'A CRISPR Conundrum' - Volume 51, Issue 22

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

A CRISPR CONUNDRUM As debate rages on about just how far is too far, UW balances research, public opinion, policy pg. 12

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While citizens and scientists MCDA ARMED GUARDS 7 LATE WINTER MARKET 10 alike strive to keep themselves The Dane County Farmers’ Market offers Madison Community Devolopment safe, divison vaccine a way for residents to buy fresh local Authority reinstates armed on gaurds at five efficacy of their properties. comes to a head. produce without waiting for better pg. 12

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POINT COUNTERPOINT: GOVERNMENT AND WORKING FAMILIES

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College Republicans and College Democrats argue which party has done more to support working families, whether more is necessary and what that would look like.

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MEN’S BASKETBALL: BRAD DAVISON CATCHES FIRE During impressive win streak near the end of the regular season, Brad Davison has joined slew of other offensive contributors in increased production.

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Border battle

Photos by Justin Mielke, design by Caitlin Geurts

PHOTO

The UW-Madison Mens Basketball team defeated close rivals, the University of Minnesota Gophers, 71-69, in a lively border battle on Sunday night.

March 3, 2020 • badgerherald.com • 3

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US, Laos deportation negotiations concern local Hmong community

Almost entire Hmong population is here due to fighting with US during Vietnam war, according to local Hmong community activist

by Katie Sellers Reporter

Recent reports indicate the Trump Administration is pursuing agreements with Laos to coordinate the deportation of Hmong residents, stirring concerns and confusion within the Madison Hmong community.

According to U.S. census data, as reported in the Cap Times, Wisconsin is home to over 50,000 Hmong and Laotian residents.

According to Peng Her, CEO of Madison’s Hmong Institute, Dane County is home to about 6,000 Hmong people, many of whom are frightened by the State Department’s recent negotiations.

Her said Hmong people first began immigrating to the U.S. following the Vietnam War in the 1970s. Her said almost the entire Hmong population is here as a result of the Hmong people fighting for the U.S. against neighboring North Vietnamese forces.

“We are veterans,” Her said. “So, we made the ultimate sacrifice, both those who were killed serving and then we had to flee our own country because it was no longer safe.”

Following the U.S. removal of troops from

the region, Her said many Hmong people were left vulnerable to persecution from the communist government of Laos. When the government threatened genocide of the Hmong over the national radio, Her said many Hmong fled to Thailand.

Her said refugee status was granted to many with respect to the Hmong community’s support of the U.S.’s efforts during the war. But, with the recent negotiations between Laos and the U.S., Her said many are left wondering if this status will remain.

“The question; why would this happen?”

Her said. “How could this happen? Secondly, they ask the question; who is being deported?

Is it me? Is it you? And so [the Hmong elders] are very confused.”

According to the Cap Times, Hmong individuals who are at risk of deportation include those who have outstanding deportation orders against them, have committed crimes or do not have U.S. citizenship.

Her said due to the U.S. State Department’s lack of details on negotiations, many within the Hmong community feel they are left

in the dark on the issue, creating a lack of transparency.

“We don’t know that [Laos] has already signed this agreement,” Her said. “And then the concern is, let’s say [Laos] gets pressured and they do decide to sign this agreement, what happens next, because the fear is there are going to be ICE raids in the Hmong community to round people up.”

According to NBC, the United States is offering funding to the Laotian Government for a reintegration program for the people returning to Laos. Many facing deportation lack any current connections to the country, as Her explained many of the Hmong fled Laos when they were young, making this possible transition especially daunting.

This issue is being addressed by the Hmong community as well as many of Wisconsin’s elected officials. Gov. Tony Evers has voiced his disapproval of the State Department’s push, raising concerns regarding the history of human rights abuses against the Hmong people in the region, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Her said those who fought in the Vietnam war alongside Americans see this as an act of betrayal.

“The challenge is when these elders hear about this they are confused on many parts,” Her said. “One is, hello we had an agreement, we were partners with them and how do they now want to send us back. So, that is where they feel they are being betrayed, or they don’t know what is really happening.”

Dane County Immigration Affairs Services Specialist Fabiola Hamdan said the county is fully supporting the Hmong Community.

Hamdan said Immigration Affairs Services has reached out to the Hmong Institute and other local organizations during this time to stay in touch during this crucial period.

Hamdan said the role of the county, if the negotiations go through, will be to connect people in the Hmong community with legal services to fight any deportation orders. The county works with many nonprofits that support immigrants cases after they have been detained by ICE. According to Hamdan, it is extremely important to have access to free, pro bono representation.

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Rep. Vining drafts new bill to combat increasing EpiPen costs

The initial fiscal estimate to mandate epinephrine in all ambulances across Wisconsin is between $187,500 to $343,750

by Bella Onsi Reporter

Rep. Robyn Vining, D-Wauwatosa, is currently working on a proposal to reform how patients pay for epinephrine in Wisconsin and mandating that all Wisconsin ambulances are equipped with epinephrine dispensers.

According to the Food Allergy Research & Education, “epinephrine is a safe and highly effective medication that can reverse severe allergy symptoms.” Epinephrine pens and equivalent products are used to inject a specific dosage of epinephrine into patients who are suffering from a severe allergic reaction. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that food allergies have risen in children by 18% from 1997 to 2007.

This bill is in response to skyrocketing costs of epinephrine pens in recent years. According to the U.S. Federal Drug Administration, the first generic version of EpiPens was approved in 2018, whereas the FDA approved the original EpiPen brand epinephrine pen back in 1987.

Since EpiPens, created by the company Mylan, were the first — and at times the only epinephrine auto-injector product on the market — the lack of competition meant the 4 • badgerherald.com • March 3 2020

company had a lot of control over the market price. Vining has seen prices go from $15 to over $100 firsthand while trying to pick up her child’s epinephrine prescriptions.

“Our bill would allow pharmacists to fill the prescription with one of the therapeutic equivalent drug products that do the same thing as a name brand EpiPen or a generic equivalent,” Rep. Vining said. “[The equivalent products] use a different injection mechanism that [is] less expensive.”

“What is really important is families not having to choose between groceries and medicine.”

Rep. Robyn Vining, D-Wauwatosa

Brands like Teva Therapeutics have created a therapeutic epinephrine auto-injector that works the exact same as Epipens but at a cheaper cost to consumers. Other brands, like Auvi-Q, have also been introduced in the epinephrine market and provide a product that is smaller, easier to use and has a lower price.

University of Wisconsin-Madison freshman Zawadi Hester has had a prescription for

epinephrine pens since she was a child for her allergy to cashews. Her family, like many others, has been affected by the price increase of epinephrine pens in recent years.

“In high school, I typically had two EpiPens — one for school and one to keep at home.

But at college, the two EpiPens I have are now both expired,” Hester said. “Since it’s so rare I have to use them, I don’t want to spend a ton of money to buy another if I might never even use it.”

According to the EpiPen website, it is not recommended to use an expired EpiPen. It can be less effective or deliver the wrong dosage of epinephrine, but for some families, it is a risk they are willing to take due to rising costs of EpiPens. This bill hopes to eliminate that choice.

“What is really important is families not having to choose between groceries and medicine,” Rep. Vining said.

In addition, the proposed legislation will mandate all ambulances across Wisconsin are equipped with epinephrine dispensers.

According to research conducted by FARE, 200,000 people in the U.S. need medical care for allergic reactions every year. Another study by FARE shows that as of 2014, only 11 out of 50 states require ambulances to carry

epinephrine at all times.

According to the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, a reaction can occur within seconds or up to an hour after exposure to the allergen, making it critical that when an ambulance responds to a patient in need, the responders can immediately administer epinephrine.

“Emergency responders can focus on quality care instead of worrying about the cost of purchasing and replacing epinephrine auto-injectors, especially in rural areas,” Rep. Vining said.

Vining said that the initial fiscal estimate of the plan to mandate epinephrine in ambulances across Wisconsin is between $187,500 to $343,750, which would be paid annually by the Department of Health. This would cover the cost of epinephrine and the dispensers for about 1,250 ambulances across the entire state.

“The number one concern for Wisconsinites is health care costs, and that includes prescription drug costs,” Vining said. “So long term, we need to drive the cost of healthcare, including prescription drug costs, down.

Epinephrine is a life-preserving medicine that we want to be both accessible and affordable to Wisconsinites.”

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Madison Community Development Authority reinstates armed guards Armed guards ‘representative of a default way of approaching a conflict in our society,’ opposing board member said

by Vanessa Reza Reporter

four properties on the east side and 20 properties on the west side, according to the proposal. These properties will only require a response from a security guard if an incident is reported during the guard’s scheduled hours.

According to the proposal, there is no federal or legal requirement for security services at CDA housing properties. CDA Deputy Director Deborah Rakowski said the CDA has hired armed security guards for their housing properties over the past 25 years, reinstating the policy with little change.

“It wasn’t a change in service per se,” Rakowski said. “It wasn’t in response to specific problems of violence and crime. It was really just to continue a service.”

District 13 Ald. Tag Evers voted against the proposal due to issues with the nature of adding armed security.

Evers said it demonstrates the default of society to use more guns to prevent crime.

Evers said reviving the proposal wasn’t a matter of bringing something in that hadn’t been done before, but more so if the CDA was happy in the contract.

Evers viewed the 14-month gap between contractors as an opportunity to reevaluate whether it is necessary to hire armed security for the housing properties in the first place. Low-income communities and communities of color possibly being disproportionately targeted was a concern for both Evers and CDA board member Kelda Roys, who also voted against the contract.

“I am very concerned about the over-policing and the over-surveilling of low-income communities and communities of color ... I’m opposed to it in principle,” said Evers. “If there is a criminal who is trying to sell drugs or up to no good, I don’t think that our security should be accosting that person. They should call the police.”

Rakowski viewed the 14-month gap as an opportunity to rewrite requirements and standards. This was due to the CDA’s concerns regarding the skills, training and certification of the security guards. This time allowed the CDA to update their standard Photo - A survey given to residents revealed that they are relatively evenly split on whether they favor armed guards or not operating procedures to better align with what is “current” in the industry, Jason Chan according to Rakowski.

The Badger Herald Before voting on the new contract Madison’s Community Development Authority is reintroducing armed security guards at five of their housing properties 14 months after losing their previous contractor.

The Madison Community Development Authority passed a proposal contracting two armed security guards on Feb. 13 in a 3-2 vote, according to the Cap Times.

The security guards will be responsible for patrolling three west side properties and two east side properties daily. These include Baird Fisher Apartments, Romnes

Apartments, Britta Park Apartments, Webb Rethke Apartments and Truax Park Apartments.

According to the proposal, the security guards will be responsible for patrolling the interior and exterior of buildings’ parking lots; reporting suspicious, irregular, or illegal activities to law enforcement; enforcing the appropriate CDA policies and acting as a first responder to all emergencies at the housing properties as needed.

In addition to daily patrols, the security guards will be responsible for

took place, CDA board members delayed the decision in order to conduct and review a survey of resident opinions and preferences. Additionally, police incidents at the housing properties were reviewed.

Survey results revealed the residents’ views regarding armed versus unarmed security guards were split 50/50, according to Roys.

“It didn’t show that folks were universally in favor of this ... it was split kind of down the middle,” Evers said. “So, it wasn’t like there was universal acclaim that this was absolutely something that we needed.”

Evers said there was little discussion of nonlethal weapons as an option for the security guards. Evers attempted to propose an argument allowing the housing properties to have higher-level trained individuals who were not armed with lethal weapons, but he said it did not take off.

Rakowski explained differences in pay and level of training received by an armed guard with a lethal weapon versus a nonlethal weapon were large factors in the decision. There is a significant difference in training required for an armed guard qualified to carry a gun versus a taser, according to Rakowski.

“It’s the training that the [lethally] armed guard receives and is required to take which in the security profession reduces the chance of an entry-level guard in that position,” said Rakowski. “That really speaks to our philosophy of security which is what we want our guards to be really engaged with our residents.”

The current contract will last for one year but can be renewed an additional four times. This means armed security could potentially be patrolling several CDA housing properties for the next five years.

Evers said once a contract such as this one is voted on and implemented, it can be very difficult to retract.

Rakowski said communication with the affected residents is a top priority and will continue as the new contract is implemented. In addition to a separate routine needs assessment, Rakowski said the CDA is always looking for new ways to communicate with their residents and further engage them in these decisions.

Along with this, according to Rakowski, the CDA will be assessing the performance of its contractors. The CDA board has specifically requested quarterly updates on its contractors’ performance with the project going forward in the future.

March 3, 2020 • badgerherald.com • 5

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Farmers discuss financial aid received from federal government One farmer believes the cycle of farms becoming increasingly large is reducing the diversity that has kept the country strong

by Janani Sundar State News Editor

Wisconsin farmers received $432 million in federal aid through the Market Facilitation Program, with applicants receiving between $2 to $850,000 from September 2018 and November 2019, according to the Associated Press.

Wisconsin Farmers Union President Darin Von Ruden, who owns a fifty-head organic dairy farm in Vernon County, said farmers would much rather earn income from the market than from government programs.

But, Von Ruden said due to trade wars and tariffs, federal aid is much needed. Von Ruden explained that tariffs placed in the last few years have greatly contributed to the problem. He said the tariffs have affected export products the most.

Von Ruden said selling dairy products in other countries has become more expensive, causing consumers not to buy the product. Von Ruden added that marketing companies do not buy the product to put it into that country because they will not be able to sell it, causing products to remain in America and the price to lower overall.

“It’s like a ripple effect,” Von Ruden said. “If it can’t leave the shore then the overproduction continues to push downward on the prices that

farmers receive.”

When asked about other personal challenges farmers have faced in the past few years, Von Ruden said with being organic, he has not faced as much as some of the more conventional farmers have.

But, Von Ruden said conventional farmers continuously face lowered pricing. Von Ruden added he is starting to witness increasing corporate ownership and takeover of the organic industry as well. Von Ruden also said much of the problems farmers are facing are due to the market continuing to become more concentrated.

“When prices — for whether it’s dairy, corn, soybeans, beef — get to a point where farmers are not recovering their expenses, [there is] really no option but to go out of business,” Von Ruden said.

Von Ruden said this problem is partly due to the reduced number of cooperatives available that are able to bargain on behalf of the farmers in all of agriculture. In the 1950s and 1960s, there were thousands of cooperatives working on behalf of the farmers, while today they are continuing to see less.

Von Ruden said as farmers continue to increase in size, they directly approach the processor as opposed to working with the cooperatives. He

added that in this process, more money goes to upper management, distribution networks and processing facilities.

This has led to consumers also paying a higher price for food, compared to when farmers received a higher price for their produce, Von Ruden said.

“As a farmer, it is really hard to figure that out, because if I’m getting less, the consumer should be paying less, but that is not happening right now,” Von Ruden said.

Owner of Badger Farms LLC Dave Muehl is in the business of producing canary grass and agrotourism. Muehl attributed part of the problem to inconsistent weather patterns of dry and wet years.

Muehl himself does not qualify for these types of federal aid as he does not do traditional crop farming. Muehl said flexible assistance for all other types of farming aside from crop farming would be helpful.

Von Ruden said the aid he received will go towards mostly paying off operating loans and debt that accumulated over the last few years with the poor economic times most farmers statewide have been facing. Von Ruden explained the importance of farming and how it pertains to society.

“We do what sustains everybody’s livelihoods throughout the day and throughout the years,” Von Ruden said. “Continuing in this cycle that we are in towards getting larger and larger farms, we’re losing the diversity that has kept the country strong.”

Von Ruden said the aid given by the government is not addressing the issue of overproduction in the right manner.

Ruden said the aid causes the issue of overproduction to progress even further. He said the government should focus on bringing the supply and demand back into balance.

“We used to say some of the disaster aid farmers got was a band-aid on a wound. What we’re doing now is we’re putting a band-aid on a gashed full blood pouring wound. It’s a lot worse today than what it was 25, 30 years ago,” Von Ruden said.

Muehl provided the solution of venturing out into agrotourism, which is to sustain in the market while remaining as a small farm. Muehl said tourism is getting more important all the time because people want to have a connection with food.

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UW Extended Campus plans to double online student enrollment

Programs would help people meet need for higher education throughout entire lives, according to UW Extended Campus Director

by Phoenix Pham Reporter

Expecting a decline in traditionally-aged undergraduate students, the UW Extended Campus plans to double online student enrollment within the next five years. This comes despite failing to fulfill Gov. Scott Walker ’s 2017 mandate that they double their Flexible Options program.

According to the Director of UW Extended Campus Aaron Brower, the Extended Campus would increase enrollment by marketing, supporting and reevaluating current online degree programs. Brower acknowledged the plan was partially in response to a projected decline in undergraduate students. But, the primary reason Extended Campus wanted to double its online enrollment was to serve working adults.

“The reason we’re doing what we’re doing is mostly to serve an underserved segment of the state, which is adult learners,” Brower said. “It also is the case that the number of traditionally-aged students will decline because of the population trends in the state — just because there’s fewer high-schoolaged kids. So that number is declining and there’s a big underserved population for adults.”

The Extended Campus does not actually develop online programs nor grant degrees, Brower said. Their role was to manage the programs and provide student support functions. Brower said one thing distinguishing the Extended Campus from other online degree programs was their UW Flexible Option. It is a “competencybased” degree rather semester-based, which means students advance their own pace by completing projects, according to Brower.

In 2017, Walker mandated the Extended Campus to double the number of Flexible Option courses they offered by December 2019, despite not granting them additional funding to do so, according to the Wisconsin State Journal. Last December, the Wisconsin State Journal reported the Extended Campus failed to meet the former governor ’s mandate.

“When that proposal was made in the budget in 2017, I was actually quoted in the paper to say that every program takes about one million [dollars] to create — whether it’s flex or any other program — and about 18 months for a program to create,” Brower said. “So we have the capacity to be on our growth plan. If you want it to be different, then there’s going to have to be more money.”

But not all agree with the Extended Campus’s goal of doubling enrollment.

Managing Director of Wisconsin Center for the Advancement of Postsecondary Education (WISCAPE) Noel Radomski said the Extended Campus’s plan amounted to little more than a nice press release.

Because it’s the UW Campuses developing online programs and granting degrees and not Extended Campus, Radomski said the Extended Campus’s goal was superfluous.

Radomski questions whether the UW Campuses really need the Extended Campus at all.

“What is the role of the UW Extended Campus?” Radomski said. “It will become increasingly redundant.”

Back when enrollments were up and UW campuses offered few online degrees, Extended Campus had a role, Radomski said. But with enrollment down and UW campuses developing their own online degrees to make up for the deficit, the Extended System was just slowing them down, according to Radomski.

UW campuses that have their own instructional designers and marketers do not need the Extended Campus’s collaboration to create online programs, Radomski said. The campuses without those resources should get them — not the Extended Campus.

“I’m not saying collaboration’s a bad thing,” Radomski said. “I’m just saying if you want to make things quick and quality, do it where everyone’s at. [It’s] Much faster, higher quality, more efficient and more effective.”

Radomski also questioned the widely-held assumption of declining undergraduate enrollments being caused by fewer high-school graduates.

Radomski said though the numbers of white high-school students were decreasing, the number of Latinx students were on the rise, which was where UW campuses needed to recruit.

Radomski said traditional recruiting strategies would not be as effective on Latinx students — many of whom would be the first in their families to attend college — and pointed to UWMilwaukee’s success in hiring Spanishspeaking staff and talking to local community leaders as a way forward.

“This whole myth that enrollment is going down and woe is me ... it’s really bad business,” Radomski said. “And if you’re in business, and you have the issues — collect data! Take a more data-driven, business

approach as opposed to excuses. The current narrative that demography is destiny is not true.”

Radomski said he wished the Extended Campus would be more transparent on releasing the data for their Flexible Options program. Radomski said despite requesting the data several times, the Extended Campus refused to give it to him.

But in a dynamic world of new technologies, new competition and new

jobs, both Radomski and Brower said online degrees would help working adults.

“The most important thing is that we know that people do need higher-level education throughout their entire lives,” Brower said. “And these programs are fantastic ways to take advantage of a highquality UW education in ways that fit into your busy life, rather than forcing you to fit your life around a traditional academic schedule.”

Photo - UW need to focus recruitment efforts on Latinx high school graduates, according to WISCAPE Managing Director Mary Magnuson The Badger Herald

March 3, 2020 • badgerherald.com • 7

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Dane County plans to purchase land in two cities for conservation

Dane County will spend over $1 million from their Dane County Conservation Fund to purchase over 220 acres of land

including recreational opportunities and wetland conservation. Welsh said protecting the wetlands is important for storm-water drainage.

“Given what’s happening with climate Dane County plans to purchase over 220 change and the forecasts for increased heavy acres of land in two separate cities in the area precipitation, what we really need to do, in as for the purpose of conservation and eventual good a job as possible, is making sure that all addition to the Ice Age Complex and other of our wetlands are well protected and well public spaces. managed,” Welsh said. “This is an example The projects in both cities are predicted to be where the wetland won’t be developed so it will approved in the next few weeks by the Dane always be available to store floodwaters.”

County Board. The first city Dane County plans The property acquisitions in Cross Plains to purchase land from is the Town of Cross and Dunn were both identified in the Dane Plains, according to NBC15 reporting.

County Parks and Open Space Plan. These two Dane County plans to purchase the 152land acquisitions were just a few of the many acre parcel for $1,090,000 using money from conservation plans for the 2018-2023 fivethe Dane County Conservation Fund, year plan. according to NBC15.

Dane County Parks showed the county The Town of Dunn would be the second had similar conservation projects in city to sell parcels of their land, and a the past. The plans were successful in total of 69 acres would be allocated to the acquiring over a thousand acres of land in ownership of Groundswell Conservancy their previous five-year plan, according to for the purpose of wetland habitat the plan. protection and public recreation, NBC15 “[Dane County] acquired approximately reported.

1,500 acres of recreation park and natural Dane County would provide the resource area lands,” Dane County Parks Groundswell Conservancy with a total of said of land acquisition in 2012-2017, their $152,570 to aid in acquiring the land, while last 5-year plan before the current one. the Conservancy would have to pay the But, purchasing land for public and remaining $145,230 in order to gain full conservation purposes is not a new ownership of the 69 acres, according to concept for Dane County, according to the NBC15.

Parks and Open Space Plan.

NBC15 also reported Dane County A review of the entire history of land would spend over $1 million from their acquisition in Dane County from the Dane County Conservation Fund to Parks and Open Space Plan shows how purchase land in the area for conservation dedicated the county is to providing purposes. recreational and environmental areas.

“So we [Groundswell Conservancy] are “The Dane County Parks currently getting money from the state … and also provides 12,608 acres of land in the through the Dane County Conservation following categories: Recreation Parks Fund, and both those programs require (26), Wildlife Areas (16), Natural Resource that deed restrictions are recorded on the Areas (27), Ice Age Trail Corridor Forests property at the courthouse that remind (2), Historical/Cultural Sites (6),” the 2018everyone now and in the future that the 2023 Dane County Parks and Open Space land can only be used for conservation,” Plan said.

Jim Welsh, Executive Director at According to the Dane County Land Groundswell Conservancy, said. and Water Resources Department, they But, Dane County planned to turn the believe it is increasingly important to purchased land into conservation areas conserve land and wetlands as the effects using different methods for each city, of climate change become apparent. according to Laura Hicklin, Director of the One reason why the land in the Town Dane County Land and Water Resources of Dunn would be allocated substantially Department. towards wetland protection is that In Cross Plains, the land remained wetlands have the duality of supporting under private ownership and the money plants and animals along with providing offered from the county would go towards recreational opportunities to people, an easement, or a right to a specific use, Photo - The two land acquisitions are a part of the 2018-2023 five year plan and are one of a few acquisitions to come Hicklin said. on the land. Hicklin said the easement “We are fortunate to live in a community necessitated a long list of conditions Ahmad Hamid that values conservation and the public and that must be followed. Hicklin said the The Badger Herald our local elected leaders have consistently conditions would stay with the land no supported the efforts,” Hicklin said. matter how many changes in private

by Rachel Clark Reporter

8 • badgerherald.com • March 3, 2020

ownership there are.

“The primary restrictions of the easement are that one, no development can occur, two, no mineral extraction or other earth disturbing activities may occur, three, any agricultural activities must follow a conservation plan and four, public access for the Ice Age National Scenic Trail will be allowed along a designated corridor,” Hicklin said.

Using an easement for the land allowed Dane County to maintain the natural land while not prohibiting private ownership of residents at the same time.

On the other hand, Hicklin said the land being acquired for conservation purposes

in the Town of Dunn would be purchased and allocated to complete ownership under Groundswell Conservancy.

“The County will provide a grant to a local land trust, Groundswell Conservancy to purchase the property,” Hicklin said.

As outlined on their website, Groundswell Conservancy is accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission and has helped permanently protect more than 12,000 acres to date.

While the land in Cross Plains would become a part of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Hicklin emphasized Groundswell’s land would be used for a variety of purposes,

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Evers established independent commission to redraw districts Gov. Evers is seeking to create alternative district map to balance out one Republican-lead legislature will produce

by Ben Baker State News Editor

Gov. Tony Evers issued an executive order Feb. 6 creating an independent panel to redraw legislative and congressional districts after the upcoming census to counterbalance the Republican-controlled state legislature drawn map.

The census has the potential to lay the political groundwork of Wisconsin for the next decade. It became a flashpoint of partisan conflict after a history of alleged gerrymandering by Republicans, which Democrats claim gain them a significant advantage, according to Associated Press reporting.

Evers’ concerns are not unfounded.

According to University of Wisconsin political science professor and director of the Election’s Research Center Barry Burden, a Republican-led redistricting effort in 2011 was rebuked by the United States Supreme Court, who criticized the Wisconsin GOP for its efforts to gain power through skewed districts.

“There was a really significant lawsuit filed against the Assembly maps that went to the U.S. Supreme Court along with cases from a couple of other states, and the Supreme Court agreed that the maps reflected a partisan effort and were probably effective at getting Republicans more seats than they would’ve otherwise gotten,” Burden said. “But in the end, the court decided it was not a legal matter for them to decide, it was a political matter.”

Evidence from 2018 midterm election data points to the effects gerrymandered districts had throughout Wisconsin seven years after district maps had been drawn.

In 2018 Gov. Scott Walker narrowly lost his re-election bid against Evers but Republicans won almost two-thirds of state Assembly districts.

An additional report by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel found 64 of Wisconsin’s 99 Assembly districts are more heavily skewed Republican than the state’s overall population on average, indicating roughly 65% of Wisconsin’s districts are not reflective of the state’s actual political makeup.

Evers’ attempt to offset the legislature’s maps with those of an independent panel is not an unusual concept. Burden said multiple states, including Michigan, Arizona and California assign the task of redistricting to non-partisan commissions.

According to UW political science professor

and legislative redistricting expert Kenneth including Representative Robin Vos who sides do it,’ even though both sides do,” Mayer, what sets Evers’ plan apart is that accused Evers of pandering to his base, Mayer said. “There are classic examples of Wisconsin’s state Constitution explicitly alleging most Wisconsinites outside of Democrats in California. When they had provides the legislature with the power to Evers’ voting bloc do not support such a the opportunity to draw district lines, they draw district maps. measure. have [produced gerrymandered districts].”

As a result, Mayer said the governor ’s Mayer acknowledged while Republicans In an apparent effort to quell concerns action is largely a symbolic gesture as have been the primary perpetrators of of partisan bias, Evers pledged to forbid Assembly and Senate Republicans have gerrymandering in Wisconsin, it is unclear lawmakers and lobbyists from sitting on stated the maps they create will not be whether Democrats would seize a similar the commission, which will include citizens influenced by Evers’ commission. opportunity if given the chance, noting from each of Wisconsin’s Congressional “The initiative process that the governor this has occurred in past instances of districts created in 2011. He also promised set up does not have the authority to enact Democratic-controlled redistricting across to generate balanced districts after this a map,” Mayer said. “It’s designed, I think, the country. year ’s census. to present an alternative to the public.

“I don’t want to fall back on ‘both The census is April 1, 2020.

The legislature doesn’t have to consider it. They’ve already said they won’t. They’ve already rejected the notion that they will pay attention to this.”

What makes Evers’ decision to establish a redistricting panel all the more prevalent is Wisconsin’s historical record as a purple state. Its government originally reflected such duality and negated the need for such a committee, according to Burden.

“Going back to the 1960s, every ten years when the census is done and it’s time to draw districts there has been some form of divided government,” Mayer said. “So, the parties have had to either work together or have been at a stalemate in every instance, the only exception being in 2011 when Republicans gained control and produced the districts we have today.”

In order to hand full responsibility for map creation over to an independent commission, Burden said the motion must first pass through both the state Senate and Assembly. This is a scenario he described as unlikely before being put to a vote decided by the citizens of Wisconsin.

Establishing a redistricting committee would require the approval of state legislature because Wisconsin’s state Constitution does not yield voters the power to place issues Photo - Former redistricting efforts by Republicans in 2011 drew fire from the Supreme Court for reflecting a partisan effort on a statewide ballot.

Yet, the idea of a redistricting Lauren Henning committee created by a The Badger Herald Democratic governor has drawn criticism from Republicans badgerherald.com • March 3 2020 • 9

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Late Winter Farmers’ Market brings fresh local produce to Dane County

The Dane County Farmers’ Market offers chance for Dane County residents to buy fresh local produce in winter at the Garver Feed Mill

by Veronica Kuffel ArtsEtc Editor

Almost everyone who’s lived through a summer or fall in Madison knows about the Dane County Farmers’ Market. They’ve gotten up early on Saturdays and circled the Capitol Square for fresh and local produce.

But what many don’t know is the Dane County Market doesn’t end when it gets cold.

In fact, it’s open pretty much year-round.

There are three seasons for the Dane County Market, and the Late Winter Market is in its current cycle. While the selection is limited to the winter season, it offers a wide variety of products from some of your favorite summer stands.

“The community knows that when they come to our market and interact with a farmer or a baker or a cheesemaker, they’re talking to the producer themselves,” Jill Carlson Groendyk, Assistant Market Manager of the DCFM said. “There’s this wealth of knowledge that they have access to.”

The Late Winter Market is located east of the Capitol at the Garver Feed Mill, an iconic, renovated building that hosts a number of small shops and gathering hall.

It’s a multi-faceted space that welcomes local artisans and mom and pop-style venues to set up and sell to customers. It’s a community-building that welcomes the Late Winter Market on Saturday mornings.

Stepping into the Garver Feed Mill on Saturday morning, you’re welcomed by the sound of a small crowd and the mixed aroma of coffee, pizza, baked goods and spices. People of all ages wander the market, following the smells and excitement.

“We are excited to be on the east side surrounded by so many family neighborhoods and great organizations,” Groendyk said.

“The relocation was really motivated by the idea that with more space we could host even more of our market vendors and with a more diverse and abundant product mix, we could better serve our patrons during the winter.”

The hall is lit by large windows and light bulbs on hanging, circular metal frames.

Plants drape the wooden pillars, brick walls and the picnic tables in the center.

Art dangles from the ceiling and tempts you to climb to the second floor to get a better view of it. From the walkway upstairs, customers have access to a string of shops and a display of the entire market.

On your right, you see a graffiti-clad bar area where an Ian’s Pizza sells its slices. To your left, you see an open area lined with white tables, hosting crates and display cases filled with local produce.

The vendors are engaged Wisconsin residents, selling different assortments 10 • badgerherald.com • March 3, 2020

of vegetables, pastries, cheese and other animal products. The Dane County Market published a list of what their vendors offer, which includes specialty items like yarn, catnip mice, goat milk soap, hides and leather.

These vendors are registered members of the Dane County Market and receive many perks, but the main perk is marketing their products to Madison citizens and working with other producers under the Market brand.

“It’s an amazing group of people,” Cora White, vendor of Violet Rose Bakery, said.

“We all have something in common, and that’s that we’re all hardworking people, driven by necessity and creating these really great homemade products.”

Though she took a break to raise her family, this is White’s first year back as one half of a mother-daughter team, selling their popular empanadas and spicy cheese bread.

Her mother was the founding owner of Stella’s, and now through Violet Rose Bakery, their stand has been open for 30 years — a hot ticket many wish they could get.

With an extensive waiting list, the DCFM selects its members through an application process. All applicants need to be up to date in their licenses and permits to sell and meet local and state laws to sell produce.

Along with these laws, members hold to the guidelines of the DCFM Rule Book.

Vendors cannot sell certain things like hobby ware, arts and crafts and live animals.

They’re also prohibited from selling brandname items, keeping with the local nature of the market.

“There are two main rules that make it different than other markets,” White said.

“You have to make the products in Wisconsin and you have to make it yourself.”

The DCFM is big on appearance, too, straying from vendor noise or fumes that may disrupt customers and other vendors.

Another way the DCFM monitors its members is under three selling categories — directly produced products, indirectly produced products and wild-gathered products.

Directly produced products are grown or raised on local farms and properties.

Indirectly produced products are combined from purchased raw ingredients and vendorgrown components.

Allowable ingredients to buy are cheese, flour and grain products, candy, and cured and smoked meat. Wild-gathered products are found in the naturally, but are limited to sections in the guidelines.

The DCFM has a total of 275 members who

sell their produce around Capitol Square in warm weather. At the Late Winter Market, about 30-40 vendors cram into rows at the Garver Feed Mill for customers to walk through.

The Late Winter Market rules outline that vendors must have attended at least one Summer Market and 50% of the ingredients in products must be grown by vendors.

Members who have attended five or more Summer Markets are given preference for space in the Garver Feed Mill, and set up is usually done by 6 a.m. or under discretion of Market Manager.

Once all is set up, the market opens from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. From there, the Dane County community gathers to buy good local produce and support their fellow neighbors.

The DCFM prides itself on offering a fun,

weekly gathering for the entire region to participate in. Regardless of age, race or belief, everyone is welcome to participate, buy some food and maybe share a few stories.

Groendyk added the Late Winter Market would not be possible without the warm community they serve.

“We have been so pleased with the patron support that we’ve seen,” Groendyk said.

“People are truly coming out even when it’s icy and frigid and cold. They’re coming to market and they’re enjoying it.”

The Late Winter Market is open every Saturday until April 4 from 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

For more information, visit their website or attend the market at the Garver Feed Mill.

If you’re missing out on fresh accessible produce from friendly local people, there’s no need to wait for the snow to melt.

Photo · The Late Winter Market is open every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. until April 4 Veronica Kuffel The Badger Herald

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Recent podcast boom provides fresh, engaging voice to UW students UW students such as Claudia Rodriguez, Justine Betti utilize podcast format for “Aux, Please,” spotlighting undiscovered music radio stations don’t uncover

by Georgia Ansley ArtsEtc Staff Writer

One trend that was hard to ignore in 2019 was the emergence of podcasts into mainstream popular culture. From politics, to business, to wellknown comedians, podcasts are a medium that seem to be able to mold into anything.

What all of these podcasts have in common, and perhaps what lead to their mass appeal in recent years, is that they offer a level of intimacy with the audience that cannot be reached from a page or a screen.

This podcast mania might remind people of the YouTube boom that started less than a decade ago.

YouTube videos attracted audiences, specifically the younger demographic, in a completely new, interactive and stimulating way.

In a way, podcasts have taken a step back from this level of stimulation through completely eliminating a sense. This solely auditory engagement with the audience is perhaps an even stronger indication of the speed and movement of the world today. People no longer have the time to sit and watch 20 minutes of a video, but people do want to be entertained in the car or while walking to class.

According to research by Podcast Insights, 65 percent of monthly podcast listeners started listening within the last three years. This shows the relatively new footprint podcasts have made on the vast digital media landscape over the last

decade. Today, 51 percent of people in the U.S. have listened to a podcast. That number is up seven percent from 2018, according to the Infinite Dial.

Politicians are just some of the people who have used this heightened audience engagement to their advantage. Andrew Yang, a now-former 2020 Democratic Presidential candidate, has been quoted saying he attributes much of his initial success and popularity, specifically among young people, to podcasts.

Podcasts gave Yang the opportunity to share his message before he was able to break through the tougher walls of mainstream networks or publications. In this way, podcasts have opened up both the democratic and journalistic mission of amplifying voices in a completely unique and powerful way.

With this rise in popularity in the digital medium, more individuals, and specifically students, have turned to the microphone instead of the megaphone to share their ideas with the world.

Claudia Rodriguez and Justine Betti are two friends who decided to launch their own podcast this year, titled “Aux, Please.” At its core, “Aux, Please” is centered around sharing and discussing undiscovered music in an informal environment with some comedic flare from the two friends’ dynamic.

“We want our listeners to feel like they are on a road trip with their best friends, passing the aux cord around to share their most recent musical

find that won’t be played on the radio for at least a year,” Betti said. “We want our listeners to feel like this is the way radio should be — a show run by like-minded peers who are just excited to share bangers and bops, not controlled and curated by Universal Records.”

Rodriguez and Betti use LÜM, a streaming platform and social media app, to release new episodes of their podcast. Rodriguez explained their choice to use LÜM as their platform, attributing it to their mission statement of supporting undiscovered artists, and also explained its entanglement in the Madison community. Their headquarters is located just a few minutes off of the University of Wisconsin’s campus.

“I noticed that music streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, or Pandora promote the top one percent of mainstream music from artists that are backed by record labels ... where is the other 99 percent of music that isn’t backed by the big dogs in the record label industry?” Betti said.

When asked why the partners chose to use podcasts as a platform, as opposed to using YouTube or a blog, Betti explained they liked how podcasts mirror the same structure as radio.

The hosts also appreciate that podcasts have an interactive element with an audience.

“I know I’m listening to a good podcast when the hosts start talking about a certain topic, and I find myself wanting to contribute my own views about the subject, even though I’m listening to an

episode recorded months prior alone in my car,” Betti said.

Podcasts also allow the hosts to express emotion in a way that is sometimes lost in translation in print mediums.

“When listening, you can tell that we are super excited about something because we start talking faster and louder, and listeners can really pick up on how we feel about the topic just through the tone of our voices,” Betti said.

Each podcast seems to have its own mission for what it would like to achieve.

Rodriguez spoke on why she believed so many people were starting to turn on their microphones and make once private conversations among friends a part of the public.

“I think it’s narcissism in a sense — everyone thinks they are interesting and have good conversations and want to be listened to,” Rodriguez said.

The partners are looking forward to seeing how “Aux, Please” will grow and adapt in the coming months. Rodriguez is interested in expanding the podcast discussions beyond music and incorporating more guests and interviews into their episodes.

“I would love for our podcast to be featured on a radio station someday,” Betti said. “But for now, our goal is to keep pumping out episodes and growing our group of listeners.”

Jazz artists breathe life, experience into North Street Cabaret tavern

Experienced artists Corky Siegel, Ernie Watts showcase jazz in its purest form with artistry, improv, chemistry in eastside Madison tavern

by Maggie Hendon ArtsEtc Staff Writer

The North Street Cabaret — a small, squat tavern — looked quiet and unassuming from the exterior, but stepping inside the venue on Saturday, Feb. 22 was like stepping into another place and time entirely. Soft, amber lights gently illuminated the crowd with the ornate, classic wallpaper border ribboning the walls.

Ernie Watts and Corky Siegel, joined by Kaylan Pathak, stood on the stage where they were bathed in blue and purple spotlights. Around them, people crowded in closely, all trying to get a glimpse of the performers in the packed venue.

“The biggest effect on a concert and how an audience responds is mostly the architecture,” Siegel said.

And the cozy venue certainly made me feel more engaged and enraptured by Siegel, Watts and Pathak’s highly skilled performances.

Pathak, an accomplished composer and percussionist, played the tabla, providing the rhythm which formed a strong backbone for the evening’s music. At one point during the night, he performed a solo on the tabla, voicing the rhythm he was about to play before recreating it on the tabla. His sense

of timing was impeccable, and the variety of different sounds he was able to coax out of his instrument was impressive.

Siegel provided vocals, singing and introducing each song, as he played piano.

“As I call myself: a singer of unusual songs,” he said.

His real expertise, though, lies with the harmonica. Through his performance, he demonstrated a real mastery of the instrument as well as a passion for playing it.

“Your personality is part of the music, and your body is part of the music. You throw everything in there,” Siegel said.

Watching his performance, I suddenly felt I understood what he meant. Whenever he broke out the harmonica for a solo, it was as if the music had come over him, and he was a part of it as much as he was the source.

Watts’s performances were equally masterful, but for him, music and performance are all about the energy.

“When we get on the stage to perform, to create, there’s another kind of energy — the creative energy of music — that comes and goes through you … It’s like another world,” he said.

Both Siegel and Watts expressed a feeling of connection with their audience. For Watts, this

came in the form of a spiritual interaction.

“It’s an energy exchange with us and with them,” Watts said.

For Siegel, it’s a responsibility to his audience.

“As musicians, we are offered an opportunity to work in a medium that, on its own, uplifts people, brings joy, brings people together, and brings good into the world. And we are the conduit to bring that to people,” Siegel said.

When the two of them played together, improvising interesting and exciting duets, the joy in the audience was palpable. During their performance of “Hey, Billie Jean,” Watts began their interplay hitting all the high notes on his sax while Siegel and his harmonica provided a lower harmony at the same time.

From his lower pitch, Siegel would leap up the range of his harmonica, as Watts simultaneously slid down, creating a dramatic exchange between the two instruments. Then, they moved into a rhythmic interplay in which they both played on the downbeat until Siegel slowly phased out to take the upbeats and drove their improvisation into a more dramatic final cadence.

Being masters of improvisation, they both shared some thoughts with me on the art of

improv. Siegel and Watts share an appreciation of the freedom of expression it affords them.

“We know the tunes that we’re going to play, we know what direction we’re going to go in, but we don’t know all of the notes we’re going to play,” Watts said. “That’s when the freedom comes in. That’s when the expression comes in.”

Siegel agreed with his colleague.

“One of the things that allow the energy to flow is spontaneity. You want to make a lot of room for spontaneity,” Siegel said.

This philosophy was clearly reflected in their concert in the sheer amount of improvisation for which they made time. These complex exchanges were, of course, packed with emotion and expression.

“We are the development of everything we’ve come from … so we bring our whole history of all of our life experiences and our studies to our performance … we bring everything with us,” Watts said.

And Saturday night, they certainly brought everything with them. Watching them perform was like listening to them tell their life story and stepping back in time with them.

March 3, 2020 • badgerherald.com • 11

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A CRISPR Conundrum

With the advancement of gene editing technology, ethical challenges emerge for researchers, policymakers

by Mary Magnuson Digital News Editor

In 2018, Chinese researcher He Jiankui was imprisoned for editing a human embryo — a procedure which resulted in the birth of the world’s first genetically modified twins. Called “a profound leap of science and ethics” by the Associated Press, Jiankui’s announcement shocked the world of bioethics and opened new avenues of debate for researchers, medical professionals, ethicists, policy analysts and the public.

Germline gene editing — like Jiankui performed — alters the genetic code of not just an individual, but of every child, grandchild and great-grandchild the individual has. While somatic gene editing, which is currently used to treat conditions like sickle-cell anemia, only affects the diseased individual, germline editing alters an entire lineage. It’s illegal in the United States as well as many other countries.

For Janet Mertz, a researcher with the University of Wisconsin’s School of Medicine’s Carbone Cancer Center, the ethical debate behind gene editing is nothing new. Back in the 1970s, Mertz worked in Nobel

prize-winning biochemist Paul Berg’s lab studying recombinant DNA — DNA made by inserting a gene from one organism into another.

Success with recombinant DNA opened the door to bigger possibilities in the realm of genetic engineering, Mertz said, but those successes also posed new ethical questions.

“This is the first time people said ‘are there experiments that we might be able to do that we shouldn’t do?’” Mertz said. “Are there experiments we can potentially do that might be too hazardous or unethical for other reasons that we shouldn’t do them?”

In 1993, Spanish researcher Francisco Mojica described what became known as a “CRISPR locus.”

According to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University’s The Broad Institute, the CRISPR locus is a sequence of genes found in the immune systems of certain microbes. It allows scientists to edit the genetic code of an organism at a specific, targeted gene, and the technology has already begun to revolutionize medicine, agriculture, veterinary science and a plethora of other fields.

Now, labs all across the UW campus use CRISPR and CRISPR-modified animal models to conduct research. Director of the Genome Editing and Animal Models Center Dustin Rubenstein said “it’s really hard to overstate how much it’s changed our ability to do research.”

But, as in the case of the Chinese researcher, there’s always a limit — if not technological, then ethical.

John Evans is a sociologist at the University of California, San Diego who studies controversial scientific debates. He spoke to UW students and faculty in February as a part of the weekly Life Sciences Communication Colloquium, where he described gene editing as a slippery slope. Allowing one slightly controversial action makes it easier, as a society, to favor more ethically ambiguous stances on issues like germline editing, Evans said.

“A lot of these debates are about the limits that we should put on scientific action,” Evans said. “You have to draw your line on the slope here somewhere.”.

CRISPR ON CAMPUS

Kathy Krentz co-directs GEAM at UW with Rubenstein. Krentz has worked in biotechnology on campus for over 25 years, and at GEAM, she helps create gene-edited animal models for researchers to study both on campus and nationwide.

Krentz said researchers can use CRISPR in a wide variety of ways, from knocking out or changing genes to inserting new ones.

12 • badgerherald.com • March 3, 2020

“We can use CRISPR in many different ways,” she said. “We can create [a] break in the DNA within the genome, and in our lab that’s called creating a knockout animal where we knock out a reset or delete a region. And that’s been something that we’ve done, rather easily and routinely. And what’s been more complicated is to change the genome, where we go in and we create a cut in the genome but then we put in a piece of DNA, or we change some of the base pairs.”

At GEAM, Krentz and her team use germline editing techniques to create lineages of genetically engineered animal models.

Biochemist Melissa Harrison works with CRISPR in the reproductive cells of fruit flies. Her lab studies what happens to these cells and the proteins they make when different genes are modified. They can then apply their discoveries to other species.

“For us, genome editing is largely a tool,” Harrison said. “It’s really opened up a lot of ways that we can start to ask very mechanistic questions.”

One of Harrison’s colleagues, biochemist Jill Wildonger, also works with fruit flies. Her lab studies brain cells and how different proteins within them allow them to function differently.

Wildonger said CRISPR makes it easier for them to target and modify genes without having to insert foreign, lab-made DNA. “What CRISPR does is it enables us to directly target the genes that are present within cells,” Wildonger said. “Previously, we would have to make DNA constructs that we would then have to get into the cells. And in some cases that has drawbacks, because you’re working with DNA that you’ve made in the lab.

It might not be expressed at normal levels, it might not make it to the right position within the cell.”

And while Wildonger said CRISPR has revolutionized genetic research, it’s not perfect. For one, it’s only useful in models where the researcher knows the genomic sequence, otherwise, they have no idea what to target. Many organisms have reference sequences available, but the reference sequences cannot account for individual genetic variations.

One of the biggest challenges when applying CRISPR is minimizing off-target effects, said GEAM Research Specialist Brent Lehman.

“Turns out as much as I try to paint the rosy picture that this genome editing is perfect and precise, there are these off target effects,” Lehman said. “And all that means is while you were performing the genome editing at the site that you want in the genome, something else in the genome got altered.”

Off-target effects happen when editing a gene, called the target gene, that cause something else to change in a different gene. Sometimes they’re completely harmless, but they can also be dangerous.

And it’s difficult to predict them, Lehman said.

Some computer algorithms can help model where they might pop up, and researchers have discovered techniques to limit them, but even in the perfect

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experiment there’s still a small chance.

One new discovery in the field that might make this easier, however, is a technique called prime editing, which edits the genome with more precision. Lehman said he’s excited to try it out in the lab.

Harrison said though CRISPR is far more advanced than the technology they used to have, it isn’t 100% efficient. Sometimes other tools prove better alternatives for an experiment — but since CRISPR is new and exciting, there’s pressure to use it for everything.

“Because we can now do [CRISPR], when you don’t do it, other scientists and reviewers are like ‘why didn’t you do this?’” Harrison said. “Keeping up with the technology is a challenge because it’s really fast paced and moving quickly. We just need to read more and do more.”

A SLIPPERY SLOPE

Since the widespread popularization of CRISPR techniques, Evans said bioethicists have begun to shift their attitudes towards these technologies. That being said, Evans added, they still mark that distinct barrier between somatic and germline editing.

While somatic cell gene editing only affects the individual seeking treatment, germline alters all their offspring — and it’s this distinction that means a whole new realm of ethical issues.

For one, Rubenstein said, the new babies born from germline-edited embryos cannot give their informed consent.

“A mom might decide that they want this disease cured in their embryo,” Rubenstein said. “But that child doesn’t really get decide, and that’s going to pass down to their children and their children’s children.

One of the pillars of medical bioethics is informed consent, right? So, it gets a little tricky when there is this permanent change that’s handed down for all of the generations where no informed consent can possibly be given.”

Beyond the question of consent, there’s a question of this technology’s application, Mertz said.

Mertz said CRISPR has advanced enough that germline editing for solely the purpose of enhancement is possible — which is why, as detailed in a Nature article, many countries have placed moratoriums, or bans, on the technology.

“The future is here now,” she said. “We have the technology to be able to genetically [engineer] humans and make ‘designer ’ human beings.”

Evans said the idea of “designer” human beings isn’t a new one — functionally, it has the same outcome as eugenics, one of the ideologies behind the Nazi party in World War II. And Evans said even though germline editing for enhancement falls way at the bottom of this slippery slope, it’s the little shifts in morality that push society slowly farther to that point.

Evans said while the slope has barriers, these barriers can break down. While many researchers, like Lehman and Rubenstein, oppose germline editing in humans, the National Academies of Science released a statement in 2017 stating germline gene editing

Illustrations by Nuha Dolby

could one day be permitted for serious conditions. This excludes editing for enhancement.

Evans said germline editing technology tempts some — like Jiankui, the jailed researcher — because of its immense potential.

“The very first thing people tried to modify was a human embryo,” Evans said. “And so this sort of eugenic impulse rears its head like, ‘gosh, we can finally modify it.’”

COMMUNICATING CRISPR

Chair of the Life Sciences Communications Department at UW Dominique Brossard is an expert on public opinions of science. Brossard also has firsthand experience working with gene editing — she received her masters degree in plant biotechnology.

Brossard said while scientists make the distinction between germline gene editing and somatic gene editing when assessing the ethical implications of the technologies, the public tends to make a different distinction — one between editing for therapeutic purposes and enhancement purposes.

Essentially, this boils down to the distinction between gene editing to fix a medical condition and gene editing for personal enhancement.

Brossard and several of her colleagues recently published some of their work about public perceptions of gene editing in Science magazine. They used data from the National Academy of Science consensus report to argue greater integration of public opinion into gene editing policy.

“We need to actually have broad public participation to discuss this,” Brossard said. “This is something that’s going to affect everyone, so the public engagement needs to be taken seriously, to make sure that we know ahead of time how to regulate. Because there’s no right or wrong answer.

This is a policy. This is a political question, it’s not a scientific one. So that means that scientists themselves cannot just answer that.”

Brossard said instead of going into the purely technical aspect of CRISPR and educating the public about the science, what’s more important is to start a discussion about the kind of values they hold as a society, and what the best way to apply the technology might be.

Brossard said since people tend to use mental shortcuts when thinking about difficult topics, institutions should foster deep discussions that go beyond partisan or religious boundaries about these issues.

“It’s about what kind of society we want to be,” Brossard said. “Obviously you want to be able to understand what the technology can do or what the technology cannot do or how the technology can go wrong, but the decision to go forward or whatever,

that’s really a policy decision.”

Wildonger said communicating CRISPR is important to her and her lab because the technology isn’t too difficult to learn about, and it can help people who don’t have a science background get interested in and excited about research.

When it comes to applying the technology, Wildonger said it’s important to foster open communication between experts and the public. Plus, she said making sure students receive a sound science education helps, because when students learn about these new technologies, they’re likely to be more discretous towards — rather than scared of — future technological advances.

“We want to [have a] dialogue,” Brossard said. “We want to get to a point where scientists from genetics, or social scientists for that matter, or religious groups or a representation of a consumer group, or parents and family of those who have the genetic disease can actually decide on the pros and cons, all together to reach a compromise.”

March 3, 2020 • badgerherald.com • 13

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No platforming nowhere near as productive as debate, conversation

Legislation enshrining freedom of speech, other constitutional rights should not garner the controversy that it does

by Tripp Grebe Columnist

Feb. 11, the Wisconsin State Assembly approved a bill that protects free speech on all University of Wisconsin campuses.

Under the bill, students who disrupt free speech on UW campuses twice will be suspended for a semester. If students disrupt a third time, they will be expelled.

The Assembly has attempted to pass similar bills in the past, but they have never made it through the Senate. The UW System Regents previously adopted a policy identical to the one passed in the Assembly.

Wisconsin Assembly Democrats have come out in opposition to the bill, stating that cementing this policy in state statute is redundant and unnecessary. They argue it shows a distrust for university administration, and it’s a possible danger to students who decide to use their constitutional right of protest.

Republican Lawmakers released a memo addressing the necessity for this legislation.

“Campuses across the country have erupted in protest, including violent riots, as the growing debate over who has the right to speak threatens our nation’s First Amendment,” the memo said. “Invited speakers have been taunted, harassed, and even assaulted, leading many universities to cancel events. This is true for campuses here in Wisconsin where several UW System institutions including UWMadison, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Stout, and UW-Stevens Point have had free speech related issues.”

Assembly Democrats might disagree with the legislation, but the fact that there has been a pattern of silencing conservative speakers on campuses cannot be disputed.

The drafting of the first iteration of this bill was in response to conservative political commentator, Ben Shapiro, being shouted down by protesters while speaking at UWMadison in the fall of 2016.

During Shapiro’s lecture, protesters sitting in the audience frequently interrupted Shapiro’s speech with shouting.

Eventually, demonstrators joined together and walked down to the stage where Shapiro was lecturing, all while continuing to shout and prevent the conservative commentator from speaking. Despite efforts from Shapiro, the protesters refused to engage in a productive conversation to discuss their disagreements — instead opting to 14 • badgerherald.com • March 3, 2020

continue with the disruption. For a crowd of over 500, with expected protests, the university only assigned three officers to police the event. Needless to say, they could not keep the crowd in control.

Unfortunately, this is not an uncommon experience for conservative speakers coming to college campuses around the country.

March 2017, conservative commentator Charles Murray was shouted down at Middlebury College. Protesters went as far as to jump on Murray’s car while he was in it. A professor who endorsed his visit to the college was injured during the protest.

She was put into a neck brace at a local hospital.

April 2019, conservative commentator Michael Knowles was repeatedly shouted down during a lecture at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Protesters stood up during the lecture, screaming profanities at Knowles. One protester ran at Knowles with a squirt gun and shot soap at him.

The demonstrator was arrested.

November 2019, Presidential Medal of Freedom winner and acclaimed

economist Arthur Laffer was shouted down at Binghamton University. The topic of the speech was free enterprise and limited government. Protestors stood on tables in the lecture hall and heckled Laffer.

When conservative students bring speakers on campus, who are they supposed to look to for protection? For many students, when they bring a speaker to campus, it’s the only conservative lecture they hear all year.

The Econ Journal Watch conducted a study of faculty voter registrations at 40 of the leading universities in the U.S. Their research showed out of 7,243 professors, only 314 were registered Republicans. This means that at 40 of the leading universities, Democrat professors outnumber Republican professors at a ratio of 12 to 1.

Conservatives on college campuses aren’t under constant attack from their professors and their peers. But conservatives on college campuses sit in a sometimes-isolating minority. It can be beneficial for conservatives to continually be around people with differing views, as this affirms or challenges our own. But

don’t deny them and the speakers they bring on campus the right of free speech.

Some might say this bill doesn’t protect freedom of speech, it infringes on the right of protest. But it doesn’t infringe on the right to protest. No restriction in this bill prevents anyone from protesting any speaker. Everyone has a right to protest, but no one has a right to create disruption.

The criticism of this bill is understandable, but it does not outweigh the necessity for this bill to be cemented in state statute. Conservatives must look to policy to protect their first amendment rights, which are subject to assault when speakers come on campus.

Realistically, this bill will die on Tony Evers’ desk. When Evers was a regent, he was the only vote against the initial policy adoption. Before Evers vetoes this bill, he should at the very least engage in conversation with conservative groups on campus to create a deterrent against speakers being shouted down in the future.

Tripp Grebe (mgrebe@wisc.edu) freshman studying political science.

is

Photo - The drafting of the first iteration of this bill was in response to conservative political commentator, Ben Shapiro, being shouted down by protesters while speaking at UW-Madison in the fall of 2016.

Katie Cooney The Badger Herald

a

Measuring both parties’ success in supporting working families College Republicans: Working women are winning under Trump

College Democrats: Families need greater pay, unions, equality

President Donald Trump has spearheaded working family and gender equality policies unlike any other president. These initiatives have been championed by senior adviser Ivanka Trump. In a landmark achievement, the Trump administration secured paid family leave for all federal employees, demonstrating a renewed commitment to American families and to the careers of working parents.

Furthermore, the historic Women’s Global Development and Prosperity Initiative is enabling women globally to prosper economically.

Paid family leave has long been considered a priority for Democrats and women’s advocacy groups — but under the Trump administration, paid family leave is an American priority. In 1993, the Family and Medical Leave Act created the first federal law aiding Americans in work-life balance.

While this legislation was a first step, it had numerous shortcomings. The biggest was a lack of compensation for parents in need of time off. Family is a cornerstone of American ideals, and paid family leave is a commonsense policy that allows American families to prosper during times of growth.

Post-partum mothers typically need twelve weeks to recover and care for their newborn child. But, a lack of compensation during this time can create anxiety for the mother and put financial burdens on the family.

Many women are concerned twelve weeks of leave will negatively impact their career.

Mothers shouldn’t have to worry about their professional lives while bringing a child into the world.

In 2019, the Trump administration’s budget included paid family leave in the National Defense Authorization Act. This guarantees twelve weeks paid family leave to all federal employees. This historic bipartisan achievement is yet another promise made and kept. President Trump is the first president in American history to include paid family leave in their budget. This is what unprecedented change in Washington looks like.

Under Trump, families are prospering again. In 2018 alone, nearly 300,000 American families were lifted out of poverty. Not to

Right now, American working families are under attack. Wages are too low, unions and the ability to collectively bargain as a workforce are being threatened and women in the workforce still do not possess equal rights.

Traditionally speaking, the Democratic Party has been the party of government welfare to lift up and support those citizens who need it. From the New Deal policies of the 1930s to recent pushes to raise the minimum wage, the Democratic Party recognizes the importance of the government reinvesting its money in its own people. When it comes to supporting working families, the same is true of Democratic platforms.

In order to support working families, the Democratic Party knows we must raise wages, increase workplace protections and create better policies for balancing work and family life. Strong workers make strong families.

The current minimum wage is not sustainable by any means, and Democrats recognize this fundamental problem among the American workforce. The federal minimum wage of $7.25 fails to appreciate the cost of living. The annual salary a fulltime minimum wage-earning employee makes puts them well below the poverty line — even for a family of two.

Many Democrats, including presidential candidates Joe Biden, Mike Bloomberg, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Amy Klobuchar have called for changing the minimum wage to a livable one of $15 an hour. The Trump Administration — despite endorsing a $10 minimum wage in 2016 – has failed to enact any changes to the federal minimum wage.

Democrats understand and appreciate the importance of unions and workplace protections in supporting working families. In Wisconsin alone, weakened collective bargaining abilities have had real negative effects on workers. Act 10, a 2011 Republican budget bill, had serious negative tolls on teachers’ ability to secure healthcare and high wages. The legislation

Designed by Greta Zimmerman

mention more than half a million children being raised by single mothers were lifted out of poverty. Furthermore, the Child Care and Development Grant put $2.37 billion towards child care for parents who couldn’t afford it. Trump doubled the child tax credit for all Americans. This put an extra $2,200 dollars back in the pockets of 40 million families. This is what making American families great again looks like.

Better yet, the Trump administration is taking these pro-women initiatives worldwide. In 2019, the WGDP launched on three pillars — women’s success in the workplace, female entrepreneurs, and women in the economy. The mission of the WGDP is to reach 50 million women globally by 2025.

Ivanka Trump noted the program is not meant to be enacted forever, but rather to give global assistance to jumpstart the lives of millions of struggling women.

WGDP has proven to be incredibly effective in just its first year. The program reached over 12 million women and helped 2 million women participate in workforce training and development programs in countries including Ethiopia, Colombia and Morocco. This is what global progress for disadvantaged women looks like under the historic work of Ivanka Trump and her father.

Pro-women policies under the Trump administration are making tidal waves of progress for women globally.

“By investing in women around the world, we’re investing in families, we’re investing in prosperity, and we’re investing in peace,” Trump said.

For just the second time in history, women make up a larger part of the workforce than men. Of the new jobs created in 2019, 72% of them went to women. Not to mention, unemployment for women is at a 75 year low. Women are thriving like never before, and that’s why we encourage you to join the millions of Women for Trump across America.

Keeley Collins is a sophomore at UW-Madison studying communications and legal studies with a public policy certificate. She is also the social media director for the College Republicans of UWMadison.

is seen as a major cause of Wisconsin’s ongoing teacher shortage, just one example of the importance of worker protections.

Last year, Democrats introduced the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, aimed at pushing back on Republican anti-union “right-to-work” laws that allow for union members to opt out of paying fees. These laws undermine the political influence of unions because many workers choose not to pay, and therefore unions have lost millions of dollars. Without unions, many professions that rely on their strength — such as teaching — are weakened as a result.

The inequality of women in the workplace is detrimental to families and a top issue for the Democratic Party’s platform. Democrats support passing a family and medical leave act that would provide all workers with at least 12 weeks of paid leave after having a baby. Unlike many Republicans, Democrats support investing in early education programs and childcare to support working families.

Current policies and priorities of the Trump Administration encourage a growing inequality gap between the rich and the poor at the expense of working families.

The Democratic Party’s policies intend to lift up and strengthen the middle class. A strong America requires strong workers, which requires a supportive role of the government.

Abby Schinderle (schinderle@wisc.edu) is a sophomore majoring in political science and journalism. She is the press secretary for the College Democrats of UW-Madison.

March 3, 2020 • badgerherald.com • 15

OPINION

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Gains from deregulation of factory farm construction unclear

Proposed bill would’ve handed regulatory power from state to farmers, legislators should be cautious of the similar bills expected soon

by Emma Axelrod Columnist

Photo - Farming may be the pride of Wisconsin, but that is no measure of how well farmers can regulate themselves Marissa Haegele The Badger Herald Wisconsin Republicans were attempting to speed along a bill that would pass regulatory power over factory farm siting and expansion from state officials to a board of farmers. While this seems like a turn toward a democratic balance of power and shared governance, it has negative implications for partisan politics and the environment.

This bill comes after Gov. Tony Evers amped up agricultural policy. Many frustrated Democrats said this is a Republican response to frustration over the Evers’ administration’s decisions, especially because the bill was introduced so late into the legislature’s session.

“The first I saw this bill was Monday,” said Rep. Mark Spreitzer, D-Beloit, just a 16 • badgerherald.com • March 3, 2020

few days after the bill was introduced.

“Is it your intention to ram this through in the last week or is it more of a conversation starter?”

Even if the bill were to pass, Evers would be unlikely to sign it into law.

The haste of this bill was not a major issue and is still not a major issue.

What is more troublesome are the implications of such a board. There is nothing prohibiting the formation of a farmer board in the future, and activists, politicians, and some people in the agriculture industry have expressed concerns.

Yet, the bill was actually killed this week by some of its own writers.

Wisconsin Dairy Alliance, who helped

draft the bill, changed their minds from supporting it. They felt the bill was too rushed and their proposed changes were not being acknowledged. And just like that, the nuances of the political process killed another bill.

Still, the WDA is in favor of some other sort of bill like it — just with the proposed changes — so we can likely expect another in the near future. What can we expect to change?

Farmers have a valuable seat at the table when it comes to the best use of farmlands. In some cases, towns that regulate their own factory farms have less oversight than those regulated by the state’s agricultural department. Still, there needs to be a balance of state and

local power.

The authors of the bill claim town boards and local governments do not have the expertise needed to decide whether farms meet the state standards, which often forces them to hire outside experts. They believe that state actors should be responsible for enforcing state standards.

Still, farmers have knowledge about the agricultural process the government may not, which could prove valuable in this decision making process.

If the bill passes, there are implications for environmental oversight. Currently, the state ensures factory farms are up to code on pollution control and management of irrigation run-off. If the farmers of those fields are the ones making executive decisions, it is only natural to wonder if that would be wise.

The organization Clean Wisconsin publicly opposed the bill. Water Program Director Scott Laeser said the organization is extremely concerned with the shift in power from the department to the board and how difficult it would be to implement needed regulatory changes.

While only farmers themselves can understand the intricacies of running a factory farm, this does not put at ease the logical concerns citizens may have relating to the wellbeing of Wisconsin.

The University of Wisconsin has a sprawling Agricultural Department which engages in tons of research on environmental impact. Perhaps another way to approach this issue is a UW system partnership with both these factory farmers and the State to assess best practices for factory farming. Who is the best fit to have the largest role in regulating agriculture? To what extent can this be a shared governance process?

These are all questions the UW system has grown equipped to answer, or at least seek an answer for.

For now, that bill represents many others with respectable content but ill intentions.

Hopefully, in due time the state can reach a non-partisan compromise that ensures the wellbeing of the state, farmers and the land all Wisconsinites reside on.

Emma Axelrod (eaxelrod@wisc.edu) is a sophomore studying political science and journalism.

OPINION

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Fresh WEDC leadership will focus on Wisconsinities not foreign investors

New CEO Missy Hughes wants greater transparency, less politics, investment in Wisconsin’s rural communities

by Kaitlin Kons Columnist

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corps is a public-private hybrid company that was established in 2011 by former Gov. Scott Walker. Its goal — in addition to replacing the Department of Commerce — was to distribute and oversee grants and loans to upstarts in exchange for a promise to stimulate the Wisconsin economy by creating jobs and generating revenue.

The biggest accomplishment of the WEDC during Walker ’s tenure was the infamous Foxconn deal of 2017. There was no better way to forward his reelection campaign in 2018 than to make what could have been a record-breaking deal of $4.1 billion dollars in taxpayer subsidies — $3 billion in state credits and $1 billion in local subsidies — with Foxconn to build a massive LCD factory in Racine County with the promise of creating 13,000 jobs.

Foxconn would receive their subsidies, and, if their negotiated amount exceeds what they have to pay in taxes, Wisconsin is prepared to hand them millions in cash.

Construction, however, has not gone according to plan. They have to break ground yet in 2020, the same year they first agreed upon the opening of the plant.

Not only the timing, but the nature of the plant has been disputed as well, with talks over whether or not it will even be an LCD factory.

Foxconn didn’t hit its goals in 2018 or 2019 for job creation and therefore does not qualify for the subsidies agreed upon.

Further, its lack of progress created an impasse over the contract that went back and forth for quite some time.

In comes Missy Hughes.

Melissa “Missy” Hughes was appointed in October 2019 to serve as CEO/Secretary of the WEDC. She has pledged to take politics out of the job and establish as much transparency as possible so Wisconsonites know where their taxes are going. This appointee was a relief to many Wisconsin voters who were afraid Gov. Evers was going to follow through with his campaign promise to cut funding for the WEDC, which seemed to be mishandling this deal with Foxconn.

Hughes is a strong advocate for entrepreneurs in rural areas and is excited to work with the new Office of Rural Prosperity — created by Evers per executive order — in focusing on Wisconsin farmers’ success in the global economy.

In an interview with CBS 58 in early

February, she said people know more about tax incentives now because of Foxconn. People are learning from this experience. Hughes’ WEDC is also tasked with eventual renegotiation with Foxconn because of the company’s shortcomings in job creation.

Hughes is taking a very realistic approach to the debacle with Foxconn.

What seemed to be an innovative plan meant to put Wisconsin ahead of the other Midwestern states has turned out to so far paint itself as a poorly constructed deal that takes more from Wisconsin than it gives.

But that doesn’t mean Hughes is ready to

abandon the opportunity ahead of Wisconsinites.

Hughes recognizes the possibility of a thriving economy around the development of the Foxconn plant but is prioritizing Wisconsin taxpayers and transparency with their money. There is an incredible advantage of setting politics aside and focusing on what is important rather than partisan disputes.

Hughes is ready to lift the economy with the authentic strength Wisconsin farmers have and make moves on real change in rural areas. State Senator Jeff Smith, D-Eau Claire, writes that the new office within the agency will focus on the expansion

of broadband, accessible healthcare and housing availability in rural areas.

The WEDC, under Hughes’ leadership, is bursting with potential due to her clear vision of success and undeniable faith in Wisconsin constituents.

“The most valuable resource that Wisconsin has [is] its people ... The communities that our citizens create and the quality of life for raising families and for running your business with super hard-working people and innovation, it’s our best resource,” Hughes said.

Kaitlin Kons (kkons@wisc.edu) is a sophomore studying political science and

Photo - Hughes is ready to lift the economy with the authentic strength Wisconsin farmers have and make moves on real change in rural areas.

Riley Steinbrenner The Badger Herald

March 3, 2020 • badgerherald.com • 17

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Men’s Hockey: Arguing in favor of keeping Head Coach Tony Granato Three consecutive losing seasons following first year as head coach have left Granato in preverbial hot seat in minds of some fans

by Charlie Dern Staff Writer

This winter, Badger basketball and hockey fans have been given much to gripe about — two teams that underperformed with large expectations.

Traditionally, when a team underperforms, fans point their fingers to the coach and in both cases, they may have an argument.

For the basketball team, their recent success has jolted Badger fans’ views of Head Coach Greg Gard and flipped them upside down. Gard went from a coach who couldn’t recruit in-state players to the “silent assassin,” written on shirts worn by players and now being sold to fans.

For the hockey team, however, their continued lack of success has caused the feelings of fans toward Head Coach Tony Granato to get worse.

University of Wisconsin alumni and father of four, Coach Granato played in the NHL for 13 years before going on to coach an additional 13 years in the league.

Finishing his collegiate career fourth alltime for the Badgers in points scored with 220 points, Granato was drafted as the 120th pick in the sixth round by the New York Rangers and posted four 30-goal seasons. Granato was also chosen for the 1988-89 NHL Rookie Team, as he set a franchise record for a rookie with 36 goals.

After playing for multiple teams and sustaining the typical veteran injuries, Granato retired in 2001 and became a coach immediately.

Owning a 102-78-17 coaching record as a coach for the Colorado Avalanche and owning a winning record as a head or assistant coach for 12 of his 13 years coaching in the league, Granato became the UW men’s hockey coach prior to the 2016-17 season and has remained in the position ever since.

In his first year as the Badger head coach, Granato finished his degree earning a bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies.

Across just over three seasons, Granato is 6170-11 including an impressive 20-15-1 record in his first season. With tall highs and even lower lows, Badger fans have built a distrust in the coaching methods of Granato, so much so that over the past few months, a light chatter has been made about whether Granato should remain the Badgers’ head coach following what has been an extremely disappointing season.

Coming off a 14-18-5 season last year, Badger fans looked hopeful due to the strong freshman core, including NHL Draft picks in No. 5 Alex Turcotte and No. 15 Cole Caufield.

Led by Turcotte and Caufield, in addition to fellow draftees in Ryder Donovan, a fourthround selection to Las Vegas Golden Knights, and Owen Lindmark, drafted in the fifth round by the Florida Panthers, the 2019-20 Badger hockey team looked to take the next step and return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2013-14 season.

After a hot start, the Badgers struggled 18 • badgerherald.com • March 3, 2020

to stay consistent and the frustration of fans grew. While several players have had terrific individual seasons, the consistency has never been there for this squad and lots of blame is thrown on the coach.

Whether deserving or not, Granato has received lots of criticism about how he lacks the ability to light the fire under his team and get them playing at the level every expert thought they would.

Currently sitting in last place in the Big Ten with a 13-18-1 overall record (6-15-1-1 Big Ten), it is easy to look at the record and think this was yet another waste of a season. But, with the recent hot streak the Badgers are on, it may be time to stop the talk of firing Granato.

By winning three of four games prior to their weekend series with The Ohio State University, the Badgers seem to have found their stride and may be able to turn a lost season into a deep run in the Big Ten Conference Tournament.

This year ’s Badger team has proven themselves through small bits and pieces against top-level talent in arguably the best conference in men’s college hockey. T he Big Ten this season is the home to three top-20 programs in the nation and is also home to three other teams who received votes to be ranked within the top 20 as well.

In a deep conference mixed with some unfortunate injuries to crucial players, Granato should not be fired following the 2019-20

campaign. Should he be on the hot seat?

One could argue he should be following what will now be his third consecutive losing season at the helm, and I would agree.

What I will not agree on, however, is that he should be fired without being given a chance to see if he can continue to develop the young core.

A life-long Badger deeply rooted in the city and culture of the school, Granato has earned at least one more season to lead the team. If things start to go further downhill next season, then I can understand a possible change in coaching.

But, hopefully this team will carry the momentum from the end of this season into next season, making the Badgers a team to look out for next year.

Photo · Coach Granato has shown an ability in recent years to secure top young talent, he deserves time necessary to develop it into winning formula.

Daniel Yun The Badger Herald

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SPORTS

Men’s Basketball: Davison catches fire as regular season draws to close Despite early season struggles, three year starter Brad Davison has found individual success as Badgers undertake late season surge

by Will Whitmore Associate Sports Editor

Davison caught the ball on the rightwing and with a hand in his face, buried a contested 3-pointer to extend Wisconsin’s lead back to double digits. Davison’s ability to hit difficult shots is beneficial to Wisconsin late in games and can help the team end lengthy scoring droughts.

Davison’s hot shooting is a big boost, especially for a Badger team that has struggled at times to generate consistent offensive, averaging just 66.9 points per game, a number which ranks 289th in the country. Stepping into a bigger role, Davison can now be the guy the Badgers can turn to on possessions that go down to the end of the shot clock.

Another reason why Davison has been so valuable in this stretch is his consistency

from the free-throw line. Davison is stoic compared to most other college players, as nothing seems to fluster him in late-game situations.

In Wisconsin’s narrow 69–65 win over Purdue, Davison and company went 19for-20 from the foul line, never giving the Boilermakers an opening. In the final minute, Davison’s four clutch free throws were pivotal in a marquee win. In the win against Rutgers, Davison’s free throw shooting was again on display, shooting 6-for-8 from the free-throw line.

When every game in the NCAA Tournament seems to go down to the wire, Davison’s foul shooting could be a major weapon down the stretch. As a team, Wisconsin ranks 19th in the country and

first in the Big Ten with 76.8% free throw percentage. Davison alone shoots at a staggering 88.3% clip.

If Wisconsin has the lead late, look for Davison to demand the ball, as he is their best chance to seal the game. Along with his gritty mindset and tremendous leadership qualities, Badger fans should feel comfortable if the fate of the game is in Davison’s hands.

Though Davison has gone through ups and downs in his junior season, Wisconsin will need him to continue his impressive play if they wish to make noise come tournament time.

With the 2019-20 season being his third year as a starter, it seems Davison is ready to shoulder the load for the Badgers in the Big Ten Tournament and the NCAA Tournament.

In the University of Wisconsin men’s basketball team’s disappointing 18-point Feb. 5 loss at the hands of archrival Minnesota, there were a lot of questions surrounding the play of the team, specifically junior guard Brad Davison.

In Wisconsin’s three-game losing streak, Davison struggled mightily, averaging 4.6 points and shooting a miserable 4-for-19 from the field during that stretch.

Though Davison endured midseason struggles, it looks as though he has once again found his rhythm, to the delight of Badger fans.

After the three-game losing streak, Wisconsin has bounced back nicely.

The Badgers are winners of four straight and Davison’s play is a key reason behind their success.

During the stretch, Davison’s scoring is way up, averaging 15.5 points per game and doing so efficiently with a shooting percentage of 50% from the field and a scorching 56% from beyond the 3-point line.

Following a 30-point outburst in which he hit eight 3-pointers, Davison has stayed hot, helping the Badgers get back on track. With improved shooting and confidence, Davison’s improved play could be a sign of things to come.

Davison’s stellar play can also be attributed to increased aggression on the offensive end. Following his season-high 30 points, Davison credited his scoring to a changed mindset in a recent article from the Wisconsin State Journal.

“I came in with the mindset that I was going to be aggressive today,” Davison said. “I think there have been quite a few games this year where I’ve let the game come to me a little bit too much. I haven’t been assertive as I probably should have been, as the team needs me to be.”

Davison getting hot from the 3-point line is beneficial for Wisconsin going into the NCAA Tournament.

Davison’s shotmaking ability will be pivotal in stopping momentum and halting opposing teams’ runs.

For example, in Sunday’s 79–71 win against Rutgers, Wisconsin held a double-digit lead for most of the game, but suddenly the Scarlet Knights began crawling back.

With just under seven minutes Photo · Along with Trice, Ford, Potter and others, Davison has stepped up offensively to secure key victories for Badgers following loss of Kobe King to to play, Rutgers closed the gap on Nebraska. what was a 16-point lead down to seven.

Justin Mielke On the Badgers’ next possession,

The Badger Herald

March 3, 2020 • badgerherald.com • 19

SPORTS

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Football: Examining NFL draft stocks of Erdmann, Moorman

Both players showed versatility, potential NFL talent development during tenure with one of college football’s best offensive lines

appearing in 13 of the 14 games at various positions on the line. Erdmann continued this trend in 2017 and 2018, playing in all 27 games along the line and earning a start as a blocking The University of Wisconsin football team will tight end in 2018. hear multiple names called during the NFL Draft Jason Erdmann: In 2019, Erdmann’s role grew from being just a in April, and offensive linemen David Moorman reserve offensive lineman into a starting position and Jason Erdmann may be among them.

When Erdmann joined Wisconsin as an as he played in various capacities across the The two linemen season. Erdmann then have been serviceable earned the starting job at across their careers right guard to create one with the Badgers, with of the strongest offensive both Moorman and line trios in the nation Erdmann redshirting with Moorman, Biadasz in 2015 before playing and Erdmann creating nearly every game running room for Taylor across the last four and time to pass for Coan. seasons.

Similar to Moorman, While Moorman Erdmann will likely and Erdmann are get some looks during less flashy linemen training camp and the compared to players NFL preseason this like Tyler Biadasz, summer due to his who is likely to go versatility. Erdmann also in the first couple of brings size to the table as rounds in the draft, he stands at a slightlyboth players deserve above-average 326 a chance on an NFL pounds, enough to give team and will likely him an opportunity next get that chance during season in the NFL. training camp and the While neither Erdmann preseason. nor Moorman are the Moorman, a flashiest of offensive Northville, Michigan linemen featured in this native, was ranked as year’s draft, both players a 3-star recruit out of will get some looks in the high school, joining late rounds of the draft, the Badgers as the No. as teams look to shore 40 offensive tackle up offensive line depth nationally, according to issues. Teams looking to 247 Sports. draft an offensive lineman On the other hand, they can develop over the Erdmann departed next few seasons may high school in also consider drafting Richfield, Wisconsin Erdmann or Moorman. as an unranked Look for Erdmann recruit, but managed and Moorman to be to find playing time viewed as having latenear the end of his round potential if they college career with the are able to perform well Badgers. at Wisconsin’s NFL Pro Moorman is Photo · While neither Erdmann or Moorman are slated to be top picks in 2020, both showed potential to advance to NFL in final years of production for Day (March 11). But, do a 6-foot-5-inch, dominant Badger offensive line. not be surprised if neither 307-pound offensive

player is taken due to the tackle, but he can also Justin Mielke amount of depth featured line up at guard, which The Badger Herald across the offensive line in he did on various the NFL Draft, including occasions in 2019, and players like Biadasz who at center. Erdmann is a racking up eight starts at right tackle (one start) unranked recruit in 2015, nobody would have are likely to go in the early rounds come 6-foot-6-inch, 326-pound guard who can also line and left guard (seven starts) while playing in all 14 expected him to have such a successful four years April. up at center if needed. games once again. with the Badgers, especially compared to many of Most outlets seem to have both Erdmann With the draft barely a month away, let’s take While Moorman isn’t the flashiest player, his the players ranked above him in Wisconsin’s 2015 and Moorman going undrafted in April, but a look at the draft stocks of both Moorman and ability to remain healthy should be seen as a major recruitment class. there is no reason to think neither player will Erdmann. plus for NFL teams in need of depth on the line, Erdmann, like Moorman, redshirted his get their chance at the NFL level next season as with Moorman playing all 55 games across his freshman season due to lack of playing time undrafted free agents.

David Moorman: college career. behind Wisconsin’s strong offensive line.

Draft Projection for Erdmann and Moorman also showed his athleticism and He then managed to find his way into the Moorman: Undrafted Free Agent Moorman joined Wisconsin in 2015 as part of versatility during his time with Wisconsin, reserves during his redshirt freshman season,

by Harrison Freuck Sports Editor

20 • badgerherald.com • March 3, 2020

a stacked recruiting class that included David Edwards, Zack Baun and Chris Orr. He took a redshirt season in 2015 as he was not likely to see much playing time as a true freshman.

In his redshirt freshman 2016 season, Moorman played all 14 games. He then played in all 14 games in 2017 and all 13 games in 2018.

In 2019, Moorman finally got a chance to start,

playing multiple positions across the line (and even tight end) while blocking for running back Jonathan Taylor and quarterback Jack Coan, both of whom had impressive seasons in 2019.

SPORTS

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Men’s Tennis: Strong conference challengers await unsteady Badgers

Core set of young talent has potential to provide room for improvement as season progresses, but Badgers’ opponents won’t get any easier

by John Spengler Sports Editor

After a 2018-2019 season marred by inconsistent conference play and a failure to advance past the first round of the Big Ten tournament, the Badgers are off to another rocky start as conference play looms.

2019’s fall individual competition saw modest success in ITA regional tournaments from the likes of sophomore Lenard Soha, freshman Scott Sculley and sophomore Jared Pratt. Each of these three managed to snag victories in the first round of regional singles competition before ultimately being eliminated in the second round.

Both Soha and Pratt fell to top 6 seeded opponents, with No. 5 Zeke Clark of Illinois

and No. 6 Mattias Siimar capturing victories over the two, respectively. Soha and Pratt would also go on to advance to the third round of regionals as doubles partners, securing a bye and an impressive victory before falling to the No. 5 seeded pair of Lutschaunig and Seelig of The Ohio State University.

With a slew of young talents returning for the Badgers, they seemed primed to improve upon their 10-12 team record and hopefully make inroads into Big Ten competition. While the Badgers currently hold a winning record of 7-6 over nonconference opponents, the toughest part of their schedule remains to be encountered.

Of the Badgers seven wins on the season, five of those have been either shutout wins

or wins in which the opposing team netted only one total match. Furthermore, none of these teams are within, or frankly near the nation’s top 25 teams. Like many other teams within top conferences, the Badgers began their season relatively unimpeded.

In fact, the Badgers began spring team competition on a five game win streak and ultimately captured seven of their first eight games.

Yet, once they reached the meat of their schedule, the Badgers began to falter. Out of their last five team competitions, the Badgers netted only four total matches. This trend becomes even starker when examining their performance in the ITA national championship in the middle of February.

Granted, the competition in the

Photo · Spring team competition began with slew of non-conference victories, yet Badgers have failed to seal the deal against top ranked teams throughout rest of season.

Dane Sheehan The Badger Herald

tournament was quite stiff, with their first opponent being the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes. This initial matchup with a conference opponent did not go favorably for the Badgers. The Buckeyes predictably swept the Badgers 0–4 as they entered the indoor national championships as the overall No. 1 seed.

Even as they entered the consolation round, the Badgers found themselves up No. 21 ranked Baylor. This match too went poorly for the Badgers and ended in a second straight 0–4 result. While both of these teams are undoubtedly talented and capable of strong competition on the national stage, the fact that the Badgers did not capture a singles or doubles match in the first round of the primary or consolation bracket does not bode well.

Finally, on the third day of the ITA indoor team national championships, the Badgers captured their first point. Yet, even with two match victories from the Chase Colton and Pratt as well as the Martim Vilela and Robert Krill doubles groupings, the Badgers still fell 1–4 to No. 23 South Carolina.

With a 0-3 record in the ITA national championship, the Badgers have now lost their last five team competitions, yielding their current 7-6 record. With Big Ten play beginning in earnest on March 8 against Minnesota, things aren’t going to get any easier any time soon for the Badgers.

Of their first eight conference opponents, six currently rank inside of the top 50 teams in the nation. Wisconsin is not amongst those 50 teams. These initial eight teams do not include their late-season team rematch against No. 3 Ohio State.

The Badgers could manage to scrape out a respectable conference record if they repeat last season’s feats of defeating all those teams that were also outside of the nation’s top 50 teams last year.

Namely, their victories against Purdue, Iowa, Michigan State and Northwestern ultimately propped up their conference record.

Yet, once they reached the Big Ten tournament and faced off against Minnesota, the Badgers quickly ran into competition that dominated them. Unless something changes dramatically during the regular season, the Badgers are heading for a repeat fate. This is a scrappy team that’s full of talent and heart. This has been extremely clear with how they have drawn close with some of the nation’s top teams.

Ultimately though, the Badgers will have to start to see a drastic increase in contributions from their young core if they are to advance deep into the Big Ten tournament and outperform their recent ITA national championship showing.

March 3, 2020 • badgerherald.com • 21

BANTER

@badgerherald

The redundancy of Starship robots Are UW’s new Starship robots really even necessary?

by Keagan Schlosser Banter Contributor

When you think of the biggest memes on the University of Wisconsin’s campus, you might think of the wholesome Becky Blank, the annoying Canada Goose or perhaps the problematic Humanities building. But one meme rises above them all — the perplexing, ever-present mobile robots.

When passing the little white guys on the street, you can’t help but smile, snap a picture and wonder what’s going through their complex (simple?) robot minds.

The bots are employed by Starship, an international company that is initiating their AI to colleges across the U.S..

“Its robots have traveled over 350,000 miles and completed over 150,000 autonomous deliveries,” UW’s housing site said.

What are they delivering? Government secrets?

Human companionship? None of the above! On this campus, they deliver food from the campus dining halls.

You got it! Have a hankering for Carson Gulley?

Finding yourself fond of Four Lakes? Starship can deliver in at least 30-45 minutes, which is approximately how long it takes to get a bowl of stir fry at Don’s (that’s the hip term for Gordon’s now, catch up).

When a student downloads the Starship app, they select items they want from specific dining halls and the Starship machine delivers it to the student’s locations. The bots can maneuver any street that is safe for a pedestrian. They can even trek up Bascom Hill — something you can’t even do!

One negative aspect is the app charges a delivery fee of $1.99, which isn’t outrageous. But considering the robots’ basic presence, yes it is. People are paying more money for a Delicious sandwich?

That’s a flaw in character.

On a practical note, students are able to order items from the Bean and Creamery or Flamingo Run. This is convenient for coffee lovers or for those who need a rubber on the go. Craving Ben & Jerry’s that has been up-charged by 20%? Slap on that two extra dollars, and you’re paying an obscene amount of money to devour a pint of ice cream in a whopping 11 minutes. Impressive, but pricey.

Markus Zimmermann, an employee at Starship, suggests one of the biggest perks of the robodeliverers is they act as a “time machine.”

“We give (students) the gift of time and they can spend it doing whatever else they want to pursue,” Zimmermann said.

Cool, Markus. A frosh who lives in DeJope has an extra thirty minutes to scroll TikTok. Life-saving.

Also, no offense Marky, but food delivery has been around for a long time. Scary enough, real people get into vehicles and deliver us sushi. Admittedly, those interactions can get messy.

“What side of the building are you on?”

“I called you five times with no response.”

“I’m taking your food back and Sushi Express will not refund you.”

Realistically, robots are not the worst idea in the world. If you want pizza delivered from Toppers, you should also be able to have “pizza” delivered

from Gordon’s.

In fact, the love child of Eve from Wall-e and a Roomba is actually kind of adorable. They bring a lightheartedness to the streets of Madison, and let that lightheartedness ruminate for about 1015 minutes. They get stuck at traffic lights way too often. And is nobody going to help them?

Bystander effect much? Glad to know UW’s elitist community even excludes artificial intelligence.

Besides me having a soft spot for these helpless outsiders, their entire concept really bothers me.

Why, you ask?

Human. Connection.

As a person who gets nervous ordering from Capital Cafe — the Business School’s bistro — I can understand wanting to leave clammy hands and stuttering orders to the wayside.

Sure, we all have a mini panic attack the second the waiter makes eye contact. You got mayo on your sandwich when you asked for none? Lower your heart rate, say nothing, and use the mayo to shovel that anxiety down your throat. You have to make a phone call? Game over.

I get it — college kids hate confrontation or interaction. But Starship robots are taking precious, awkward dining hall moments away from young, easily influenced kids. How will they ever run into their SOAR roommate? Their ex-lab partner? That one guy they matched with on tinder and never responded to? They may never have the opportunity to encounter peoplethey-never-want-to-see-again again — and that’s a problem.

Genuine, awkward moments are being ripped away from the youth of the campus, resulting in a lack of culture.

A robot cannot recreate any of the memes classic dining halls can. I’m happy freshmen are saving time and wasting money, but I want the underclassmen to experience the discomfort generations before them did.

Awkwardness — especially in the dining halls — builds character. The Starship robots are slowly but surely reducing the amount of discomfort among freshmen and it’s frankly alarming. When will basic human connection be valued again?

I’m proud of the little robots for making our campus meme page connect, but ultimately, they need to be nixed. To save humanity.

Photo - Great ideas right? You’re welcome!

Veronica Kuffel The Badger Herald

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One of my professors said “Knowing that you don’t know something is the first step.” And I have never felt more prepared in my life because I feel like I know nothing about anything 99% of the time!! (((Abigail Steinberg))) @AbbyRSteinberg

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The rumors are true I’m in love with Micah Potter agm

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going out for the night, won’t need this The amount of confidence that high school state wrestlers have on college campuses is a disgrace Tyler Livesey @Tyler_Livesey

Some 12 year old asked for my number on state & I looked him dead in the eyes and said, “Yeah 911.”

Honestly not my best work.

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March 3, 2020 • badgerherald.com • 23