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Walker calls special session on jobs Legislature to take up bills addressing unemployment from both sides of aisle Leopoldo Rocha News Reporter Citing a rise in Wisconsin’s unemployment rate rising over the past nine months, Gov. Scott Walker called for a special legislative session on jobs set to begin Thursday.

Walker signed an executive order on Wednesday that will create his term’s second

special session on jobs and will require the Wisconsin State Legislature to focus on 26 jobs bills that have been proposed by both Democrats and Republicans.

In a statement announcing the order, Walker said he and the Legislature must work to bring down the state’s unemployment rate, a reference to his campaign promise of creating 250,000 private sector jobs by 2015.

According to Walker, one of the biggest deterrents for employers to hire new workers is the lack of certainty in the

state’s economy.

“The main goal of this special session [is] to create as much certainty as we can for employers and workers at the state level so they can create jobs. By calling another special session, we show that jobs remain at the front of our agenda,” Walker said in the statement.

Walker also contrasted the political climates in Wisconsin and Washington, D.C., where President Obama unveiled his jobs bill three weeks ago but has not yet been put to a vote in Congress.

Unlike the stalemate

in the nation’s capital, Walker said the session will be strictly focused on creating jobs and not on partisan bickering.

Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, questioned Walker ’s purpose behind calling for the special session.

“Gov. Walker used his first special session to ram through an agenda that polarized, divided and distracted the state. This second special session appears to be largely another political ploy to ram through favors to special interests by denying the public the right to participate,”

Barca said in a statement.

Barca also pointed out his party’s priority has been to pass bills that will create jobs immediately, and he said the governor ’s special session would not affect the unemployment rate right away.

While statements issued

by Republican leaders show their support for the special session, Rep. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, was cautious in lending his support.

Nass warned against the costs of passing certain jobs bills and called for legislators to examine the actual impact some bills may have on

job creation.

“Each bill needs to be reviewed with a keen eye towards costs and benefits to the taxpayers.

I won’t simply support a bill to placate the whining of Democrats or the theater of bipartisanship,” Nass said.

In a statement, Senate Minority Leader Mark Miller, D-Monona, said he thought this special session would be favorable toward special interests instead of the unemployed, a description he extended towards Walker ’s administration and

WALKER, page 3

Freakfest gains final city approval Halloween music festival gets street use permit, commission members hear proposal for charity run slated for October Dan Niepow Deputy City Editor A Madison commission granted Freakfest 2011 the final go-ahead required from the city to take over State Street with thousands of students and residents eager to take in concerts and other Halloweenthemed festivities.

Frank Productions Promotions Manager Charlie Goldstone met with the Street Use Staff Commission to discuss the final essential details of the permit, which outlined the specific streets be completely closed off for the event.

State Street will be closed off to allow for gated entry to the event beginning at 7 p.m., in addition to other minor streets and nearby intersections, to allow for ticketed entry for

attendees to begin at that time, committee members said.

Goldstone said there would be “no significant changes from last year” with respect to how the event’s organizers look to use street space during Freakfest.

Jerry McMullen, a fire code enforcement officer, brought up his concerns about attendant parking during the event, saying that if a vehicle is parked in the fire lane, the driver has to remain in the car.

He said this has been an issue for previous years and emphasized that cars would be towed if this rule is not followed.

After discussing other specific addenda items, the commission unanimously approved street use for Freakfest.

This meeting was the

last step of approval for Freakfest by the city, Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said in an interview. He mentioned there will also still be two other public information meetings in October.

At a Downtown Coordinating Committee meeting held earlier this month, members were also briefed on the increase in ticket price at the festival. Tickets now cost $8 in advance and $12 at the gate, according to a statement from Frank Productions.

Verveer said the increase is a positive step in shifting the cost of Freakfest away from taxpayers.

“If it were a bigger price jump, I’d be concerned,” Verveer said.

Following Freakfest’s approval, Leena Asuma, a UW student speaking

Getting a little handy In an event for the Wisconsin Alumni Association’s Hookup campaign aimed at student outreach, University Health Services masseurs gave students on East Campus Mall the chance for some mid-week stress relief. Freshman Mercedes Vang received her free massage as part of Wednesday’s event.

Megan McCormick The Badger Herald

on behalf of JanSport, presented on the plan to host a run up State Street and around the Capitol Square to members of the commission.

The run would be a fundraiser for Big City Mountaineers, a nonprofit organization that takes inner city youth on camping trips, and would be similar to the Axe Undie Run which took place last May, Asuma said.

“Bare It All for BCM” would take place Thursday, Oct. 20, at 9 p.m., if granted the appropriate permit, she said.

She brought the idea to the commission mainly to preliminarily evaluate what the costs for the event would run.

Parks Coordinator Kelli

FREAKFEST, page 2

Zhao Lim The Badger Herald File Photo

University students and Madison residents don Halloween costumes to celebrate Freakfest 2010. The event runs the length of State Street, with stages near the Capitol and on Gilman and Francis Streets.

GOP lawmakers weigh recall election changes GAB rules citizens can send personal petitions; sticker renders IDs valid Sean Kirkby State Reporter Republican legislators proposed to give the governor’s office more power over how recall petition signatures are collected and the methods by which people may vote in elections next year.

In a hearing held Tuesday, the Joint

Committee for Review of Administrative Rules recommended the Government Accountability Board make its interpretations allowing for singlesignature petitions and stickers for student IDs into administrative laws, which Gov. Scott Walker could then approve or disapprove before the legislature votes on them, GAB spokesperson Reid Magney said.

“The JCRAR is exerting its oversight over the GAB,” Andrew Welhouse, spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald,

R-Juneau, said. “The Legislature is simply trying to find out if the GAB consulted with the authors of the bill over how it should be enforced and why they came to the decision that they did to enforce these laws.”

The hearing was on two measures the GAB approved in a public hearing held Sept. 12.

The GAB had decided people who circulate election petitions, not merely recall petitions but also nomination papers and direct

GOP, page 4

ASM faces departure of six more elected officials Vacant seats will be on fall ballot; GSSF budget deadlines open to debate Selby Rodriguez Campus Editor Following up on the forced removal of two University of Wisconsin student government leaders, whose seats still © 2011 BADGER HERALD

remain vacant, Student Council representatives received word of the resignation of six more elected officials, including the body’s secretary.

Associated Students of Madison Secretary Thomas Sannito said he would be formally resigning from his position after the fall elections, and Chair Allie Garder also announced the resignations of

Representatives Mario Ademaj, Jeanette Martin, Cody Ostenson, Lenora Hanson and Xander Gieryn. The vacant positions will be listed on the fall ballot.

Sannito said he did not enjoy the tediousness of the position and added he wants to leave the position open for someone able to do the job that needs the

ASM, page 4

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The Badger Herald | News | Thursday, September 29, 2011

Correction 9/27 Article: “Board of Estimates rejects further Edgewater funds” Due to a reporting error the original article stated Ald. Bridget Maniaci was against the amendment, when it should have read she supported the measure. It also said Maniaci agreed with Ald. Anita Weier, who did not support the project, when it should have said the two disagreed. The article has been edited to show the change. We regret the error.

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Cash-strapped city nets extra $10M in loans Madison receives borrowed funds over original request, city alders weigh where money would be best spent Molly McCall News Reporter The City of Madison’s budget conversation shifted away from deep cuts this week after the city received $10 million more in borrowing than the city had original asked for.

Last week the city asked to borrow $67 million, according to Madison’s Finance Director David Schmiedicke. The city sold bonds to raise this money and had bankers bid on the proposal, he said.

A “competitive bid” is how the city received a $10 million boost last week Schmiedicke said.

The lenders ended up granting the city $77 million for the $67 million they borrowed.

Schmiedicke said he believes the money should be allocated to one-time

purposes, particularly items the city may borrow in the future.

Mayor Paul Soglin found out about the boost late last week and shared it with City Council members on Monday, Ald. Lauren Cnare, District 3, said.

This is the largest premium the city has received to her knowledge, she said.

Instances in which these premiums, such as the $10 million the city received, have grown larger over the last few years “in response to general economic stances,” Schmiedicke said.

In 2006, the city bond sale raised $293,000 and last year it raised $4 million, he said.

Cnare said the mayor would like to see some of the money go towards renovations to the new

Central Library and other projects downtown.

She added many city alders are wondering

“This money can go a long way to solve debt issues.”

Ald. Scott Resnick, District 8

when they will get to see some of the money.

The alders must put in a budget amendment in order to see some of the money for their districts, she said.

Cnare said she would

like to see the money go to paying off Madison’s debts, which Schmiedicke said is currently at $330 million.

“You have to think about what the citizens want,” Cnare said.

To Ald. Scott Resnick, District 8, this boost means the city can take a hard look at relieving current debt issues.

This “one time use” of the $10 million allows the city to “really look toward the future,” Resnick said.

He said this money helped bring border-line projects which alders thought they’d have to cut back to life. The underground wiring on Williamson Street that will cost $1 million is one example of this type of project.

Resnick said he also believes the money should go towards debt relief.

“This money can go a long way to solve debt issues,” he said.

The Capital Budget will come before the council on Tuesday where the group would likely send it straight to the Board of Estimates, Cnare said.

Cnare added she hopes the council will see the approved budget in midNovember when the Common Council will have the final say.

The $10 million comes with the interest rate in the future of 1.69 percent, Schmiedicke said. Right now the city gets the $10 million, but there will be higher interest in the future.

“In exchange for the payment of $77 million, the city will pay $16.9 million in interest costs over the next 10 years,” Schmiedicke said in an email to all city alders.

ALRC suspends liquor license for R’ Place bar Committee revokes permits following complaints, violent incidents outside Ally Boutelle News Reporter The city’s Alcohol License Review Committee voted to retract R’ Place bar ’s liquor license in response to reports of violence, disorderly conduct and noise complaints for many months.

Problems at the bar peaked last weekend when a shooting took place outside of the bar, located on the 1800 block of South Park Street. All three victims had just left the bar. One of the

FREAKFEST, from 1 Lamberty said that they could not make a decision on the run immediately.

victims, Eugene Lee, was an R’ Place employee. No one was killed, but all three were hospitalized.

Following the shootings, Madison City Attorney Jenifer Zilavy filed a temporary restraining order against the bar. Dane County Judge David Flanagan then moved to close the bar pending further order of the court.

At the meeting, bar owner Rick Flowers’ claim proceedings at the last hearing violated statue 807, which states that agreements relating to the issue are only binding if made in court, was quickly refuted.

ALRC Chair David Hart proceeded to turn off Flowers’ microphone, and the committee voted unanimously to move

into closed session to further discuss the matter.

After moving to closed session, the committee deliberated for nearly an hour.

The committee did not take the recent violent incidents into account during the deliberation, according to Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4.

Verveer said the decision was based entirely on 15 incidents of violence and disturbances that occurred in 2009 and 2010.

When the meeting reconvened, Hart said the committee had unanimously agreed “R’ Place was acting as a disorderly and riotous house as defined by Madison general ordinances.”

Hart then announced

She said if Asuma wanted to move forward with the event, she would have to first obtain a parade permit.

The commission also discussed a proposal from Adam May, marketing manager for Ian’s Pizza on State Street. Sports

Megan McCormick The Badger Herald File Photo

City officials cited Madison Police Department reports of disorderly conduct, other incidents as reasons to revoke the license. The decision comes a day after a Dane County court ordered the bar closed indefinitely. the committee had voted in favor of revoking R’ Place’s liquor license, with seven in favor and one abstaining from the vote.

A complete revocation was the maximum punishment, Verveer said.

“It seemed to me that we had no choice but to give R’ Place the ultimate penalty. That’s based on the fact that they had such a large number of

Illustrated and Nissan contacted Ian’s Pizza for a promotional event this Friday before the University of Wisconsin

police calls,” Verneer said.

“The fact that they’ve had so many disturbances despite having such a small capacity left us no choice but to recommend that their liquor license be revoked.”

Verveer said this recommendation would be passed on to the Madison City Council, where a final decision will be made Oct. 4.

and Nebraska football game, May said.

The commission did not take a final vote on the matter.

The Badger Herald | News | Thursday, September 29, 2011

Students take proactive action on tuition hikes ASM leaders seek to keep UW out of bill to increase flat rate System-wide Bridget Conlin News Reporter With the rise of rumors circling around a new piece of legislation that would allow institutionwide differential tuition that could increase the base rate currently paid by students, the University of Wisconsin student government is taking preemptive action.

If voted into law, the bill would allow institution-wide differential tuition programs to add to the base amount of tuition currently set by the Board of Regents, according to 2011 Assembly Bill 241.

This would allow tuition to increase above

WALKER, from 1 policies.

“There have been power grabs, special interest payoffs and passage of an extreme,

5.5 percent from the previous year — a limit that had been placed by the Board of Regents, according to statement from the Associated Students of Madison.

While UW is not currently included in the legislation, students’ elected representatives want to make sure it stays off the list.

Currently on the list are UW-Stevens Point, UW-Green Bay and Madison Colleges, none of which currently allow differential tuition, according to the bill.

UW already has a differential tuition program set up through the Madison Initiative for Undergraduates tuition stipend, which launched under former Chancellor Biddy Martin.

MIU places a 3 percent cap on tuition increases for students whose households report an annual income of $80,000 or more, according to the MIU website.

If UW were added to the proposed legislation, additional forms of differential tuition could exist and increase tuition rates significantly, according to the statement.

ASM Chair Allie Gardner said there were alternate revenue sources other than student’s pockets in a press conference held Tuesday, citing state aid, federal aid and donors to the university as more viable options.

Gardner added all actions at this point in the legislative process are proactive and would include public statements and conversation with public administration to demonstrate student opposition to the bill.

“I think it is extremely important that students make it clear to our administration that we cannot afford any more tuition increases,” she said.

radical agenda that gives billions in tax cuts to the wealthy and corporations while sticking middle class and working families, children and

seniors with drastic cuts. Middle class and working families need far more than what the governor and legislative Republicans are offering today,” Miller said.

3

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The Badger Herald | News | Thursday, September 29, 2011

GOP, from 1 legislation petitions, can sign these petitions and still circulate them, GAB President Kevin Kennedy said in a statement.

In other words, voters could print out a recall ballot online, sign it and send it in without collecting any other signatures, Kennedy said.

While some people have claimed this means the board is supporting online recall petitions, Magney said the GAB simply ruled a petition only needs one signature on it.

GAB also created a policy earlier this month to allow Wisconsin colleges and universities to issue stickers, which students could attach to their student ID cards, allowing them to vote under the Voter ID Law,

Kennedy said.

Stickers would include a space for the students to sign and an expiration date as required by law.

However, the sticker requirement will depend on the UW System providing new student IDs that meet the voting requirement, Magney said.

If the system does provide these cards, UW stickers would become obsolete.

“Essentially, there is the law and then administrative rules,” Magney said.

“Administrative rules go beyond statutes and deal with the interpretation of the law and how to enforce it.”

If an agency wants to make a new administrative rule, it has to go to the Legislature, which can either say no or say nothing and let the

administrative rule pass into effect, he said.

However, the past legislative session passed a new law that allows the governor to approve administrative laws before they can reach the Legislature. The governor can either approve or disapprove of the administrative rule, and if he approves he can send it to the Legislature to vote on, Magney said.

“Some of the legislators are expressing concerns that the GAB is reading something into the [legislation] that isn’t there, like making the recall petitions available for download, which is not part of the law,” Welhouse said. “We just want to make sure that they are enforcing the right interpretation of the law.”

Megan McCormick The Badger Herald

Associated Students of Madison Representative Sam Polstein asked a speaker in open forum about the funds typically budgeted for large events such as Homecoming. Council members faced the resignation of six additional elected officials and weighed extending deadlines for GSSF budgets.

ASM, from 1 money.

“It was very different from what I expected,” Sannito said.

Chief Justice Kathryn Fifield also addressed previously introduced legislation requesting for a change to the closed session bylaws.

Fiefield said the current bylaw on convening in closed sessions, which states all closed Student Judiciary hearings must be recorded, specifically targets ASM’s judicial arm. “[Bylaw 104(3)] is not necessary and discriminatory to Student Judiciary,” she said.

Rep. Cale Plamann argued the closed session bylaws were created so that should SJ be forced to go to Circuit Court, there would be an actual judicial record available for review.

He added these recordings could be an important tool for the university regarding legal affairs.

While Fifield said she agreed with Plamann’s logic, there is not enough

infrastructure in place to keep these recordings out of the wrong hands and to require more than just an open records request for access to the records.

The legislation was approved by Student Council.

Plamann also introduced an Organized Debate Resolution, saying a speaking list of representatives wanting to speak should be kept instead of waiting for recognition from the chair.

He said this would not only help debate move in a quicker fashion but would also silence any complaints of censorship.

Legislative Affairs Chair Hannah Somers introduced legislation on extending deadlines for General Student Services Fund organizations and committee appointments on behalf of Student Services Finance Committee Chair Sarah Neibart.

Somers read from a letter by Neibart, saying the extension of GSSF budget deadlines would prove beneficial as it allows for a more

sufficient amount of time to make decisions.

The legislation on SSFC appointments, which proposed SSFC members be appointed to auxiliary boards, cited the current tension between the Wisconsin Union and SSFC as the basis for the proposal.

The Transparent Segregated University Fee Referendum Act was tabled without objection until next week when Neibart could be present to speak on the legislation.

The act would require proposals asking for money on the referendum to provide both an initial and persemester estimate of how much money students will be contributing from segregated fees. It also mandates these proposals list how long this spending would occur.

The proposed budget alteration to move the stipend for the recently eliminated chief of staff position to the ASM Recruitment Drive, and training funds was also tabled for a month with unanimous consent.

Editorial Page Editor Allegra Dimperio oped@badgerherald.com

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The Badger Herald | Opinion | Thursday, September 29, 2011

Opinion

Thompson too moderate to win Republican vote Shawn Rajanyagam Columnist

Not all that long ago, Tommy Thompson epitomized the Republican Party in Wisconsin.

After serving an unprecedented four terms as governor, he worked for George W. Bush as the secretary of Human and Health Services before an aborted presidential campaign in 2008. In 2010, he considered running against Russ Feingold for U.S. Senate.

Most polls had the two neck and neck, but Thompson pulled out and the seat was eventually won by Tea Party candidate Ron Johnson.

That last result is perhaps most telling of Thompson’s current Senate chances. Granted, there has been some backlash against the Republican Party, but ask yourself: How

successful has it been?

The Republicans lost two of their seats but still have control of the Senate. While the recalls were a landmark in terms of expression of public opinion, they ultimately didn’t have the desired effect. If anything, the recalls polarized people’s political positions, making them less receptive to any criticism of the candidate (and therefore party) they supported.

Which brings us back to Tommy Thompson.

During his 14-year tenure as governor, he was heralded as a champion of moderate conservatism; his most notable achievement included America’s first parental school-choice program, a policy that was heavily supported by his Democratic colleagues in the Capitol.

He also masterminded the BadgerCare program, a health care policy designed to provide coverage to those who fell through the cracks of Medicaid and weren’t provided with health insurance by their employers.

Wisconsin state politics is national politics on a smaller scale. There is intransigence everywhere, as politicians and activists from both sides refuse to take responsibility for their shortcomings, instead shrugging their shoulders and blaming the other guy.

Partisan positions have hardened to an almost ridiculous level, such that politicians are now afraid to speak their mind, lest it cost them their seat.

One can hardly imagine how a conservative pushing health insurance reform would go down in today’s political climate.

And there we have Tommy Thompson’s dilemma. By recognizing that some things are bigger than petty oneupmanship and sticking true to his values and past record, Thompson would surely break the ideological deadlock that has characterized Wisconsin politics. But to do that, he has to get past the Republican primaries, and that could be tough.

Thompson will not only be fighting his fellow candidates, he will be fighting a reductive

political culture that has tarnished this great state over the past year.

Furthermore, he will be fighting against the very upstarts who defeated him, the establishment candidate, in his aborted senatorial and gubernatorial campaigns just a year ago.

This is perhaps the real tragedy of the debacle of Wisconsin’s state politics

By recognizing that some things are bigger than petty oneupmanship and sticking true to his values and past record, Thompson would surely break the ideological deadlock that has characterized Wisconsin politics. situation — when a true leader emerges from the pack, the masses have been lulled into such a state of absolute scepticism that they may not notice.

I don’t mean to suggest that Tommy

Thompson is perfect or some divine realization descended from heaven to save Wisconsin from impending ruin; the man has his flaws. His questionable position on gay rights is one of them, an incident in Washington is another. When Thompson was secretary of Health and Human Services, he was accused of manipulating cost estimates of a proposed bill and then threatening to fire the actuary who came up with the original higher numbers.

He was never prosecuted for his indiscretions, and it is unlikely that many people remember this, given his relatively lowprofile position in an administration littered with unforgettable characters. So yes, Tommy Thompson is far from perfect — but he is still a damn sight better than any of those who have announced their candidacy in the Republican primaries thus far.

Not even a decade ago, Thompson was leading a strong state through a period of

economic prosperity. In the intervening time, he has seen his hard work ruined through a mixture of economic mismanagement (albeit not from Wisconsinites) and political maneuvering that borders on the absurd.

While I hope they prove me wrong, I doubt that Wisconsin Republicans want Thompson.

Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald believes that “people are looking for something different.”

If conservative voters are looking for another Tea Party candidate who can perfectly recite the ideals of the new conservatism (small government, low taxes, no social welfare … you get the drift), Fitzgerald is right. If they’re looking for a voice of reason, someone to wade through the political brouhaha, then they need to look no further than Tommy Thompson.

Shawn Rajanayagam (rajanayagam@wisc. edu) is a senior majoring in political science and American studies.

Davis execution new case Silence on John Doe case of not enough evidence may crack administration Spencer Lindsay Staff Writer

On Sept. 21, America witnessed its justice system at its worst. Troy Davis was executed in Georgia after a legal battle that lasted over two decades.

Davis was convicted of murdering a police officer outside of a Burger King where he was security guard in 1989. He had intervened to help a man being assaulted. This is when the prosecution claims Davis shot and killed police officer Mark MacPhail.

The gun was never found, no physical evidence links Davis to the murder and seven of the nine witnesses that testified against him have since recanted their testimonies. He went to his death proclaiming his innocence.

No one will ever know whether or not Davis was guilty of the crime he was convicted of, but it is clear there was not enough evidence to put him to death.

With this tragedy of justice, it is time for our nation to reevaluate how the death penalty is used in America. While I support the death penalty in theory, I would rather see a thousand guilty murderers spared than one innocent man put to death.

The death penalty should be reserved for the most heinous murders.

It should be reserved for cold-blooded killers who have no sense of humanity and no chance of ever realizing it. There must be no question that someone sentenced to death committed the crime of which he or she was convicted.

There is no way to prove without a shadow of a doubt that someone is guilty without either video or DNA evidence.

There is no other way to prove that the convicted was not just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

While I do not necessarily know that race played a role in his conviction, it is hard to imagine a white man in this situation. Had a white man been convicted under the same circumstances as Davis, his case likely would have been granted clemency and his sentence at the least reduced to life in prison. While race may not have played a role, there is speculation that the witnesses that testified against Davis were intimidated by the police force. These ideas bring back haunting memories of America’s past.

Sacco and Vanzetti, Tom Mooney and the Scottsboro Boys were just a few of the victims of culturally charged false accusations. The boxer, Ruben “Hurricane” Carter, was imprisoned for murder for years before being exonerated.

Most believe he was

There must be no question that someone sentenced to death committed the crime of which he or she was convicted. imprisoned out of racial motivations. On the flip side, when a servant named Hattie Carol was killed in Maryland by her white boss William Zantzienger, the murderer was sentenced to only six months in prison.

Between 1882 and 1968, 4,743 people were lynched, 3,446 of them black. These were hasty, often baseless executions in which the accused would have been exonerated had they had

their days in court.

Studies have shown that even today black people convicted of killing whites are far more likely to be sentenced to death than whites who are convicted of killing blacks. Only 17 white people have been executed for the murder of blacks, as compared to 255 blacks executed for the murder of whites.

With the history that this nation has regarding race and diversity, and the false convictions that sprang from prejudice, it is hard to make the case that in the words of Bob Dylan, “the ladder of the law has no top and no bottom.”

Combining America’s history of false conviction with our founder’s commitment to true justice makes it difficult to make the case that the death penalty should continue. Nonetheless, I do believe it has its place.

However, the fact that Charles Manson sat alive and protected in a cell while Davis was executed offends every concept of justice in which I believe.

The death penalty should be reserved for the most vicious and vile people who without any possible doubt committed the most vicious and vile crimes on the face of this planet.

The events that took place in Georgia have reminded us of America’s shameful past and illustrated that the death penalty must have the qualifier of certainty.

Without undisputed DNA evidence on the murder weapon or videotape of the murderer killing the victim, this certainty is unobtainable. All executions without this undisputed evidence should be stopped, and proscription of death sentences in the future should face far more scrutiny.

Spencer Lindsay (sclindsay@wisc.edu) is a freshman majoring in political science.

John Waters Columnist

“Scotty doesn’t know” is now not only the best line to ever come out of Matt Damon’s mouth, but a new staple for our governor. This is the governor who finds himself in a place of ignorance in the middle of an evolving John Doe investigation. He probably doesn’t like it anymore than Scott Thomas did in Eurotrip.

The ethical problems that began for Gov. Scott Walker last year when the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Darlene Wink was using state time to post pro-Walker comments on JS blogs have increased in the past few months as the John Doe investigation continues to create news.

The conviction of railroad CEO William Gardner for excessive campaign contribution was another rung down the ethical ladder as the donations were rewarded with more than $14 million in government contracts.

Those contracts came at the same time Walker was killing the $800 million in federal funding because “Wisconsin doesn’t need trains.”

The John Doe investigation remained under the radar until the FBI raided a member of Walker’s inner circle and one of the architects of the budget repair bill, Cindy Archer. In the week that followed, the administrations attempts to distance Archer from the governor by moving her

to a new position also came to light.

But for the first time in this administration, we may finally have an honest answer to a controversial topic: “I don’t know.” That is because rhetoric wizard and official spokesperson Cullen Werwie was revealed to have been granted immunity in the John Doe investigation.

Werwie’s words have been at the front

For the first time in this administration, we may finally have an honest answer to a controversial topic: “I don’t know.” of every controversy in this administration.

The budget repair bill was spun perfectly as a crisis that everyone had to pay for. The open records request/ threat towards a history professor providing a historical perspective was nudged aside as a perfectly normal conversation about a state employee’s use of state time.

Truly, Werwie has skillfully steered Walker through dangerous political waters, often quickly creating a political victory where a defeat seemed certain.

Without Werwie, the best Scotty seems to have to say on this matter is “I don’t know” and “I am a man of integrity,” both of which are beginning to sound far-fetched.

Gov. Walker, Wisconsin is going to need better answers.

With the governor lacking his usual quick and strong response, it seems the political game might be catching up to him.

The realities of Walker as a tenacious player of political

brinksmanship is well documented.

In the midst of the budget repair battle last year, Rachel Maddow had a great piece on Walker’s handling of a change in security guards in Milwaukee County. The gist of the piece was Walker exaggerated budgetary concerns (familiar) to break the security guard union and bring in a private group with previous scandals for five bucks an hour cheaper. Eventually, the union bust was proved illegal and now Milwaukee County gets to double pay for each guard position.

Then, of course, you have the budget repair bill, the Fab 14 and everything else that happened last February, a month in which a deficit was turned into a political sword aimed directly at a Democratic power base, unions.

But now the architects of that strategy are falling quickly. Archer is hiding out under the guise of sick leave while both her inner circle position and lesser post remain empty. Werwie is refreshingly silent and the governor is beginning to look like a man looking for a leg to stand on.

The investigation is still ongoing and with so little confirmed right now it may be premature to assume Walker is John Doe, but whom else do all these people know about? “Scotty doesn’t know” is not going to hold up forever. For an administration that has done an excellent job of instantly overpowering any negative press with a consistent message, this silence should be very disquieting to its supporters.

John Waters (jkwaters2@wisc.edu) is a junior majoring in journalism.

Your Opinion · Send your letters to the editor and guest columns to oped@badgerherald.com. Publication is based on space and takes into account relevance and quality. Letters should be sent exclusively to the Herald. Unsigned letters will not be published. All submissions may be edited by the Herald for length and style. Reader feedback on all articles and columns can be posted at badgerherald.com, where all print content is archived.

Comics

GET YA JOKES HERE Noah J. Yuenkel comics@badgerherald.com

6

The Badger Herald | Comics | Thursday, September 29, 2011

WHAT IS THIS

SUDOKU

HERALD COMICS

PRESENTS

S

U

D

O

K

U WHITE BREAD & TOAST

toast@badgerherald.com

MIKE BERG

NONSENSE? Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A, B, C, D, E and F. What? You still don’t get it? It’s not calculus or anything. Honestly, if you don’t know how to do a sudoku by now, you’ve probably got more issues than this newspaper.

TWENTY POUND BABY

DIFFICULTY RATING: HEH, YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT JOKES

HERALD COMICS

PRESENTS

K

A

K

U

R

O

baby@badgerherald.com

STEPHEN TYLER CONRAD

YOURMOMETER

LAURA “HOBBES” LEGAULT

C’EST LA MORT

PARAGON

yourmom@badgerherald.com

HOW DO I

KAKURO?

I know, I know. Kakuro.

Looks crazy, right?

This ain’t no time to panic, friend, so keep it cool and I’ll walk you through. Here’s the low down: each clue tells you what the sum of the numbers to the right or down must add up to.

Repeating numbers?

Not in this part of town.

And that’s that, slick.

paragon@badgerherald.com

The Kakuro Unique Sum Chart Cells Clue 2 3 2 4 2 16 2 17

DIFFICULTY RATING: DIS KAKURO IS NO JOKE. OOF.

MOUSELY & FLOYD

Possibilities { 1, 2 } { 1, 3 } { 7, 9 } { 8, 9 }

3 3 3 3

6 7 23 24

{ 1, 2, 3 } { 1, 2, 4 } { 6, 8, 9 } { 7, 8, 9 }

4 4 4 4

10 11 29 30

{ 1, 2, 3, 4 } { 1, 2, 3, 5 } { 5, 7, 8, 9 } { 6, 7, 8, 9 }

5 5 5 5

15 16 34 35

{ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 } { 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 } { 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 } { 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 }

6 6 6 6

21 22 38 39

{ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 } { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 } { 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 } { 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 }

7 7 7 7

28 29 41 42

{ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 } { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 } { 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 } { 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 }

8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8

36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44

{ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 } { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 } { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 } { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 } { 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 } { 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 } { 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 } { 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 } { 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 }

ehmandeff@badgerherald.com

MADCAPS

madcaps@badgerherald.com

MOLLY MALONEY

HERALD COMICS

PRESENTS

CROSSWORD 1

2

3

4

5

6

14

7

BUNI

17

18

20

21

30

31

random@badgerherald.com

29 30

27 33

28

29

37

39

39

40

42

42 44

50

45

46

51

47

48

54

55

56

57

58

59

60

61

45

Puzzle by Patrick Blindauer & Francis Heaney

PRIMAL URGES

primal@badgerherald.com

ANDREW MEGOW

MODERN CONSERVATIVE MOVEMENT

THE SKY PIRATES

COLLIN LA FLEUR

DENIS HART

mcm@badgerherald.com

skypirate@badgerherald.com

26 Lepidopterist’s tool 27 Whack 30 Tailors’ allowances 33 1971 Tom Jones hit 35 Has no doubt about 36 Ben-___ 37 Patty Hearst alias 38 Pioneer carrier 40 Harold of the Clinton White House 41 How many stupid things are done 42 Abbr. after N. or S. 43 Backsplash unit 44 Some talk on political talk shows 46 PC key 49 John who starred in Broadway’s original “Carousel” 51 Break down, in a way 52 Fair 53 All at the front?

54 Conductor’s

44

52

53

Across 1 See, say 6 ___ pyramid, four examples of which are seen in this puzzle 10 Real-estate abbr.

14 French affair 15 Friend of Zoe and Abby 16 “Don’t you know there’s ___ on?”

17 Loudly berated 19 “Say ___” (1940 hit) 20 Fanny 21 Lena who played Irina Derevko on “Alias” 22 Tech company in the Dow Jones Industrial Average 23 “Signs point to ___” (Magic 8 Ball answer) 24 Go home emptyhanded, say 25 Welding bands?

31 32 33 34

34

36

43

ERICA LOPPNOW

13

22

41

RANDOM DOODLES

12

25

32

38

11

19

24

35

49

10 16

26

pascle@badgerherald.com

9

15

23

RYAN PAGELOW

8

place 56 Foreign farewell 57 Old Testament king 58 Shoddy stuff 59 Part of N.C.A.A.: Abbr.

60 “South Park” boy 61 Tennis great born in Serbia Down 1 Fresh 2 Compère 3 Ephron and Roberts 4 Ingredient in some English pudding 5 Laundry detergent brand 6 Has a hunch 7 “Some Enchanted Evening,” e.g.

8 Gulf of ___ 9 Flyspeck 10 Straightforward fashion choice 11 Site of many clandestine

Get today’s puzzle solutions at badgerherald.com

accounts 12 Gender abbr.

13 Charlie’s Angels, e.g.

18 Like some points 22 Like many a Malkovich 24 Dietary dictum for one with hypertension 25 Lou Gehrig’s disease, for short 26 Reissue 27 Michael of “Superbad” 28 Falco of

46 47 48 49 50

51 52

54 55

“Nurse Jackie” Scandinavian rugs Kitchenware brand Presently Light classical pieces Clog, e.g.

O, symbolically Otto – cinque Embassy worker: Abbr.

City whose name sounds like a fish “___ the Conqueror” (Max von Sydow film) Do well Zone (out) Blush stoppers Almond ___ (candy brand) “The Pregnant Widow” author Martin “King Kong” co-star, 1933 Heroine who says “I resisted all the way: a new thing for me” Shaming sound Mad people, e.g.: Abbr.

Rocky the Herald Comics Raccoon™

This ain’t whiskey, it’s a bottle of time-travel juice.

I drink it and wake up two days later.

8

The Badger Herald | Thursday, September 29, 2011

To place an ad in Classifieds: Roshni Nedungadi rnedungadi@badgerherald.com 257.4712 ext. 311

9

The Badger Herald | Classifieds | Thursday, September 29, 2011

ATTENTION Play TRUMPET or TROMBONE? Showcase your talents!

Scholarship dollars available!

Immediate Openings in Wisconsin Singers. 608.332.8245 www.

WisconsinSingers.com Make Fun Of Ohio State! Novelty T-Shirt Funny. www.OhioSwap.com Win Every Time with America’s favorite online sports game: www.WinWinEverytime.com

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

Classifieds

Zimbrick BMW is looking for a part time Customer Service Representative. We are looking for someone who is dependable, has attention to detail, and good customer handling skills. The hours are Monday and Thursday evenings 4-8 or 5-8 and Saturdays 8am-4pm. Please send resume or application to: Kellie SC to the cute Delta Gamma Ritzema at kritzema@zimbrick. cart-girl at Hawk’s Landing. com or 2400 Rimrock Rd. Madi- You borrowed my cart, and son, WI. 53713

you have my number! :) 2nd Chance SO to the girl with the pink umbrella that smiled at me at the corner of University and Mills last Friday. Same time next week?

took my heart with it.

PARKING

Parking available in The Kohl Center and Camp Randall areas. Prices starting at $49.00.

Beat the end of summer rush.

Garages available too!! Call Earn $100-$3200/ month to Tallard Apartments at 608-250drive our cars with ads. www.

0202. See parking maps on our FreeCarJobs.com website. www.tallardapartments.

STUDENTPAYOUTS.COM. com Paid Survey. Takers Needed in Madison. 100% Free to Join.

Click on Surveys. !Bartending! $300/day potential.

No experience neccesary. Training available. 800-965-6520 ext. 120

SC to my FB from the beginning of the year. Sorry I went MIA the last few weeks. I lost your number. Text me tonight?!

2nd chance to my roomies last year. Sorry I didn’t sign a lease with you for supersenior year, I really thought I’d pass those classes. Couch crashing?

SC to the hottie with an accent at the student council meeting. Yo daddy let you date?

SC to Bucky. You held my hand before the game on Saturday and I thought things were going great and then you just up and left me for someone else! I think we deserve another chance together SC to my last year’s chem 104 lab partner...you, sir, are an incredibly cute and intelligent ginger and I miss the chemistry we made together...ask me out sometime,

catch you being lazy again.

Or you could just come find me. It’s a small building :) SC to the really hot guy in a blue shirt I danced with tonight at Segrido’s. Hope to see you there agian on October 13th. Maybe I’ll let you walk me home this time.

SC to L, the computer science major. I underestimated you when we were playing beer pong Saturday night and unfortunately was too concentrated on the game to realise just how attractive you were until right before I left.

You can bet I won’t overlook you next time...

SC to the girl who sat next to me at Coffee Bytes on Thursday. I feel embarrassed to say that I didn’t have the stones to say anything more to you than to tell you your wrap looked delicious. Same SC to Dan who I met at time next week? -The guy do- Wando’s last night. My friend ing the crossword puzzle. and I had a great time with you. You were a little older SC to the guy I caught being than us, but you seemed lazy in my apartment building way cooler than the typical the other day. I would have graduate student. I gave you flirted more but I was seeing my number, I hope you use someone. However, that all it! Your badass style along ended today. So I hope to with your intelligence is so

attractive!

Second Chance to Mike from history club in my 357 class. nerdy glasses + smokin bod ... i’ll be your dedicated student outside of class for all inappropriate subject matters, for sure taking honors and any extra credit you offer. stay hawt, translating into keep wearing tight vneck shirts...from a girl who can’t tell you where she sits in class without giving herself up (yet) SC to the girl I usually sit in class next to. Sorry I moved, the guy next to me kicks his legs and it’s so annoying.

Come sit next to me next time?

SC to the guy in the blue shorts working at the SERF today. You, sir, are delicious. I almost fell off of my treadmill because I was staring at you.

Hope to see you around.

-Brunette in all black

Sports

UW football better than Huskers’ Nick Korger Korger’s Korner Come Saturday, the twelfth Big Ten team, Nebraska, will take the field under the lights of Camp Randall to experience its first taste of Big Ten play. A field of dreams, if you will, for college football fans everywhere.

In one of the most hyped conference openers in Big Ten history, who holds the advantage in this matchup of top ten teams? Allow me to break down some aspects of Nebraska and Wisconsin in order to give you a clearer understanding of both programs and which program is better than the other.

Name: Badgers v.

Cornhuskers Here’s a fun fact: Nebraska stole its name from Iowa! Lincoln sportswriter Charles. S. Sherman in 1900 was sick of calling Nebraska by its old nickname (to be mentioned later) so he adopted for Nebraska the term “Cornhuskers” after Iowa fans decided they preferred “Hawkeyes.”

As for comparison, what’s

more intimidating: a badger or a worker who husks corn? Granted that worker may be a strong country boy, but a badger is a mean, aggressive and territorial animal. A cornhusker may get that way after a few too many on a Friday night, but when it comes down to it the name Cornhuskers does not strike fear in an opponent. When someone is being pesky, that person is said to be “badgering” another. When a person husks corn, that person is said to be from Nebraska.

The good news in all of this for the Cornhuskers is that their nickname is no longer what it was before 1900: the Bugeaters!

Advantage: Wisconsin Mascots: Bucky v. Herbie Husker Bucky is a larger-thanlife member of the weasel family that wears a sweater.

Seriously, he’s a wild animal with style. Creative (various game skits), strong as an ox (194 pushups through four games) and loveable (he holds babies in photo ops), Bucky is certainly well-rounded.

Herbie Husker, on the other hand, is unremarkable.

He looks like a guy from the Midwest, plain and simple. Adorned with a red cowboy hat, a buttonup red shirt tucked into jeans with a belt and boots. Herbie looks, well, like you’d imagine a

Cornhusker would. He sort of resembles some of the townies Patrick Swayze throws around in “Roadhouse.” This isn’t even close. Buckingham U. wins in a landslide.

Advantage: Wisconsin Program prestige Wisconsin has never won a national championship.

Nebraska has won five (1970, 71, 94, 95, 97). Wisconsin has two Heisman Trophy winners (Alan Ameche 1954, Ron Dayne 1999). Nebraska has three (Johnny Rodgers 1972, Mike Rozier 1983, Eric Crouch 2001). Nebraska has appeared in 47 bowl games.

Wisconsin has appeared in 22. Nebraska has 25 ten-win seasons. The Badgers have seven.

Advantage: Nebraska Game day traditions Nebraska has some unique traditions for game days. One of these is the release of red helium-filled balloons after the Husker’s first touchdown. Nebraska fans also traditionally stand and applaud the visiting team as it exits the field whether the Huskers win or lose. Nebraska also has a video of legends that plays while the team begins to walk through the tunnel to enter the game to the tune of “Sirius.”

Wisconsin, on the other hand, has Jump Around, the Fifth Quarter, the

great student section race (J has always been my favorite letter) and ES-FU. Yep, some of our chants are so strongly worded that they have lost us band songs during the game (RIP Swingtown).

While Nebraska fans are traditionally held to be some of the most dedicated fans in the country, the game day experience inside Camp Randall cannot be matched.

Advantage: Wisconsin Head coach Bo Pelini is one scary dude. In fact, I don’t even want to joke about him out of my deep abiding fear of his retaliation.

You don’t cross him. In case you haven’t seen any highlights of Pelini on the sideline, he has no problem screaming at the refs until his face turns the color of Nebraska’s home red. When his players aren’t playing their best, Pelini lets them know his thoughts personally; just ask Huskers quarterback Taylor Martinez. Pelini’s results with Nebraska have been as impressive as his rage, leading the Huskers to a first place finish in the Big 12 North conference three years straight and a 2-1 record in bowls.

While Bielema has nothing as noticeable as Pelini’s intensity (if Pelini’s stare could move mountains, the world

would be flat), he has returned the Badgers to prosperity in his reign (culminated with last year’s glorious trip to Pasadena). Bielema is currently 53-16 as the head coach of Wisconsin while Pelini is 34-12 at Nebraska. Bielema has been very open with his excitement for Saturday. Pelini has simply said “It’s just the next game on the schedule for us.” Liar.

Advantage: Push There you have it. If these categories mean anything, Wisconsin will turn out the victor when the smoke clears on Saturday night.

A word of advice: when you file into the stadium Saturday, make sure you stop for a second and think. You are a part of history. You are witnessing the birth of a new rivalry, a new opponent and a new chapter in Wisconsin history. Soak it in.

If college football had a field of dreams, it will look like Camp Randall at kickoff.

Nick is a senior majoring in history and English. Let Nick know what you think the outcome of the game will be and why at nkorger@badgerherald.com.

SPORTS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2011

BIG TEN CONFERENCE PREVIEW 2011

Ticket to Indy

The oldest college lege football conference kicks off the 2011 season with an all-new look. Herald Sp Sports asked fellow Big Ten student newspaper staff ff to provide id a glimpse li iinto their h i respective i teams ffor the h season on the horizon.

The last time Illinois started a season like this, Harry Truman was president, a gallon of gas cost 20 cents and the Big Ten comprised of nine teams.

Sixty years after their 1951 national championship season, the Illini sit at 4-0 heading into conference play.

Ranked No. 24, the Illini face a favorable schedule comprising eight home games and zero road contests against opponents currently ranked in the AP Top 25.

After outscoring Arkansas State and South Dakota State by a combined 89-18 margin to open the season, the Illini’s offense struggled and was bailed out by the defense in a 17-14 win over Arizona State, which helped the Illini earn its ranking.

Illinois’ Big Ten season-opener Saturday against Northwestern will prove valuable in gauging what to expect the rest of the year from the Orange and Blue. Regardless of what happens on Saturday, the Illini could feasibly win at least eight games, though upsetting teams like Wisconsin and Michigan will be difficult, even at home.

Illinois prediction: 9-3.

-Kevin Kaplan, Daily Illini

In line with most of the one-loss teams so far in the Big Ten, Iowa has begun 2011 in a somewhat head-scratching fashion. The Hawkeyes began their season with an easy win over Tennessee Tech before heading to Iowa State for a hotly anticipated rivalry game with the Cyclones. After three overtimes, Iowa State emerged victorious, 44-41.

The following week, Iowa barely squeaked by Pittsburgh, rallying from 17 points down in the fourth quarter in a 31-27 win. Quarterback James Vandenberg threw for 399 yards and three touchdowns in that game, and along with wide receiver Marvin McNutt (25 receptions, 413 yards and four touchdowns), he has been the Hawkeyes’ best offensive player thus far.

Defensively, linebackers James Morris and Christian Kirksey have led Iowa’s defense, combining for 79 tackles in four games.

If Iowa can win the games it’ll be favored in — most likely all of the home games, plus perhaps Minnesota and Purdue — and grab a victory at Penn State, it could position itself nicely near the top of the Big Ten. -Mike Fiammetta, The Badger Herald

The Michigan State football team entered the 2011 season with a wealth of experience returning on offense and a few defensive newcomers with potential.

The Spartans head into the Big Ten season at 3-1, having averaged 417.2 total offensive yards while holding its opponents to 172.2 yards and an average of 11 points per game.

Opening with a 28-6 win over Youngstown State, the Spartans followed up the second week with a 44-0 shutout over Florida Atlantic — where senior wide receiver B.J. Cunningham caught five passes for 73 yards, making him MSU’s all-time leader in career receptions.

MSU suffered its first loss of the season against Notre Dame, 31-13. Despite the loss, senior quarterback Kirk Cousins had his fourth career game with more than 300 passing yards, finishing 34-for-53 for 329 yards.

The team also has weapons for the running game in junior running backs Edwin Baker and Larry Caper and sophomore running back Le’Veon Bell., Junior defensive tackle Jerel Worthy and senior safety Trenton Robinson anchor MSU’s defense, while sophomore linebackers Max Bullough and Denicos Allen follow up with 24 and 21 total tackles, respectively.

-Michelle Martinelli, The State News

For Michigan’s offense, everything begins and ends with quarterback Denard Robinson. The dynamic junior quarterback has already run for 552 yards this season, more than twice as many as the next Wolverine. He has five rushing touchdowns on the year — the same number as the rest of the roster combined.

The remainder of the running attack is balanced out between junior Vincent Smith and redshirt sophomore Fitzgerald Toussaint. Smith is averaging 8.5 yards per game, and Toussaint has three touchdowns on the year.

Through four games, the passing attack has been Michigan’s weakest link. Robinson has completed just 49 percent of his passes against mostly inferior teams and has as many interceptions, six, as he does touchdowns. No wide receiver has consistently stood out, either.

Michigan’s defense, a sieve last year, has been somewhat of a bright spot. The Wolverines have scored three times as many touchdowns as their opposition and have already forced 13 turnovers.

Michigan’s first real Big Ten challenge is Oct. 15 on the road against Michigan State. If the Wolverines can escape from East Lansing, they have a realistic shot of being 10-0 heading into the huge game against Nebraska.

-Everett Cook, Michigan Daily

4-0

3-1

In Bo Pelini’s first three seasons as Nebraska’s head coach, the Husker defense improved each year. That trend hasn’t exactly continued in 2011 as NU prepares for its inaugural Big Ten Conference schedule.

The Nebraska defense heads to Wisconsin this weekend having already allowed over 100 yards rushing through two straight games. The Huskers currently rank ninth in the Big Ten in rush and pass defense.

A positive sign for the defense, though, is the return of NU’s leaders on all three levels. Defensive tackle Jared Crick, linebacker Lavonte David and cornerback Alfonzo Dennard are all expected to be on the field together for the first time this season on Saturday.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Huskers are still getting comfortable with new offensive coordinator Tim Beck’s system, which features a heavy dose of option runs. A more mature Taylor Martinez is starting to look like a true quarterback rather than just the explosive athlete fans got to see at the beginning of last season.

Last season, the offense relied too much on Martinez’s ability and couldn’t produce after he went down midway through the season. NU added explosive young playmakers in the backfield and in the receiving game to take some of the weight off Martinez’s shoulders.

-Doug Burger, Daily Nebraskan

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MORE COVERAGE ONLINE AT BADGERHERALD.com

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WRITERS’ PICKS KELLY ERICKSON THE BADGER HERALD

ELLIOT HUGHES

THE BADGER HERALD

KEVIN KAPLAN THE DAILY ILLINI

EVERETT COOK MICHIGAN DAILY

ALEX MCCARTHY

INDIANA DAILY STUDENT

RYAN LOY

THE DAILY COLLEGIAN

Ohio State’s 2011 season has unfolded more strangely than arguably any year in recent memory.

Jolted by the resignation of Jim Tressel, the departure of quarterback Terrelle Pryor and the suspensions of DeVier Posey, Daniel Herron, Mike Adams and Solomon Thomas, the Buckeyes entered this season under extraordinarily fierce scrutiny. OSU opened the season with an easy 42-0 win over Akron but struggled to pull out a 27-22 win over Toledo the following week.

After that, the Buckeyes played their worst game of the season to date, falling on the road to Miami, 24-6. Quarterbacks Joe Bauserman and Braxton Miller have each received reps so far, with Bauserman taking the great majority.

After responding to the Miami loss with a 37-17 win over Colorado, Ohio State enters Big Ten play with an intriguing game against Michigan State.

Then the schedule gets even tougher, with two road trips to Nebraska and Illinois. Ohio State returns home to host Wisconsin before welcoming Indiana and then travelling to Purdue, playing Penn State at home and Michigan on the road. Those first four conference games could very well spell doom for the Buckeyes.

-Mike Fiammetta, The Badger Herald

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LEGENDS CHAMPION

LEADERS CHAMPION

NEBRASKA

WISCONSIN

NEBRASKA

WISCONSIN

NEBRASKA

WISCONSIN

MICHIGAN

WISCONSIN

NEBRASKA

WISCONSIN

NEBRASKA

WISCONSIN

After dropping four of six games dating back to last season without quarterback Dan Persa, Northwestern is certainly grateful to have its senior signal-caller back.

Persa set a Big Ten record last season, completing 73.5 percent of his passes. The dual-threat quarterback also threw for 15 touchdowns against just four interceptions and finished second on the team in rushing with 519 yards.

He is supported by an experienced offensive line that finally seems to be improving after myriad issues in the past, and by a stable of promising young running backs like Mike Trumpy and Adonis Smith, although no back has yet emerged as a standout.

All-Big Ten wide receiver Jeremy Ebert leads the team with 162 receiving yards and two touchdown receptions while senior superback Drake Dunsmore has yet to emerge this season.

On defense, Northwestern has a talented secondary that will need to overcome a defensive front that surrendered 381 rushing yards to Army.

Kick returner Venric Mark might be the most dangerous man on the team, averaging 28.9 yards on kickoff returns and 12 yards on punt returns. Still, at 2-1 and coming off an eyebrowraising loss to the Black Knights, the Wildcats have an awful lot to prove, beginning with their Big Ten opener against Illinois.

-Jonah Rosenblum, The Daily Northwestern

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This past spring, the Wisconsin football appeared to be just one puzzle piece away from returning for another crack at the Rose Bowl.

Then quarterback Russell Wilson fell out of the sky and landed under center.

Through four games, Wilson has surpassed all expectations in Madison. He currently owns the second-best passer rating in the country at 218.38 and has outgained his stable of running backs 1,136 yards to 982. With Wilson in command, the Badgers endured few tests over the non-conference season, winning all four games with a combined score of 194-34.

Offensive coordinator Paul Chryst has plenty of reliable and elusive options to give the ball to in running backs Montee Ball and James White, wide receiver Nick Toon and tight end Jacob Pedersen.

More can still be seen from a Badger defense that nevertheless has had a solid opening to the year. A shortage of turnovers — just one before last week’s game against South Dakota — and more missed tackles than head coach Bret Bielema would prefer to see are keeping the ‘D’ honest. Nevertheless, Wisconsin seems to be capable of more on offense this year, and a Big Ten title could very well be headed back to Madison.

-Elliot Hughes, The Badger Herald

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