said she was tired of how the hospital system assigned her about 2,500 total patients, whom she could only spend 15 minutes with per appointment.

“I burned out in the system,” Molaska said. “I was spending more and more time on paperwork that didn’t benefit my patients. It only benefited the insurance companies.”

Some doctors like Molaska feel as though the clinic system does not allow them enough time with their patients, obstructing their ability to help and to get to know the patient. By opening a private practice, doctors can schedule their own appointments, allowing for closer relationships with patients and more thorough medical care, according to the Direct Primary Care Coalition.

In this system, though patients have to pay about $100 a month, there are limited extra charges, such as for when extra operations may be needed. Patients also have more time with their doctors and some say they even have fewer problems scheduling appointments, according to the Wisconsin State Journal.

The model reduces emergency room hospital

visits for patients using direct primary care, as well as reduced costs when patients do go to the ER. This is due to how often patients can visit their direct primary care provider, allowing for better, long-term health outcomes as smaller health issues are dealt with, according to a study from Milliman.

Patients may feel as though hospitals are too expensive and go there only in an emergency.

While direct primary care does require a monthly membership fee, for some it is still significantly cheaper than hospitals. Some direct primary care doctors even claim the extra operations patients have to pay for are cheaper than at hospitals, according to the Wisconsin State Journal.

Direct primary care practices work as a subscription service. Even though patients may use the practice more one month than another, they still benefit from reduced rates for radiology, labs and more, Molaska said.

For example, Molaska said in the hospital system one of her patients spent $135 for lab work that cost $3.50 at her office.

“While health insurance through bigger systems is more expensive for less care over time, patients in bigger hospital systems face two main issues — accessibility and affordability,” Molaska said. “In a hospital system, patients are stuck with whatever doctor is available. In direct

primary care systems, doctors can build better relationships with their patients and advocate for them better.”

Molaska said most people support independent doctors running direct primary care practices but also support doctors in larger hospital systems. She said she thinks the public will continue to support independent doctors as the direct primary care movement gains more traction.

In 2019, the Wisconsin Senate Republicans passed a bill that would lay the foundation for a direct primary care system. But Governor Evers vetoed this bill and said in the veto message it did not have adequate discrimination protection for patients.

“I object to allowing a health care provider to choose not to enter into a direct primary care agreement with a patient based on the patient’s genetics, national origin, gender identity, citizenship status, or whether the patient is LGBTQ,” Governor Evers’ veto message said.

“I believe that all individuals should be treated equally.”

Evers said the Senate removed protections in the bill which would prevent doctors from choosing not to treat a patient based on their identity.

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Republicans propose bill to increase criminal penalties for rioting

‘We really need to be careful about criminalizing people who stand in the wrong place,’ Sen. Kelda Roys says about bill

by Abigail Leavins Reporter

Republican lawmakers proposed amendments to Bill 296 that would make it a felony to attend a protest that turns violent.

The bill defines a riot as “a public disturbance that involves an unlawful assembly” and an act or threat of violence or destruction of property.

The bill outlines the specific penalties for committing these acts. According to the penalty provisions at the end of the bill, a person who knowingly participates in a riot that results in “substantial damage to the property of another person or bodily injury to another person” is guilty of a Class I felony.

The felony would carry a minimum penalty of 45 days in jail and a maximum penalty of a $10,000 fine and up to three and a half years in prison.

Inciting or attending a riot and blocking a roadway would constitute a misdemeanor crime under the bill, carrying a minimum penalty of at least 30 days in jail and a maximum penalty of up to a $10,000 fine and 9 months in jail.

Sponsors have said the bill hopes to curb incidents similar to the violence last summer that erupted in Kenosha following the police shooting of Jacob Blake.

Ahmad Hamid The Badger Herald 6 • badgerherald.com • October 5, 2021

Kathleen Culver, a University of Wisconsin First Amendment and free expression expert, said there is a small number of narrow classes of speech that are not protected by the First Amendment.

One of those classes is true threats, which under statute encompasses threats against an individual that are intended to make that individual fear for their safety, health or life.

“What’s interesting here is that the portion that talks about a threat and a clear and present danger refers to threats against both personal injury and damage to property,” Culver said. “True threats are deemed outside the bounds of the First Amendment’s protection. ... So expanding that to property damage could put this law at risk of running afoul of the First Amendment.”

Culver explained that the bill is running up against a constitutionally protected right to assemble and seek redress of grievances because the law could punish people for what has been protected speech under legal precedent.

Such a bill could cause a chilling effect, Culver said. The term refers to people’s natural tendency to self-censor when they fear legal implications may occur, even if the speech is actually protected.

“When you’re talking about violence that would damage property and also injure people, generally you’re talking about incitements to violence,” Culver said. “So the extension from just personal injury to damage to property could be problematic for them constitutionally.”

State Sen. Kelda Roys, D-Madison, said the bill would negatively affect free speech and the right to protest.

Roys voiced concerns over how the bill could open the door to government or police action against groups they disagree with.

She said the bill’s penalties would exacerbate the problem of civil rights protestors being treated unfairly by law enforcement.

Roys drew a comparison between police prejudice when it comes to certain protesters, pointing to the harsher response to Black Lives Matter protesters as opposed to the law enforcement response on Jan. 6 siege of the Capitol.

Roys said she is also frustrated with the bill’s definition of a riot.

“Basically, it’s three or more people gathered in a certain area with violence or threat of violence or destruction of property or threat of destruction of property,” Roys said.

She said this description could implicate

Photo - Under the law, inciting or attending a riot an would have a minimum penalty of at least 30 days in jail and a maximum penalty of up to a $10,000 fine and 9 months in jail Ahmad Hamid The Badger Herald people who are not involved in the riot, like bystanders, reporters or peaceful protesters.

Roys said she is concerned that this bill will give the government power to declare someone guilty for the acts of someone else.

“We really need to be careful about criminalizing people who stand in the wrong place,” Roys said.

During a public hearing in September, Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, said the proposal “addresses the growing popularity of riots,” according to WPR. Wanggard, who is a sponsor of the bill and a former police officer, has penned similar legislation in the past and argued it is a necessary step in light of destruction from protests last summer.

“In the wake of recent disruptions both in our state and across the nation, it is important to focus on keeping the public safe and holding those responsible accountable,” Wanggaard said at the hearing.

Several other supporters of the bill include the Badger State Sheriffs’ Association, the Wisconsin Professional Police Association and the Wisconsin Sheriffs and Sheriffs Deputy Association.

Roys said there are bipartisan concerns about the bill, with conservative groups like Americans for Prosperity registering in opposition to the bill as it “could be inappropriately applied by government officials in a partisan or otherwise biased manner.”

Lawmakers who proposed the bill are specifically targeting certain groups of people, Roys said. Her stance is that there’s no need for the bill on a practical level because the aggressive behaviors outlined in the bill are already illegal.

Roys does not think the bill will actually be passed.

But Roys thinks it’s possible that it would be voted on by the legislature but does not believe Gov. Tony Evers would allow it to pass.

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Redistricting threatens to split dorms, raising concerns from students

Redistricting Committee ultimately recommends map option that would keep dorms, some off-campus housing together

by Cate Tarr Reporter

As Madison redraws aldermanic districts to accommodate the city’s disproportionate population growth over the last decade, District 8 — which encompasses much of the University of Wisconsin campus — could potentially lose residential halls and a student-dominated housing area under two proposed map options.

The options provoked concerns about the representation of the UW student voice in the city council, but ultimately led to the creation of a new map recommendation that will keep the UW student population together.

The redistricting comes after the 2020 census showed the city of Madison’s population added 36,733 residents since 2010.

But the growth was not equal, with Madison’s far east side, far west side and downtown campus area making the largest gains, according to the city of Madison’s redistricting website.

District 8 grew from a population of 10,220 in 2010 to 15,454 in 2020 — about a 51% increase over the decade.

Under redistricting targets set by the city, each aldermanic district should have roughly 13,739 residents with a five percent deviation above or below, meaning District 8 will have lose at least 1,000 residents to be on the high end of the target range.

Two of the redistricting options proposed by the city — Concept 5a and Concept 6 — would have accomplished this by splitting some residence halls and a studentdominated housing area into separate districts.

The proposed maps would move the two areas into District 5, which comprises more affluent, single-family homes.

Former District 8 Alder Scott Resnick explained that District 5, which covers the

Designs by Corey Hall

Eagle’s Heights and West High School area, is likely to be represented by a middle-aged individual who would be more worried about issues that affect families — like transportation and schooling — than issues that affect campus like campus safety, housing rights and alcohol laws.

“The general goal [of redistricting] is to keep those constituencies of students together,” Resnick said. “Not only is this where young families live, this is where several very different issues live.”

UW student and current District 8 Alder Juliana Bennett emphasized the importance of students being heard and represented properly in the redistricting process.

“This past redistricting process has been kind of frustrating because there is an overall lack of regard and incompetency toward student-related issues,” Bennett said. “Student needs are unique and they are unique to their own demographics. There are nuances that a non-student representative cannot understand.”

UW Chancellor Rebecca Blank expressed similar concerns in a letter to the Redistricting Committee, saying that containing the residence halls as a single district would ensure that its voice remained strong.

Blank also said that she was against a proposal to remove the 55th Ward, known colloquially as College Court, from District 8 given the high number of BIPOC and lowincome students living there.

In an email to The Badger Herald, Redistricting Committee member Ben Zeller said the District 8 will retain a majority student population even if the 55th Ward or some residence halls were removed.

Zeller also said the district has not always encompassed all the undergraduate dorms, which was the case for at least 30 years up until the 2011 redistricting that moved

Ogg, Smith and some lakeshore dorms into District 8. “[The issue] is whether the UW student ‘Community of Interest’— undergraduate students living in UW Housing plus current Ward 55— should be further prioritized to remain in District 8,” Zeller said. “That can be done but has ripple effects to surrounding districts and the City as a whole that may or may not be acceptable to Redistricting Committee members, some alders and other city residents.”

In response to feedback from Blank, Bennett and other community members, the Redistricting Committee released two new options Thursday — in both, the dorms and the 55th Ward would be kept together.

In a statement to The Badger Herald, Bennett hailed the new maps as a “major improvement.”

“They reflect a shared understanding that students are indeed an integral community of interest to Madison and our voice is deserving of representation in the city,” Bennett said. “It means the greater campus area will continue its 50 year tradition

of electing likeminded student peers to common council to represent their interests.”

Later Thursday evening, the committee voted to make its recommendation map 7a, one of the options created to keep the dorms and off-campus housing in a single district.

The Committee will continue to consider feedback and potential adjustments until Oct. 7, when it will recommend its final district map to the city council.

The Redistricting Committee is working under a compressed timeline due to the pandemic delaying the 2020 census, according to a public informational meeting held Sept. 22.

Bennett said the recommendation of 7a will make campaigning, elections, representation and advocacy much simpler for the greater campus area.

She said the recommended map, if approved in its current form, would ensure the issues most pertinent to students are represented on city council through a lens of the whole campus’ needs.

City Council will choose a final map by Nov. 2.

October 5, 2021 • badgerherald.com • 7

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SCIENCE NEWS

Computer modeling research addresses real-world issues From thunderstorms to moon rovers, two UW researchers hope to harness power of computers to understand problems

by Michaela Kihntopf Science News Editor

In an age where computers are commonplace, two University of Wisconsin professors are harnessing their power to run simulations of real world scenarios.

Professor Leigh Orf has been using computer models to better understand thunderstorms for over 30 years. He works to understand how thunderstorms behave, how they work and how to better predict them. Orf said there are many things scientists still do not understand about what goes on within a thunderstorm, but using supercomputers to model them can add new clarity to their inner workings — even at very small scales.

“I use an atmospheric model that simulates a cloud at really really high fidelity, high quality, high resolution. So all the small scale complex things that go on inside the cloud are revealed in the simulation,” Orf said.

Orf said prior events are often inspirations for simulations in his work. Orf also emphasized field meteorology is very important, since atmospheric and physical information from a storm cannot be collected any other way. From one particular storm, he obtained the atmospheric data collected right before the storm formed and ran it as a simulation, which then successfully produced the thunderstorm and subsequent tornado that

Photo -A simulated moon rover moving over an obstacle Dan Negrut Courtesy of Simulation Based Engineering 8 • badgerherald.com • October 5, 2021

occurred in the actual event.

“I was able to study the simulation independent of the real event. But I can also compare it to the real event because its based on a real event,” Orf said.

Orf’s work was recently published on the cover of Science magazine. He, along with colleagues from Stanford University, found answers to an unknown atmospheric phenomena by running a simulation of the event. Orf said these computer models can sometimes provide information about real-world scenarios and allow scientists to discover things on the computer before they are discovered in the atmosphere.

He said one growing field that will likely become more important in the future of computer modeling is machine learning. As more data is collected from simulations, processing that data will be a vital task for artificial intelligence to undertake.

“We’re going to have robots at some point, and self-driving cars, and that stuff is going to be AI,” Orf said. “So that’s one area I’d say is really interesting and important.”

Self-driving cars are precisely what professor Dan Negrut uses computer models to study.

As the technical lead of the Simulation Based Engineering Lab, Negrut is currently working on two projects which involve running computer simulations of a self-driving car and a moon rover to determine how they would function in a unique terrain situation.

Photo- Visualization of the 2011 El Reno tornado simulated on a supercomputer Leigh Orf Courtesy of Leigh Orf Negrut said computer models offer a safer and more cost-effective way to analyze the reactions of autonomous vehicles. The simulations allow researchers to create a virtual environment in which they can test the vehicle millions of times with no real-world consequences of running the tests.

“It’s really hard to generate these sort of doctored scenarios in the real world. How would you take a Tesla and make it really hit a patch of black ice? What if you want to do it ten times?

What if you want to do it ten times? What if you want to change the ‘brain’ of the vehicle and hit it again?” Negrut said.

For the moon rover experiment, this advantage is even more relevant. Negrut said it is key to test the rover’s capabilities before the very expensive process of sending it to space. In this case, running computer simulations means scientists can test the rover in different terrains and obstacles in an environment — including a difference in gravity — which accurately resembles that of the moon without having to send it there and back multiple times.

As part of a larger project aimed at getting humans on the moon, the VIPER rover will be tasked with determining where water is on the moon and how difficult it will be to extract, Negrut said.

Negrut said running a computer simulation is, in essence, solving a large set of equations representing the physical system you are working

with. For something like the rover project with so many components, the number of equations needed to represent the environment can be in the billions, he added.

Orf said a key aspect to computer modeling is being able to write code exploiting the full power of the computer. Programming the computer to do what you want is not an easy process, especially when supercomputers are involved, Orf said.

“Supercomputers are really just a ton of computers all networked together. Imagine a warehouse full of really powerful desktop computers,” Orf said. “How do I write a program that runs on all of them and runs all together in lock step? It’s not easy. And to even have access to these computers you have to prove that you have code that will run efficiently on them.”

Orf said using computer modeling for meteorology research requires a very specific skill set. Somebody with just computer knowledge may not know the physics enough to determine whether the model is reasonable. But an observational meteorologist may not have the knowledge to run the necessary computer programs to even create a model.

Both Orf and Negrut are using computer modeling to help improve people’s safety and lives. Whether it’s ensuring autonomous cars behave in predictable ways or helping people be better prepared for dangerous storms, computers are contributing to our society on levels much

SCIENCE NEWS

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The Lab Report: Harnessing power of color to understand the world The Schloss Lab manipulates visual features like color, shape, texture to investigate interpretation, communication of design elements

by Scott McInerney Science News Editor

Editor’s note: The Lab Report is a weekly series in The Badger Herald’s print edition where we take a deep dive into the (research) lives of students and professors outside the classroom.

Contributing to design elements in society, Schloss Lab at the University of Wisconsin is here to show us how the colors in the world around us have an impact on our daily lives.

The lab studies how people interpret visual features and how these interpretations can be used to improve design, undergraduate researcher Amanda Zhang said.

“Color is all around us, and a lot of people think it doesn’t really affect how you live life, but the research in our lab obviously shows that it does,” Zhang said. “If we can harness that unconscious perception of color, it can help us be so much more than we could be.”

The Schloss Lab studies how people use visual elements such as color, shape, size and texture to communicate.

Through this research, UW Associate Professor Karen Schloss said the lab is trying to learn how the mind works and to use it to match expectations with visual features in design.

The Schloss Lab is trying to create general principles from specific applications in their research projects, then broaden them to apply to other situations as well.

One way the lab is applying what they’ve

learned about color perceptions is with waste bins.

Often, people associate certain colors with specific types of waste.

By coordinating the colors of waste bins with perceptions people hold, Zhang said it can influence which bins people use.

“A lot of stuff that we’re doing right now can be contributed directly to design elements,” Zhang said. “Helping people read maps more efficiently and accurately designed facilities based around color, that would be more friendly to people.”

From a young age, Schloss found herself curious and interested in color, which led her to the research questions in her lab today.

In her early career, she answered questions about color preferences — why people have color preferences, why they change and why they exist in the first place.

This led her to her current work in studying color and visual communication.

Schloss pointed to two key reasons for studying how people infer meaning from visual features.

First, they can utilize this understanding to create more effective visual communication.

Second, without intuitive color associations, certain designs could unintentionally confuse people by mismatching colors with their expectations.

“Hopefully, as people learn about our work they can see this extends to designing recycling bins, different types of maps, different kinds of graphs and so on,” Schloss said.

Photo ·Schloss lab in the Psychology Deparment desgined recycling, garbage bins to match color associations people have in their mind Abby Cima The Badger Herald

Photo · One of the two locations of the lab is the Discovery Building (pictured above), where researchers rrun virtual reality experiements Abby Cima The Badger Herald The COVID-19 pandemic means Zhang hasn’t been able to participate much in in-person research projects, but before the pandemic, she was working on a visual reasoning project and a virtual reality project.

The visual reasoning project is an ongoing study prompting subjects to identify fictitious aliens based on visual features, Zhang said.

Through her project that uses virtual reality, Zhang said she is studying if learning threedimensional concepts can be better in a three or two-dimensional environment. This project guided subjects through a virtual rollercoaster ride to simulate how visual signals travel from the eyes to the brain.

“Amanda really took the lead in data collection for those experiments which was a complicated protocol ... and she did an excellent job of implementing protocol,” Schloss said.

Zhang began her journey in research as a freshman in the Undergraduate Research Scholars program.

She studied in the Peer Relations Study Group with UW educational psychology Professor B. Bradford Brown, where she investigated social media and adolescents. She realized her interests dealt more with perception and psychology of vision in general.

The following summer she searched for a new home in a research lab, which led her to where she is today.

The Schloss Lab has space in both the

Psychology Building — where they conduct computer-based experiments — and in the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, where they run their virtual reality experiments.

Schloss said the lab aims to build a sense of community, with undergraduates working together to run experiments for the graduate students’ projects.

Undergraduates also have the opportunity to lead their own projects.

“Undergraduates are the life force of the lab,” Schloss said. “They ask amazing questions that take research in new directions.”

Zhang joined the lab open to the idea of going into research in her career, but after seeing it from the inside, she realized it’s not a life for her.

Still, she likes learning about developing ideas in the world.

Now as a senior, Zhang will use her Neurobiology and Psychology double major to go to optometry school after graduation.

Both Zhang and Schloss stressed the importance of seeking out undergraduate research opportunities.

The experiences gained in conducting undergraduate research are incredibly valuable to exploring future career paths.

“I think undergraduates are continually the future generation of sciences so they’re an essential part of our life,” Schloss said. “Just getting that research experience is kind of the backbone for a lot of future directions.”

October 5, 2021 • badgerherald.com • 9

SCIENCE NEWS

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Allen Centennial Garden adopts sustainable practices amid pandemic

COVID-19 pandemic sparked thinking about the future, shift to more sustainable lawn mowing, watering, plastic use among others, director says

by Caroline Crowley Science News Writer

The pandemic introduced new challenges for the Allen Centennial Garden, causing the staff to shift to more sustainable and low-maintenance practices, according to the garden’s Horticulture Director Josh Steger.

These practices involve growing lawn alternatives, cutting back on water consumption and incorporating more native plants, Steger said.

This shift in focus was caused by the pandemic, which introduced new obstacles to the garden.

“The thinking that the pandemic has inspired about the future has really encouraged us to think about running our garden in a much more sustainable way, both for the sake of easier labor and saving our resources and conserving what we can,” Allen Centennial Garden Horticulture Apprentice Al Valuch said.

When the pandemic arrived, the garden lost its volunteers and interns. This left three fulltime staff members to manage the nearly twoacre garden, Valuch said.

Steger said he framed the garden around low-maintenance plants that required minimal watering this year.

“I wasn’t sure what COVID was going to be like this season because last year we struggled with having very few people,” Steger said. “I was like, ‘I don’t know how I’m going to keep up if it’s like this next year, like how I’m going to keep up with watering and maintaining

everything.’”

One way Steger reduced the demand for maintenance was by experimenting with lawn alternatives, like the no-mow lawn in the Conifer Garden. The lawn is made up of different types of fescue, which grows tall and lays down on the ground.

The no-mow lawn doesn’t require fertilizer, and the garden mows the lawn three times per year. It also provides erosion control and protection for the conifers, Steger said.

The garden focused on cutting back water consumption by letting its traditional lawns grow longer. Steger said this technique allowed the turf to shade its own roots, which caused it to stay green longer and require less water.

Instead of using regular mulch, Steger said he used leaf mulch to keep moisture in the soil.

In addition to leaf mulch, he planted droughttolerant plants to reduce water usage.

Another strategy Steger implemented to reduce water consumption was growing more native plants. Most native plants don’t need additional watering, Valuch said.

Valuch said the garden staff didn’t need to water the prairie garden, a native plant display installed completely from seed, at all this summer. In the fall, the prairie garden grows Goldenrod and Aster, which are bright purple and yellow flowers, Steger said.

Valuch said the tapestry lawn, which the staff established during the pandemic, didn’t need watering either. The tapestry lawn, located under the Larch, is a multicolored assortment

Photo · The garden lost volunteers and interns due to the pandemic, causing them to shift its management Abby Cima The Badger Herald 10 • badgerherald.com • October 5, 2021

Photo · One strategy the garden adopted was utilizing more native plants, which do not need much additional watering Marissa Haegele The Badger Herald of low-growing plants for visitors to walk on.

Sowing native plants from seed also saves time for the garden’s staff and volunteers.

Instead of putting energy into plants that might not survive, directly sowing allows seeds to grow on their own, Steger said.

Some visitors oppose the native displays, preferring a more formal garden setting, Valuch said.

“The trouble with starting from seed is you really need to take your time and be really patient and not disturb the soil bed as much as you can,” Valuch said. “You can’t pull weeds out. So things look really weedy for a while, and that definitely bothers some people.”

While many people think native plants are wild, messy and out of control, combining these plants strategically makes for a beautiful display, Steger said.

Another benefit of native plants is the reduced amount of plastic waste from the garden. Pre-established annual and tropical plants come in plastic pots and don’t perform well when planted by seed. The Allen Centennial Garden can plant native vegetation from seed, Steger said, which doesn’t require as much plastic to plant.

The garden’s new projects don’t always work out, though. Over the summer, Steger attempted to install a meadow from seed. But after smothering the ground to prevent weeds, he said the site was still full of them.

Despite this, Steger feels being transparent about the garden’s failures is important. Some

gardens seem unrealistic for the average person, but he modeled the Allen Centennial Garden off of a practical home garden.

“With our garden, we want it to be attainable for everybody and we want to show our strengths and our weaknesses and our failures,” Steger said.

Aside from its focus on reducing maintenance requirements, the garden’s focus has shifted to community involvement in recent years, Valuch said. Programs like the garden’s weekly plant walks and Plant Adoption Day drew in visitors, and native plant displays attracted classes of students.

The Allen Centennial Garden continued to see an influx of student volunteers and visitors as regulations surrounding the pandemic loosened, Steger said. This shift was a success for the garden.

Valuch said the garden used to feel closed off and intimidating to visitors — some students didn’t think they could enter the grounds.

That’s not the case anymore.

Recently, Steger has found students exploring the garden, eating lunch and even taking naps on the lawns. The garden aims for students to connect with the plants in the garden and to simply enjoy the space, Steger said.

“People used to call it ‘the hidden jewel,’” Steger said. “And I don’t like that because I don’t want to be the hidden jewel on campus.

I want to be like, ‘Yeah, Allen Centennial Garden, I know where that is.’”

ARTSETC.

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Madison bars, night life expand amidst new housing project

Chaser’s, Red Rock, Wando’s are some of the few bars upgrading their services due to dip in pandemic with housing project around corner

by Veronica Kuffel ArtsEtc. Writer

Madison is known for its rigorous academics, beautiful lakes and, of course, vibrant nightlife. You can’t be voted the number one college town so many times without a decent bar scene. And that’s exactly what Madison, especially downtown, prides itself on.

As the pandemic experienced a summer dip, a few big-time bars have expanded to provide new services to Madison residents.

Some bars like Whiskey Jack’s, the Double U and City Bar have reopened to almost full or full capacity and are serving their full menu.

Red Rock, Chaser ’s Bar and Grille — as well as Chaser ’s 2.0 — and Wando’s have made moves, some quite literally, to enhance the weekend and the occasional weekday night scene.

Whether it’s moving to a more popular location, a gift shop or even opening another venue, these bars cater passionately to the

public and maintain the award-winning college town culture.

CHASER’S AND CHASER’S 2.0 Chaser ’s is a sports bar located right off of State Street and is a popular place on weekdays and weekends alike.

The bar and restaurant serves sandwiches and burgers and is known for its wacky and fun events, including trivia, or “Pub Quiz,” and the wheel they spin each hour for specials.

But earlier this year, Core Spaces of Chicago proposed a development plan for a new ten-story apartment with market-priced and “affordable workforce” units.

This would also include a space for retail stores at the crossover of State and West Gorham.

They plan to front the 300-block of Johnson Street, which would put the surrounding stores out of business.

Chaser ’s is one of the many stores that would be demolished in this plan. Thinking

Photo · Bars are adjusting to the new housing plans in many different ways, such as opening in new locations.

Daniel Yun The Badger Herald ahead, the bar bought the old Nomad building near Riley’s Wines of the World and transformed it into Chaser ’s 2.0.

The bar is a smaller version of its older sibling and has a full-functioning bar and a string-lighted rooftop.

They are only open on the weekends, and according to images from their website, serve ice cream treats as well as alcoholic beverages.

With no word from Chaser ’s regarding the development project, the bar will maintain both establishments until further information is posted.

RED ROCK SALOON

Photo · Red Rock is currently closed while moving locations but plans to repoen sometime this fall Marissa Haegele The Badger Herald

A Madison favorite, the Red Rock Saloon is a bar and music venue that’s known for its mechanical bull, which coincides with the infamous rodeo bucking bull of the nineties, “Red Rock.”

Additionally, the establishment hosted a fully-functioning bar, kitchen and stage where country and other artists played for wide-eyed and buck-eyed customers alike.

But with the same development plan, Red Rock was forced to find a new space to avoid potential demolition.

HopCat on State closed earlier this year, giving Red Rock the lucky break it needed to move and continue its business.

A date has not been confirmed, but it is planning to open its doors sometime this fall with more space for customers and a new 360-degree bar and rooftop seating.

WANDO’S BAR & GRILL Wando’s is known for its popular fishbowl drinks and multiple building stories of bar games and restaurant seating. It is a Madison-classic whose expansion will keep its customers warm for the fall and patriotic to the bar.

Wando’s is one of the many that are trying to take advantage of the recent trend of bar apparel. Spearheaded by the Kollege Klub, a person couldn’t walk down State Street last year without seeing the classic white and red crewneck.

Wando’s, however, is upping its game with a new purchase of the Crave Donuts right across from its current location.

The building is filled with hangers of Wando’s apparel, which suggests the building will be used as a new gift shop for the bar and grill. According to Red Rock’s website, it also plans to do something similar in their reopening, so be sure to look out for your favorite bars to drop their merch.

Though it brews excitement downtown, the Madison night scene is getting a facelift that seems too soon with the pandemic still active in the community.

The University of Wisconsin reported 90% of its students are vaccinated, but customers of these bars should still be careful and remain up to date with COVID-19 guidelines.

But overall, these updates bring hope that the worst is behind us. Maybe soon, we’ll be able to wmake a return to our favorite bars in new locations and in new apparel.

October 5, 2021 • badgerherald.com • 11

FEATURES

Modern-Day Renaissance

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With COVID-19 restrictions being eased, the city of Madison is primed for a renaissance of its own

by Jackson Walker ArtsEtc. Editor

The year was 1347. The Bubonic Plague was sweeping through Europe, creating mass panic and bringing many to believe the world as they knew it was ending. Some, seeing the plague as a curse from God and death as inevitable, sought out any pleasure they could obtain and began rapidly creating and consuming art of all forms.

Following the plague, a reorganized social structure emerged from the ashes of 14th century Italy — one that valued individual expression in an unprecedented way.

Though the sickness had passed, the appetite for art persisted.

Wealthy families began supporting the work of scholars, scientists and artists such as Leonardo Da Vinci and Donatello, leading to a rapid expanse of knowledge and culture unlike any seen before in history.

This was the Italian Renaissance — a time period when art flourished and great thinkers, writers and artists emerged.

Though it may seem unlikely, Dane County may share a few attributes with the artistic enlightenment in the coming months.

While 15th century Italy does not seem to have much in common with present-day Madison, it certainly serves as a case study for how culture and fine arts could evolve as the pandemic wanes.

It may not be long until we begin to experience a similarly rapid expansion of the arts as pandemic restrictions begin to ease and creators reemerge.

Many local students, organizations and creators are returning to their work with a renewed passion to create and are channeling this energy into their art to achieve fantastic results.

Though not as grand of a scale as the revolutions of old, the coming months could prove Madison may be perfectly poised to undergo its own modern-day renaissance.

12 • badgerherald.com • October 5, 2021

Community Organizations COVID-19 showed all of us new ways to accomplish everyday tasks. In lieu of in-person meetings, we held Zoom calls. In place of shaking hands, we switched to elbow bumps.

No one learned this lesson better than President of Madison

Kron, a reclaimed materials artist, also noted a strengthened spirit following her work during the pandemic, describing a building “momentum” which has kept her pursuing art through the challenging period.

“The momentum started with having all this time to make art, and since I’ve been making progress as an artist, I’ve started to discover themes and concepts that I’m really excited about exploring,” Kron said. “I feel like I have a clearer path ahead of me for the arts I want to keep creating.”

With a renewed fervour to continue painting and the experience gained throughout the pandemic, it is safe to say Williams, Kron and the rest of MAG are well equipped to usher in a new age of art in Madison.

Student Creators

Arts Guild David Williams who had to change the way he presented art exhibits altogether during the pandemic.

Unable to hold traditional art shows due to gathering limits, Madison Arts Guild resorted to holding its exhibits in the only places people were still routinely congregating — hospitals.

“We thought it was important to still put on a show even though, obviously, there were many artists who were like ‘Well, what’s the point, no one’s going to see it,’” Williams said. “Well, the staff will still see it, and the patients will still have some artwork, which may be able to light up their day a little bit.”

Mandy Kron, who is the art project manager at University of Wisconsin Health, said it was strange for the Madison Arts Guild, also known as MAG, to adjust to the new audience at first.

Though, Kron said they soon realized the exhibits were beneficial to workplace morale during the emotionally challenging time.

“Not having our regular audience is very different for art exhibits, but … I heard more feedback from staff than usual that they were really enjoying art exhibits and at a time when staff morale is more important than it ever has been,” Kron said. “It was nice to know that the staff were really enjoying the artwork and that patients that were still coming through were still enjoying the artwork.”

The exhibits turned out to be a great success for MAG as the organization was still able to garner a similar amount of profit as it would in a year full of normal showings.

Williams, a watercolor painter, described how he was motivated by what he called the “spirit of an artist” — a drive to continue to create work despite the unfavorable odds presented by the pandemic. It is this artisanal spirit Williams said burns stronger in him than ever before, especially after he tested positive for COVID-19.

“In some ways it’s stronger [in that making art] is how I got through [the pandemic],” Williams said. “I’m still doing something, I’m making something, I’m creating.”

The spirit Williams and Kron felt is alive and well on campus as student artists are returning to their craft after much of their time away from it.

When UW sophomore Elizabeth Grace, who is majoring in dance, finally returned to the dance studio after nearly two years away, the experience instantly rekindled her love for the discipline she haa begun to lose interest in over the course of the pandemic.

“Getting to come back and getting to perform one more time with my class, with my friends, that feeling was like, ‘Oh my God, I’m suddenly so excited to get back into this thing that I lost so much passion for,’” Grace said.

Grace, like many other student creators, has found the experience of returning to creative spaces is nothing short of euphoric. It is this feeling which bleeds over into their work in novel ways.

UW junior and vocal performance major Noah Strube also noted this excitement after learning he would get to take part in this year’s long-awaited opera performance.

“Just knowing that [the opera] is around the corner and that

it is most likely going to happen, I’m very optimistic about that, and that makes me very hopeful,” he said.

Strube, who was sent home from UW when the pandemic hit during his second semester of college, had to complete most of his assignments and vocal lessons via video calls. He was more than glad for the opportunity to finally return to the stage.

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facebook.com/badgerherald “Singing together masked is better than singing apart over Zoom,” he said.

Grace also noticed a greater sense of group cohesion upon returning to her dance studio, something, she said, is a result of all the time they spent apart.

“I think that as a group, coming back together, made our performances stronger because we just felt so much more of the emotion and the excitement of being back together,” Grace said. “I think that having that emotional impact really changed our style for the better because we were more in tune with each other.”

Another student noting a similar infusion of passion into her work is Serendipity Stage, a UW senior majoring in fine arts, who likened the return to creating art to the opening of locked doors.

“It’s like there’s been these doors that have been closed — literally things were closed — but also these metaphorical doors of the people and events and activities that now can re-enter my art practice again, and that’s just exciting, and I think that [my work is] going to get better than it already has,” Stage said.

In examining her own work, Stage, a painter and tattoo artist, described a renewed vigor in her desire to create along with an

increased sense of self-understanding.

Stage believes these aspects give her work a new perspective she would not have gained had she not experienced the extended break from the confines of strictly academic art study provided by the pandemic.

“I honestly liked the break from academia in a way,” Stage said. “I was still doing class, but as much as I didn’t have that [classroom] space, I just had a new kind of space, and now I think I’m finding more of this synthesis between my everyday living and my art practice and my professional ambitions and goals.”

Looking to the future, UW senior and piano performance major Abigail Arkley agreed the art scene in the Madison area is already undergoing some rapid changes and could see even more in the coming months.

“There is totally a renaissance happening currently, and there is so much to take advantage of, just on this campus alone,” Arkley said.

These passionate students are just some of the thousands of young creators who are rediscovering and rekindling their crafts after being separated from them throughout the past year and a half. With this renewed sense of passion for their art, it

Designs by Corey Holl

won’t be long until they begin to push the limits of their work to new heights.

Local Artists Though some local artists have yet to retake the spotlight as the virus continues to linger, many agree the moment they do will be unparalleled.

Director of the DB Orchestra Andy Kerber said while his band has yet to return to performing in a full capacity, he feels like a powerful resurgence in the Madison music scene is on the horizon.

“I think everyone is getting really restless,” Kerber said.

“Everyone who I know, all of my artist friends, are really ready to knock it out of the park as soon as it is safe to do so.”

Unable to perform with his band throughout the pandemic, Kerber devoted much of his time toward improving personally as both a musician and a director by studying music theory and examining ways his ensemble could enhance rehearsal once the group reconvened.

“When you don’t play for an entire year, it gives you a lot of time to think,” he said.

Kerber said no time looked better for a renaissance than the coming months as he described an inevitable feeling artists would soon return to the city in full force.

“I’m really looking forward to the explosion of art that is very imminent, and I think everyone else should be too,” Kerber said.

“I think it’ll be a very good time for art.”

Director of the UW Division of Arts Christopher Walker agreed with this sentiment, citing a number of changes to the world outside of art since the pandemic which have led to rapid development of the discipline.

“There is a renaissance of sorts in the arts at the moment,” Walker said. “What am I talking about when I say ‘a renaissance?’

I’m referencing what I feel to be a change in how we consume art and how we create art.”

Walker explained since the arrival of coronavirus, both the physical and digital world have undergone a massive shift, which has allowed the approach of a modern artistic revolution.

Creators are now finding new ways to connect online and artists are spending their time exploring new avenues for their talent, changes that Walker believes may not have occurred without the pandemic.

“I feel like I am experiencing a renaissance, particularly in areas of art making and curation in terms of how people gather,” Walker said. “There are different ways of gathering now because of the realities of the pandemic and how we are still learning about best practices and the best ways of keeping safe.”

One such change implemented as a result of 2020 is the creation of the Artivism Student Action Program, an award given to UW students to fund student activism through the arts.

The grant program launched in the fall of 2021 and continues to accept applications on a rolling basis which feature, center, benefit or are led by people of underrepresented groups. “[The grant] is designed to provide urgent funding to students and student groups who are creating projects using creativity, art and design to engage social justice concerns where art and creative engagement are at the center of that project,” Walker said.

Outlook With creators amid their own artistic rebounds, changes already taking place and more on the horizon, the Madison art scene is in the prime position to transform.

When considering the renaissance of old, little doubt remains a revolution of historic proportions is bound to occur here in Madison and other places around the world in the coming months. Though some artists remain on the sidelines as the pandemic drags on, it is not unreasonable to expect this transition to happen sooner than we think.

With its uniquely creative student body and immensely inventive community, Madison has been — and always will be — an artistic epicenter for years to come.

October 5, 2021 • badgerherald.com • 13

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ARTSETC.

Annual Art Fair on the Square returns, bringing with it new era for artists

For many artists, return of in-person art fairs, showings also signals return to normalcy after living through pandemic

by Rachael Lee ArtsEtc Editor

It’s September 26. You’re walking in what feels like a river full of people. The weather is nice this time of year at a balmy 79 degrees.

When you look over rows of sun hats and happily-chatting attendees, you can see a live band playing from their stage. Stands of gold-plated jewelry glint in the sunlight and towering silver sculptures sway ever so slightly with the wind.

While you’re watching children running around, munching on cherry snow cones, dogs happily romping alongside their owners with bags in hand, it’s hard to imagine we are collectively enduring a pandemic for almost two years. But COVID-19 left an impact on many aspects of daily life and culture — and the arts are no exception.

2021 marks the 63rd annual Art Fair on the Square, organized by the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. This event, which usually takes place in July each year, was rescheduled to September. The return of the in-person fair was a welcome change from the previous

year ’s Art Fair on the Square, which took place virtually.

Over 500 artists selected by a jury of individuals with experience in the fine arts and sales were present at the art fair this year, consisting of newly selected artists and artists from the virtual fair last year, who were re-invited for the in-person festivities this fall.

The event, taking place on both Sept.

25 and 26, featured art of many different mediums as well as live music, food carts and eats from several local restaurants.

Besides bringing the local and national artistic communities together for a weekend, the Art Fair on the Square is also MMoCA’s biggest annual fundraiser, which ensures they can provide visitors with free admission, have new exhibits and continue their educational programming. MMoCA hosted a silent auction, as well as provided merchandise featuring work by the Featured Artist, Anastasia Mak. MMoCA’s Director of Communications Marni McEntee said a major part of art fairs are about connecting with the artists and their works with an

Photo - People enjoy live music, food and a variety of art forms at Art Fair on the Square Abby Cima The Badger Herald 14 • badgerherald.com • October 5, 2021

Photo - Artists say audience interactions are a key part of art appreciation that was lost during lockdown Abby Cima The Badger Herald intimacy you simply cannot achieve online.

They described a beautiful print they had purchased, where the artist was inspired by the landscape and mountains in Aspen, Colorado.

Artists have had to adjust in many different ways throughout the pandemic.

For Hardwood Creations, a familyrun woodworking business from Davis, California, a majority of their sales come from art fairs such as this one. They said they mainly participated in virtual fairs throughout the past year to display their art.

T.L. Luke, a Madison-based digital artist, said she missed the face-to-face interactions she had with customers and the inspiration that came with it.

She had shifted to commissions during the pandemic. Her art is inspired by moments of her childhood, while incorporating dystopian themes. Many of her pieces feature girls and feminine people having fun in perilous adventures, to contrast the message of weakness too often associated with femininity.

Shawn Bungo is a glasswork artist from Ypsilanti, Michigan. During the pandemic, he engaged with his community by creating an art trade gallery. Much like a little free library, he would display his art and receive other pieces from neighbors and community members. His artwork features many aquatic

themes, such as iridescent jellyfish with spindling legs encased in glass and spans of multicolored coral reefs.

Bungo said his art since moving to Michigan has been inspired by the wildlife there, his new artworks incorporating lamps and glass pieces with glass butterflies and lifelike birds.

Another group of artists present were the Madison Weavers Guild. Their stand consisted of works by multiple members, involving many distinct styles and techniques unique to the makers. Rows of vibrant, multicolored scarves hung from a wall within the stand, as well as hand woven garments and textured tea towels.

The group, which consists of over 70 members with an interest in textiles, host workshops and other exhibitions around the Madison area. In order to keep up with their art form, the group met over Zoom throughout the pandemic.

For many attendees, it was a way to learn about local and traveling artists to know where their art was coming from. For artists, it was a way to display their inspirations and passions to many.

For everyone involved, it was a way to connect in a way that we have all been craving for the past two years — and it was undoubtedly healing.

ARTSETC.

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ISTHMUS ARTS SPOTLIGHT From Lukas Nelson’s performance at the Sylvee to the completion of the Monroe Street Mural, the arts scene in Madison contiunes to thrive as summer turns to fall

Photos by Abby Cima, Erin Gretzinger and Ty Hellbach (Courtesy of the Sylvee) October 5, 2021 • badgerherald.com • 15

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Opinion

Wisconsin bill not answer to regulate rioting, infringes on free speech

Proposed Wisconsin law defines rioting to prevent violence but definition will likely cause worse issues with speech censorship

by Jonathan Draeger Columnist

Republican lawmakers in Wisconsin are trying to pass a law that will institute definitions and mandatory minimums for participating in “rioting.” The question raised, however, revolves not around how it will affect riots but instead how it will affect peaceful gatherings and protests.

The answer depends on the interpretation — and that’s a bad thing.

The law has two main parts: defining what a riot is legally, and outlawing specific actions relating to rioting. But, these definitions and laws are very unclear.

The main problem with the definition of a riot is it does not only include violence already committed but also threats of violence.

Section 4.2. reads, “A threat to commit an act of violence made by one or more persons who are part of the unlawful assembly that has, individually or collectively, the ability to immediately execute the threat, if the performance of the threatened act of violence would constitute a clear and present danger of, or would result in, damage to the property

of any other person or injury to another person.”

This means if someone threatens to commit violence and has the ability to act on it, the protest becomes a riot. This does not make sense and also has legal ramifications if combined with the new actions could make it illegal to “riot.”

The proposal would make it a felony to “substantial damage to property or personal injury,” which has a minimum sentence of 45 days in jail and a maximum penalty of three and a half years in prison.

The misdemeanor provision of the bill for inciting or attending a riot has a minimum sentence of 30 days in jail or a maximum penalty of nine months.

Both of these provisions are not necessarily legally problematic on their own, but when combined, could lead to some weird outcomes. Does this mean that if you are at a protest and someone threatens to commit violence, you have to leave immediately?

Could a person opposed to the protest commit an act of violence and then implicate everyone else at the protest into the crime? Due to the vagueness of the bill, any of these situations are plausible. There

are many different ways of interpretation that could lead to peaceful people being lobbed in with criminals.

It is a tricky issue because the law tries to frame itself as a law aimed at criminalizing rioting. There are, however, already laws on the books for that. Arson, assault and burglary are all already crimes.

If law enforcement was given the resources and the authority to arrest actual criminals, we could keep the communities safe from criminals who are doing real damage. They should not pass more legislation that can be applied to the actual rioters if they commit those acts of violence.

Don’t get me wrong, I do not think that rioting in your neighborhood and destroying local businesses is a good way to advocate for change. The damage done last summer certainly alienated several Republicans as well as the many people still undecided about whether to support the Black Lives Matter cause. Legislatures do have some responsibility to make sure riots do not happen again and people receive compensation for damaged businesses and possessions.

This might mean that they should plan

ahead and bring in the National Guard to prevent situations from getting out of hand or increasing police funding so they could have more time for training around riot control and keeping their communities safe. But, this proposed law neither helps victims of riots nor officers in their pursuit of arresting actual criminals.

We have the First Amendment to protect our freedom of speech, assembly and press. Laws like this infringe on those rights by allowing people to be punished by damage done by others. If you do not damage any thing and follow all the laws, there should be no possibility you are framed as a criminal because of the actions someone else took without your consent.

This law could essentially prohibit any mass protest and even most large gatherings. Laws like this are fundamentally un-American and need to be seriously reconsidered before being passed. Not only is Senate Bill 296 unnecessary considering the current laws about damaging people and property -- it infringes on our First Amendment rights and the values America was built on.

Jonathan Draeger (draegerrrr@gmail.com) is a freshman studying economics.

Yik Yak back with new safety measures, comedic community After four years offline, the app has returned to campus with algorithms to prevent hate speech despite historical controversy

by Emily Otten Columnist

Yik Yak, a social media app that has come back online after a four-year hiatus, is unlike its competitors.

The app relies on anonymity, meaning there are no followers, profiles or any way to see who you’re communicating with — only up-Yaks, down-Yaks and individual creativity.

According to an NPR article, the app was first released in 2013 but received complaints about threats of violence and hate speech that happened under its anonymous design.

The app was eventually shut down in 2017 for a mix of hate speech concerns and a steep decline in engagement. It came back on the app store last month after new owners acquired the company and instituted stronger ban tactics for problematic users.

On a college campus like University of Wisconsin, it is no surprise that Yik Yak’s resurgence made waves among students, especially when the Badger Barstool 16 • badgerherald.com • October 5, 2021

Instagram account (@badgerbarstool) posted a screenshot of “Yaks” related to campus inside jokes on the app Aug. 25.

This new iteration of Yik Yak is a safer place for college students to interact and creates a comedic online community on such a large campus.

But, it also brings back the concerns of rude and racist remarks that people feel comfortable making under anonymity.

The app can be incredibly funny and adds to a feeling of campus culture and unity.

Before the semester started, the app was inundated with students using Yaks to discuss returning to real class for the first time since the pandemic started.

There were also a lot of Yaks discussing how embarrassing it is to see Freshmen wear their free Letters & Science shirt around campus.

On the first game day against Penn State, students joked about Graham Mertz’s inability to complete a pass. With such a big student population, Yik Yak made my roommates and me realize there are many common college experiences within the

student body, and many people here have a similar sense of humor.

Although anonymity can be fun at times and encourage people to post more, it obviously can have serious downsides.

While anonymous, it is much easier to spread messages of hate about certain people and cultural or racial groups.

When people don’t have to face the personal consequences of their actions, it makes the decision to spread hate easier.

This was a large controversy at UW when the app first launched in 2015. UWPD had to monitor the app for students discussing criminal activity and used it for details in larger investigations. Cyberbullying was also rampant.

Now, the app includes a series of defense mechanisms that prevent real threats or hate speech from going viral.

A content blocker on the app bans certain words like racial slurs, violent threats or mentions of a person’s first and last name.

When any of these words are used, or the app recognizes a statement as somehow violating what Yik Yak refers to as its “Community Guardrails,” the Yak is

deleted before it reaches anyone else’s eyes.

The Community Guardrails – which list out what kind of speech will be removed or even which Yaks will be reported to authorities and investigated – are available for everyone to view online.

Additionally, there are many ways other users on the app can report a certain Yak by reason of bullying or harassment.

Once a Yak is reported it is promptly removed. Users can also keep harassment or severe bullying off the app by downyaking Yaks that they feel are offensive to certain groups on campus. Yik Yak removes any Yaks that are down-Yakked enough times.

Ultimately, although there are issues with the anonymity aspect of Yik Yak and people being rude, the app has further developed its algorithm and content blocker to pick up on certain verbiage and remove offensive Yaks.

Yik Yak should stay online for the time being. After a divisive pandemic year, students need a regulated sense of community that can complement their return to normal life.

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OPINION

UW psychedelic research shows promise, must proceed with caution

A new research program revisits historical use of psychedelics as medicine, could change unjust stigma around drugs

by Jack Hansen Columnist

One morning in the spring of 1953, writer Aldous Huxley sat down with his wife — a psychiatrist — and a tape recorder. He then proceeded to self-administer four-tenths of a gram of mescaline, the psychoactive component found in the Peyote cactus.

Huxley volunteered himself as a test subject because he hoped to gain insight into how the drug impacted one’s consciousness and thought the area was under-researched. He wrote about his experience in the counter-cultural phenomenon “Doors of Perception,” one of the most influential books on psychedelics.

“For the moment that interfering neurotic who, in waking hours, tries to run the show, was blessedly out of the way,” Huxley describes in the book.

He swore by its medical and spiritual value until his death. But even today, using psychedelics for medicinal purposes is still regarded by many as a sort of pseudo-science.

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin are taking a much more scientific approach than Huxley when it comes to studying the effects of psychedelic drugs.

After years of clinical trials, UW recently unveiled the Transdisciplinary Center for Research in Psychoactive Substances. Housed in the School of Pharmacy, the research center will collaborate with experts across a variety of different schools in order to take a multidisciplinary approach to understand the science, history and cultural impact of psychedelics.

The center is partnered with the school’s new, first-of-its-kind Master’s of Science program in Psychoactive Pharmaceutical Investigation.

It will focus primarily on MDMA, or ecstasy, and psilocybin, or psychedelic mushrooms, and their effects in treating substance abuse and psychiatric disorders like depression and PTSD. Research has been promising thus far. In a study conducted by UW researchers, 67% of participants who received MDMA during therapy sessions no longer qualified for a PTSD diagnosis after 18 weeks, compared to the 32% who received a placebo with therapy. In the control group, 88% of participants experienced a meaningful reduction in symptoms.

Founding director of the Center and professor of pharmacy at UW Dr. Paul Hutson expects FDA approval of psilocybin and MDMA in the next five years.

“From cannabis to psilocybin and MDMA, psychoactive agents are the new frontier for potential new therapies and medications,” Hutson said in a UW Pharmacy article.

Needless to say, neither the University nor

Huxley came up with this idea. The potential healing properties of psychedelics have long been known by many Indigenous tribes. The Huichol People in western Mexico have been using Peyote for over 6,000 years. In fact, their name for themselves — the Virarica — translates roughly to “the healing people.”

Even the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous Bill Wilson claims to have used LSD in a therapeutic session to obtain a spiritual understanding that helped him start the recovery program.

Despite our long history with the substances, recreational psychedelic use is illegal in the U.S. with the exception of Oregon and a few cities across the country.

This summer, representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez introduced an amendment that would remove federal barriers and allow for the research of psychedelics, but the measure

was quickly shot down by the House of Representatives.

It’s unlikely the research at UW will lead to any decriminalization in Wisconsin, considering we’re one of twelve states that doesn’t permit medicinal cannabis. But even with this new research, we should be cautious before we rush to legalize them.

I’m not suggesting the results would be catastrophic, being that there’s evidence psychedelic use can reduce violent crime rates.

There are a lot of things I think should be legal for consenting adults in the United States, but psychedelic drugs are not for everyone.

Participants in UW clinical trials are vetted carefully before their first session and each session is led by professionals.

Nearly every Indigenous tribe that uses psychedelic substances in rituals does so with a shaman or someone experienced guiding the

session. While psilocybin is considered relatively safe, MDMA can be very easily abused.

With that being said, there’s still an unjust stigma surrounding psychedelics in America and the research being done at UW will help bring legitimacy to their potential as more than just old wives tales or party drugs.

“The effects of adding MDMA to psychotherapy are truly dramatic,” Hutson said in an interview with WPR. “And, we’re hoping that this will, quite honestly, save lives because of the risk of suicide, self-harm with PTSD patients.”

Cases of mood disorders and addiction are as high as ever. Current medication doesn’t work for everyone and we ought to be trying whatever does — even if it seems unconventional at first.

Jack Hansen (jhhansen@wisc.edu) is a junior majoring in real estate and philosophy and pursuing a certificate in sustainability.

Photo - Psychedelics research could change how we treat various mental illnesses but still needs oversight like any research Marissa Haegele The Badger Herald October 5, 2021 • badgerherald.com • 17

OPINION

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Heightened youth marijuana use jeopardizes livelihood, health of students College students across the country using the most weed since 1980s, could cause some brain, productivity problems

by Will Romano Opinion Editor

A recent study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse shows college-aged students in the U.S. are using marijuana at the highest rates since the 1980s.

This spike corresponds with the lockdowns and rise in mental health problems during the pandemic, according to reporting from NBC15.

A 2019 National Institute of Health study also showed teenagers’ perception of marijuana as dangerous has dropped to the lowest point in 20 years.

The City of Madison also decriminalized marijuana possession in 2020 and despite helping prevent nonviolent drug arrests that often target people of color, the decriminalization made it easier for students to bring weed into the campus area from states where it is legal, like Illinois or Michigan.

Widespread consensus that weed is a casual drug with limited side effects paired with an increased availability of the drug nationwide could spell disaster for a generation entering the workforce.

Marijuana has taken over UW campus culture in recent years. If the drug is not regulated properly and some students continue to use it at high rates, our highly active campus culture could be affected.

The negative effects of marijuana on the brain are well-documented.

The “Effects of Cannabis on the Adolescent Brain” study published in the U.S. National Library of Medicine found marijuana users aged 16-18, “demonstrated slower processing speed, poorer verbal learning and memory, and sequencing abilities.”

Another long-term study out of New Zealand makes a direct link between “persistent cannabis use” and “neuropsychological decline,” and mentions people who started smoking marijuana heavily in their teenage years and continued as adults lost about eight I.Q. points by age 38 that could not be recovered.

Most of these studies refer to people who smoke multiple times a week for years and are classified as addicted to the substance. For college students, this is a common reality.

According to the CDC, one in six people who begin smoking before age 18 will become addicted to the substance.

Now, college students are smoking the most weed since the 1980s and weed is far

18 • badgerherald.com • October 5, 2021

more potent today than it was back then.

Research on the effects of weed on the brain and its addictive properties is still in its early stages and can’t be used as a definitive dismissal of the substance.

But the widespread studies linking weed to neurocognition in the brain should raise strong skepticism from society.

The reasons people cite when choosing to use marijuana also reinforce these studies.

Employers often find people use marijuana to deal with anxiety or ADHD, showing the substance slows down quick thinking in the brain.

What happens when a large percentage of a generation decides to intentionally limit their brain potential from an early age?

The impacts of this phenomenon are yet to be realized, but an argument that this trend would not affect a group already plagued by mental health problems seems far-fetched.

Researchers recently found giving THC to rats leads them to become lazy and unmotivated. After receiving the substance, the rats were less likely to complete difficult tasks or pursue a treat.

Even if it turns out marijuana doesn’t damage the brain permanently, the substance will still change how American society works. For example, high alcohol use at UW — where 75% of first-year students drink — makes the campus more prone to criminal activity, violence and social divisions.

Heavy marijuana use might make students be more kind to each other and have a generally positive effect on campus culture.

But, it could also make them less able to socialize or join student organizations.

As we saw with isolation during the pandemic, a lack of social interaction and community makes life far more dull for

everyone.

This could become more noticeable in small settings like UW’s campus before reaching a national scale. The bottom line is that we don’t know how this new marijuana trend will affect student life at UW, but it will change something about student lifestyles as is the case with every drug or stimulant.

In recent years, the youth-centric argument that marijuana is a safe and nonconsequential drug has overshadowed the more traditional idea that it is a dangerous one.

Ignoring this perspective and the extensive scientific research that backs it as the U.S. moves toward legalization could end badly.

Will Romano (wromano@wisc.edu) is a sophomore majoring in journalism and economics and pursuing a certificate in environmental studies.

Photo - Studies show that one in six people who start smoking before 18 will become addicted to marijuana, which can have health consequences.

Marissa Haegele The Badger Herald

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SPORTS

2021 Wisconsin Athletics Hall of Fame class: Their careers, legacies

Nine new members were inducted into Class of 2021 from wide range of sports, backgrounds in early September

by Andrew Hall Sports Writer

Sept. 11 at Camp Randall Stadium, University of Wisconsin Athletics formally inducted and recognized the new class of 2021 Hall of Fame Inductees.

Ranging from a wide variety of sports and spanning many decades, this class represents the breadth of Wisconsin Athletics.

GABE CARIMI Gabe Carimi was a late bloomer throughout his football career.

He did not start playing the sport until seventh grade, did not make the varsity team until junior year of high school and was a redshirt freshman. When Carimi got his opportunity at UW, he never looked back.

Carimi, a four-year starter at left tackle, played consistently with toughness and effectiveness and became a two-time first team All-Big Ten East selection.

Along the way, Carimi also snagged the 2010 Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year and the 2010 Outland Trophy Winner, awarded to the best interior lineman in the nation.

Leading the Badgers to a Big Ten Championship, Carimi also had a valued presence in the classroom, earning Academic All-Big Ten all four years of his career. After a four-year stint in the NFL, Carimi delved into the business world and now owns a meat snack company.

Viewing football and business as a unique and different set of challenges, he enjoys learning about the business world and using the skills he learned in football to assist him in his new journey.

MEGHAN DUGGAN Meghan Duggan led a historic career for the Wisconsin Women’s hockey team, fronting a Wisconsin Women’s Hockey dynasty and winning three NCAA Championships during her career.

Cementing herself as one of the greatest Badger hockey players of all time, she ranks second in assists (130), third in points (238) and third in plus minus rating (+164). In addition to being a 2011 Captain and All-American on the NCAA championship team, she also won the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, awarded to the top annual hockey player in all of NCAA Women’s Hockey.

Duggan propelled her great success at Madison into Olympic greatness as a threetime member of the Women’s U.S. Olympic Team, winning two silver medals and leading the team to gold in 2018.

YASMIN FAROOQ Farooq coxed the Badgers’ junior varsity rowing team in 1986 and earned team captain and team MVP her senior year in 1988.

In a similar vein, she continued her great success in the global sphere, participating in two Olympic Games and four World Championship Games including the U.S.’s first

international gold in rowing in 1995.

Farooq would go on to become a nationally renowned rowing coach, earning six-time Pac 12 Coach of the Year, three-time national coach of the year and three-time national champion at both Stanford and Washington.

In 2014, she was inducted into the National Rowing Hall of Fame.

BLAKE GEOFFORION Following in the footsteps of four generations of Geoffrion hockey players, Blake Geoffrion paved a storied career at UW. Geoffrion earned the Hobey Baker Memorial Award in 2010, given to the best hockey player in the nation, along with AllAmerican and Wisconsin Male Athlete of the Year.

Excelling in his role as captain, Geoffrion grew into the leadership position and valued creating friendships and cultivating a positive team atmosphere.

Geoffrion had a brief stint in the NHL, until an injury ended his career leading him to enter the front office department of the Florida Panthers. Carrying on his great leadership qualities, he is now the managing director of BHMS Investments.

GRANT AND ROSS JAMES The James brothers first grasped a rowing ore in their first semester as college students, proving it’s never too late for an old dog to learn new tricks.

Creating a model of consistency, the James brothers went undefeated in collegiate dual racing from 2005-2009, culminating in the triumph of the 2008 National Championship in the men’s eight.

The James brothers participated in a wide variety of international competitions in their professional careers, highlighted by their 2012 Olympic appearance, placing fourth overall.

The James brothers were nine-time members of the U.S. National Team.

Throughout their professional success, they always look back on their time at UW as the cornerstone of their careers, as they went from clueless rowers to some of the best rowers in the world.

RON JEIDY Ron Jeidy started his career as a small fish in a big pond at UW, wrestling some of the top wrestlers in the world including multiple Olympic gold medalists. But, he finished his career as one of the greatest wrestlers in UW’s storied and highly acclaimed wrestling program.

Those close to him appreciate his unique ability to always put a smile on their faces and brighten the room with positivity.

While qualifying for the NCAAs in his sophomore and junior years, he finally reached the top of the podium in 1978, winning the NCAA Championship at 190 pounds.

Jeidy proved to be a man of many talents,

Photo · Wisconsin’s offensive line, led by left tackle Gabe Carimi, dominated Ohio State’s talented defensive line in the team’s 2010 season.

Herald Archives The Badger Herald writing 2,500 poems over the course of his life. The duality of man manifests itself in Ron Jeidy as he is a true man of strength and grace.

JON LEUER Jon Leuer had a rollercoaster career at UW, which ended with one of the greatest careers in UW’s basketball history.

As a freshman, Leuer initially succeeded, playing a pivotal role on Wisconsin’s team filling the team’s shooting role in times of need.

However, after a hot start, he soon struggled for the remainder of his freshman year and received fewer and fewer minutes as the season went along.

After multiple years of progression and consistency, Leuer led UW in points and rebounds in his junior and senior years.

He ranks in the UW all-time categories in points, rebounds and blocks, and was part of a class that totaled 100 career wins and qualified for four straight NCAA tournaments.

Capitalizing on the sheer volume of great stats over the years, he had continued success as he played eight years in the NBA, ultimately retiring in 2020.

MAGGIE MEYER Maggie Meyer ushered in a tradition of greatness to Wisconsin Women’s Swimming as the first women’s swimming NCAA champion in an individual event, winning the 200-yard backstroke in 2011.

Known for her attention to detail and bright

spirit on the pool deck, Meyer utilized her brilliant knowledge of the sport throughout her college career, setting school records in six events and earning three-time All-Big Ten Selection.

While she always had natural talent, her coaches note her perseverance to excellence as the definitive trait that ultimately earned the 2009-10 UW Female Athlete of the year and 2011 Big Ten Conference Swimmer of the Year.

LLOYD M. COOKE A trailblazer for his time, Lloyd M. Cooke was the first Black student-athlete to run cross country for the Badgers and was a major contributor to the Badgers’ Cross-Country Team in 1935-36, leading UW to a 9-2 record in those years.

Graduating with honors in 1937, Cooke had tremendous professional success, specializing in the field of chemistry.

He was a member of the American Chemical Society from 1938-2001 and ended his career as a top research chemist for Union Carbide.

He served in multiple leadership positions including the Economic Development Council of New York City and was a member of the National Science Board from 1970-82.

Known for his adventuresome spirit, Cooke loved to travel and cheer on Badger Football, and will always be fondly remembered for his courage and fearlessness in all of his life’s work.

October 5, 2021 • badgerherald.com • 19

SPORTS

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Football: A look at Badgers in NFL, how their seasons are shaping up Catching up with old University of Wisconsin fan favorites Russel Wilson, Melvin Gordon, TJ Watt, JJ Watt two weeks in

by Logan Ehlrich Sportts Writer

The National Football League’s 2021-2022 campaign is a few games in and it has us thinking about Badgers in the league.

Seventeen franchises have former Wisconsin Badgers on their active rosters, totaling 24 players.

Through the beginning of the season, many of these players have made a noticeable difference for their teams and have represented the University of Wisconsin very well.

Starting off with Super Bowl XLVIII champion and the lone quarterback of the group, Russell Wilson — who played for UW in 2011 — has been off to a hot start with the Seattle Seahawks.

In Week 1 against the Indianapolis Colts, Wilson went 18-23 for 254 yards and four touchdowns in a 28-16 win. He followed this up with 343 yards on 22-31 passing and two touchdowns in a close overtime loss to the Tennessee Titans. Through two games, Wilson has not turned the ball over and has been very efficient while racking up six touchdowns.

As usual, the running back position is well represented for Wisconsin in the NFL. This year, James White (2010-2013) and Melvin Gordon (20112014) and Jonathan Taylor (2017-2019) have all had prominent roles in their respective team’s offenses.

As a pass catching threat out of the backfield for the New England Patriots, White has 94 receiving yards on 12 catches through two games and 32 yards on nine rushing attempts over that same span. He also rushed for a touchdown against the New York Jets in the Patriots’ 25-6 win.

Gordon and the Denver Broncos are 2-0 and he has been featured as the team’s lead running back. In Week 1, he rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown on just 11 carries, averaging just over nine yards per carry. Gordon followed this up with 31 yards on 13 attempts in a Week 2 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. He also has 55 receiving yards on five catches.

Taylor, the most recent draft pick of the three, is looking to follow up a very strong rookie campaign in which he rushed for 1,169 yards and 11 touchdowns on 232 carries, adding 299 receiving yards. Through two games he has rushed for 107 yards on 32 carries and has 62 receiving yards on

seven catches.

The offensive line is another position group where Wisconsin excels in producing NFL talent.

This season, there are six starting offensive linemen who played their college football in Madison — Kevin Zeitler (2008-2011), Tyler Biadasz (20162019), David Edwards (2015-2018), Rob Havenstein (2010-2014), Michael Deiter (2014-2018) and Ryan Ramczyk (2015-2016).

The lone starting wide receiver representing the Badgers in the NFL is Quintez Cephus (20162017, 2019), who is an early breakout candidate for the Detroit Lions. Two games in, he has caught two touchdowns and put up 75 yards on seven receptions. Cephus has already matched his touchdown total from all of last season.

On the defensive side of the ball, star linebacker TJ Watt (2013-2016) made a strong impact on the field with the Pittsburgh Steelers after signing a contract extension that made him the highest paid defensive player in the NFL. After two weeks of play, Watt has six tackles, three sacks and two forced fumbles. Watt’s brother, JJ Watt (2008-2010), is in his first year with the Arizona Cardinals after spending ten seasons with

the Houston Texans. He has one tackle through two games.

Joining TJ Watt on the Steelers is fellow linebacker Joe Schobert (2012-2015). Schobert is a former walk-on for the Badgers who eventually earned a scholarship in Madison. He has 15 tackles and two passes deflected so far this season.

Rounding out the core of former Badgers contributing to their current NFL teams are linebackers Andrew Van Ginkel (2017-2018), Zack Baun (2015-2019) and TJ Edwards (2014-2018), along with defensive tackle Isaiahh Loudermilk (2016-2020).

Van Ginkel has nine total tackles and has started both games for the Miami Dolphins. Baun has 12 tackles in two games, starting one of them for the New Orleans Saints, while TJ Edwards has recorded 11 tackles in two starts for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Loudermilk has one total tackle in a small sample size of playing time in his rookie season with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Early on into the season these former Badgers are making an impact at the highest level. With a long season ahead, all eyes will be on the Wisconsin alumnus on Sundays.

Badgers on the pitch: UW men’s soccer starts off season strong

Badger men’s soccer team has been making most of early part of season, exceeding expectations in several matchups

by Ryan Badger Sportts Writer

The Badger men’s soccer team has been making the most of the early part of their season, delivering two massive two-to-nothing wins in the same week. It’s clear Head Coach John Trask’s Badgers are looking to make up for a disappointing 2-7-1 showing in 2020.

The action started Tuesday with the Badgers sending the University of WisconsinMilwaukee Panthers home without a point scored.

The Badgers started the game strong, finding their first goal in just the fourth minute as junior Iñaki Iribarren converted a corner kick from senior Andrew Akindele.

Iribarren wasn’t finished scoring though, finding a way through traffic to get the Badgers’ second goal in the 56th minute. The Panthers found the net only once in the match, but that effort was overturned on an offsides ruling from the officials.

By Friday, the squad was on the road to face the previously undefeated Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Despite a strong showing from the Knights, things began to change for them as the Badgers converted a free-kick to find their way onto the scoreboard in the 41 minute mark. Junior defender Aron Eli Saevarsson took the setpiece, and Senior Zach Klancnik headed the ball into the goal.

The scoring continued in the second half as senior Henri Tophoven launched a shot at goal 20 • badgerherald.com • October 5, 2021

off a midfield turnover, cruising right over the head of the Rutgers goalkeeper during minute 58 of play. The Badgers left New Brunswick up two goals, giving the Scarlet Knights their first defeat of their season.

This Wisconsin team has proven themselves to be a more dangerous squad than pre-season polls predicted.

The Badgers found themselves at the bottom of the Big Ten coaches preseason poll — a justified position after the lackluster showing in the spring 2020 abbreviated season where the team brought home only two conference wins.

With the Badgers undefeated in Big Ten play this season, it looks like Coach Trask has already begun to repair the holes in the team’s play.

Freshman goalkeeper Adir Raphael started both the Milwaukee and Rutgers matches, recording two clean sheets for his record. Forwards Akindele, Iribarren and Tophoven have also had a great start to their seasons.

Despite the recent wins, there is still room for improvement within the team. Passing has remained a weak point for the Badgers, especially in the midfield.

The team has been pushed around a little too much around center field, losing possession of simple passes. There is also room for improvement on goal clearances.

Milwaukee found itself with a string of consecutive corner kicks as the Badgers

Photo · The team’s offense and goalkeeping have proven to be vital strengths throughout early matchups Abby Cima The Badger Herald remained unable to fully clear the ball out of their penalty box.

Saving the Badgers was goalkeeper Raphael and the Panther ’s inability to convert the set pieces.

These issues may not have impacted the ending score in recent matches but strong teams in the conference like Indiana or Maryland will be able to capitalize on these

flaws later in the season.

With the first few matches of the season in the books and the team undefeated in conference play, it is looking to be a much better season for the Badger’s men’s team this year.

A dominant group of forwards and strong goalkeeping look to be the strengths of the team.

SPORTS

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Women’s Hockey: Preview of expectations for approaching 2021 Season

Badgers look to defend national championship for second straight season, coming off dominant 2020-2021 season

by Sam Harrigan Sports Editor

The back-to-back women’s college hockey national champions opened their season in late September against Lindenwood University in Missouri.

The Badgers dominated both games, winning 8-1 Friday and 10-0 Saturday.

This season’s Wisconsin team might have higher expectations than any other in the history of the program. With the main cast of characters from the two national championship winning teams including Daryl Watts, Sophie Shirley, Grace Bowlby and Kennedy Blair all back in Madison for a final year, it is certainly national championship or bust.

With college hockey returning to normal, that will mean a sold out LaBahn Arena, nonconference games and a full slate of Women’s Collegiate Hockey Association games in a year the conference might have more talent than ever.

For Mark Johnson’s squad, they will once again rely on their duo of Watts and Shirley. Watts is far and away the best player in women’s college hockey and Shirley is somewhere in the top five. These two experienced forwards carried Wisconsin all the way to a national championship a year ago, and it will fall on them if the Badgers make it all the way back to the title game.

On the back end, Blair will once again run the Wisconsin net. The fifth year transfer from Mercyhurst was outstanding last year as she started in every game while posting six shutouts, a goals against average of 1.54 and a save percentage of 9.31. Blair was a much needed spark in net, and was once again phenomenal in the opening series against Lindenwood.

The defense in front of Blair is led by two upperclassmen — team captain Bowlby and Nicole LaMantia. Bowlby is the definition of a lockdown defender in hockey. She was a first team All-American last year and played like it in all 21 games for Wisconsin. While she did not have a goal last year, she put up 18 points in 18 regular season games.

Without a doubt, Bowlby was the heart and soul of an unusually young team last season.

Her leadership and play style are things that Wisconsin can not survive without.

LaMantia is another important force on Wisconsin’s blue line. The senior from Illinois will be wearing a letter for the first time in her Wisconsin career, as she has established herself as a borderline superstar in college hockey.

She showed off this weekend, with a three point night against Lindenwood Saturday.

LaMantia will be crucial to this year ’s team after Natalie Buchbinder opted to redshirt.

Along with Chayla Edwards and Bowlby,

Photo · Along with Sophie Shirely, several key players have returned to the Badgers to finish out their final year on the ice in Madison Ahmad Hamid The Badger Herald

Photo · In an anticipated match, the Badgers will face off against St. Cloud State on Oct.. 9 in the LaBahn Area Dane Sheehan The Badger Herald Lamantia represents one of the few major defensive contributors from last year ’s squad.

They will have a tall task on their hands with slowing down some of the most explosive offenses in the country with their loaded schedule.

After two road non-conference series against Lindenwood and Merrimack, Wisconsin will reopen LaBahn Arena to fans and start off a gauntlet of WCHA play when St. Cloud State visits town. As I mentioned earlier, the WCHA will be incredibly strong once again this year and it will be important for Wisconsin to beat up on teams like SCSU that figure to fall around the bottom of the conference.

St. Cloud State opens a run of 16 straight WCHA games for Wisconsin that will run them all the way until 2022 when they play a non-conference matchup with Quinnipiac on New Years Day at LaBahn. From there, Wisconsin will play 12 more WCHA games in six consecutive weekends. The breaks are few and far between on this schedule.

The Badgers are in for a wild ride in this 2021-2022 campaign.

They are the two-time defending national champions and the preseason number one team in the nation. There is a massive target on their backs.

It will be up to hall-of-famer Johnson to once again lead Wisconsin back to the only place they belong — the national title game March 20, 2022.

Photo · The two-time national champions have a lot to defend as they take the ice this season Dane Sheehan The Badger Herald October 5, 2021 • badgerherald.com • 21

BANTER

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Unspoken phenomenon of college towns: ‘I haven’t seen a child in weeks’

If I am being perfectly honest, I forgot what they even looked like and it’s starting to really freak me the frick out, bro

by Hallie Humbert Banter Editor

There’s a lot I love about college. Between the lakes, State Street and the Capitol, our college campus is unmatched.

I guess it’s possible that other campuses are cool, but I’m sure any Badger would agree — there’s no place quite like our campus.

You may think that given this is a banter piece I’m being sarcastic right now, but I am genuinely not. I love this campus, this school, and being one of thousands of students in a Big Ten community is truly a special feeling.

With living in such a special environment, however, we all also have kind of a bizarre lifestyle within a bubble of only being with people our own age — in classes, in our neighborhoods, in our jobs and quite literally everywhere else.

Really, there’s no other time in our life that we will experience a mini town of late teens to young 20s, and all of the crazy shenanigans that will coincide with this type of company.

But as it would happen, I found myself scrolling through TikTok one evening (surprise, surprise) and something was

brought to my attention. Some man — and this was a while ago so I forget the user, sorry and thank you for the banter pitch idea sir — dove into this acute phenomenon that happens on college campuses across the United States — how we, undergraduates, now go months at a time without seeing a fucking kid.

Let that sink in.

Now actually sit back and think, when was the last time you saw a human, aged five or below, just out and about when you were on campus?

The nature of the University of Wisconsin being so well integrated with the city of Madison debunks my theory a bit, but still, a whole demographic is out there that we barely see ever. Kinda weird?

I came to this realization that I had grown so accustomed to this cesspool of 18 to 22 year olds that the idea of anything (or if they are old enough to be considered “anyone”) being under the age of eight was unfathomable to me.

You forgot the noises they make, the food smeared on their faces, the tantrums they throw and the weird little outfits they wear (Can you tell I just LOVE kids?).

But seriously, when was the last time you walked down University Avenue and saw a

full-ass child?

I guess on some level you can argue that we really are still children, just wandering around campus, somehow given the authority to “run our own lives” within the three-mile radius that is our quaint and tidy version of Madison, Wisconsin.

Game day is just grown-up playgrounds and day-drinking is adult … idk. Milk?

(Ew.) To be fully transparent, I’m not sure how to bring this random assortment of thoughts about the idiosyncrasy of half-grown people full circle.

I don’t even think that there is a lesson to be learned from realizing that we all go through our daily lives as students never seeing children. Maybe it’s something we can all be like, “Huh, yeah it is weird when I do see one of *those* after weeks of staring at people my own age.”

Or maybe not. I would say pretty confidently the fact that most of us lead our lives without staring into the eyes of some pint-sized person really has no effect on us one way or another, except being bizarre when we do see one in action for the first time in a while, pushing around a little car or something tiny that seems crushable.

Maybe they have a small backpack on

them. Maybe a tiny mask (which is kinda cute in my opinion). But overall, there’s not much of a point to me pointing out this phenomenon to you.

Maybe stare them down a little more next time you see one though. Food for thought.

Photo · What? Is that a ...... a child? Nah. Impossible.

Riley Steinbrenner The Badger Herald

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUCKY!!!!!!

Who even knew this guy wasn’t just some sort of deity that has been around since the dawn of time?

That’s right, people — Buckingham Badger has reached a milestone. We’ve been around 52 years, so we understand turning 81 is no small feat.

You credited your long, healthy life to Badger fans AND a lot of milk. That’s respectable, man.

So from one Badger to another: live while you’re young, Buckingham. And God Bless You. 22 • badgerherald.com • October 5, 2021

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Trying to find happiness while taking O-chem? Here’s a guide

Though I may be changing my major in the near future, here are some coping mechanisms that have been keeping me sane so far

by Lorenzo Reyes Banter Editor

Photo · An O-chem student smiles at the camera with eyes full of pain and dead dreams Lorenzo Reyes The Badger Herald

You poor bastards. Hey, hey, no judgment — I’m right there too. Organic chemistry. The class where you find out that your parents are actually wasting money on a dumbass who can’t comprehend how carbon works.

That’s how I felt at least — oh what was that? Was that PAST TENSE???

FELT? That’s right, my friends. Just because we’re taking a class that literally has us questioning how the fuck we got into this university doesn’t mean that we have to be sad ALL the time!

I mean, sure, self-loathing and a need to punish yourself is an official prerequisite when it comes to O-chem, but there are still many ways to get out of the dumpster fire that is your college experience right now!

As a happy O-chem student myself, I’ll guide you with some of my tips and tricks on how to make sure that O-chem doesn’t ruin a perfectly good school year.

One of the ways I cheer myself up on a bad O-chem day is to sit down and write a little bit, just for myself!

My favorite piece so far is a letter that

I wrote to my parents detailing how I’m ashamed to be their son, and how I’m even more ashamed that I’m about to switch my major to theatre arts!

This is probably my favorite form of escapism. Some people like to play video games, some people like to read, but I like to imagine a four-year plan that doesn’t include two semesters of organic chemistry plus a lab.

Another way to turn that frown upside down when O-chem has you down in the dumps is to just fucking drop out already.

Bro, you know you don’t have what it takes.

LMFAOOOOO people are getting As in this class, and you’re out here taking 45 minutes to understand even one page of the textbook. Dumbass. And let’s say you actually do pass (lol), now what? You have TWO MORE YEARS of classes like that. Just give up.

Like not only do you have two more years of classes just like this one, but you’re also taking classes JUST LIKE THIS ONE NOW. You think you can take Chem and Physics at the same time when you can’t even take Chem and Bio at the same time?

Just don’t be shocked when you graduate with a 2.2 GPA and no one will hire your

dumb ass. So once again, I recommend — just drop out. Make this easy on yourself and your parents’ respect for you — drop out — drop — out.

One method that many of my classmates have started to really like is to cheat — hard.

Who cares? Hack the professor ’s laptop, dude, IDGAF. If you want to stay in this course and keep your head above the water, you gotta ask yourself: are you willing to do whatever it takes?

No one is academically honest. Grow up.

It’s not easy out here, so take what you can and fuck EVERYONE else.

“Ohhhhh but Lorenzo, that’s going to negatively impact the curve for all of the other kids” — EXACTLY. Idiot. I’ll take my A — I mean AB — I mean BC. The rest of you guys just need to realize that you should ditch the whole goodietwo-shoes role now that you’re on your own.

Also — snitch on me — I dare you — I hacked into the prof ’s computer, I literally know where you and your family live. Your move, bucko.

So that’s how you stay happy in O-chem. :))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

COVID-19 variants spike so bad they’re being named after Greek houses World Health Organization to name this month’s new virus mutation ‘Alpha Chi Omega,’ with more frats in the line

by Katie Hardie Banter Writer

As the Mu variant aimlessly flies up South America on its way to the U.S., the world’s scientists are watching in terror as mutations of the coronavirus continue to pop up.

Dr. Xiaoli Hall, a resident at the University of Wisconsin Hospital sat down with the Herald to give insight on the need for more complex designations of COVID-19.

“The [World Health Organization] currently has interest in at least twenty more mutations coming down the pike,” Hall said. “We only have 12 more Greek letters in our pocket before we start doubling and tripling up on names.”

According to Hall, leaving Greek and moving to an alternative alphabet or numbering system is out of the question since no one ever does that.

“That kind of just seems weird,” Hall said.

In a press conference last week, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky informed the public about a mutation breaking out in Spain.

“The World Health Organization will call this novel variant Alpha Chi Omega,” Walensky said.

“Signs and symptoms are mostly in accord with SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7, or the UK strain, except your eyelashes grow and you start using claw clips to put your hair up.”

The National Panhellenic Conference, an

advocacy organization actively involved in this nation’s sororities, accepts the recent name overlaps.

“As long as the more deadly strains are named after the more problematic chapters, we’re fine with it,” spokesperson Jamie Hernández told the Herald. “Some of these house moms we deal with are so annoying, and an association with a deadly virus could do their egos some good.”

Hernández declined to comment following further questioning into the implication that death should be utilized against sorority admission.

Many students across colleges in the U.S. are responding to the recent uptick in triple-lettered COVID-19 variants in different ways.

Riku Tanaka, an international graduate student at Columbia University, considers this choice in terminology a risk to bar conversation on campus.

“If it’s noisy and crowded, someone could be left wondering if they just heard someone’s living situation or their health status, and that’s a weird problem to have,” Tanaka said.

According to Oregon State sophomore Malik Kraft-Mohney, COVID-19 having frat and sorority names enhances health literacy. Some students know more about which Greek houses to fear on their campus, and they can base that judgment on which COVID-19 mutations to be aware of.

“Some of these houses are so harmful and

some are completely fine,” Jones said. “If no out for,” Dr. Hall said, finishing up her interview. one knows which COVID strains they should “But everyone could probably see those ones be aware of, as long as they know which frats coming.” and sororities to avoid, they’ll at least have some baseline knowledge about the virus.”

The prevalence of new mutations concerns everyone, but COVID-19 carrying this new double entendre has brought a sense of fearlessness to some.

Amanda Langdon, a junior at UC Berkeley, feels no unease over the Pi Kappa Alpha strain which is said to be circulating in the Middle East as of July.

“No, trust me,” Langdon said. “I’ve dated several guys from PIKE. They can’t do much.”

In the end, it’s all about staying safe and vaccinated.

There will always be risks, and there will always be more dangerous variations. You just have to be careful about which Photo · COVID variants are amouting so fast, scientists have turned ones to use caution around. to frats “As of now, the APhi and SAE Bryan Faust strains are ones to keep an eye The Badger Herald October 5, 2021 • badgerherald.com • 23