'In the Crossfire' - Volume 51, Issue 11 by The Badger Herald

STUDENT MEDIA AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5 2019 · VOL 51 Issue 11 · BADGERHERALD.COM

in the

CROSSFIRE While citizens and scientists alike strive to keep themselves safe, divison on vaccine efficacy comes to a head. pg. 12

Design by Lily Oberstein

Find us online at

152 W. Johnson Suite 202 Madison WI, 53703 Telephone Fax

http://badgerherald.com

608.257.4712 608.257.6899

@badgerherald

6,000 copies Published since Sept. 10, 1969

Like us on Facebook

http://facebook.com/badgerherald

BINGE DRINKING RATES Herald Business

Herald Editorial Editor-in-Chief Managing Editors Print News Editor Digital News Editors Print Features Editor Digital Features Editor Campus Editors City Editors State Editor Opinion Editor Sports Editors Sports Associates ArtsEtc. Editors Copy Chiefs Copy Associates Photo Editor Design Directors Video Directors

Abby Doeden Emilie Cochran Molly Liebergall Nuha Dolby Molly DeVore Mary Magnuson Gretchen Gerlach Anna Walters Caroline Li Courtney Erdman Jackie Miller Lauren Henning Cait Gibbons Harrison Freuck John Spengler Jake Gross Ben Kenney Zach Lutz Shayde Erbrecht Philomena Lindquist Emily Gaare Max Mindorff Ahmad Hamid Caitlin Geurts Lily Oberstein Tao Zhou

Publisher

Shayde Erbrecht

Public Relations Director Marketing Director Social Media Coordinator

Wisconsin native brothers, the Eichstaedt’s, continue to make waves with their multimedia brand.

Angela Peterson Jill Kazlow Tony Spence

Herald Advertising Advertising Director

Patrick Williams

Board of Directors Chair Vice Chair Vice Chair Vice Chair Members

Peyton David Abby Doeden Patrick Williams Angela Peterson Molly Liebergall Emilie Cochran Mary Magnuson Nuha Dolby Abby Steinberg Cait Gibbons Gretchen Gerlach Lucas Johnson Matt O’Connor Tony Spence

ARTSETC

FEATURE

OPINION

SPORTS

BANTER

2 • badgerherald.com • October 1, 2019

In Dane County, there were 170 alcoholrelated deaths, 5,485 alcohol-related hospitalizations and 724 persons in an alcohol-related treatment service.

IKE MUSIC SPREADING 9

Herald Public Relations

NEWS

SHOUTOUTS

BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY

BADGERS ON ROAD TO POSTSEASON GLORY AFTER BIG TEN TITLE

This change in direction will prove productive for future of environmental policy.

Team has used returning talent and experience in order to cultivate regular season success as tournament play looms.

facebook.com/badgerherald

PHOTO

HALLOWEEN HALLOWEEN SNOWFALL SNOWFALL

Halloween frights students and faculty alike withthe first snowfall of the year leaving the campus with a fresh layer of frost for the holiday.

Photos by Ahmad Hamid

October 1, 2019 • badgerherald.com • 3

NEWS

@badgerherald

Task force reconsidering structure in favor of members serving full time

The Task Force on Structure of City Government is composed of four common council members and seven appointments by Courtney Erdman City News Editor

The Madison Common Council created a task force that is considering restructuring the city government. The Task Force on Structure of City Government is composed of four common council members and seven appointments made by either the mayor or the common council president. The task force will give recommendations to the common council who will ultimately decide the structure’s fate, task force member and former alder Ronald Trachtenberg said. A public referendum may be called for certain ordinances, Trachtenberg said. “The task force has no power in of itself — it only makes a series of recommendations,” Trachtenberg said. The task force is considering making alder positions full time instead of part time, changing alders’ terms to four years, increasing the number of alders, increasing the president and vice president terms from one to two years, and changing the amount of members’ salary, according to an article from The Cap Times. Trachtenberg added that the task force has

agreed the mayor’s office is fine the way it is but is struggling with the way the common council is structured. One of those structural issues they are looking at includes trying to decide the appropriate amount of council members to have on a part-time or full-time council, Trachtenberg said. He said that currently, the common council has 20 members who work part time. Task force member Roger Goodwin said the task force voted in favor of both a larger and smaller council on different occasions, but in both cases voted in favor of a full-time council. Trachtenberg is in favor of a part-time council. “You’ll get people with more backgrounds,” Trachtenberg said. Trachtenberg cited examples of business, social services and education expertise and said there were many people of different backgrounds who brought knowledge to the table during the time he served. There are differences in representation across the city depending on the time requirements of the alders in the districts, Goodwin said.

Goodwin is in favor of a larger council that serves part time so that each member doesn’t have to represent a large number of people. If the council serves full time, Goodwin said, it would be justifiable to have fewer members because they would have more time to handle a bigger district. Some members believe a full-time council will deter people who don’t have the time, Trachtenberg said. Redistricting will occur in the 2023 election, so the restructuring of the council could be implemented at that point if the council chooses to do so, Trachtenberg said. He added that the length of term limits doesn’t make a difference. “I know very few, if any, alders that were defeated after their first term,” Trachtenberg said. He only had one formal opponent in the eight years he ran. Trachtenberg favors a four-year term because it might attract more people, stating that it takes a lot of time and money to run for office. He also favors a two-year term for the president and vice president because he said there is a six-month

learning curve. Goodwin said lengthening the term for president and vice president would make sense if the terms were made longer for alders. He agreed that a four-year term makes sense since running for office takes a lot of time. If the council was full time, it may become more politicized, Goodwin said. Right now, Goodwin said, anyone can run for the council without having to raise “a fortune.” If it’s full time, Goodwin said he believed there would be more of an incentive to get the position and raise a lot of money. “More money means potential for corruption,” Goodwin said. Trachtenberg agreed and said not only does he think a full-time council would become more political, but he fears it. Goodwin added that the salary changes could change the type of person that would run for city council — many people don’t have a desire to run for a job that makes them less money. Read the full story on badgerherald.com.

UWPD to test new technology Hexwave for weapon detection The testing is to be done in collaboration with Liberty Defense Holdings, the company that owns the license to by Nicole Herzog Reporter

The University of Wisconsin Police Department has announced that they will beta test a new form of technology in weapon detection named “Hexwave” in spring 2020. The testing is to be done in collaboration with Liberty Defense Holdings, the company that owns the license to Hexwave, according to a press release from Liberty Defense. “At UW-Madison, the safety and security of our campus is a top priority,” UWPD Chief Kristen Roman said in a press release. “We’re excited about testing this technology, as we’re always trying to find options that could keep our community even more safe.” Hexwave combines 3D radar imaging and artificial intelligence to detect weapons among large crowds without disrupting the flow of people progressing through lines, according to the UWPD press release. This new technology will create 3D images of objects detected on a person’s body, rather than images of the person’s body, Liberty Defense media relations staff Brittany Whitmore said. 4 • badgerherald.com • November 5, 2019

“It uses Active 3D imaging technology that is licensed from MIT Lincoln Labs,” Whitmore said. “This component acts as the ‘eyes’ of the system. Active 3D imaging means that the panels are sending and receiving information in real-time.” Hexwave can help detect both metallic and non-metallic objects, including guns, assault rifles, knives and explosives. It can be used both indoors and outdoors and does not require people to remove any items of clothing or to undergo pat-downs, according to the UWPD press release. UWPD’s Captain of Field Services Jason Whitney emphasized the significance of testing new technology for safety reasons on campus. “We are always looking at new ways to protect our community from ongoing threats,” Whitney said. “Any type of technology that is out there should be looked at and better understood.” Whitney said the technology will come at no cost to the university or UWPD, as this is part of the testing program which will allow

both Liberty Defense and UWPD to learn more about possible security measures. The beta testing will take about one week to complete and will occur on the UW campus, Whitmore said. “Liberty Defense is funding 100% of the deployment of the test assets and support staff,” Whitmore said. “UWPD is providing only the sites and security staff to participate with Liberty staff.” The goal of the beta testing is to receive feedback on the system in a typical university environment. This will allow Liberty Defense to refine and adjust Hexwave based on the testing during spring next year, Whitmore said. In another attempt to take safety precautions on campus, UWPD has announced plans to install locks on more than 1,800 classroom doors, according to AP News. According to AP, UW allotted UWPD $2.8 million in 2018 to implement the locks. While the process is already 55% completed, the work will be officially finished in June 2020.

While the project regarding the locks is soon to be completed, it is still uncertain whether Hexwave will be formally established on campus, Whitney said. “We are not implementing anything,” Whitney said. “We are testing a product out to see how it works and if this would be something we would be interested in using in the future to secure our venues.” The technology could possibly be used for venues like the Kohl Center, which currently utilizes metal detectors that could slow down crowds, according to AP News. Roman said she hopes the testing of the new technology will become another asset to UWPD’s already equipped array of security measures. “The security of our campus is, of course, a top priority,” Roman said in the Liberty Defense press release. “We understand how important it is for organizations to keep innovating when it comes to security and we look forward to kicking off the testing [of Hexwave] in 2020.”

NEWS

facebook.com/badgerherald

Wisconsin Transparency Project aims to enforce open records laws

Wisconsin Transparency Project focuses on enhancing the precedents surrounding Wisconsin open records and meetings laws by Erin Gretzinger Reporter

The Wisconsin Transparency Project, a law firm specializing in enforcing Wisconsin’s open records laws, was launched in early September by a former Wisconsin Institute of Law and Liberty attorney. The Wisconsin Transparency Project focuses on enhancing the precedents surrounding Wisconsin open records and meetings laws. Project founder Tom Kamenick said that Wisconsin’s open records laws allow the public to request and view virtually any government document. But Kamenick said these vital laws are not enforced and are often violated. “The law needs some help,” Kamenick said. “It is really well written, it is pretty strong, but it’s not enforced very much. It leaves it up to individuals to bring prosecuting action about, but that’s very hard to do.” Kamenick said the history of open records laws in the U.S. date back to the Declaration of Independence with one of the grievances regarding public access to government records. Kamenick added that Wisconsin cases started in the 1800s, with the most current law written in the 70s. Despite some exceptions, such as access to social security numbers or confidential informant information, Kamenick said the law is clear that all records should be accessible by the public. During his eight years as an attorney at WILL, a conservative advocacy group, Kamenick said he dealt with many open records laws cases. He estimated he worked on over 100 cases dealing with the laws. The more Kamenick dealt with the law, the more he realized the law was not being utilized properly. Kamenick left WILL to pursue greater enforcement of open records laws. “At WILL, I couldn’t focus exclusively on open government like I wanted to,” Kamenick said. “So I decided to break off on my own to do the work here, and try to start making a difference in the state.” Kamenick said that while attorneys have the power to enforce the laws, they often do not because of time and resource restrictions. By leaving the power to individuals, Kamenick said, the expense and accessibility of counsel means these cases go unlitigated.

Kamenick said the major enforcement issues have become ingrained into how custodians handle the cases, with custodians at the forefront of violating the law through delay of access, denial of records due to invalid reasons and demands for search terms. He said that with quick, aggressive litigation of cases, the precedents will strengthen, and the attitude of the custodians will shift. “My working theory is that if we do this enough across the state, we start to change the culture of custodians,” Kamenick said. “I want to establish precedent in new areas because custodians are smart. They got city attorneys and local government attorneys who are telling them what the law says … that is kind of teaching them how to push the envelope.” Journalist and editor of The Progressive magazine Bill Lueders spoke about the importance of Kamenick’s work. Lueders deals with open records laws regularly and said the litigation of these cases will ensure people get their day in court.

With the frequent violations and the lack of challenges to the violations, Leuders said greater litigation is the solution. “If you win [cases], you create a greater likelihood of compliance in the future,” Lueders said. “People don’t like to lose cases. If they see that others are losing, they are going to be less likely to assert a sketchy reason for denying access to a record. Winning cases have a positive effect and makes others less likely to break the law.” Kamenick said the three main groups he hopes to help are journalists, advocacy groups and ordinary citizens. While Lueders said journalists are most obviously impacted, he stressed the equal importance of citizens’ rights to have access to public records, which often goes ignored. Kamenick said there is increased respect for journalists’ requests given their frequency and their leverage within the nature of their job. “I’m looking to make custodians more honest in their dealings with the public,”

Kamenick said. “I’m hoping to educate the public about what their rights are and what they can do with open records laws.” Lueders said Kamenick’s law firm meets the needs of increased enforcement surrounding these laws, tackling the problems with cost and other factors that cause the laws to go unlitigated. He said Kamenick will take on cases demonstrating the classic miscarriages of the law and will be paid for his investments of time in the settlements allotted, making the litigation of the cases affordable for citizens. Kamenick said one goal of the project is to ensure people have the power within the written law to utilize their watchdog role of government. Kamenick said he wants to help people regardless of the intent of the request, something that was not possible at WILL. “I don’t care about the personal politics of the person making the request, the records they are requesting, or the person they are requesting the records from,” Kamenick said. “I will help anyone out.”

Photo · Project focuses on increasing awareness and precedents around open records laws. Courtney Erdman November 5, 2019 • badgerherald.com • 5

NEWS

@badgerherald

Assistant professor in physics awarded 2019 Packard Fellowship

The fellowship awards a funding of $875,000, and Shimon Kolkowitz plans on using the funds for his experiments on atomic physics by Arushi Gupta Reporter

Experimental atomic physicist and University of Wisconsin assistant professor Shimon Kolkowitz recently became one of the 22 individuals to receive the Packard Fellowship for 2019. The fellowship awards a funding of $875,000, and Kolkowitz plans on using the funds for his experiments on atomic physics. In Kolkowitz’s laboratory in Chamberlin Hall sits a cloud of strontium atoms, suspended in a vacuum chamber under blue laser light, cooled to almost onethousandth of a kelvin, forming an optical atomic clock. “I have two different experiments — I have an experiment that focuses on making very, very precise optical atomic clocks which are a special type of atomic clocks,” Kolkowitz said. “These are the most precise and accurate devices that humankind has ever made, and I’m really interested in exploring new applications of these clocks, particularly in physics. I really want to learn about how we can use that precision and take advantage of it to learn about the universe.” The second experiment focuses on how atom-scale defects in diamonds can be used as nano-scale sensors. It is similar to the first experiment as it involves the same measurement protocols and ideas — the difference is that it aims at making nanoscale sensors for magnetic fields, electric fields and temperature, Kolkowitz said. Kolkowitz is currently working on developing applications of these defects and particularly applying these defects to understand some of the limitations for current quantum technology. “In this department and around the world, we are trying to develop quantum computers, quantum communication, and quantum sensors, which are applications of quantum technology,” Kolkowitz said. “They are all hindered by what’s called decoherence, which has to do with the fact that the environment kind of learns about the state of these quantum systems and in the process destroys that state.” According to Kolkowitz, the microscopic environment quantum systems are in is noisy, and that noise disturbs the states of the systems with which physicists are trying to work. Kolkowitz said the noise is mainly uncontrolled, fluctuating fields that can be magnetic or electric. 6 • badgerherald.com • November 5, 2019

“I’m interested in using these nanoscale sensors — which are themselves quantum systems, so they’re called quantum sensors — to learn about where that noise is coming from because it seems to be somewhat ubiquitous,” Kolkowitz said. “We’re having trouble understanding what it is and also having trouble getting rid of it. In order to move to, say, larger quantum computers and better quantum sensors, we need to get a handle on what that noise is and where it’s coming from.” According to Kolkowitz, the alternate approach that the scientific community has taken, for the most part, is to engineer around the noise, to accept its presence and accept that little could be done about it. Physicists are not focusing on designing systems that are less sensitive to that noise, Kolkowitz said, which limits the applications of the incredibly powerful devices that can be built. Kolkowitz, however, believes that a better strategy is to tackle the noise headon by getting rid of it to open more range of possibilities. “There’s some noise coming from the surface of these diamonds, and we still don’t understand why,” Kolkowitz said. “We’ve been studying that noise, and we had some results that we submitted just yesterday to the physics archive showing some insight into what that noise is and where it’s coming from.” Kolkowitz said he plans to use the money awarded primarily for his atomic clock experiment, which is more expensive, and the rest for the second experiment which involves atomic defects. According to Kolkowitz, a diamond is made of carbon atoms, and every site on the diamond lattice is a carbon atom. Atomscale defects can be the absence of a carbon atom on one site (vacancy defect) or the presence of an impurity such as another element instead of carbon (substitutional defect). “If you have a nitrogen next to a vacancy, you get what’s called the nitrogen vacancy centre, so one of the carbon atoms has been replaced by a nitrogen atom, and one of the nearest lattice sites is missing a carbon atom,” Kolkowitz said. “These are the defects I work with. Diamond is transparent, so we can shine light into the diamond and manipulate the state of these defects, and we can also collect light that comes out of the diamond and image these individual defects and learn about their states.”

Photo ·A cloud of millions of strontium atoms cooled and levitated using lasers inside of the optical clock in the Kolkowitz lab. Shimon Kolkowitz The Badger Herald Kolkowitz added it is hard to isolate and trap a single atom and bring it close to a surface because it will try to get stuck to the surface. The defects in nano-diamonds are usually a few nanometers from the surface of the diamond and are still fairly stable. In fact, these defects can stay for millions of years and do not require lasers or other techniques to be trapped or isolated, Kolkowitz said. Kolkowitz said atomic physics experiments require a lot of lasers, which are fairly expensive, and more expensive lasers would allow for more sophisticated and complicated research in the lab. Kolkowitz said he is also considering taking a graduate or a postgraduate student to help accelerate the progress of

his experiments. Kolkowitz added he does not have immediate plans for some of the fellowship funds yet. “As ideas come up and as we encounter roadblocks, but also as we encounter opportunities, this will give me the flexibility to navigate them and to explore new alleys and opportunities that we haven’t even thought about yet,” Kolkowitz said. Using this experiment, Kolkowitz said he hopes to explore the theory of relativity, one of Einstein’s thought experiments, discover new forces that have not been observed in physics before, and fill in the gaps that still lie in humankind’s understanding of physics and the entire universe.

NEWS

facebook.com/badgerherald

Wisconsin’s high binge drinking rate results in higher social burden According to Burden of Binge Drinking in Wisconsin study, in 2018, economic cost of binge drinking per resident mounted to $666 by Olivia Clauss Reporter

Dane County, along with other counties that are home to University of Wisconsin System schools, has the highest rate of binge drinking in the state. According to an article from Wiscontext written by Assistant Scientist at UW Applied Population Laboratory Malia Jones, urban counties also have higher binge drinking rates than rural counties in Wisconsin. According to The Burden of Binge Drinking in Wisconsin study, in 2018, there were 2,485 alcohol-related deaths, 6,151 alcohol-related crashes, 79,285 alcohol-

related hospitalizations, 1,817 underage alcohol violations in the state and the economic cost of binge drinking per resident mounted to $666. In Dane County, there were 170 alcoholrelated deaths, 5,485 alcohol-related hospitalizations, 472 alcohol-related crashes and 724 persons in an alcohol-related treatment service. UW Police Department Officer Barrett Erwin recounted an incident where two boys lifted their intoxicated male friend down the sidewalk at 4am in the morning, who seemed fine upon being checked in on but then passed out and could not regain consciousness. Erwin called 911, saving the boy’s life. Erwin said these drinking outcomes are

Photo In Dane County, the report said there were 170 alcohol related deaths. Marissa Haegele The Badger Herald

present on campus almost every night of the week, especially on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. “When it comes to binge drinking, we see that it is a component in a lot of our person and property crimes. When we make an arrest for those types of things or investigate it, we often find that alcohol is part of it. Because these things are so dangerous to people and our main priority is public safety, alcohol has become a main priority for us as well,” Erwin said. According to Jones’ article, the binge drinking rate was the highest in Dane County in Wisconsin. General trends include that the state’s urban areas also had higher drinking rates than their rural counterparts. Areas with a UW System campus also had

higher rates. Erwin said last year, UWPD issued 549 underage drinking tickets, compared to the statewide 1,817 tickets for underage alcohol violations. Nearly half of the underage tickets were given out on campus. Erwin said drinking is often seen by many as a tool to socialize. “Alcohol from an economic standpoint … it’s still legal for people over the age of 21 because people get utility of it. They find that they get enjoyment from it and it is a social tool for some folks,” Erwin said. Erwin further added as coined by the common term liquid courage, Madison might be unique in its urban setting and more lenient liquor access. UW sophomore Katelyn Miller observed similar trend and said the easy access to State Street for students further drove up drinking rate. “State Street is basically on campus. When I go out, I feel like I will almost always end up on State [Street]. It’s really convenient, because for a night out, anyone can easily get to State [Street],” Miller said. Erwin also attributed the high rates of binge drinking on campus to easy access to alcohol. Erwin said police officers used to conduct ID checks and watch for unsafe drinking behavior at Wisconsin Union, but now the union has installed card readers. “Downtown bars have declined to follow the example of the unions, which gives the students more freedoms,” Erwin said. According to the study, the economic burden of binge drinking, including increased spending on healthcare, lost productivity, crime and other costs, is often carried by the government, the taxpayers, individuals who binge drink, their families and other members in the society. In Dane County, the report said the average economic cost of binge drinking is $397.7 million. This includes $39.3 million in healthcare costs, $57.8 million in criminal justice costs, $246.1 million in lost productivity, and $36.5 in other costs. Erwin said with easier access to alcohol, students are more likely to be in situations where it is possible to drink alcohol unsafely, and consequently the campus must deal with their unsafe behavior that could contribute to personal injury, robbery, assault, or other related crimes.

November 5, 2019 • badgerherald.com • 7

NEWS

@badgerherald

As methamphetamine usage rates soar, opioids remain key in Madison Meth cases rose by over 400% since 2008, according to WDJ, but in Madison, cases in single digits as opioid cases rise, Lieutenant by Grady Gibson Reporter

As methamphetamines usage rates have soared in Wisconsin, Madison remains primarily affected by opioids. According to the Wisconsin Department of Justice, meth cases have rise by over 400% since 2008, going from 314 cases in 2008 to 1,452 in 2018. According to Lt. Erik Fuhremann, head of the Dane County Narcotics Task Force, a major contributing factor to its increased usage in the state lies in the means of production. Fuhremann said that the price of meth has gone down significantly, primarily due to Mexican drug cartels becoming highly effective at making it in labs.“It might be anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 for a pound of meth,” Fuhremann said. “I can tell you, if you went back a half a dozen years, that figure would probably be at least double, if not triple.” Fuhremann further explained that drugs tend to be cheaper the more urban an area gets. Meth is significantly more expensive in a city like Stevens Point than a city like Minneapolis, whose number No. 1 drug-related problem is meth, according to Fuhremann.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Justice, in Dane County meth-related criminal cases have gone from seven cases in 2008 to 12 in 2018. Comparatively, in Milwaukee County, the case figure dropped from 37 to 18 from 2017 to 2018. In terms of rural counties, in Douglas County there were 28 cases in 2008 alone. That figure rose to 77 in 2018. In Barron County, there were 27 cases in 2008. That figure shot to 155 in 2018. Fuhremann said that Dane County has escaped much of the issue, however. He noted that the meth cases in Dane County this year are in the single digits. There is still not a clear answer as to why Dane County is relatively untouched by it, Fuhremann said. A confounding factor for law enforcement when trying to find the answers to these questions is simply that the police are not involved until fairly late in the entire process, Fuhremann said. “Law enforcement [is] usually late to the game with emerging drugs and crimes and trends because it’s not until it becomes a problem, typically, that it gets on our radar,” Fuhremann said. Opioids have proven to be Dane County’s

bigger adversary. While Dane County sees comparatively few meth-related deaths, Fuhremann said there is “easily” a death a week in Dane County due to opioid overdoses. According to the Department of Health Services, 85 out of 100 thousand deaths were due to opioid overdoses in Dane County in 2018. Comparatively, in Milwaukee County opioidrelated deaths were 289 per 100 thousand. As far as rural counties, in both Douglas and Barron counties, fewer than five deaths per 100 thousand were attributed to opioids. In Wisconsin, synthetic opioids like fentanyl are becoming a primary concern. According to Paul Krupski, director of opioid initiatives at DHS, 2017 was the first year Wisconsin saw more deaths from synthetic opioids than former typical ones such as heroin. Additionally, DHS data showed that 61 out of 85 opioid overdoses in Dane County were from synthetics. Fentanyl, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, it is similar to morphine but can be 50 to 100 times more potent. Fentanyl is particularly dangerous because it is mostly used in conjunction with other drugs like cocaine, often unknowingly. Fentanyl is very

cheap, and drug dealers will lace their drugs with it both because it gets users more addicted and gives a better high, according to Krupski. Krupski said that the added danger of laced drugs is many opioid overdoses often are the result of people doing drugs without realizing they are laced with these synthetic opioids. Krupski added that people using heroin, however, go through a relatively common timeline: they become dependent on prescription drugs, and switch to heroin because it is much cheaper. According to the Council of Foreign Relations, most of the United States’s heroin is smuggled across the southwestern border from Mexico. Additionally, while most of the fentanyl that comes to America originates from China, it commonly reaches the states through Mexico. Fuhremann said that while law enforcement will always be a part of the system, people are beginning to recognize both that there is no easy solution, and that a more holistic approach is necessary when combating issues with illegal drugs. Read the full story at badgerherald.com.

City council signs resolution declaring racism to be public health crisis

Public Health Madison and Dane County director said based on scientific research, racism deeply affects health of communities of color by Azul Kothari Reporter

On October 15, the Madison’s city council signed on to the Wisconsin Public Health Association’s 2018 resolution declaring racism to be a public health crisis, adding to the list of 35 groups including Milwaukee County that have signed the resolution. The resolution was sponsored by 20 council members, including Mayor Satya RhodesConway. Director of Public Health Madison and Dane County Janel Heinrich said that, based on scientific research, racism deeply affects the health of communities of color. “Our systems our set up to produce chronic toxic stress, and it’s actually having an impact on our health outcomes,” Heinrich said. According the WPHA president Lieske Giese, there’s been a growing recognition that racism independently impacts health outcomes. Research documenting racism’s impact on a population’s health outcomes can be traced back over 2 decades. In 1996, sociologist Nancy Krieger published a groundbreaking study which directly tied increased incidence of hypertension 8 • badgerherald.com • November 5, 2019

among African Americans to racism. Notably, the study found that the harmful effect of self reported racial discrimination was comparable to other commonly cited reasons for high blood pressure like insufficient excercise, smoking, and a high-fat or high-salt diet. A 2003 Harvard School of Public Health report found that African Americans and other minority populations were less likely to receive life saving interventions such as coronary bypasses and kidney transplants, even after receiving access to healthcare. The health impact of racism also takes place outside of healthcare. As a field, public health aims to understand every factor that can impact a person’s ability to be healthy, Giese said. The field’s broad scope goes far beyond health in strictly clinical setting, covering issues as diverse as education, housing, transportation, the environment, and criminal justice. “An enormous focus of public health has been on instances where people are not afforded the same opportunities to be healthy,” Giese said. “Having access to a doctor or a health care provider is important, but it’s not sufficient.” According to a 2017 report from the Centers for Disease Control, life expectancy for blacks

is 3.5 years less than that for whites, and black in every age group under 65 face significantly higher mortality rates than their white counterparts. Blacks tend to experience relatively high mortality rates at younger ages for diseases that whites tend to experience at older ages, such as diabetes and heart disease. Dane County’s own statistics reflect the racial disparity in health outcomes at the national level. According to a report from the Foundation for Black Womens’ Wellness, a group that the city has partnered with to address racial disparities in low infant birth rate, babies born to black mothers are more than twice as likely to be born underweight than those born to white mothers. Dane County public health data cited in the report put the Black infant mortality at 15.4 deaths per live birth, 2.6 times Wisconsin’s overall infant mortality rate. “We’re seeing across the board in our communities of color, especially in our African American communities, negatively disparate rates of low birth weight, infant mortality, later diagnosis of cancers leading to a higher rate of death, and the list can go on and on and on,” Heinrich said. The WPHA is a membership organization

consisting of a broad coalition of academics, civil servants, and not-for-profit organizations. Under the umbrella of public health, the group works to build a healthier Wisconsin through policy initiatives and education of its members, Giese said. In July of 2017, a month before the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, North Carolina, as the topic of white supremacy was being increasingly brought up in the news cycle, the WPHA decided it had to address racism as a public health issue. “The incidents that happened in Charlottesville and the racial attacks happening across the US really raised people’s awareness that to be silent about this issue in Wisconsin was just not okay anymore,” Giese said. “Our data was bad, and there appeared to be a strengthening outwardly facing group that was actively racist.” A small group within the WPHA drafted a resolution declaring racism to be a public health crisis that winter and it was approved and published in May. “We want to improve the health of Wisconsin,” Giese said. “We are not gonna be able to do that if we don’t address racism.”

ARTSETC.

facebook.com/badgerherald

Wisconsin native brothers look to spread influence of IKE media

KJ Eichstaedt and his UW graduate brother Alex, look to extend their multimedia brand, specifically IKE Music into the Madison scene, beyond by William Lundquist ArtsEtc. Associate

Alex and KJ Eichstadt, also known as IKE Music, are two brothers from Waukesha, Wisconsin who make music together. KJ, the older of the two, graduated from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2016, and Alex graduated from UW-Madison in 2019. The brothers have been working on developing a brand for music production and sports journalism since 2014, amassing over 70,000 followers across a variety of platforms such as Twitter, Spotify and Tik Tok. The IKE brand is an abbreviation of the brothers’ last name, which KJ said was frequently mispronounced when they were in school. ”We like the simple pronunciation of the name, and it allows us to diversify it into a different thing,” KJ said. “Our big overarching goal is to create a brand, whether it’s IKE Sports, IKE Food and Recipe, IKE Fashion or IKE Music.” The IKE brothers started out making hip-hop music on pro tools, but quickly decided to change genres and renamed their group IKE Music, as they already had a podcast and website under the name IKE Sports Report. They were releasing their music on Soundcloud and YouTube, but weren’t getting the feedback

that they were looking for. “We don’t want to be hip-hop, No one would take us seriously,” KJ said. “Our image isn’t what people are looking for in that realm. We have a couple hip-hop pieces in the vault and some people want us to release them. We go back and forth on it, but we think it isn’t aligned with what industry wants.” Instead, IKE Music offers EDM style instrumentals with pop vocals, creating a sound very reminiscent of Avicii or Zedd’s music. Most of their songs are about love and relationships, and while the lyricism isn’t groundbreaking, the songs are well put together and pleasing to the ear. KJ spoke to IKE Music’s motto, and described it as “beautiful sounds that appeal to the senses.” This extends beyond the music into the group’s music videos which consist of very simple, aesthetically pleasing shots which lack complicated editing or visual effects. Another motto that IKE Music adhered to is “less is more,” and KJ said the group draws inspiration from the sleek, simple marketing of companies like Apple and Tesla. The group also draws inspiration from artists like Drake and Avicii, which makes a lot of sense considering their music is very reminiscent of both EDM and pop. “He can make music in any genre. When you have beautiful sounds, the theme of love, and

a really capable producer it turns into a really cool final product. It sounds fresh every time he releases it.” KJ said about Avicii. He also said he draws inspiration from Drake’s ability to tell stories and make catchy music. KJ and Alex work with a makeshift studio, which KJ described as “everything but a sound booth.” They move the studio around quite a bit, from their hometown of Waukesha, to the cities where they went to college, Milwaukee and Madison, and produce all the elements in their music themselves. I was quite surprised to hear this, as their music sounds extremely professional and well polished. Coming from a musical family, KJ started playing the guitar when he was in the 5th grade, and Alex played the drums. KJ focuses on crafting the melodies in the songs, while Alex handles the percussion and much of the beat making. They also work extensively with female vocalists Gabi Schiffler and Sarah Licou, who appear respectively on tracks such as “Airwave,” and their newest single, “Blue Moon.” The brothers have been using their various sports platforms, IKE Badgers, IKE Bucks, IKE Brewers and IKE Packers to promote their music, as their sports reporting has an even bigger following than their music. The group’s various Twitter accounts, where they live tweet games and produce original

graphics for the various Wisconsin sports teams blew up when following the success of the Milwaukee Bucks and Brewers, and their strategy of live tweeting Bucks games was effective as no major media outlet was really doing so at the time. As the Green Bay Packers continue their success this season, IKE Packers has been very popular on Twitter, and the group looks forward to continued success with all of their different media outlets. Be on the lookout for new content across all of IKE’s different platforms, and go stream their new single Blue Moon, out now

Photo · Inside a recording studio, part of the process in making IKE Music happen. Courtesy of flickr user Jay Miller

Kanye displays god complex, sonic versatility on ‘Jesus Is King’ Hip-Hop icon, Kanye West, continues to differentiate his discography with release of his ninth full length album, blending gospel, rap by William Lundquist ArtsEtc. Associate

Following a whirlwind of anticipation and false release dates, Kanye West finally released “Jesus Is King,” his ninth full length album on October 25. The album is heavily influenced by gospel music and christianity, and Kanye’s gospel choir group, “Sunday Service” appears all over the album. 2018 was a busy year for Kanye West, as he produced and collaborated on a number of projects like “KIDS SEE GHOSTS” with Kid Cudi, “Daytona” with Pusha T, and “Ye,” his own solo project. Each album had a distinct sound and flavor to it, and Kanye has come to be known for making albums that sound very different from one another. ”Jesus Is King” follows this trend, as the album not only sounds completely different from his previous project “Ye,” where Kanye talks about his mental health issues, but the album is totally different than anything Kanye has ever made before. It is a blend of hip-hop and gospel music, with some of Kanye’s verses sounding more like church sermons than traditional rap lyrics. Kanye is also starring in a short film/ documentary in conjunction with IMAX called “Jesus Is King,” which accompanies the release of the album. According to the film’s trailer, the film is less for the purposes of entertainment and more

of a glimpse into Kanye’s religious beliefs. ”We’re here to spread the gospel. I’m not here for your entertainment.” West says in the trailer. “I’m an evangelist, so my music, my films, every conversation, every room I go in, we’re here to save souls, save you from eternal damnation.” This quote reflects Kanye’s recent shift in public appearances since his tirade of media controversy in 2018 in which he said that slavery was a choice, came out in support of Donald Trump, and gave one hectic interview after another. Recently, however, Kanye has been trying to change his public appearance by embracing christianity, performing at Sunday services, and claiming to be devoutly religious all of a sudden. However, while Kanye’s messages may have changed, his ego and God complex are still quite apparent on “Jesus Is King.” In the song “Hands On,” Kanye raps about how he is misunderstood and judged by the christian community, and this is nothing new for Kanye who frequently complains about being judged by the music industry in his music. On the song Kanye raps, “Said I’m finna do a gospel album/ What have you been hearing from the Christians/ They’ll be the first ones to judge me/ Make it feel like nobody love me.” Grouping together the millions of people who follow the Christian faith and saying that they all dislike him is a huge generalization on Kanye’s behalf, as is saying nobody loves him. Even in a religious context, “Hands On” shows Kanye being

overly dramatic in victimizing himself, something he has been very prone to doing throughout his career. Kanye takes playing the victim a step further on “Selah” where he effectively compares himself to Jesus Christ, saying he was stabbed in the back by Judas. Again, a God complex is nothing new for Kanye, but disguising it in a song that is meant to praise God and the Christian faith seems not only blasphemous, but nonsensical. Two of Jesus Christ’s most important traits are humility and forgiveness, but throughout “Jesus Is King” Kanye seems bitter and angry at the people who criticize him. Despite the glaring issues with Kanye’s God complex on this album, “Jesus Is King” features some incredible production and interesting rhyme schemes. The album is full of triumphant gospel singing, and Kanye blends gospel music with hip-hop instrumentals in some pretty interesting ways. On the third track of the album, “Follow God,” Kanye goes off rhyming an impressive number of phrases with “Christ-like.” The song “Closed on Sunday” is one of the standouts from the album, due to the chorus which goes, “Closed on Sunday, You my Chik-fil-A,” a clever, humorous reference that Kanye is known for. The song transitions into an impressive vocal display in which Kanye sings an epic sequence of lyrics dedicated to the Christian God. My biggest issues with the album was the lack

of hard hitting 808s or bass lines, and the lack of profanity and controversial topics which Kanye usually includes in his albums. Throughout the project he seems to be trying to show everyone that he’s a changed, morally upstanding Christian, but he can’t help but come across as the same delusional and egotistical Kanye we all know. I have to give it up to Kanye for making another album that sounds completely unique from anything he’s put out before, but if you are listening to this album expecting hard hitting rap songs, you will be left disappointed.

Photo · Kanye West performs live on stage.. Courtesy of Creative Commons user evolverphoto November 5, 2019 • badgerherald.com •9

ARTSETC

@badgerherald

Highlighting Madison’s biggest music, comedy acts this November

October in Madison gave us a lot of memories in the form of entertainment, November is ready to back it up with slew of concerts, comedians by Zach Lutz ArtsEtc. Editor

With a hauntingly exciting October and beginning of November now behind us, we look ahead to the comedic and music highlights coming to Madison the rest of this November. We will waste no time. Let’s start the music acts to keep in mind this November. MUSIC The Sylvee: After kicking off November with a ZZ Top show from their 50th Anniversary Tour and an Alessia Cara show the following day, The Sylvee keeps it coming the rest of the month with a killer lineup equipped with something for everyone. Tomorrow, Nov. 6, The Sylvee presents Jimmy Eat World. This will be one of the first stops on the band’s new “Surviving,” The Tour. The tour is named after their newest album, which just dropped Oct. 18, so they won’t just be playing their early 2000s classics. Nov. 10, Illenium is performing at The Sylvee. The American EDM DJ has released three studio albums since 2016. His newest, “Ascend,” just dropped in August and features Jon Bellion in what might be Illenium’s most popular track, “Good Things Fall Apart.” The following night at the Sylvee, Nov. 11, is the venue’s biggest of the month. Lana Del Rey is performing her “Norman F-cking Rockwell” Tour. Now with six studio albums, Del Rey has amassed quite the following over the years as she expands her library of quality music. Del Rey has done particularly well with college-age kids, so The Sylvee will be rocking. Nov. 14, The Sylvee comes right back with an EDM act with Big Wild. Best known for tracks “When I Get There” and “Aftergold,” electronic producer Jackson Stell just released his newest album, “Superdream,” Oct. 4. The next two days, Nov. 15 and 16, The Sylvee welcomes The Avett Brothers. The American folk rock band has been making waves for almost two decades now and will be performing their newest album, “Closer Than Together,” which also surfaced Oct. 4. Nov. 21, Chase Rice is coming to spread his country roots to The Sylvee. The former University of North Carolina linebacker and NASCAR pit crew member is truly a jack of all trades. Rice has released three projects since 2012 and his newest single, “Lonely If You Are,” dropped in June. Coliseum at Alliant Energy Center: As always, the Alliant Energy Center has some big-time shows in November, even if it’s only a few. Nov. 9, The Chainsmokers will be joined by 5 Seconds of Summer and Lennon Stella 10 • badgerherald.com • November 5, 2019

for a high-energy show. The American DJ and production duo The Chainsmokers have released radio hit after radio hit over the past few years so you can expect a packed house despite the fact they have only released a track or two in 2019. Nov. 16, the Alliant Energy Center will back up The Chainsmokers with a rap trio of Logic, J.I.D and YBN Cordae. Logic is the most veteran of the group but J.I.D and YBN Cordae have been blowing up more recently with J.I.D’s “Dicaprio 2” album in 2018 and his appearances on Dreamville’s projects, while YBN Cordae just released his debut album, “The Lost Boy,” this summer to a lot of success. The Majestic: There are three can’t-miss shows coming to The Majestic in November. Nov. 7, Crumb comes to Madison to perform their critically-acclaimed debut album, “Jinx.” The American indie rock band is poised to follow up their studio success with electric live performances and further put themselves on the map. Nov. 16, MisterWives brings their indie

pop grooves to The Majestic. MisterWives blew up in 2015 with their album, “Our Own House.” They followed the album up with “Connect the Dots” in 2017. Though they haven’t released a project in a couple of years, their music has enjoyed the rare quality of staying power. Their latest single, “the end” came out Oct. 9. Nov. 26, EARTHGANG is coming to Madison to make The Majestic bounce. The hip hop duo just released their third proper album in September, “Mirrorland.” They have been on the come-up for a few years now and “Mirrorland” is a continuation of their unorthodox style. Comedy With Trey Kennedy, Michelle Wolf and Jim Breuer already performing this month, you may think November might be short on comedic acts, but fret not, there is plenty of comedy to go around this November in Madison. From Thursday, Nov. 7 - Nov. 9, SNL’s Chris Redd is coming to Comedy on State. The actor and comedian got his big break

in 2016 when he appeared as Hunter the Hungry in The Lonely Island’s film, “Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping.” Following his role in the movie he landed on SNL in 2017 and is now a regular cast member with a wide array of impressions. Redd continues to do stand-up as lands in TV shows and movies along the way. Sean Patton and Hari Kondabolu are the next two acts coming to Comedy on State from Nov. 14 - Nov. 16. and Nov. 21 - Nov. 23, respectively. Patton is known for his time on Comedy Central and Conan and his stand-up material revolves around making fun of his own flaws. Kondabolu is all over the media as a filmmaker, a podcast host, a stand-up comic and an actor. Kondabolu’s comedy covers sensitive topics such as race, inequality and LGBTQ matters. Nov. 24 at the Barrymore Theater, Cristela Alonzo will perform her stand-up routine. Alonzo is the first Latina woman to create, produce, write and star in her own U.S. primetime comedy, “Cristela.”

Photo ·A little more than a year since its opening, The Sylvee continues to host some of the biggest names in music this November. Courtesy of Ben Sefarbi

ARTSETC.

facebook.com/badgerherald

UW orgs unite to bring ‘Tribal Histories’ series to Union South

In honor of Native American Heritage Month, UW presents ‘Tribal Histories’ documentary series to help us understand First Nations impact, extensive history here by Paul Hermann ArtsEtc. Staff Writer

November is Native American Heritage Month, and a group of organizations on campus have come together to showcase the First Nations of Wisconsin on the big screen. Our Shared Future, Wisconsin Union Directorate Film and WUD Distinguished Lecture Series are presenting Wisconsin Public Television’s “Tribal Histories” documentary series at the Marquee in Union South throughout November. The series is divided into twelve 30-minute programs, one for each of the twelve American Indian tribes and bands within Wisconsin. They will be shown two programs at a time in Union South over six screenings. Two screenings already occurred last week, with the four remaining scheduled to start again next week Monday. Various efforts to recognize First Nations people and their sacred land that both University of Wisconsin and the state at large reside upon have occurred the past few months. Our Shared Future, an initiative to recognize the Ho-Chunk Nation and how UW occupies their land, recently dedicated a heritage marker that has been touring campus. Former School of Education assistant dean for student diversity programs, Aaron Bird Bear, was

recently named the new tribal relations director at UW. And in October, Governor Tony Evers issued an executive order to rename Columbus Day into Indigenous Peoples’ Day. The idea to show “Tribal Histories” began due to previous collaborations between the Distinguished Lecture Series and Our Shared Future. The two organizations put on a lecture in September featuring Samantha Skenandore, a tribal law expert and Ho-Chunk Nation member. Kari Fischer, the current director of the DLS student organization, saw the lecture as a large success. “We had over 1000 people at the lecture,” Fischer said. In follow-up meetings between the two groups, Fischer first heard about the WPT series from Bird Bear. “They didn’t exactly have a location for them,” Fischer said. “That’s something as a WUD committee we had access to, WUD Film and the Marquee, and we thought it would be a great location for students, community members, and faculty to come and really see these histories and what is happening around Wisconsin today with these tribes. The programs feature representatives from Wisconsin’s twelve tribes and bands recounting their oral history from pre-history to the present. These storytellers share their tribe’s language,

spiritual creation stories, their history of oppression from European settlers, and modern efforts to reclaim their land and culture. Every speaker was recorded next to an important body of water to each tribe, such as the shoreline of Lake Superior for the Red Cliff Ojibwe or the banks of the Wolf River for the Menominee. Liam Granlund, the current Director for WUD Film Committee, was approached by Fischer about airing the twelve-part series. Granlund found it important to bring the “Tribal Histories” series to the Marquee, saying “one of the biggest things I wanted to bring in as director of the film committee for this year is an accepting of more communities and a more diverse list of programming.” WUD Film has done similar partnerships with ethnic communities on campus, such as the Taiwanese Film Festival and the Polish Film Festival, but none in recent history with First Nations. “I wouldn’t mind if we did something like this every year,” Granlund said. “It’s definitely something that I don’t want to miss ever again, so I’m hoping that I can pass that on to the next director after me.” Audience members at the first screenings came for a variety of reasons, though in general to better their understanding of Wisconsin’s

First Nations. Rachel Marik, a student at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, saw it as an opportunity to be more well-informed about the communities she hopes to work in. “I am interested in one day being a doctor for an Indian Health Services facility so I’m always looking to know specifically more about Wisconsin native culture,” Marik said. Marianne Ewig, a worker at the UW Arboretum, is trying to gain a better familiarity with First Nations in order to more accurately portray their history to school groups at the Arboretum. Ewig was impressed by the screenings and stressed their importance, saying “while it’s not my specific heritage I think it’s the heritage of our country.” Both audience members and the student directors who brought “Tribal Histories” to the Union agree showing this series is an opening for more conversations and action, but more needs to be done. “Stuff like this is a good first step,” Granlund said. “This does not right the wrongs of what we did, but instead helps it be more well-known and helps us understand what went down.” He added, “I think its super important to move forward and take this opportunity for learning and be more collaborative with the First Nations on campus.”

Colombian native, Nicolas Ceron, leaving his mark on open mic nights

Nicolas Rojas Ceron, or Nico Rocer as he is known on stage, has come long way to translate his emotions into music, on stage, now finds purpose, success by Georgia Ansley ArtsEtc. Staff Writer

Wednesday nights, the Wisconsin Union hosts an open mic night for singers, songwriters, comedians and poets alike to showcase their talents in front of a live audience. Nicolas Rojas Ceron is a Terrace After Dark regular and a standout act for the way he uses his time on stage to push himself out of his comfort zone and share a part of himself with the audience. Ceron, who uses the stage name Nico Rocer, moved to the U.S. just five years ago from Colombia. At the time, Ceron knew no English and had no idea where his career was headed. One constant through all these changes, however, was the presence and influence of music. “I always wrote music and played guitar, but I never had a great voice, and I had a big issue with singing in front of people,” Ceron said. “I would write music and then throw it away. I think a lot of that stuff would have been great if I pursued it more, but it’s never too late.” Ceron started attending the Terrace After Dark’s open mic nights over the summer when the terrace chairs were still out and when Lake Mendota served as his backdrop. Today, open mic is hosted in the dimly-lit Rathskeller, almost a better fit for Ceron’s acoustic melodies and deep vocals. Ceron performed two original songs during

his set, incorporating his Colombian roots and his guitar, both featured on his EP to be released later this month. Ceron poked fun at the inspiration for his EP being similar to many other musicians before him, as it was, inevitably, about love. “I started writing for love, just laying my emotions down because a big shocker for me was understanding relationships in America,” Ceron said. “It’s not the same as in my culture ... here, it felt different, and it didn’t fit with what I thought of love. I started getting really upset about those failed situations.” Ceron’s EP is named “Stories of Love” and focuses on dealing with the frustrations associated with love lost. “My music is feelings and most of my feelings have been feelings of love or wanting to,” Ceron said. Mental health is another theme Ceron incorporates into his music. This came about after Ceron was trying to figure out who he was and what he wanted to do with his life, while simultaneously wanting to help people. “My main goal is to be able to be genuine about it and be able to have people actually enjoy and like my music and relate to it. ... “ Ceron said. “When I compose, I put my whole heart into it rather than just needing to get a song out,” Ceron said. According to Ceron, open mic nights have always been a safe place for him to express

himself, test out new sounds and meet other hard-working artists. “It’s an open space for everybody to be able to be themselves, and in the sense of music it’s important to connect with people,” Ceron said. Having a live audience started becoming invaluable to Ceron after he realized it forced him out of his comfort zone. The audience then also became another inspiration for Ceron’s music. “I used to love the idea that every time I go out, my goal is to get one person — one person that hasn’t heard my name — to like one of my songs,” Ceron said. The audience is receptive to this open mic regular, but performing in front of an audience wasn’t always as second nature as Ceron makes it look when he swayed on the stage Wednesday. “I started doing a vocal performance major, which I didn’t expect because I didn’t like my own voice,” Ceron said. “This summer, I realized maybe I can write more music and make my feelings into instruments and words and see if people like it.” Part of what gave Ceron the confidence to perform was, put simply, an open microphone. “It’s called open mic because it’s open ...” Ceron said. “That’s one great thing about America, there is a scene for everybody. ... People won’t really judge, and if they do, it doesn’t matter.” Terrace After Dark open mic nights are put on every Wednesday night from 8-11 p.m. and

operate on a first-come, first-served basis.

Photo · Nicolas Ceron, or Nico Rocer, performs live at open mic nights. Courtesy of Georgia Ansley November 5, 2019 • badgerherald.com • 11

FEATURES

@badgerherald

facebook.com/badgerherald

IN THE CROSSFIRE: COMMUNITIES RACE TO PROTECT THEIR KIDS

FEATURES

While citizens and scientists alike strive to keep themselves safe, division on vaccine efficacy comes to a head

by Nuha Dolby Print News Editor

In May 2016, Jill Promoli put her two-year-old twin sons Jude and Thomas down for a nap in their home outside Toronto, she told CNN. Though Jude had a low-grade fever, he “was laughing and singing” as he went to sleep. Two hours later, when Promoli went to check on him, he was dead. When an autopsy came back showing he had died of the flu, she knew something had to be done. According to CNN, Promoli has since started a campaign that advocates for flu prevention, including vaccines. However as she started her campaign, Promoli began receiving a barrage of online attacks from self-proclaimed “anti-vaxxers,” or people opposed to mandatory vaccines, she told CNN. Promoli said the messages were deeply hurtful, cutting her when she was struggling with her son’s passing. Some said vaccines had killed her son. But some went deeper, saying she had murdered her son and covered it up with the story. The worst ones, she told CNN, were people claiming she advocated for flu shots “so that other children would die from the shots and their parents would be miserable like she was.” The vaccine debate has swept the nation in a story where concerned parents reckon with science and what they believe has happened to their children, with namecalling and finger-pointing on every end of the spectrum. Meghan McCain, a columnist and daughter of the late Arizona Senator John McCain, tweeted in April 2019. “Dear anti-vaxers, your stupidity and arrogance are putting the lives of children in danger!” the tweet read. “It is nothing short of abominable.” User heidi0101 responded with lines of profanity: “F**k all of you and your fear,” she said. “shut [sic] the f**k up until you know what it’s like to not be allowed to make decisions about your own child.” From either stance, the distaste for the other was wildly apparent.

Close to home

Vaccines, according to the Center for Disease Control, are “[products] that [stimulate] a person’s immune system to produce immunity to a specific disease, protecting the person from that disease.” Dr. Joseph A. McBride is a physician with training in

“The vaccine provides the body with a head start, or a warm-up period, where they can have the immunology prepped and primed and ready to go. In the situation of true exposure in the future, the body is ready to react to it immediately, rather than developing immunity and waiting for that [to occur], which most often results in infection.” Dr. Joseph McBride, Physician with training in adult, pediatric infectious diseases at UW Health 12 • badgerherald.com • November 5, 2019

adult and pediatric infectious diseases at University of Wisconsin Health. He discussed how vaccines affect the human body and immune system. “Essentially, what you are doing is you are exposing the body to a germ, oftentimes a similar germ that’s less virulent or dangerous, or the same germ that’s been altered in a way so it can’t be as pathologically dangerous. [This is] so the body can recognize the germs and then combat it upon seeing it a second time in the situation of being exposed,” McBride said. “The vaccine provides the body with a head start, or a warm-up period, where they can have the immunology prepped and primed and ready to go. In the situation of true exposure in the future, the body is ready to react to it immediately, rather than developing immunity and waiting for that [to occur], which most often results in infection.” There are vaccinations for hundreds of diseases, but not everyone needs every available vaccine. McBride noted that some vaccines have more relevance, especially to the college-aged demographic. McBride was particularly concerned about the meningitis vaccine. “Prior to going away to college, military or a young adult working, adult recommendations include the meningitis vaccine. Meningitis is caused by a number of different organisms, but a more common one is called meningococcus, or neisseria meningitidis, and there’s a lot of different serostrains or serotypes of this germ. Usually, most people get vaccinated with one vaccine that covers four different types (A, C, W, and Y) of meningococcus,” McBride said. He added that the concern is UW-centric: there have been outbreaks on campus already. As of late, a new strain of meningitis has been predominantly found in the U.S., serotype B. There was an outbreak of meningitis type B just a few years ago at UW, McBride said. “So, a vaccine that would be really recommended would be a meningococcal B vaccine, which many people don’t have by the time they go to college or more generally young adulthood,” he said. Dr. William Kinsey, University Health Services Director of Medical Services, and UW-Madison Chief Health Officer, noted the importance of vaccines, and how UHS offers them to protect students. According to Kinsey, UHS offers influenza vaccines to students each year for no cost. UHS offers vaccination clinics at various locations on campus where no appointments are needed and walk-ins are welcome. “We also offer all the other traditional vaccines in our Community Health department at UHS,” Kinsey said, noting that the other traditional vaccines do come with a fee. McBride also discussed the human papillomavirus vaccine. He said that many “young, healthy adults” choose not to get this specific vaccine — which protects against the sexually transmitted disease — or aren’t aware they should get it. Additionally, McBride mentioned hepatitis vaccines, with Kinsey also suggesting tetanus vaccines, among others. “Long story short, there are many vaccines that would

benefit a lot of people, especially young, healthy 18-to22-year-olds, taken on an individual basis to meet their individual needs. And the CDC really tries to make these recommendations across the board for most people, and I think they’re really accurate from a public health standpoint,” McBride said. “Nevertheless, you really have to talk to an individual to determine what their risks are.”

“Long story short, there are many vaccines that would benefit a lot of people, especially young, healthy 18-to22-year-olds, taken on an individual basis to meet their individual needs. And the CDC really tries to make these recommendations across the board for most people, and I think they’re really accurate from a public health standpoint,” McBride said. “Nevertheless, you really have to talk to an individual to determine what their risks are.” Dr. Joseph McBride, Physician with training in adult, pediatric infectious diseases at UW Health

Developing discord

Del Bigtree, however, has concerns. Bigtree is the CEO of the anti-vaccination group Informed Consent Action Network. He rose to prominence in the movement after producing the film “Vaxxed: From Cover-Up to Catastrophe.” The film discusses an alleged cover-up by the CDC of research that suggested African-American males under 3 years of age who received the MMR (measles, mumps rubella) vaccine were at higher risk for autism. Bigtree said that his film was kicked out of the Tribeca Film Festival. He noted that this “ended up being great,” though, as it proffered international coverage and attention. He claims there had been bomb threats in theaters showing the film and medical personnel who were threatened if they wanted to watch it. According to the Immunization Coalition, the film made over $1 million. Bigtree said that what led him down the anti-vaccination route wasn’t an inherent distrust of science. “I was a producer on a daytime talk show, The Doctors, for six years. I was a part of producing one of the first ever medical talk shows, won an Emmy award working for CBS, doing nothing but celebrating the best that science has to offer, the most cutting-edge techniques. I scrubbed into ORs and stood with a camera and shot miracle workers doing amazing surgeries,” Bigtree said. “So to begin with, I’m a fan of science. I want to make that

clear, that what brings me to this issue isn’t a crystal ball.” Bigtree brought up a multitude of concerns regarding the safety of vaccines, links to autism, government coverups of research and the silencing of voices like his that lead to an alternative pathway. He said that perhaps most notably, many scientific breakthroughs started with scientists going against the grain, like those speaking out against vaccinations. Amber Psket, the co-founder of vaccine-choice group Wisconsin United for Freedom, said that her personal convictions aren’t necessarily what drives her group or those leading it. “[My] belief regarding vaccines is irrelevant. Wisconsin United for Freedom supports health care choice,” Psket said. “When individuals and parents are not permitted to exercise their human and informed consent rights and are forced to accept a vaccine … against their will, they will speak out to defend their fundamental human rights.” Psket also noted that public ridicule of vaccine-choice groups has affected her and those she works with, becoming tantamount to bullying and sometimes outright disrespectful. “Many in government and in the media have ridiculed parents of vaccine injured children and labeled them as ‘anti-vaccine’ or ‘anti-science,’” Psket said. “We have anti-bullying campaigns in our schools and laws against hate speech directed at minorities, and yet it has become socially acceptable to discriminate and verbally attack anyone who questions vaccine safety, including the families and individuals who consented to vaccination and were ultimately harmed by these products.” As NBC News reported, however, some cases of

“Sadly, the discourse around vaccines has been devolving in recent years. While we have been working alongside families who believe vaccines cause harm there has always been a common ground and civility in the discussions. Our organization firmly believes that people have the right to ask questions about vaccines and we treat those who ask questions with dignity, offering science based responses.” Amy Pisani, Executive director for Vaccinate Your Family

vaccines. As she tells it, her daughter passed away 36 hours after a checkup, at which she received multiple vaccinations. This is a horrific tragedy, one any parent fears. The death of a child, especially a young baby like Evee, is always painful. But, her local medical examiner found something wrong with the narrative at hand. According to an autopsy conducted by first responders, vaccines had nothing to do with Evee’s death: she was found to have accidentally suffocated while sleeping with her mother.

“With the proliferation of disinformation on the internet and social media, it is imperative that individuals seeking information about vaccines … conduct due diligence to determine the source of information. Question the citing of research offered by those who are opposed to vaccines to determine if the studies they quote are published in legitimate science based journals rather than basement publishers.” Amy Pisani, Executive director for Vaccinate Your Family But, Clobes’ claims are not the only ones to have been deemed inaccurate. Over the last dozen years, the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, established to compensate people injured by vaccines, has received approximately two claims for every million immunizations involving the measles vaccine, according to The New York Times. Only around half of those claims were dismissed because the program found evidence that “showed the vaccine was not responsible for the injury.” Amy Pisani, Executive Director for the nonprofit Vaccinate Your Family, discussed how she approaches those with concerns about vaccines. “Sadly, the discourse around vaccines has been devolving in recent years. While we have been working alongside families who believe vaccines cause harm there has always been a common ground and civility in the discussions,” Pisani said. “Our organization firmly believes that people have the right to ask questions about vaccines and we treat those who ask questions with dignity, offering science based responses.”

Moving the needle

supposed vaccine-injured children that have become poster cases wind up being something else. Evee Clobes, who passed away in March 2019, is featured on billboards in Minnesota with taglines like “HEALTHY BABIES JUST DON’T DIE.” Her mother Caitlin Clobes is now a staunch activist against mandatory

Bigtree said that when it came to silencing voices, his own was involved, noting that it recently became harder to see his film and where he was coming from. According to Mashable, it was taken off of Amazon earlier this year. “Does that sound American?” Bigtree said. “As far as I’m concerned, any society that started censoring and burning books … when you take down the largest library

in the world [Amazon], and say they cannot have a movie like ‘Vaxxed’ on it, you have a real problem.” McBride said it is important to remember that immunization rates are falling in Wisconsin, and some sort of action should be taken soon. Certain states, according to McBride, such as Mississippi, California and West Virginia, only offer medical exemptions to legally mandated vaccines. He called those states “on the high front.” Wisconsin, though, offers a medical exemption, a religious exemption and a personal conviction exemption, he said. “Essentially, what that [personal conviction exemption] says is that someone can sign this and say ‘I have really strong feelings, and I don’t want to have my child vaccinated,’ and then they can go into school,” McBride said. McBride detailed that the majority of children who go into school without complete vaccines are using the personal conviction exemption. The minority of people have these medical recommendations to not get vaccinated. Stephanie Schauer, Immunization Program Manager with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, confirmed that immunization rates are down in the Wisconsin school setting. “5.3% of children had a waiver … and only 1.1% of children were completely unvaccinated last school year,” Schauer said. “However, it is important to note that the waiver rate has increased over the last 20 years, and this means that fewer children are fully protected.” Pisani said looking at where information comes from is key when researching the subject of vaccines. “With the proliferation of disinformation on the internet and social media, it is imperative that individuals seeking information about vaccines … conduct due diligence to determine the source of information,” Pisani said. “Question the citing of research offered by those who are opposed to vaccines to determine if the studies they quote are published in legitimate science based journals rather than basement publishers.” And that questioning may very well be life-saving. Katie Bellovich, aged three, developed a mild fever in March 2000. While she showed no other symptoms of any particular illness, her mother was concerned and kept her home from school the next day. During that day, Bellovich seemed fine and played happily with her mother, but that changed again the next day. Waking up vomiting with severe abdominal pains, the child showed clear signs of troubled breathing when she went to lay down. That Thursday morning, with cold hands and a gray face, Bellovich was admitted to a hospital and became lethargic within thirty minutes. Due to blood flow issues, her knees turned black. Doctors found her condition so severe they opened up her chest to conduct manual heart compressions. For an hour, doctors did their best, but Bellovich tragically passed away. When an autopsy was conducted, Bellovich had died of muscular inflammation around her heart. The cause? Influenza B, or the flu. Bellovich hadn’t been vaccinated.

November 5, 2019 • badgerherald.com • 13

OPINION

@badgerherald

Sea levels are rising — but faith in Wisconsin politics should too Potential bipartisan support for climate change action will prove meaningful, productive for climate change policies by Katie Hardie Columnist

The hearts of red Wisconsinite Republicans are slowly but surely turning green as they begin to show support for climate-friendly technology. Scott Coenen, who acts as Executive Director of the Wisconsin Energy Forum, gave an interview to The Cap Times last month providing an explanation for the sudden change of heart. According to Coenen, Republicans are approaching the topic of switching to renewable technology from a fiscal perspective which still satisfies the party’s orientation. “We come at this from a free-market point of view — a conservative point of view,” Coenen said. “What we are seeing as far as what’s coming next is the fact that these technologies are costeffective.”

Conservatives are correct — renewable energy is a smarter option and it’s about time more people around the country start believing it. For some background, renewable technology makes energy possible in a way that does not exploit the earth. It has proven to be cheaper than fossil fuel and natural gas energy, it doesn’t contribute to the greenhouse effect, and you get a proverbial pat on the back from Mother Nature by using it. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, investing in renewable energy can also be smart fiscally, as it has the potential to significantly help this country’s economy. According to an IRENA report in 2016, if renewable technology’s share doubles on economic growth, welfare, employment and international trade by the year 2030, then U.S. gross domestic product could increase by 0.6%. In the same report it also says social welfare would

increase by 3.6%. So obviously, the adoption of renewable technology would be helpful and smart in several ways. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. For years, climate change has gotten stuck in a tug-of-war between Democrats and Republicans. While it is an issue that affects all of us, it’s something that’s become disregarded as a party issue and nothing else, which has stalled progress. In his interview, Coenen addressed this idea as the main issue stymieing climate action. “Climate is without a doubt the most divisive reason to support renewable energy,” Coenen said. Because climate action won’t happen with only one party rooting for its success, it is crucial for there to be bipartisan approval. United support in Wisconsin — a split-ticket, swing state — could show others the impossible is indeed quite

Photo · As climate change movement gains momentum, politicians on both sides of the aisle are growing to support policy changes. Herald Archives 14 • badgerherald.com • November 5, 2019

possible. Wisconsin could set a positive example and lead our country’s polarized system with grace, showing if we really wanted to, we could put the planet’s health first without anybody getting hurt. Additionally, if both party systems are driving toward a common goal, then the goal is twice as likely to be achieved. Not to mention the GOP has also traditionally had more influence over big business corporations — Republican endorsement will translate into corporation support as well. Again, like Coenen said, the angle Republicans are playing is smart because large companies that have the power to set renewable trends are money-driven, and conservatives have proven taking on renewable energy is economically rewarding. Wisconsin, in its unique split-ticket state status, makes the possibility of bipartisan support for climate action even better than normal. If the public is splitting their ticket anyway, the rise of a bipartisan issue could gain a huge amount of support because the public was not a set “red or blue” in the first place. Since people are willing to move over party lines more fluidly, they will also be more likely to engage in heterogeneous discussion. A study done by the American Political Science Review showed how politically and demographically diverse discussion actually widens perspectives, increases tolerance and improves civic participation in politics. With this new breakthrough, yes, a lot could happen in Wisconsin because of the sheer fact there could finally be a majority supporting climate action. But also the idea of bipartisanship in such a divisive issue means so much more in the communications world. As Abraham Lincoln once alluded to in a more eloquent way — with unity, we can get things done. This bipartisanship has leveled the playing field in so many ways. See, climate change is always covered a certain way, with a scientist and a disbeliever on opposite sides. Balanced coverage works against the issue, giving people the impression both arguments have equal value. This is harmful because people shouldn’t get to disagree. People shouldn’t get to have opinions on facts. Misleading balance in climate change coverage has turned climate action into a debate, and that moved it to the back burner. But now with bipartisan shifting the lines of priority, it will completely change the course of communication on this issue. Republicans moving a little to the left on this issue could be the best thing to happen for this state, the country, and, of course, good ol’ Mother Earth. Katie Hardie (khardie@wisc.edu) is a freshman studying nursing.

OPINION

facebook.com/badgerherald

Board of Regents’‘protection’ of free speech actually does exact opposite

Integrity of debate, free speech vital to healthy democracy — Republicans and Democrats agree policy is detrimental to government by Harry Quick Columnist

Free speech is a right promised to all Americans through the Constitution and is an integral part of democracy which must be protected. But too often, people have the wrong idea about free speech. In extreme instances, they believe it gets them off scot-free every time they commit the crime of hate speech. More often, though, pleading one’s right to free speech allows people to spout alternative facts and baseless theories without consequences. Why is this wrong? Why isn’t this free speech? To understand that, we must examine the roots of free speech. In Western society, the legal protection of free speech stems from the Enlightenment movement. The Enlightenment was brought about by a revolution in science which caused a mix of conflicting ideas and academic debate never seen before. The debate in the international scientific community led to the discussion and study of nonscientific realms of knowledge — namely, society and politics. Enlightenment thinkers believed in rationalism, the idea that nothing could be accepted on faith and everything had to be backed up with reason. And they believed through rationalism, they could move forward humanities understanding of everything, creating better societies and better people. These were the ideals the United States was founded upon. Our founders believed the legal protection of free speech would engender the debate and discussion of ideas. Debate tears apart bad ideas, preventing them from being implemented in any way. Debate also validates good ideas because when no one can find fault with an idea, there is no reason not to implement it. Everyone who enters a discussion — with either good or bad ideas — comes out better informed and with an understanding of what the best plan of action is. In a democratic form of government, we want debate because it makes the ideas government implement better. Free speech is a tool that improves governance. The legal protection of free speech was created with the intention of encouraging people to back up with evidence their ideas in debate, free of the fear of consequences. It was not created to let people yell anything from misleading statements to outright hate speech. The University of Wisconsin Board of Regents has proposed policy that would mandate suspension or expulsion of students who “repeatedly disrupt free speech on campus.” This was encouraged by efforts in the State Legislature by Republicans to protect free speech. But the measures taken will only discourage free speech. The conservative Charles Koch Institute even recently voiced its objection to the policy in an official statement. “Punishing students for their expression is not how you promote free speech,” the statement said.

Photo · Board of Regents must consider the impact of their policy, think critically about who this policy protects. Marissa Haegele The Badger Herald “Imposing mandatory minimum punishments without even defining for students what actions will subject them to that punishment will stifle campus dialogue rather than enrich it.” It is my hope that this influential conservative group will convince other conservatives to encourage more free speech. The ability to speak freely is not a political issue — it is the basis of democratic politics, and therefore should be promoted by everyone who takes part in them. Those who impede free speech pose a danger to democracy. I believe this is why the rule has been proposed. The Board, much like the Koch Institute, wants free speech protected from people who impede it. Their intentions are good, but there are three major issues with it. One, disruption can take many forms and is sometimes justified — and no formal definition of disruption has been created. There is no firmly stated red line where one crosses from a heated discussion between two people, to one person disrupting the other person’s ability to speak.

This is a problem because students will be discouraged from debate if they don’t know at what point they run the risk of getting kicked out of school. Debate is never something that should be discouraged at an academic institution. Two, disruption is a form of protest and banning it is undemocratic. I would support the proposal if it stated in clear terms the only forms of disruption banned were physically disrupting someone speaking freely. Otherwise, the rule could be misinterpreted to stop peaceful protest by students, of people they don’t agree with. This would create a culture where we all keep our opinions to ourselves, further isolating people who hold different beliefs. Third, some forms of speech deserve to be disrupted. Lies, misleading statements and hate speech should not be protected under any circumstance. People saying these things will scream at the top of their lungs that “Free speech is my right!” These people use their ability to speak freely to insult and mislead, not to debate with the intention of finding the best ideas. Their rude and/or derogatory words should get

them punished for disturbing the peace. Will this rule protect hate-filled people who hide behind their false notion of free speech? That should not be its intention. But it is possible that students rightfully opposing a man spouting hate speech could be accused of disruption of free speech by that same man when the police show up, getting them kicked out of school, and getting him out of whatever fine or imprisonment he actually deserved. While this is unlikely, the prospect would discourage students from confronting these abusers of free speech. This rule would be detrimental for UW. It would reduce dialogue, diversity of ideas and debate — the whole point of free speech — while emboldening those who misuse free speech to spread hate and lies. Board of Regents: Do you really want to create a campus where students are afraid to voice their opinions? Harry Quick (hfquick@wisc.edu) is a freshman studying economics. November 5 2019 • badgerherald.com • 15

OPINION

@badgerherald

Improving UW culture only possible by confronting uncomfortable past

University history with racial tension must be understood before progress toward addressing any issues will be possible by Angela Peterson Director of Public Relations

Tucked away unassumingly on the fourth floor of Steenbock Library, the University Archives is starting to teem with life — and for good reason. The archives are home to materials exclusively pertaining to the University of Wisconsin, from yearbooks to student organization records to faculty correspondence. Some files, like those related to the Dow Chemical incidents, are highly processed and have been viewed by many historians and the general public. Other boxes of information sit unprocessed, with papers upon papers researchers have yet to look through. Like many students, I am currently enrolled in a class which requires that I use the archives for a project. I often make the trek across campus from my normal cave in Humanities to see what new materials I can learn from that day. In the past couple weeks, I’ve noticed the archives absolutely explode with people and the carts of boxes they are using to uncover the untold stories of UW’s past. Learning about UW’s history is essential to understanding the sociocultural ecosystem one finds themselves thrust into for their tenure as a student. When someone enters elementary school, for example, it is almost customary for curriculums to include lessons about the school’s closest city and its cultural history, as well as broader state histories and national histories. Even though the students live there, it is recognized that students must learn about the history of the place they find themselves in so that they made make informed decisions to impact the world around them. While orientation programs work to help UW students understand the campus environment and provide the building blocks for everyday behaviors in Madison, this type of orientation cannot adequately help students understand the sometimes amazing, sometimes utterly disgusting cultural history of UW. This disconnect directly leads to situations where students do not share a mutual cultural understanding, thereby limiting interaction and inclusion on campus. For example, take the recent movement and demands from the Student Inclusion Coalition’s response to the UW Homecoming Committee’s video and other acts of exclusion on campus. While it is easy to remember histories of national exclusion narratives, particularly the Civil Rights era, which is so heavily embedded in American primary education, UW’s narratives of exclusion and appropriation do not pervade into the general student population. The understanding of these narratives currently only comes with 16 • badgerherald.com • November 5,, 2019

one’s own exploration or by stumbling into a class specifically designed to look at these histories. Campus-based incidents support notions that inclusion and acceptance of students from all backgrounds has never found solid footing at this university. Take the elimination of all anti-discrimination clauses in universityapproved housing units in the 1950s. At first glance, this motion, taken jointly from student and faculty actions, seems to indicate UW’s progressive nature and commitment to inclusion from a recent past. UW created this clause before most other universities in the country, after all. Studying this event, however, it is clear student attitudes and reactions prevented the clause from actually ending discriminatory and exclusive practices in UW student life. Fraternities and sororities, the main housing bodies impacted by this new clause,

continued to have almost exclusively white memberships from the elimination of this clause until the present day. Even in 1957, it seemed unanimous among students that legislative changes could only change what was on paper and, while providing the impetus for some cultural change, was not successful in including students on campus. In a 1957 Inter-fraternity Council Anti-Discrimination Committee report available at the archives, one author suggests achieving an inclusive student culture can only be created by the students themselves. Now, when there are protests specifically including faculty and staff members who are directly involved with the student life on campus among the protestors’ ranks, this sentiment can’t seem more accurate. While university-led initiatives lining SIC’s demands can cause the impetus for cultural change on campus, history tells us changes in student’s

Photo · Past controversy provides context for current tensions, guides culture toward progress. Herald Archives The Badger Herald

attitudes towards inclusion are needed, and those changes in student attitudes can only be created by the students themselves. So what does this mean for the current campus climate? Certainly, it is not a call to sit back and do nothing. Perhaps the first step is to become acquainted with campus history and learn what has failed in the past to increase acceptance and inclusion on campus. When one reads these histories, they can spark an internal debate of one’s own bias and exclusion, igniting personal solutions to contribute to an inclusive and welcoming campus climate. Maybe it is time for UW to consider educating its students beyond breadth and Comm B requirements and educate them about the history of their institution, for better or for worse. Angela Peterson (apeterson@badgerherald.com) is a senior studying history and music.

One year out from 2020 election: Where are we?

College Democrats: We will prioritize diverse representation College Republicans: GOP fights for individuals — not a party Last February, when the Wisconsin State Legislature came together to recognize Black History Month, there was a problem. The resolution drafted by the Wisconsin Legislative Black Caucus honored Colin Kaepernick, the Milwaukee-born NFL quarterback famous for kneeling during the national anthem in protest of police brutality. In what State Rep. Dave Crowley, D-Milwaukee, called “a slap in the face” to the Caucus, the all-white Republican majority forced the name’s removal. Earlier this month, as the legislature voted on accommodations for paralyzed State Rep. Jimmy Anderson, D-Fitchburg, provisions for basic dignity were turned into a political battleground. Republican lawmakers, after hearing the lawmaker himself speak movingly on the months of therapy he needed following ulcers that were the result of spending too long in a wheelchair during an overnight session, broke down the rule changes accommodating his disability and mixed them with amendments to benefit themselves politically. The nation isn’t just on the cusp of the 2020 elections, but also the political awakening of the most diverse generation the country has ever seen. As voters take to the polls to demand a government that reflects and represents today’s America, the Democratic party believes they deserve better than white lawmakers telling black Americans how to celebrate their history, or able-bodied lawmakers telling disabled Americans what their needs are. As America’s demographics change, the Democratic Party has changed to reflect them. Over the past two decades, the portion of Democratic registered voters who are black, Hispanic, AsianAmerican or another non-white race has increased from 24% to 39% in 2019. On the other hand, 83% of Republican registered voters are white. It is as important, however, that the politicians reflect the country and their voters — it would be pointless to brag about winning diverse votes if the party wasn’t going to elect diverse politicians or celebrate minority leadership. Democrats have pushed the boundaries of America’s traditionally homogenous institutions, and 2018’s historic blue wave swept a truly diverse caucus into office — people of different colors, creeds, and orientations, standing together resolved to strive for progress. In the entirety of Congress, an overwhelming 90% of racial and ethnic minority members are Democrats — and laudable as the tireless efforts of the activists

that made the Democratic Party what it is today are, it’s also unfortunate that in a two-party nation, only one seems committed to looking like the nation it seeks to lead. Diverse representation does not stop only at elected officials — the Democratic party is putting forward strong plans for benefiting minority communities. On the front of LGBTQ+ rights, May 2019 saw the passage of the Equality Act — a bill amending the Civil Rights Act to protect on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation. In addition, in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, candidates are shining a historic spotlight on disability advocacy. According to an article in The Hill, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates 20% of Americans have some form of disability. The Democratic Party stands committed to ensuring that these people’s challenges and dignity do not go unnoticed. RespectAbility, a non-partisan advocacy group for disability rights, have praised 15 of the Democratic presidential candidates for including accurate captions on campaign videos for those hard of hearing. Candidates have also used sign language at campaign events and vowed to appoint disabled cabinet members — a critical step forward in bringing stakeholders in the political process to the table, not as spectators or simply the subjects of outreach, but as leaders in their own right accorded the respect they’ve always deserved and showing the boldness they’ve always demonstrated. While the Democratic Party works to be inclusive at both the national level and campus level, it’s important to recognize that more can always be done — and as an organization, College Democrats of UWMadison stands open to the voices of those seeking to create a more welcoming and diverse organization. Each year sees fantastic acts of self-advocacy on this campus and around the world by people of all backgrounds, and each new voice demanding justice, each new face unashamed on the political stage, are not things we will turn away from. Democrats know we stand stronger together — and no matter who you are, we’d be overjoyed to have you stand with us. Ethan Carpenter (emcarpenter2@wisc.edu) is a junior majoring in political science. He is the press secretary for the College Democrats of UW-Madison. Abby Schinderle (schinderle@wisc.edu) is a sophomore studying journalism and political science. She is the deputy press secretary for the College Democrats of UW-Madison.

In an ever-increasing factional society of identity politics, the Republican Party holds true to its roots of being a coalition of individuals with ideas, not monolithic groups of characteristics. The Republican Party is a big tent. We’re made up of individuals with different ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, nationalities, incomes, education levels, etc. While recognizing and appreciating the rich culture and dignity of every individual, our party accepts these differences we have as what makes us so great. As Democrats continue to narrow their welcome to the most myopic radical left groupthink, Republicans are adopting more and more moderates and lapse leftists. Centrist Democrats do not recognize their party anymore. These moderates do not believe in the current Democratic archetypes of universal healthcare, a socialist economy or mandatory confiscation of firearms. Even Hillary Clinton once said a single-payer healthcare system “will never, ever come to pass.” Not only are Democrats straying further to the left, but they are excluding the very people who hold moderate beliefs. Those who used to be members of the Democratic Party are banished if they do not agree with every minute extreme policy presented. Democratic “tolerance” only extends to people who agree with them and hold the same monolithic pedagogy. Difference of opinion is not a foundation for compromise and progress to Democrats, but a threat needed to be squelched as proved by the sentiments of Maxine Waters, Nancy Pelosi and so many other leaders on the left who encourage confrontation and ostracism of people in everyday life with different ideological persuasions. Conservative individualism, promoted by the Republican Party, mitigates homogeneous ideology by treating all people as dignified individuals with closely held ideals. This allows the right to appreciate all voices by being open to hearing innovative ideas that have the potential to better our nation instead of rejecting people after making abject assumptions about them based on the appearance of their character.

Because the Republican Party is not an exclusionary facet of identity politics, its conservative coalitions are diverse and growing. Traditionalists follow the political philosophy of Aristotle and Edmund Burke by acknowledging natural law as an objective moral order that should be recognized and implemented by government and society and only governments which coincide with natural law are benevolent. Libertarians stress liberalization and the unrigging of the economy by promoting the free market with little government intervention. Libertarians are known for being much more socially liberal than the Christian right, which supports socially conservative policy that reflects Christian theology. The coalition of moderates is continually growing within the Party due to the reactionary exodus from the Democratic Party’s sprint to the radical left. So many more coalitions reveal themselves under the big tent of the Republican Party, but one may ask how such a diverse group of people get together to unify under conservative principles. How do people with juxtaposed characteristics, whether it be urban or rural, highly educated or minimally educated, theists or atheists, pro-Trump or anti-Trump conservatives come together under one roof? What unites all people of the Republican Party is not having the same culture or heritage, or even the same income or education. But rather, the consolidating force is the pursuit of a better life of all people in our nation, even those whom we disagree with. The Grand Old Party recognizes the complex facets of our world and understands that diversity of thought can lead to innovative compromises that benefit all. If you wish to join the party that promotes compromise among people of different ideological persuasions instead of homogeneous group-think, vote for the Republican Party in the next election. Emily Smith is a junior majoring in political science and philosophy. She is the Grassroots Liaison of the College Republicans of UW-Madison. November 5, 2019 • badgerherald.com • 17

SPORTS

@badgerherald

Men’s Basketball: Diving deep into Badgers’ prospects for 2019-2020

Outside of Trice, Davison, questions remain surrounding exactly who will consitute core of Badger squad in season slated for recovery by Danny Ziolkowski Staff Writer

Ethan Happ has been the unquestioned leader of the University of Wisconsin men’s basketball team over the past three seasons. As a two-time All-American and one of the best players in college basketball, Happ established himself as a cornerstone for the Badgers. His senior year was one of hope, frustration and ultimate disappointment after earning a five seed in the NCAA tournament only to be upset in the first round by Oregon. Coming into 2019-20, Wisconsin is still in search of an identity. There’s so many possible storylines — pretty and ugly alike — as we get closer to that November 8th season tip-off. Is Nate Reuvers what Happ was to Frank Kaminsky? Can a Brad Davison-D’Mitrik Trice backcourt make the leap? How good can Aleem Ford and Kobe King be and when

will we start to see it? Will the NCAA ever free Micah Potter? These are the questions the selection committee will be asking all season long, because while this Wisconsin team has experience, they’ve never had to do it without Happ. The national media doesn’t have much faith in this team either, as Wisconsin failed to receive even one vote for the preseason AP Top 25. Reuvers has shown he has the basic tools to be a star in the Big Ten, but hasn’t quite put it all together yet. Throughout his career, the 6 foot 11 inch junior has faced questions about how his thinner frame minimizes his impact down on the block. The forward has always been a great helpside defender and also shoots the three at a 38% clip. Now listed at 240 pounds — up from from 210 last year — Reuvers should be able to hold his own against stronger opponents and build on his 1.8 blocks per game last year. Normally big men work from the inside

and try to add a three-ball to their arsenal later on, but in his case it’s about being willing and able to step inside the arc and put a body on someone. Head Coach Greg Gard had it easy last year. He’d start every possession by dropping it down low to his All-American workhorse and letting him work his magic while the guards got open looks from offball screens. But those days are over, and while the Davison-Trice tandem will remain solid on the defensive end, at least one of them is going to have to up their offensive output. Barring a big leap from Reuvers, Brad Davison will be the new face of the Wisconsin Badgers. His pesky defensive prowess and sometimes annoying charge-taking has made him a fan favorite since the day he stepped on campus. But he’s not the best at creating shots for himself or others. Davison averaged a mere 1.8 assists per contest last year and isn’t one of those guys

Photo · In season slated for recovery, Badgers will have to prove they can get job done in Big Ten with limited resources Daniel Yun The Badger Herald 18 • badgerherald.com • November 5, 2019

you can rely on get a bucket whenever he wants. He shot 35% from three — but again, a lot of those looks were open because all the attention was on Happ. Trice is the same in many ways. The redshirt junior shoots the three at a high clip at — you guessed it — 38%, but struggles fighting through contact as a smaller guard. Height is obviously not something Trice can work on, but utilizing his quickness as the smallest man on the floor is something Gard needs to emphasize. Another guard who may be able to contribute is redshirt junior Trevor Anderson. The Stevens Point native has been waiting for his chance for two years now since transferring from Green Bay and tearing his ACL. As a freshman with the Phoenix, Anderson started 20 games and put up 9.8 points per game. Things have been tough on the guard to say the least, but Wisconsin fans should see him back to full strength this season. Moving on through the roster, the Badgers don’t necessarily have a ton of wing depth, but breakout seasons from Ford and King could help cover that up. Their numbers haven’t always stood out, but it’s easy to see the potential oozing in the four-star recruits. At 6 foot 8 with arms that span for miles, Ford may have the most potential of anyone on the roster because of his sniper from downtown. Two years ago he shot over 40% from range, and while that plummeted down to 29% last season, the shot is still there. To really expand his game, however, Ford actually needs to step in from the arc. By hovering around the outside, the redshirt junior fails to utilize his size effectively, and a little more aggression would be beneficial to the whole Badger offense. If you’ve followed the Badgers the last few years, you know about the Kobe King hype. The redshirt sophomore from La Crosse has shown flashes of greatness, but knee problems seem to limit his athleticism a bit after missing the 2017-18 season. When healthy, King is one of Wisconsin’s most dangerous weapons on both ends, and could be the guy with the most to gain in 2020. Last but not least is the Potter situation. The redshirt junior started 16 games in two seasons with The Ohio State, but transferred to UW before last season. And while he sat out all last season, the NCAA still deemed him ineligible to play the first half of this season. On the bright side, the 6 foot 10 forward will get to bring his defense and rebounding to the Badgers starting Dec. 21st. This season is eerily similar to the 2015-16 campaign after Kaminsky and Sam Dekker left. it’s all about who’s going to step up and produce. If no one is up to the challenge, the 2019-2020 campaign won’t be pretty.

SPORTS

facebook.com/badgerherald

Women’s Hockey: Daryl Watts’ journey to Wisconsin Hockey star Junior forward out of Toronto has quickly become a fan-favorite in Madison following her transfer from Boston College by Harrison Freuck Sports Editor

Daryl Watts started playing hockey around the age of 4, following in the footsteps of her older brother Jackson. Little did anybody know that Watts would become one of the greatest players in women’s collegiate hockey. Beginning her career at Boston College in the 2017-18 season, Watts became the first freshman player to ever earn the Patty Kazmaier Award March 2018, thanks to an NCAA-leading 82 points in just 38 games, an insane 2.16 points per game. Watts credits the success of that season to former teammate Caitrin Lonergan, but she also said that she wasn’t happy with Boston College after two years and wanted to play for a team with better chemistry and a better chance to win a national championship. With that, she decided to transfer to the University of Wisconsin women’s hockey team in June of this year. Watts explained that Wisconsin was an easy choice because of everything that it has to offer. “I liked the city of Madison and it’s a great school,” Watts said. “The hockey program is unbelievable and the coaches

Mark, Jackie and Dan are awesome. And then the team as a whole has such a great track record, like winning the NCAA title last year. I’m glad to be here.” Joining the hockey team over the summer, Watts didn’t take long to make her presence felt in Madison. She scored in her first seven games in a Badger uniform, tying a team record with former Badger Jinelle Zaugg, who achieved the feat in the 2006-07 season. With Watts’ impressive ability to find the back of the net this season, she is averaging one goal per game and 3.13 points per game this season. Watts credits a lot of this success to her linemates, Sophie Shirley and Abby Roque. In fact, all three members of the dynamic trio rank in the top four of the NCAA points per game rankings, with Northeastern’s Alina Mueller being the odd one out. “Playing with Abby and Sophie, our line has clicked right from the start. On the ice, I feel like we’re a really dangerous line and we’ve been really productive this season,” Watts said. If Watts is able to keep this pace up, she has a chance to challenge for the highest points per game average in NCAA history. The record is currently held by Jennifer Botterill, who set the record in 2003 with

Photo ·Watts has taken no time at all to make her impact on Badgers’ already national-title caliber team Dane Sheehan The Badger Herald

Harvard, averaging 3.50 points per game (112 points in 32 games). The output that the Watts-ShirleyRoque line has put up this year has simply been insane. The 2003 Harvard line of Botterill-Julie Chu-Angela Ruggiero averaged a record-setting 8.68 points per game, a record that nobody has come close to breaking. Put together, Watts, Shirley and Roque are currently averaging 8.01 points per game, a number that challenges this record to say the least. In addition to her play at the college level, Watts was a two-time member of the U-18 Canadian National Team, in both 2016 and 2017, winning the silver medal both years. Her career aspirations include playing for the Canadian women’s national hockey team in the Olympics. The next Winter Olympics will be held in 2022 in Beijing, and Watts has wanted to play in the Olympics basically her entire life. “Since I was a kid, my goal was to play in the Olympics. My aspiration is to reach that goal, and just to make the most of these two years at Wisconsin,” Watts said. Despite wanting to play in the Olympics basically her entire life, she clearly isn’t overlooking the opportunity in front of her. She joined Wisconsin to achieve her goal of an NCAA Championship.

Wisconsin has reached the Frozen Four six consecutive seasons and won the NCAA Championship last season. That being said, they clearly have what it takes to lift the trophy again this season. They currently stand as the No. 1 team in the country, outscoring opponents by a whopping 52–7 behind an extremely talented offense and a sure-handed goalie in Kristen Campbell. Similar to how most Wisconsin fans probably feel, Watts is in agreement that the Badgers have what it takes to take home the trophy this year. “I think we definitely have what it takes. My teammates, the returners have championship experience from last year, and that’s so important when it comes to playoffs. I’ve never been to a Frozen Four, so hopefully when we get there they’ll have some good advice and lead me through that process,” Watts said. Watts’ journey from a high-scoring freshman at Boston College to a junior transfer at Wisconsin is certainly unconventional, but her presence in Madison is immense. Expect Watts to continue her strong play in a Badger uniform through the next two seasons in hopes of bringing the title back to Wisconsin.

SPORTS

@badgerherald

Men’s Golf: Badgers show off fresh talent, secure first victory of season

Last place finish in Big Ten tournament earlier in 2019 left Badgers to soul search, may have answer in star freshman, returning talent by Andrew Bell Staff Writer

The Badger men’s golf team is one of the most promising squads on campus. While they are anchored by junior standouts Sam Anderson and Griffin Barela, Head Coach Michael Burcin has welcomed two immediate impact players in freshmen Sebastian Iqbal and Coalter Smith. The beginning of the season was slow for the young Badger team as they struggled to put together a complete tournament of solid team scores. The group placed 10th out of 16, ninth out of 13, and 12th out of 12 teams in three of the first tournaments in the fall season. Though this initial start to the season was mediocre at best, there existed positives to draw on from each tournament. The first tournament of the season was hosted by the Badgers at their home course, University Ridge. Anderson busted out of the gates and heated the Badgers during the duration of the tournament. Anderson proved to be a leader of

the team as he utilized his experience at University Ridge to his advantage, finishing all by himself in ninth place. The youthful and promising duo of Iqbal and Smith did not fail to impress as well. They both showed their potential final round scores of three under par. Iqbal has a strong track record of success dating back to high school. The freshman from San Jose, California finished with the low score in all 12 matches of his senior season and won the league final by a landslide of seven shots. Smith, like Iqbal, has accolades of his own. The Grosse Pointe Farms native was named Michigan’s 2019 Mr. Golf, a prestigious award recognized by the Michigan Interscholastic Golf Coaches Association. Smith finished top three in the Michigan state championships in his sophomore, junior and senior high school seasons, adding a regional tournament win his senior year .One of Wisconsin’s following competitions, the Marquette Invitational, found the team in last place. The tournament provided rough conditions

that stymied the Badgers, who were competing at the prestigious Erin Hills golf course. To add to the hardship of defeat, Big Ten rivals Northwestern and Purdue finished the Marquette Invitational in first and second place, respectively. It is safe to say this performance lit a fire under the young and talented Badger team. Burcin spoke to UW Athletics about the results of the Marquette Invitational. “We had a lot of discussions after Erin Hills, and I could tell right away they were ready to move on,” Burcin said. The Badger ’s most successful test to date occurred in Cincinnati at the Musketeer Invitational. Wisconsin recorded season lows in 18, 36 and 54 hole scoring totals, making it safe to say the trip down to Cincinnati was a successful one. The team fired a first round score of three-under par and continued the steady play to the finish, winning the tournament by four strokes — but it only got better from there. Anderson closed the final round with a three-under par 68 placing him in second place, a career best finish by seven spots.

Lugging just behind Anderson was Smith, who also set career lows for 18, 36 and 54 hole scores and recorded a career best fifthplace finish. It was about time this Badger squad, who is loaded with talent, burst onto the scene — exciting things are sure to come in the future. Shoutout to senior Pete Kuhl as well, who placed in an impressive tie for eighth place competing as an individual. The Badger golf team should be on all Badger fans’ radars for years to come. Freshmen Iqbal and Smith have proven their skills in just the first few tournaments of the year and should be able to continue to improve and gain momentum as the season heats up. Anderson is currently in the process of playing the best golf of his career. I think it’s fair to expect his recent dominance to continue as his confidence increases along with his level of play. If these three players can grow on their success, and if Barela can get back to his sophomore season form, expect the Badger men’s golf team to make some waves in the Big Ten for the first time in years.

Football: Badgers forgeit CFP hopes, Big Ten landscape remains open Dissapointing, dominating loss to the OSU ended any last CFP hopes for Badgers, yet Big Ten title remains in picture by Danielle Mohr Staff Writer

For the Badgers, taking down the undefeated The Ohio State University not once but twice was their last shot at a chance in the College Football Playoff. That opportunity came and went faster than Paul Chryst could blink. No. 18 Wisconsin’s devastating 7–38 loss against No. 3 The Ohio State University marks history repeating itself once again but still leaves a sting with prideful Badger fans. Yet there is little shame in going out against one of the best teams the Big Ten conference has seen in the past decade. Ohio State has done nothing but turn heads the entire 2019 season. Starting in the top 10 of the AP Poll’s Top 25 in August — what feels like ages ago — the Buckeyes have done nothing but dominate to earn its rank this week. They topped No. 4 Clemson at third in the country with an 8-0 record and fell just below SEC teams with Alabama at No. 2 and Louisiana State — the top ranked team in the nation.

20 • badgerherald.com • November 5, 2019

The rest of the Big Ten conference hasn’t even come close. Indiana, Nebraska, Northwestern, Michigan State and even Wisconsin failed to get more than 10 points on the board when matched up to Ohio State. Their next few matchups will have to prove that they’re an exception. Arguably their most competitive matchups remain as OSU is still set to face the undefeated No. 5 Penn State at home before their annual rivalry game against No. 14 Michigan at the Big House. The Nittany Lions may be the only team in the Big Ten Conference that has a chance to take down the Buckeyes. So far this season, they have already left Purdue, Michigan, Maryland, Iowa, Michigan and Michigan State in the dust. Taking down the Buckeyes is certainly not an easy task, as the Badgers proved this weekend when they failed to stall one of the best defensive players in college football, Chase Young. Ohio’s star junior defensive lineman is unstoppable on the field. At this point, it’s fairly safe to say that even the Badger offensive line wasn’t prepared to handle him as he racked up four total sacks and two forced fumbles.

Even when Young wasn’t on the ball, his presence created opportunities for other linemen to get it on the action as the Badgers were often forced to double team him. As if his impressive performance this weekend wasn’t enough to make him stand out, Young leads the country in sacks with 13.5. He is also tied for third in the nation with 15.5 tackles for loss and second in the nation for forced fumbles with five in eight games this season. Ohio controls their own destiny in the Big Ten East if they can take down both Penn State and Michigan. The Big Ten West is still filled with potential contenders. The undefeated No. 13 Minnesota Gophers have flown under the radar for almost the entire season. So much that they’re practically begging for attention from ESPN’s College Gameday. Yet the Gophers do raise some concerns for the Badgers as they took down unranked Illinois 40–17 before the Badgers choked against the fighting Illini and lost 23–24. The Gophers will have gone untested against ranked teams until they take on No. 5 Penn State at home next weekend —

an inevitably critical test. The Badgers going to the Big Ten Championship is not out of the question. In the coming weeks, they will take on strong Big Ten West contenders starting next week with Iowa and will wrap their season up by facing the Gophers. On the other hand, Wisconsin football has a long history of ripping fans’ hearts out when they least expect it, so nothing can be set in stone. If they can defeat Iowa next week, they will still have to defeat Nebraska, Purdue and Minnesota to secure their spot in the Big Ten Championship. If the Badgers suffer another loss, their shot at the Big Ten Championship could slip away even quicker than their shot at the College Football Playoff. A lot is at stake as college football enters into this crunch-time period. Ohio State’s road to the College Football Playoff could be cut short by Penn State, while Wisconsin will fight to clinch the Big Ten West in the age-old battle against rival Minnesota. The best that college football has to over is truly yet to come.

SPORTS

facebook.com/badgerherald

Women’ s Soccer: Shot at near perfect Big Ten Record, NCAA title ahead With combined efforts of offensive leaders, stalwart defense, Badgers find winning formula that has potential for postseason success by John Spengler Sports Editor

The No. 9 Wisconsin Badgers women’s soccer team (13-2-2) is on an absolute tear for the second straight season. With an undefeated record in Big Ten competition, they are poised for another deep run in the NCAA tournament to match an impressive regular season performance. So far, the Badgers have stuck to familiar weapons on offense to secure such an impressive record in conference and non-conference play. Primarily, this manifests itself in massive offensive contributions from senior forward Dani Rhodes. The consistent leader in goal production is back in business in a major way for the Badgers this year. With a total of 10 goals through 17 games, Rhodes is by far the team leader in scoring. The next closest team member, Cameron Murtha, has just half the total

goals on the season. While five goals is an impressive amount in its own right, the discrepancy between the two clearly demonstrates just how impressive a performance Rhodes is putting on for the Badgers. There also exists a large difference between Murtha and a host of competitors with two total goals on the season. Lauren Rice, Emma Jaskaniec and Jenna Kiraly have all managed to score two goals on a piece throughout the season. Such a significant stratification of goal scoring demonstrates just how implemental Murtha and Rhodes have been in achieving a high level of success for the team as a whole. While Rhodes’ and Murtha’s contributions drive offensive production, a stalwart defense has been just as, if not more, important to the Badgers’ dominant performances throughout the season. Goalie Jordyn Bloomer is a large part of

that sturdy defense as she currently has just over an 86% save rate on the season — good for 21st in the nation. Overall, the Badgers have allowed a grand total of eight goals on the season for an average of just 0.47 goals per game. Only on one occasion did they allow a team to score more than one goal in a game as they tied Iowa 2–2 in double overtime at home. With this combination of concentrated offensive production from the team’s scoring leaders and a defense that is extremely stingy, the Badgers have mostly avoided disaster en route to their undefeated record in the Big Ten and their No. 9 national ranking. In truth, there is only one slight blemish on the Badgers’ record so far.Both of their losses came to teams currently ranked within the top 25 in Division I. One was to Florida State who is currently both the reigning national

Photo ·Returning team leaders may just be enough to propel Badgers to historic season after securing Big Ten title Quinn Beaupre The Badger Herald

champion and ranked No. 3 in the nation. The other loss came to UCLA who, at the time, was ranked No. 5 in the nation. The Bruins slipped down in the rankings throughout the season, currently finding themselves ranked 20th in the nation. This loss marks the only Badger loss on the season to a team that is currently at a lower rank than them nationally. Even then, it came against a talented Bruins squad that still has the opportunity to compete for an NCAA title later in the year. The Badgers similarly had a strong regular season showing last year as they sought to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament at the end of 2018. Despite a total record of 14-4-4, the Badgers went just 6-2-3 in the Big Ten. This includes an early exit in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten tournament after a loss to Illinois. The Badgers would then go on to advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament following the Big Ten playoffs before falling to Stanford. That loss perhaps indicated that, while the Badgers were certainly able to acquire a strong regular season record, they weren’t quite ready to continue that domination in postseason Big Ten play. If this was the case, then this year bodes even better for the Badgers’ chances to have a legitimate shot at a national title. Their Big Ten play has been impeccable and, other than a couple losses to top five teams, they’ve looked nearly unstoppable. With their recent win over Northwestern, the Badgers also claimed an automatic share of the Big Ten title even before the season is over. This marks just the third time in team history the team has claimed at least a share of the conference title.To improve upon last year’s performance, the simple solution may very well be to do more of the same. In a year in which the men’s team has failed to live up to expectations, the women’s program is picking up the slack by contending at the national level for a shot at a national championship. The weapons cultivated by this team seem to show no signs of slowing down as the season progresses, and there exists no reason to believe that the level of success they have achieved up to this point is not indicative of their overall talent level. With Rhodes supplying an astronomical number of goals alongside a stalwart goalkeeping performance from Bloomer, the Badgers are looking nearly impossible to stop. The road to a national title will be anything but easy. Each aspect of the team will have to continue to fire on all cylinders if they are to finish strong.

November 5, 2019 • badgerherald.com • 21

BANTER

@badgerherald

Planning on being intoxicated? Use these tips to make good decisions Being drunk can often lead to bad decisions, but easy to follow tips allow for safer encounters of the alcoholic variety by Angela Peterson Public Relations Director

It’s November, which means many University of Wisconsin students are now actively drinking to stay warm. The warmth of alcohol may be useful in attempts to feel as though one is not on the North Pole when the temperature drops considerably, but too much alcohol leads to many undesirable consequences. Poor decision making is one short term issue associated with intoxication that bears significant importance.It often takes quite a bit of time to sober up after a period of intoxication, meaning there are many decisions made under the influence. Some of these, like choosing to belt a Madonna number at a karaoke event, have only mild negative consequences, but greater problems persist. Here is a comprehensive guide to maximizing your good decisions while intoxicated. Leave your cell phone out of sight The cell phone is a marvelous technological tool, allowing users to explore ear wax removal videos and send pictures of themselves vomiting rainbows to twenty of their closest friends. While carrying a cell phone may seem like a necessity when intoxicated, its presence

can often do more harm than good. Leaving your phone at home or on “do not disturb” minimizes moments to engage in “drunk texting” or relatively incoherent bites of information sent to people who typically are not on your texting list. In the case of an emergency, those around you will likely still have their device up and running, leaving safety assured as long as you are not alone. Budget for drunk purchases Carrying around your wallet when intoxicated is practically required — showing ID is necessary to purchase alcoholic beverages and money is as well unless you are specifically trying to only mooch drinks off of others, which in and of itself is good economic practice. With your wallet in your pocket, a whole world of purchasing opportunities opens itself up to an intoxicated self. Common culprits like Paul’s Pel’meni and Taco Bell routinely show up on credit card statements following periods of intoxication. The fact is, while eating food does not in effect change the amount of alcohol consumed in one’s system, layers of food provided an extra lining in one’s stomach which slows the absorption of alcohol. This slower absorption provides an intoxicated soul with a lessened rush of alcohol to the brain, making sound decision-making that much more within reach. By including space for these food runs in

your drunk budget beforehand, there’s no need to feel bad or conflicted about grabbing that taco six pack to pad your stomach. Similarly, factoring in money for Lyfts eliminates any conflicting feelings about calling a ride home. This decision eliminates opportunities for shady intoxicated walking or trying to find someone else to take oneself own, and better yet protects against choosing to drive intoxicated. Setting this budget in stone also discourages additional drunk purchases, like entire outfits at Pitaya. But if one does in fact choose to go shopping while intoxicated, always limit your purchases to the clearance rack. Being less inhibited while shopping often creates innovative outfit choices you might not be inclined to try on while sober, but actually work really well. Get your work done prior to intoxication Too often, one prioritizes drinking — particularly socialized drinking — over making sure all of their projects are completed. This will lead the work to be subpar in quality and demand reworking, further consuming one’s time. By remembering to complete your work prior to drinking, your schedule stays intact, your work stays consistent in quality and you still get to have fun. It’s truly the best of both worlds.

Keep a nap-ready area within reach Occasionally, the spots where one chooses to become and stay intoxicated are far away from the owner’s nice, cozy bed. This is problematic as one can easily become big sleep if under the influence and wish to fall asleep immediately. Sleeping on the side of a road is never advised, nor are stranger’s beds and futons ideal. Know a friend in the area who will let you crash if needed to escape these potentially dangerous situations. With the extra support, your cozy nap will allow critical recovery periods to occur and encourage safe decision making throughout the day. Keep count AlcoholEDU provides UW students with a solid background in determining the proper amount of alcohol in each unit. Therefore, one should always keep those cheesy visuals in mind and remember to keep count of their units as they go about their drunk adventures. If one knows they are many, many units into their escapade, there is signifiant intrinsic motivation to cease drinking more to the point of no return. Keeping count can involve using a sharpie to mark each unit on your hand, or the use of a really good mental calculator. With these tips in mind, stay safe and be warm this cold, cold season.

Hey you YES you Did you turn in your Canvas assignment? No? Ok then Turn it in 22 • badgerherald.com • November 5, 2019

SHOUTOUTS

facebook.com/badgerherald

Like our Shoutout page? Tag your tweets and ‘grams #bhso to see them printed in future issues.

badgerherald.com Twitter: @BadgerHerald Instagram: @BadgerHerald

ISO a long, wool, tan winter coat that isn’t $600

cultural parallels sydney

@SydneyRosega

So today I had cold brew for the ﬁrst time in a long time, so not only was I shaking in class all day but I also quoted statute (section 230 of the Communications Decency Act) verbatim and scared the class ... and I have truly never felt more “me”

agm

@OffBrandTMZ

Abigail Steinberg @AbbyRSteinberg

Always a point in the night where all you have left to give children is almond joy and feeling very vulnerable rn (adding ppl on you wonder whether it’s worth forcing them LinkedIn to take it at all.

Tara Golshan @taragolshan

Katherine Krueger @Kath_Krueger

November 5, 2019 • badgerherald.com • 23