'Balancing Acts' - Volume 55, Issue 7

BALANCING ACTS:

Student-athletes navigate mental health challenges amid many responsibilities

Federal legislation that could ban TikTok might leave a gap in political information. See what experts have to say.

One club on campus is working to provide students with alternatives to fast fashion.

Days are longer, and the weather is slowly warming up, which means summer is just around the corner. Find out what this year’s trends and key looks are.

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Potential TikTok ban comes as app’s influence on Wisconsin elections grows

Experts say young political influencers on TikTok play vital role in impacting public opinion, voter behavior

by Anna Kristoff News Associate Editor

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill March 13 that would force the Chinese company ByteDance to either sell TikTok or face a ban in the U.S., according to the bill text. The bill was introduced by Wisconsin Congressman Mike Gallagher (R-Green Bay), who has expressed cybersecurity concerns regarding China’s access to Americans’ cell phone data, according to Wisconsin Public Radio.

It is important to recognize the strong impact young creators have on political outcomes, radio host and video columnist Kristin Brey said. Brey is the host of As Goes Wisconsin, a political media site that inspires civic engagement through comedy, according to the As Goes Wisconsin website.

“I absolutely think what TikTok was in the 2020 election meant something — certainly in the

midterms it does as well,” Brey said.

Individuals aged 18 to 29 are most likely to regularly get their news from TikTok, according to Pew Research Center. Likewise, 48% of those aged 18-24 voted in the November 2022 Wisconsin gubernatorial election, ultimately reelecting Gov. Tony Evers, according to the U.S. Voting Census.

Political pressure may weaken TikTok’s communication power, but the app is so influential that no politician in Congress would risk reelection by banning it in the U.S., The New Republic journalist and Yale University political science lecturer Walter Shapiro said.

“One thing I can guarantee is that political pressures may make TikTok a clunkier form of communication than it is today, but Congress will not deliberately kill it,” Shapiro said.

The bill’s outcome will likely be a forced sale of TikTok to an American company, Shapiro said.

TikTok is an essential platform for promoting social movements primarily due to its prominent role in young people’s lives and its personal content, according to a research article coauthored by Columbia University professor of media Ioana Literat.

In a battleground state like Wisconsin, political commentary that drives emotional reactions is key in motivating people to vote, Shapiro said.

But, the brief form of TikTok videos — often less than 60 seconds — makes consuming multifaceted political information particularly risky, Chair of College Republicans at University of Wisconsin Thomas Pyle said.

“It’s not the best form for it [political commentary] with the length of the videos and the ability of content creators to steal their views and their message,” Pyle said. “I think it’s better to use other established news organizations to get

your political beliefs.”

Nevertheless, young people often consume political news on TikTok in place of established news sites, meaning TikTok content has an impact on the outcome of Wisconsin elections, Pyle said.

Among Generation Z, social media platforms like TikTok can be important instigators of political participation, according to a study at Loyola Marymount University.

As TikTok has risen in popularity, there has been a significant increase in youth voter turnout with one UW polling location serving over 500 voters in the 2023 Wisconsin Supreme Court election, compared to only 44 voters in 2019, according to NextGen America.

But content on TikTok is especially vulnerable to misinformation, UW professor of communication research Dhavan Shah said.

“I think it’s actually one of the worst ways to consume news,” Shah said. “Don’t rely on social media for news, but maybe rely on that as an alert system and then follow that up with a news source.”

Misinformation is hard to track down and delete, according to Shapiro. An automatic algorithm may flag a piece of misleading news, but eliminating the information is often done by hand, making it fundamentally impossible to completely regulate everything, Shapiro said.

Users should be checking where political information on social media is coming from, Shapiro said.

“We’re in an era where all voters are under assault from deliberate misinformation,” Shapiro said. “Check out the source. It’s the oldest journalism rule of all.”

While young people are engaging with TikTok in a way that could influence political elections, protecting U.S. national security should be the most important focus of this issue, Shapiro said.

There has been no evidence of the Chinese government having any malign intent in shaping Americans’ attitudes through TikTok, Shapiro said.

If there is a security risk, no one should use TikTok, Rep. Deb Andraca (D-Whitefish Bay) said. Andraca said she started her TikTok account as a way of communicating complex Wisconsin politics in a more digestible form, but there are other platforms that could accomplish that goal.

Additionally, by the time of the 2024 presidential election in November, there will be a plethora of political messaging and ads on alternative media platforms, Andraca said.

“We will continue to use media and we will continue to post funny videos, whether that is on TikTok or something else,” Andraca said. “It’ll be up to users to decide where they migrate to next.”

It is unclear whether the Senate will pass the bill with or without additional changes, but President Joe Biden has said he would sign it, according to WPR.

Political content on TikTok has drawbacks, but ban could further limit information, experts say.

JACOB DURAN. THE BADGER HERALD.

Federal internet assistance program set to end

Over 425,000 Wisconsinites to be affected by ending of federal Affordable Connectivity Program

by Aiden Mellon News Associate Editor

The Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides internet subsidies to 23 million households in the U.S. — over 425,000 of which are in Wisconsin — is expected to wind down this April as funds for the program have dried up, according to the Federal Communications Commission.

Throughout the month of May, ACP households are expected to receive a partial discount on their broadband before losing their entire ACP broadband subsidies after the month, unless Congress provides additional funding, according to the FCC.

The ACP and its predecessor program, the Emergency Broadband Benefit discount, helped millions of Americans keep pace with the digitization of life during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to retired University of Wisconsin professor of telecommunications Barry Orton. The pandemic, Orton said, showed internet connectivity was no longer a luxury but a necessity.

“Kids were doing their homework in the McDonald’s parking lot so they could get broadband and connect to their servers so they can do their homework,” Orton said. “People were doing their work from parking lots. School districts had to put up emergency hotspots so that kids could do their homework. All of those things happened, and so the realization became, very quickly, that we have developed into a society that depends on broadband.”

December 2020, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, a $2.3 trillion spending package of which $3.2 billion was set aside for the FCC to establish an Emergency Broadband Connectivity Fund, according to the FCC and The Hill. Jan. 1, 2021, the FCC launched the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program and was soon providing subsidies to 9 million low-income households, according to FCC spokesperson Paloma Perez.

The success of the EBB program led to Congress allocating a larger pot of money, $14.2 billion, to the FCC as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law with instructions to develop and maintain the ACP — a federal program that offers eligible households a discount on their monthly internet bill and a one-time discount off the purchase of a laptop, desktop computer or tablet, according to the FCC.

After nearly three-and-a-half years of operation and the expansion of the program to include subsidies for 23 million households in the U.S., the FCC is preparing to wind down ACP benefits this April due to the exhaustion of their original funds, according to Perez.

The ACP, which has produced economic benefits at nearly double the rate of the cost

of the program, has consistently received bipartisan support from Congress and local officials across the country, but receiving fresh funds will likely be a terminal hurdle,

tons of support from mayors and governors, bipartisan support. We have support of the internet service providers. We have support of the consumers. We have the support of

Wisconsin-specific programs to fill gaps created by ending of Affordable Connectivity Program.

according to Perez.

“There’s bipartisan support,” Perez said.

“There are over 170 co-sponsors in the House on both sides of the aisle. We have

the outreach folks, but really the key piece is getting Congress to figure out a way to fund this.”

Despite broad support of the ACP, other

issues of importance receive funds, which can leave little funding available for the ACP, according to Orton.

Though the ACP is set to shut down entirely in May, the program has proved so successful that several states, including Wisconsin, have begun to roll out their own broadband subsidies.

Wisconsin lawmakers have piloted two tracks to expand internet access in the state — grant awards through the Capital Funds Project and the creation of a homegrown broadband subsidy program, the Wisconsin Digital Equity plan, according to a Wisconsin Broadband Office press release.

The Capital Projects Fund is a $10 billion grant program for states, territories, freely associated states and tribal governments to fund critical capital projects that enable work, education and health monitoring in response to the pandemic, including expanding broadband access, according to the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

The Wisconsin Public Service Commission awarded $43.2 million in grants March 7 funded by the Capital Projects Fund to expand broadband access across the state, according to a Wisconsin Broadband Office press release.

The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin under Gov. Tony Evers’ administration developed the Wisconsin Digital Equity Plan, which aims to ensure all Wisconsinites will have equitable access to affordable broadband service, according to the Public Service Commission.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration accepted Wisconsin’s DEP March 21, making the state eligible to receive approximately $24 to $30 million in Digital Capacity Grant funding to implement the DEP in the next five years.

Federal assistance programs like Pell Grants, reduced lunches and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program have leveled the playing field for her and generations of Americans and made it possible for lowincome families to succeed in the U.S., Perez said. Today, internet subsidies are the next step in ensuring low-income Americans are not left behind, according to Perez.

“There is no way that I stand before you now as a first-generation college student, firstgeneration American daughter of Peruvian and Mexican immigrants ... there is no way that could have happened if it wasn’t for the investment of policymakers decades before me, and we’re kind of in that same space now to make investments in decades of Americans and people who live in this country,” Perez said. “Again, we’re in a really critical and pivotal moment.”

New bill to require to teach Hmong, Asian American history

Advocates of bill applaud representation in curriculum, push for implementation of strong policies

by Margaret Schreiner News Associate Editor

The Wisconsin State Senate unanimously approved Assembly Bill 232 March 12, requiring the instruction of Asian American history in schools, a historic milestone for Asian American representation in Wisconsin, according to State Rep. Francesca Hong (D-Madison).

Hong was a lead sponsor of the proposal and instrumental in its passing.

“When Asian American students see themselves reflected in learning materials, it enriches the classroom environment for all students,” Hong said in an email statement to The Badger Herald. “Wisconsin schools will now provide culturally responsive and reflective materials that will benefit our society and our world immeasurably.”

The bill will require school boards to include instruction related to Asian American and Hmong American history alongside Native American, Black American and Hispanic history, which are already required, according to the Wisconsin State Legislature.

It has been a long and difficult fight to pass the bill, according to University of Wisconsin Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction Chundou Her.

“Hmong American and Asian American communities in Wisconsin, for a long time, have been taking education and community growth in their own hands,” Her said.

Her noted the “perpetual foreigner” Asian American stereotype’s role in preventing Asian American-centered education at schools. Many Americans still perceive Asian Americans as foreigners in the United States, Her said. As a result, schools aren’t inclined to include Asian Americans in traditional history instruction.

Another barrier to the bill’s passage has been the misconception that Asian Americans are not disadvantaged in the United States, UW English and Asian American studies professor Leslie Bow said.

“Belief that Asians did not suffer from the same racial traumas as other groups in the United States is a pretty strong belief, and it’s actually not true,” Bow said.

Asian American history has not been touched on in public schools for so long because of this misconception, Bow said.

But, the bill’s passage is a symbol of progress, Filipino-American Ph.D. student with the UW School of Education’s Department of Education Leadership and Policy Analysis Tony DelaRosa said.

School should be a place to learn about multiculturalism, but Asian American history is too often taught in reference to war, rather than politics and culture, DelaRosa said.

“Asians have always been the big question

mark … always either pushed to the margins, or just kind of completely flat out omitted,” DelaRosa said.

Undergraduate advisor and faculty associate in UW’s Asian American Studies department Lisa Ho observed the same pattern.

said.

The bill may be aimed at public schools, but it will still impact universities, Ho said.

UW offers Asian American studies courses which count toward the university’s threecredit Ethnic Studies Requirement, but

Many of her students at UW did not learn Asian American history until college because history instruction in the United States is very Eurocentric, Ho said.

“Integrating Asian American studies into the history curriculum really opens young people’s minds about what American history is,” Ho

students may not take any courses within this department.

The bill, though, will make Asian American history instruction mandatory in high schools and guarantee students are exposed to diverse perspectives of American history, Ho said. Under the bill, high school graduates

may enter college with an understanding of Asian American history that might inspire participation in the university’s Asian American studies program, Ho said.

It is important that Asian American studies is available to students not just in college but in elementary, middle and high school as well, UW professor of Communication Arts and director of the Asian American studies program Lori Kido Lopez said in an email to The Badger Herald.

“Our educational work at the college level has always been focused on calling attention to the important contributions, struggles, and diverse cultures of Asian American communities here in Wisconsin and across the U.S.,” Lopez said. “And now those critical lessons will start at an earlier age.”

Despite the bill’s significance for Asian American visibility in academia, it is not perfect, UW professor of education curriculum and instruction Nicole Louie said in an email to The Badger Herald.

Louie pointed out the bill’s weaknesses, comparing it to Wisconsin Act 31, which requires schools to teach the history, culture and tribal sovereignty of the First Nations of Wisconsin, according to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Act 31 was unable to fully guarantee equity in the education of Native American history — it is possible Bill 232 will have a similar lack of impact for Asian American students, Louie said.

The bill needs to be supplemented with strong policies, infrastructure and funding to ensure progress, DelaRosa said. Most importantly, Asian Americans, particularly Hmong Americans, should write the curriculum and be centered in ongoing conversations about Asian American history instruction, DelaRosa said.

Bow, whose research concentrates on Asian American literature and literature by women of color, hopes that the bill will open the door for the inclusion of Asian American voices not only in history curriculum, but in arts and humanities instruction too.

“I would like to see the whole panorama of perspectives being taught,” Bow said.

Asian American history will require thorough and inclusive instruction, according to Her. Wisconsin schools need to teach Asian American history comprehensively instead of briefly acknowledging it as a tokenized chapter of American history, Her said.

It is important to not only teach Asian American history but understand its diversity, Her said.

“The sooner we can embrace the diversity of the Asian American experience, the faster we can move towards true racial equity,” Her said.

Bill will increase knowledge of Asian American, Hmong history across state of Wisconsin. TIEN SHOWERS. THE BADGER HERALD.

‘So Many Options’ campaign to address healthcare staffing shortages

Local hospitals, campaign partners aim to attract future healthcare workers

by Anna Smith News Associate Editor

Wisconsin hospitals are currently experiencing a staffing vacancy rate of approximately 10%, according to a March report by the Wisconsin Hospital Association.

Due to the pandemic, the vacancy rate in hospitals increased but has been returning back to normal levels. While the current state of hospital vacancies is not as severe as it once was, the report emphasized the importance of attracting more people to the field in order to sustain a healthy workforce for future generations.

According to WHA and AMN Healthcare, obtaining more staff is crucial, especially given the increase in demand for healthcare services in Wisconsin and nationally. An indication of this growing demand is shown by the rising trends of healthcare pricing — in 2022 the National Health Expenditure grew 4.1%, or by $13,493 per person.

According to Vice President of Workforce and Clinical Practice at WHA Ann Zenk, addressing the staffing crisis also means preparing for the retirement of the baby boomer generation, a group that makes up a significant portion of the healthcare workforce. By 2030, every baby boomer will be over the age of sixty-five, and in Wisconsin the future retirees outnumber the state’s youth population by about 10%.

Essentially, the incoming workforce is not large enough to replace the retiring population in the next two decades. This expected decline of workers — often referred to as the silver tsunami — will have lasting effects for all industries, not just for healthcare.

According to WHA, the healthcare industry is uniquely affected because its demand is greatly influenced by changing demographics more so than other industries that rely primarily on economic factors.

This lack of staffing is closely tied to the level of burnout experienced by healthcare professionals, according to Regional Vice President for Human Resources at SSM Health Gail Pasard. A study conducted in 2023 found that among healthcare respondents, 49.9% experienced burnout and 28.7% reported an intention to leave the workforce, according to the National Library of Medicine.

“We recognize the reality of burnout which has made its way into the workforce — not only because of staffing, but for a variety of other reasons like family, life changes and experienced trauma,” Pasard said. “We are dedicated to ensuring that our current team members know they are heard, as we place additional infrastructure to support them.

We also want our new team members — especially those who are new to healthcare –— to come in knowing they are supported and not alone in this.”

To address the lack of staffing, the WHA

students about the careers and possibilities in the healthcare industry. Advertisements will also encourage involvement of those who may be seeking a first job or for those already in healthcare looking for a career switch,

Foundation has initiated So Many Options, a workforce campaign aimed at strengthening the education-to-healthcare pipeline. The campaign targets students in middle and high school with the intention of informing more

according to the Director of Wisconsin Area Health Education Center Elizabeth Bush.

“One of the projects we have been working on is how to increase the awareness of, interest in and — hopefully — the intent to

pursue health professions of learners,” Bush said. “We were excited to work with WHA to develop a new resource for students of all ages to learn more about the diverse array of health profession options that are out there.”

Currently, there are more than six-hundred nursing, radiology, therapists, coding, scheduling or customer service related positions open with University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics. These are jobs in healthcare that aren’t necessarily doctors or nurses but are still important for people to consider if it suits their interests, according to Talent Acquisition Manager at UW Health Chuck Klein. The So Many Options campaign seeks to demonstrate this aspect of healthcare careers.

Besides the advertising campaign, there are other resources and opportunities that work to address this shortage. UW Health offers a Medical Assistant Apprenticeship Program, a paid position that allows for in-class education and hands-on application, and a Nursing Assistant Apprenticeship Program, which allows for students to engage in direct patient care in a hospital setting.

UW Health also partnered with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development and Madison College to create one of the nation’s first Registered Nurse Apprenticeship Programs. These programs allow for students of all types to engage in the healthcare system.

Similarly, SSM offers administrative fellowships and internships. In addition, they provide a Student Nurse Externship Program and a Youth Apprenticeship Program to provide a pathway for students to gain experience in the medical world.

They also are looking to become involved in a virtual nursing initiative conducted by the American Nursing Association, according to Lewis. This allows for more tenured nurses nearing to manage patients alongside inperson nurses. The program may become widely used and mitigate ramifications felt from the silver tsunami, according to Lewis. Ultimately these programs and opportunities work jointly with the So Many Options campaign to garner a stronger healthcare workforce for future generations.

“We have a variety of positions, and schedules that will work for all kinds of people,” Klein said. “There’s something for those that may be in school wanting to supplement some income or build some connections and industry to folks who might be in later stages of their career where they wanna work part time or per diem role … I think the message is that we have career opportunities for anyone at any stage of life.”

Through ‘So Many Options’ campaign, youth will learn about options for careers in healthcare.

DANIEL YUN. THE BADGER HERALD.

Bill threatens UW research on infectious diseases, experts say

UW experts face growing concern about Wisconsin legislature banning gain-of-function research on infectious diseases

by Dina Cianca Science News Reporter

Wisconsin State Legislature’s 2023 Assembly Bill 413 proposes the prohibition of gain of function research on potential pandemic pathogens at higher education institutions. AB413 defines GOF research as any virus, fungus, bacteria, eukaryotic parasite or any virus variant that is likely, moderately or highly transmissible to human populations and poses a severe threat to public health and safety.

According to the National Library of Medicine, GOF research refers to the alteration of genotypes or research outcomes that increase the transmissibility or virulence of pathogens. The research is used to understand the disease-causing agents, their interaction with humans and their potential to cause pandemics.

The University of Wisconsin released a statement Jan. 10 opposing AB413, which poses a threat to research and scientific innovation in Wisconsin. In the statement, UW defends its reputation as a powerhouse of federally funded research with an extensive portfolio of biological and biochemical research, especially for the dairy and agriculture industry.

UW researcher and professor Peter Halfmann works in the School of Veterinary Medicine’s Influenza Research Institute. Halfmann started his research with the Ebola virus, then transitioned to influenza and currently primarily works with SARSCoV-2. According to Halfmann, the openended drafted AB413 and its limitation on research at UW is concerning.

Working with pathogens requires strict procedures and biosafety standards to help prevent any risks of accidents to the workers, community and environment, according to the UW Pathogen Research Department.

Laboratory facilities are rated in four different biosafety levels depending on their procedure and infrastructure — BSL1 is labeled as low-risk for humans and the environment, BSL-2 as moderate risk, and BSL-3 and BSL-4 as high risk, with potential to cause disease in humans.

According to the UW Pathogen Research Department, UW laboratory facilities conduct pathogen research at BSL-2 and a small number at BSL-3, with no BSL-4 laboratories.

“All of this [GOF] research is regulated at the institutional level at UW and other UW campuses and on the federal level,” Halfmann said. “Grants that could potentially have a GOF research in them are reviewed by the [Influenza Research]

Institute and by the federal government, which is the first safety measure already in place.”

According to Halfmann, the Influenza Research Institute operates experiments under a BSL-3 enhanced, facilitated

The wastewater system is decontaminated by heating it to 250°F, which kills anything in the wastewater — other waste products are all autoclaved, a technique used to sterilize instruments or any other substances by heating them

laboratory with a couple of biosafety levels above a usual BSL-3 lab. Research in the institute uses air-purifying respirators with HEPA filters that remove pathogens from the air. The lab has airtight concrete walls and negative pressure, ensuring nothing escapes the lab.

above their boiling point. Lab researchers shower when leaving the lab and use all the essential equipment with HEPA air filters. As a precaution, the laboratory facilities have their own generator in the case of a city power outage, Halfmann said.

“We do research here, but none of our research that we’re currently doing is gainof-function,” Halfmann said.

The final bill proposed by the Wisconsin Legislature would limit not just biomedical research but other biological research projects, restricting the ability of public authorities to respond to potential threats like emerging diseases or contagious viruses.

According to former UW pharmacology professor William Mellon, this legislation would present issues trying to solve the Wisconsin community’s public health needs on time and inhibit future funding from federal grants to support vital biological and biomedical research projects.

Mellon said the language used in the bill is ambiguous. Additional oversight from the proposed bill could hinder Wisconsin research if a pandemic virus arises — delaying the research required to study time-sensitive viral events.

GOF research is not new, and it happens in microbiology often. While the bill is generally written for the state, it is certainly directed at the UW campus, Mellon said.

“When the state becomes restrictive, it only hurts the population of the state in the long run,” Mellon said. “Working with our faculty, as I did for so many years … I think the dedication of these people [virology researchers] is quite incredible.”

Halfmann is concerned if the bill gets passed, many researchers will leave UW. It could also make recruiting new researchers to UW and other labs around the state more difficult and even promote unjust scrutiny of biological research performed on campus.

There’s a lot of disinformation spread on social media platforms, which fuels public distrust in research and misinforms people about the importance of GOF research. Halfmann said the public needs to process information critically, and to verify sources and fact-check information online.

Halfmann said he worries that when news related to AB413 comes out to the general public, they will think GOF research is the only lab procedure done at UW. Yet, the university has a robust community of researchers working to answer questions for the community and beyond.

AB413’s open-ended language and redundancy can limit important research at UW and other Wisconsin universities — making GOF research more inaccessible to researchers and the path to preventing and mitigating future pandemics increasingly difficult, Halfmann said.

Expert says researchers may leave UW if bill is passed BENNETT WAARA. THE BADGER HERALD.

Once-in-a-lifetime periodical cicada brood emergence to occur this spring

Two broods of cicadas to emerge this spring, but Wisconsin won’t be overwhelmed, UW expert says

by Chloe Hansen Science News Editor

This May and June will be marked by the simultaneous emergence of two broods of periodical cicada insects, Broods 13 and 19, across Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa. Billions of cicadas are expected to emerge this spring, but most Wisconsinites won’t see the insects in their yard — the two broods occupy different geographical ranges across the three states, University of Wisconsin Extension entomologist and UW Insect Diagnostic Lab Director Patrick Liesch said.

Periodical cicadas emerge in broods, which categorize specific groups of individuals that share the same lifespan and emergence year. They spend almost the entirety of their lives as nymphs, living in underground networks and feeding on sap from plant roots, Liesch said.

Brood 13 matures in the soils of northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin for 17 years before they emerge, while Brood 19 occupies southern Illinois for 13 years before coming to the surface, University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator Ken Johnson said.

Because of their different lifespans, the last time the two broods coincided was 1803, Liesch said.

“Whenever something like this happens, it is really interesting to scientists because there may be that possibility of interbreeding between the broods,” Liesch said.

There are actually three species of 17-year cicadas and four species of 13-year cicadas emerging in the same area in 2024, so while interbreeding may occur, the long lifespan of periodical cicadas would mean it could take years for scientists to determine if a hybridization event occurred, Liesch said.

Western scientists began documentation of periodical cicada broods in the 1630s, but it was only in the early 1900s that scientists developed a categorization system for the periodical cicada broods that is now used today — a testament to the lengthy period of time required for periodical cicada research, Liesch said.

“For the year of an emergence … soil temperature is the biggest predictor,” Liesch

said. “They [periodical cicadas] need it to be warm enough. That exact number is about 64–64.5 degrees Fahrenheit at a soil depth of eight inches.”

Under the warming soils, nymphs will tunnel to the surface at night and begin the process of mating by singing their famous high-decibel songs. In high density areas, these blaring choruses reach 70 to 90 decibels — comparable to vacuum cleaners and motorcycles, respectively, Liesch said.

While their noise can be uncomfortable for some people, the cicada broods this year will provide unique ecosystem services. When cicadas emerge from the ground, they create small tunnels that allow oxygen to permeate the ground, supporting soil and microbial health, Johnson said.

The cicadas also compose an enormous food source for vertebrate predators and even humans, Johnson said. Once the cicadas die, their bodies provide free fertilizer for the landscape and recycle important nutrients,

Liesch said.

But, the periodical cicadas can sometimes damage young trees when females deposit their eggs into small branches and twigs using a sharp structure, called an ovipositor, that pierces the plant, Liesch said. Mature, well established trees may experience some natural pruning when cicadas kill their outermost branches by egg depositing — a process called flagging.

“If you get enough egg laying in there [trees], the branches could break, and if the trunks are small enough and they [cicadas] lay them directly in the trunks, it could kill the trees,” Johnson said.

Researchers believe cicadas emerge in large numbers as a survival strategy — if the insects overwhelm their predator population, then more of the insects are likely to survive and reproduce. Mayflies use a similar strategy to overwhelm their systems by emerging in the billions, but periodical cicadas are unique in their long life cycle, Johnson said.

It is also thought that cicada emergences are situated along atypical 13 or 19 year timelines to avoid synching life cycles with predators. Predators like birds and raccoons can learn to expect insect emergences when they follow a three or four year timeline, so the periodical cicadas avoid this by epically extending their lifespans beyond predators’ internal clocks and lifespans, Liesch said.

Researchers believe periodical cicadas count the years by tracking the chemical makeup of trees that change during periods of dormancy, like the winter and periods of tree growth, when their circulatory structures and roots grow, Johnson said.

Yet, climate change may threaten these cues. According to Johnson, shorter winters will probably result in an earlier periodical cicada emergence. Depleting tree resources may also affect the periodical cicada populations, because they depend so greatly on trees as a nymphal food source and breeding grounds as adults.

People tend to focus on the bad outcomes of cicada emergences, like the noise and tree damage, but cicadas are important parts of midwestern ecosystems, Johnson said. They are also not dangerous to humans or pets because they will not bite, sting or even defend themselves.

“For the average human lifespan, you may only be able to witness a particular brood emerging at the same spot at the same time three or four times in your life,” Liesch said.

This, though, is a once in a multigenerational opportunity — it happens only every 221 years, Johnson said. Liesch, who hasn’t seen the Wisconsin cicadas broods himself, is excited to witness the amazing natural phenomenon and urges everyone to keep an eye out this spring for these long-living insects.

Two broods to emerge together for first time since 1803.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KEN JOHNSON.

UW club offers free solution to fast-fashion

Re-Wear It offers free clothing swaps to counteract environmental impacts of fast fashion

by Annalise Sommer Science News Associate Editor

Clothing trends go in and out of fashion often on a whim, but research has found fast fashion has negative environmental impacts. The University of Wisconsin club Re-Wear It offers a way to keep up with the trends while staying environmentally conscious.

Re-Wear It is a sustainable fashion club on campus that advocates for conscious consumerism by providing sustainable options for college students.

Re-Wear It Co-president Sonakshi Garr said fast fashion is characterized by “micro trends” that appear in pop culture. Shein and Amazon are usually two of the most popular stores selling clothes that follow those trends. Garr said fast fashion is often low quality and not sustainable.

UW Business Operations and Information Management professor Xiaoyang Long, who co-authored a 2021 study on the environmental impacts of fast fashion, said speed is the goal of fast fashion in order to keep up with the constantly changing trends.

Long said fashion trends have always changed quickly, but with the development of social media, they now change even faster. Instead of trends changing in a weekly or monthly magazine, trends can change in a day on TikTok.

This causes issues for other companies that aim for quality, Long said. As they introduce more styles, they tend to have more leftover inventory. If these companies change their production system closer to fast fashion, the quality of their clothes will most likely decrease.

Long said the life cycle of a piece of clothing has many stages — pre-production, production and post-production. Farmers grow cotton and factories use cotton to sew clothes. Then the clothes are sold, worn and eventually thrown away.

Every stage of manufacturing causes pollution, Long said.

“[After] there is a post-consumption waste … how long does it take the consumer to be done with the clothes and throw it away?” Long said. “Or do they recycle it? Do they reuse it? What’s the lifetime of that?”

Long said fast fashion has operational innovations that claim to help the environment. Fast fashion companies consistently test the market to see what is selling and trending. They have produced a large variety of different styles in small quantities to test these trends. Since the companies are producing small batches, they can be considered eco-friendly because they are not wasting clothes if they aren’t sold.

That is not the full story, though. Long said

one important implication of the supply chain is the environmental aspect.

When companies are making smaller batches, they are prone to use poor quality materials for their clothes, Long said. As the clothing quality is reduced, the longevity of clothing is reduced. It is a problem because

once or twice, throws it away and then buys another. This cycle causes natural resources to be drained faster.

Throwing away the clothes adds to landfills and the chemicals pollute the waterways, Garr said. These low-quality clothes are typically made of plastic polyester and are not

them there. It is more convenient to quickly hop online and buy a piece in their size for less than $10 than going thrift shopping, where one has to look through racks of clothing.

“I mean the good [of fast fashion] is accessibility … which is why we [Re-Wear It] are so focused on building our own inventory in a diverse way,” Garr said. “We’re just trying to get people away from that [fast fashion], but we acknowledge and see the ease that fast fashion has provided.”

Garr said consumers buy these cheap clothes, only to wear them once or twice before they donate or throw them away. Unfortunately, many donated clothes don’t make it to thrift store storefronts if they are ripped or torn.

Re-Wear It offers a sustainable program to combat this issue, Garr said. The club teaches students the importance of mending and repairing clothes and offers sewing machines so students can fix their clothes instead of buying new ones or throwing them away.

Garr said the club hosts clothing swaps every other Friday, where students can pick out free clothes. It has a store of donated clothes they have collected over the years but encourages people to bring clothes to donate when going “shopping” at the swap.

“People like to go out, they like to have new clothes. But a lot of the time, when you just buy from Amazon or Shein, you’re supporting an entire system of environmental oppression, essentially,” Garr said. “So we’re trying to get people away from that and give them a chance to refresh their wardrobe, in an easy, accessible, free way.”

Re-Wear It wants to help people understand the clothes they already own have value, Garr said. If a person doesn’t think they’ll wear a piece of clothing more than 10 times, it is not a good purchase.

For people to make more sustainable decisions, Long said they need to follow the three R’s of sustainability — reduce, reuse and recycle. To reduce means buying fewer clothes and buying higher quality. To reuse means selling old clothes and buying secondhand clothes. And to recycle means donating old clothes.

after every wash, the quality decreases and eventually rips and tears occur.

Long said instead of wearing a sweater for years, consumers are more likely to wear a poor-quality sweater once or twice before throwing it away. It is a vicious cycle — the consumer buys cheap clothing, wears it

biodegradable. This means they take a long time to decompose, harming the environment. Garr said there are some benefits to fast fashion — options and convenience. Thrift stores have a limited range of sizes, and people who shop larger sizes, are tall or very petite cannot always find a piece that will fit

Long said in France, the government has taken a stance against waste in the fashion industry. The French government is debating on passing a fast fashion tax, similar to the cigarette tax. Government regulation can promote change in the fashion industry by offering economic incentives for greener fashion.

“The most revolutionary thing you can do for sustainability is just be more conscious,” Garr said.

PREKSHA SATIA. THE BADGER HERALD.

Re-Wear It aims to help students understand value of clothes they already have, group co-president says.

People of UW: MODA Magazine photoshoot production coordinator

Stories of students: Read about students making a difference on campus

by Julia Cyganiak Social Media and Public Relations Associate

Editor’s note: People of UW is a human interest series produced by Badger Herald staff members. The series aims to highlight a student or student group at the University of Wisconsin making an impact on the campus community. These Q&As are lightly edited for clarity and style.

Tell us about yourself.

I’m a senior and psychology major with an art certificate. I’m from Illinois, from Deerfield. I wasn’t really involved in art in high school or anything. I was a biology major, then I switched to psych. I initially thought I wanted to be in the healthcare field and I was taking all of these STEM classes, and I just felt like I needed a creative outlet. At first, I just started it as like, “Oh, it would be fun to paint” and I started doing these beginner painting classes. And then I was like, “I really like this for more than just painting.” I really liked the things that I learned through it because you gain so many different perspectives. I feel like I grew into more of my identity, and because of that I’ve become really thankful that I found art in college.

What is MODA magazine?

It’s a lifestyle, and premiere magazine. It’s all about cultivating creativity and passions that a bunch of students have. It’s kind of like a central place for everyone to explore all of their different creative interests that they have. So like photography, modeling, art, design or writing.

What is your role with MODA and what are your responsibilities in this role?

This year, basically, what I do is the creative directions and the different shoots that go on and manage all the different photoshoots that go on for each issue. Some of that would include just casting models, and leading people who are also new to MODA, who are interested in photography, or editorial elements of it. I’m kind of just here to help people through that process too. Currently, I would say the biggest thing that I’m doing is Fashion Week. It’s a week of just celebrating the fashion community and creative community at UW. It’s all about, for example, partnering with local small businesses, kind of getting those businesses’ names out there, also working with student designers that are in SOHE, and having a week where you celebrate all of their talent.

What inspired you to take on this role?

I think that visual elements are really important. In student publications, especially with MODA, I feel like there’s a lot of creative ways you can go about it, and a bunch of different concepts you can explore. I think that with visual elements, because you don’t

necessarily have words to rely on to tell your story, the things that you put in the shoots are important, and the ways that you convey whatever message you want to, it’s important to do it in an educated and informed way that is inclusive to everyone. I think that that

there’s this stereotype when it comes to photoshoots or editorial shoots, there’s a lot of stereotypical norms that play into it. All of these beauty norms and all these societal expectations that come in the fashion community. I think it’s really important to

was one of the main reasons why I wanted to apply for this role, because I think that the context is really important when it comes to visual things, and I think understanding those elements is really important.

What are some of your goals for MODA?

One of my main things is just showing more representation. A lot of the times

have an environment where all different identities are appreciated, and all different types of people are appreciated. Growing up, for example, I rarely ever saw Asian representation in media, so I think that it’s really important for people in marginalized communities or minority communities to see more diversity in the media.

What is your favorite part of this role and MODA as a whole?

I really like the community and friends that I’ve met through it. I initially was taking a lot of science classes, and it’s kind of hard to meet other people that also need a creative outlet in those types of environments that are kind of restricting. And no one’s forcing you to do MODA. Everyone who’s in it, wants to do it and wants to be there. So I think it’s really energizing to be around a bunch of people who care about what they’re doing and want to do a bunch of different things.

How can students get involved with MODA?

Show up on Tuesdays. Everyone’s super welcoming and there’s a bunch of different ways to get involved. Honestly, you can literally just do whatever creative thing you want to do. It’s not a common opportunity to walk in somewhere and just have that liberty.

What are some post-grad goals you have?

Do you intend to pursue this role post-grad?

I definitely want to keep art in my life. It’s something that I’ve had to actively fight for to keep in my life. I think that a lot of the times these artistic realms, these creative realms, are not super conventional, and I think that can get discouraging at times. I am kind of at a point where I know I want to keep these creative elements in my life, so post-grad I’m moving to Chicago and I want to have a career where I’m providing value to the community by using my creative skills and artistic skills. Whatever that entails, I don’t exactly know, but I think that that’s also a part of life, you just try to experience a bunch of things and you see what you like, and you see what you don’t like, and you learn from there.

What’s your favorite shoot you’ve done so far?

My favorite shoot is the one that we did last semester for the Glamour issue. It was the article about different representations of femininity in the media. For that we wanted to kind of go against those stereotypical ideas of Hollywood beauty. I worked with these two beautiful models and we did looks where it wasn’t super gender restrictive, letting them style themselves in ways that they wanted to dress. I think having that freedom is really important, so that was really fun to do. It was kind of like a “fuck you” to those norms. So it was really fun and cool to be a part of that too.

Anything else we should know?

MODA is hosting UW Fashion Week April 15-19. Make sure you stop by for the UWFW Finale Fashion Show April 19th at the Orpheum! Doors open at 8:00 p.m and the show starts at 8:30 pm. Admission is free! See you there!

Emily Han talks passion for inspiring creativity through photography.

PHOTO COURTESY OF EMILY HAN.

by Dani Savin Sports Editor

BALANCING ACTS:

Student-athletes navigate mental health challenges amid many responsibilities

As the stadium lights cast a hypnotic glow across the soccer field, Aidan McConnell played amidst the flurry of activity, her mind grappling with the weight of expectations. Among the clamor of the crowd and intensity of the game, McConnell couldn’t shake the thought of injury — something which threatened to eclipse her season with one wrong move.

Tragedy struck when McConnell tore her meniscus and ACL at the start of the 2023 season. This stark reminder, built upon the relentless pressure the junior faces as a studentathlete, extends far beyond the confines of the field.

“Athletes are at risk for mental health struggles due to high athletic identity and identity foreclosure,” a study on the psychological impacts of musculoskeletal injuries said. “Injured athletes have specifically been shown to have higher rates of anxiety and depression when compared to the general population.

responsibilities demand exceptional time management and resilience. Student-athletes navigate a unique terrain where they excel both on the field and in the classroom, embodying discipline and dedication.

In the realm of collegiate sports, where dedication to both academics and athletics is paramount, the challenges of managing mental health alongside rigorous training schedules often remains hidden beneath the surface. Mental health among student-athletes has emerged as a pressing concern in collegiate environments nationwide.

At the University of Wisconsin, where academic rigor meets the competitive arena of collegiate sports, these challenges are particularly pronounced.

Intersection of academic and athletic excellence at UW

The dual life of student-athletes encapsulates a delicate balance between academic pursuits and athletic commitments.

“Our weekly schedule consists of a three or four-hour block (lift, skate meetings), depending on class schedule you have a few in mornings 9-4 daily,” women’s hockey captain Britta Curl told The Badger Herald.

Juggling rigorous training schedules, competitions and academic

At UW, student-athletes must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA ranging between 1.8 and 2.0 — increasing with each academic year — over the span of their five years of eligibility in order to dress for matches or games. This GPA requirement is more flexible than Big Ten counterparts University of Michigan and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, which both require studentathletes of all academic years to maintain a 2.0 to practice and compete.

This dual identity shapes athletes’ collegiate experiences, fostering valuable skills such as teamwork, perseverance and prioritization.

“Changes with the transfer portal name, image and likeness…[alongside] things that have always been demanding for student-athletes — extremely busy schedules and trying to juggle 20 hours or so of sport with full academic load — has a really substantial effect on [student-athletes’] wellbeing,” UW Director of Mental Health and Sports Psychology David Lacocque said. Barriers to receiving support

The month of April, recognized as National Stress Awareness Month by the National Institutes of Health, works to bring attention to the negative impact of stress.

A 2023 study on mental health in college athletes revealed that approximately 22.3% of collegiate athletes are at risk for depression, 12.5% exhibit signs of anxiety and 8% display low self-esteem. These findings underscore the pressing need tailored mental health support within athletic programs.

observed across genders, academic statuses, or sport types for depression or self-esteem, disparities in anxiety levels between male and female athletes highlight the importance of gender-sensitive interventions. Moving forward, there is still a need for academic and athletic institutions to prioritize the well-being of studentathletes by implementing comprehensive mental health screening and support systems to foster resilience on and off the field.

A multitude of factors contribute to the mental health challenges faced by student-athletes. The NCAA Student-Athlete Health and Wellness Study found academics, future plans and finances to be the most cited factors in mental health challenges of athletes.

But, 34% of male and female athletes reported some reservations in asking for help. The report also found many student athletes felt more reluctant to discuss mental health compared to physical health issues with their coaches, which could indicate mental health challenges going underreported.

From the relentless pursuit of perfection to the fear of failure, the pressures inherent in collegiate athletics can take a significant toll.

While no significant differences were

Fostering a positive team culture

Within the tight-knit communities of sports teams, social dynamics can both nurture and undermine mental health.

The women’s hockey team operates with a light-hearted dynamic, emphasizing enjoyment and avoiding excessive seriousness, Curl said. The team is able to recognize the moments that require a shift in focus and members are willing to buckle down when necessary.

“The pressure we feel largely stems from within ourselves, driven by our own high expectations and how much we value our fan base, but there are moments when it feels like we’re letting them down,” Curl reflects.

McConnell spoke similarly of the soccer team, where camaraderie evolves annually as new members join. Despite these changes, McConnell emphasizes the strong bonds formed within the team, describing them as “30 built-in best friends.” While the focus during soccer sessions is on strategizing for success, off the field the atmosphere is relaxed, allowing for genuine companionship and non-soccer-related fun. McConnell said part of a positive team culture involves maintaining separation between interactions during games and off the field.

But not every athlete can claim to have experienced this kind of rapport. Coaches and athletic programs play a pivotal role in shaping the experiences of student-athletes. Throughout her life playing sports during childhood, women’s hockey player Laila Edwards has experienced it all.

“Those that are aggressive and negative have a detrimental impact on my mental health due to the excessive tension and pressure they create, which isn’t

conducive to a healthy mind and body,” Edwards told The Badger Herald. “This approach isn’t something I appreciate … My current

coaching staff trusts us to perform our roles but also offers feedback to help us grow as individuals and players.”

While some coaching approaches can breed toxicity and diminish mental health, others foster an environment of trust, growth, and support. For Edwards and numerous others, the coaches who prioritize constructive feedback and trust in their athletes’ abilities not only enhance athletic performance, but contribute to the personal development of the individuals under their guidance.

Strengthening the relationships between coach and players allows for a supportive environment when trying new or seemingly unconventional practices, such as meditation for personal development.

Meditation as a means of prevention

Meditation, as defined by the Oxford English Dictionary, is “the action, or an act, of meditating; continuous thought or musing upon one subject or series of subjects.”

UW Director of Meditation Training Chad McGeHee said meditation can be used to train the brain to perform more effectively in high pressure situations.

“It’s important to acknowledge that when people hear the word meditation, traditional or stereotypical images may come to mind,” McGeHee said. “Once that is named and addressed — understanding that we were training meditation for high-performance environments — those stereotypes aren’t going to last very long.”

McGeHee oversees meditation practice, collaboration and research with numerous groups on campus, including student-athletes.

In beginning his practice about 20 years ago due to personal reasons, McGeHee found meditation transformative, so he went on share his knowledge and experience.

The value of meditation for student-athletes extends far beyond the physical realm,

encompassing mental well-being and performance enhancement. In the fastpaced and high-pressure world of competitive sports, meditation serves as a powerful tool for athletes to cultivate focus, resilience and emotional balance, McGeHee said. “[Studentathletes are] training mindfulness, our attention,” McGeHee said.

“Meta-awareness what we call it scientifically. It’s hurricane stability, of what’s happening in our minds and our bodies when it’s happening and the skill of decentering or acceptance — treating our thoughts as passing phenomena.”

By incorporating mindfulness practices into their routines, studentathletes can effectively manage stress, anxiety and distractions, thereby optimizing their performance both on and off the field. Meditation offers a sanctuary for athletes to quiet their minds, sharpen their concentration and visualize success — empowering them to harness their full potential.

“Would you be better in your sport?” McGeHee said. “Would you be better academically? Would you be better in your personal life? If you could have greater control of where your attention is? Be aware of what you’re experiencing as you’re experiencing it?”

If so, meditation can be repurposed for every person in every place.

Support through psychologists

In the quest to support student-athletes’ mental well-being, the role of mental health professionals is paramount.

Here at UW, Lacocque and his team of experts at the Department of Mental Health and Sports Psychology follow the public health model.

“We hold ourselves accountable to delivering initiatives and support for studentathletes at the levels of primary prevention,” Lacocque said.

to critical care services.

At the foundation are initiatives aimed at primary prevention and early intervention, such as mid-semester mental health screenings designed to identify and address emerging stressors among student-athletes.

A 2021 study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that regular health screenings ensure studentathletes receive treatment as early as possible. Screenings at regular intervals can also help destigmatize mental health challenges. At UW, this proactive approach allows the Department of Mental Health and Sports Psychology to promptly assist those exhibiting symptoms and tailor support according to their individual needs.

Additionally, the department has implemented Mental Health First Aid training, providing essential skills and knowledge to support immediate crisis response and ongoing mental health support. These initiatives, situated within a comprehensive framework, aim to create an environment conducive to the holistic wellbeing of student-athletes.

The framework employed by the Department of Mental Health and Sports Psychology for fostering resilience and wellness encompasses a spectrum of mental health support, ranging from early intervention, to routine treatment,

When discussing mental health, it’s crucial to clarify that it encompasses a wide spectrum, from addressing mental health problems to promoting flourishing and resilience. Lacocque emphasizes this distinction during engagements such as Mental Health First Aid sessions and coaches’ roundtable discussions.

Moving forward

Through specialized training for coaches with Lacocque and athletic mental health provider Jay Bean, Mental Health First Aid is tailored to the unique needs of athletics, offering bimonthly sessions for coaches, staff, and administrators.

“Our goal is to create a culture of accountability where everyone is equipped to recognize and respond to mental health concerns, regardless of their role within the athletics department,” Dr. Lacocque said. With half of their time dedicated to consulting with coaches and being present in sport spaces, the Mental Health First Aid team strives to destigmatize mental health and foster trust among studentathletes. This approach has yielded significant results, as evidenced by the quadrupling of student-athletes seeking services after embedding a provider within the football program, Dr. Lacocque described.

Despite UW’s growing network of support, challenges remain. Mental health providers continue to work to dispel stereotypes surrounding mental health, such as the notion that seeking help indicates weakness or that mental health concerns are uncommon.

In reality, approximately one in four college studentathletes who utilize the resources of the Department of Mental Health and Sports Psychology experience significant mental health symptoms each year, highlighting the importance of destigmatizing conversations around mental health and encouraging proactive support.

Through open dialogue and proactive initiatives, the Department of Mental Health and Sports Psychology aims to create an environment where mental health is prioritized, and individuals feel empowered to seek support regardless of the perceived severity of their concerns.

“[Student-athletes] recognize that there’s another level that they can achieve, that they can improve their coping skills, that they can improve their mental skills and get to a higher level of mental well-being,” Lacocque said.

The narrative of student-athletes at UW is one characterized by resilience, determination and a relentless pursuit of excellence amidst a variety of challenges. From the pressures of academic rigor to the demands of competitive athletics, student-athletes navigate a complex landscape where the pursuit of success often intersects with the preservation of mental well-being.

The pivotal role played by coaches, mental health professionals and advocacy groups underscores the collective effort required to create a supportive and inclusive environment for student-athletes.

“Looking forward, [there needs to be] less stigma [surrounding the mental health] of student athletes,” Edwards said. “Mental health isn’t a joke and some people really struggle with it. You have to have uncomfortable conversations to move forward.”

FAFSA delays need remedies to best support students

Changes to FAFSA in 2024 causing delays, placing stress on high school seniors making college decisions

by Sammie Garrity Opinion Associate Editor

This year, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid rolled out changes intended to make the financial aid process easier and more streamlined for applicants. The changes were also supposed to make aid more available to low and middle class families. But, that hasn’t proven to be the case, and the Office of Federal Student Aid has many issues it needs to resolve.

Not only was the rollout delayed until January 2024, when the FAFSA normally opens in October, but even after it rolled out, it had a host of technical issues, according to the Associated Press. People were unable to access the forms to fill out virtually, and more recently, it is possible that some colleges received incorrect information about applicant’s finances after an issue occurred with transferring tax data from the IRS, according to a March 29 issue alert from the Office of Federal

Student Aid. This means that approximately one million students who filled out the FAFSA had inaccurate tax information sent to their desired universities and colleges, according to CNN.

The Education Trust estimated that at earliest students would start receiving financial aid offers in February, but due to ongoing issues, it was more likely to be March — only two months from when most students need to decide which college to attend.

Aid from FAFSA is a key part of making a college decision for many families. Even if students are accepted into a university of their choosing, often times their final decision is related to whether or not it is financially feasible to attend, particularly with the staggering debt that most college graduates face. Being that most students have to make college decisions in May, families

that haven’t yet received financial aid offers — or even worse, those who had incorrect information sent to certain universities — are placed at a disadvantage.

Looking at the University of Wisconsin specifically, the 2024-25 cost of attendance is estimated at $59,614 for out-of-state students. If prospective students aren’t aware of aid they may be receiving, making a decision on where to attend is made increasingly difficult. It is plausible that students won’t enroll in more expensive, out-ofstate colleges if they aren’t certain they have the money to pay for it.

Additionally, backlogged forms set students of a lower socio-economic standing at a disadvantage. For those who can afford tuition without federal aid, finances may not make the decision too complicated. But for students that

are relying on aid, this process is more difficult. This exacerbates the privilege that financially advantaged students have entering higher education, and only increases inequities amongst students.

Students that can’t afford expensive colleges out-of-pocket are driven away from more prestigious universities which means students who do attend them are in a financial position unaffected by federal aid, according to the Education Trust. Specifically, this further marginalizes students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Approximately 88% of Black students, 87% of Native students and 82% of Hispanic students rely on financial aid for college, compared to 74% of white students, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Consequentially, this has the potential to impact diversity on campuses. If students of color have less financial freedom to attend expensive, prestigious universities, racial and ethnic disparities in higher education will only be exacerbated.

Though these specific technical issues are new, students facing challenges receiving federal financial aid is not, according to U.S. News. Applicants have often criticized the complexity of the form itself and how the process is timed. Additionally, the information that the form relies on to calculate aid is from previous years, which isn’t necessarily a reflection of current financial status.

The new form was supposed to correct these types of issues, but instead has just created new ones, according to U.S. News. Parents and students have encountered difficulty sending information to the correct school, so information is being sent where it shouldn’t be. Plus, parents without Social Security numbers have had difficulty contributing any information to the form. Students declared as eligible noncitizens, which generally includes students who hold a green card, according to the Office of Federal Student Aid, can’t submit the form at all, according to U.S. News. These barriers lead to students who come from lowincome backgrounds, or people that have more complex financial situations to being blocked from receiving the aid that they need.

Federal financial aid is incredibly important to the college process since ideally, it serves to promote more equal opportunity and make education more affordable. When difficulties occur within this process, it creates barriers marginalize those who rely on financial aid. It is critical to simplify the financial aid process if it is going to serve its purpose of making higher education feasible and affordable.

Sammie Garrity (sgarrity3@wisc.edu) is a freshman studying journalism and political science.

Technical issues with new FAFSA form may exacerbate inequity in higher education.

CAT CARROLL. THE BADGER HERALD.

Point-Counterpoint: Young americans weigh impact of potential TikTok ban

Following the U.S. House of Representatives recent passage of a bill to ban TikTok — or force its sale to an American company — young social media users are considering the benefits and drawbacks of losing access to the platform. Considering the challenges social media poses to young users and the opportunities it provides to learn from unofficial sources, what are the impacts of placing restrictions on TikTok?

Point: Banning TikTok would prevent young people from connecting with others, organizing politically, learning from unofficial sources

by Jack Rogers Opinion Editor

A certain political fantasy is floating around both Democratic and Republican circles in Washington. That is, TikTok and its powerful algorithm somehow operates to create a cesspool for explicitly antiAmerican talking points and adversely influences domestic politics.

But on the other side of the coin, TikTok serves as an important source for social connection and as an unofficial news outlet, according to a study from Pew Research Center. A ban on TikTok would threaten the existence of a dynamic community of over 150 million American users.

The genesis of the federal government’s recent attack on the media giant is somewhat predictable. Pro-Palestinian content has flooded the platform since Oct. 7, disgruntling many pro-Israel advocates in Washington, according to a report from NBC News. Yet, this phenomenon appears to be a reflection of user engagement rather than part of a shadowy agenda to promote the Palestinian cause, according to reporting from Al Jazeera.

Regardless of which side of the IsraelPalestine conflict you lean toward, this episode demonstrates TikTok’s powerful capability to disseminate information and perspectives that would otherwise be relatively unavailable to the American public. With certain checks on the platform’s algorithm, this feature could be vital to maintaining a healthy democracy and promoting civic engagement.

TikTok’s parent company, the Chinese firm ByteDance, also draws acute concern from lawmakers on Capitol Hill. According to proponents of a TikTok ban, risks of

TikTok leaking American users’ data to the Chinese government are a paramount threat. Yet, further development and implementation of Project Texas — a plan to store all American data exclusively in the U.S. — could resolve these fears.

Similar issues of data collection, transparency and user privacy are not unique to TikTok. Controversy also surrounds American media moguls like Google and Meta, but it is hard to imagine a realistic or politically viable effort to ban either of these firms. In this context then, a ban on TikTok is ultimately a move against a firm simply because of politically sensitive ties to China — an unfair standard applied discriminately to TikTok. Problems arising from the platform’s “addictiveness” are worthy of serious consideration, but other social media platforms would fail to escape scrutiny if judged by the same standard. According to the Brown University School of Public Health, the addictive structure of Facebook and TikTok remain “remarkably alike.” The major difference boils down to the demographics of users on each platform.

Students and the millions of other young people who disproportionately use TikTok face the biggest impact of a potential ban. The platform’s horizontal proliferation of information — if fact-checked and verified — can be a transformational crutch to our struggling democracy and a source of a vibrant community. A ban jeopardizes American access to the future of mass media and online communities.

Jack Rogers (jrogers@badgerherald.com) is a sophomore studying Chinese, economics and political science.

Counterpoint: Banning TikTok might not be best course of action, but major reforms to platform and other social media companies necessary to protect public health

by Emily Otten Opinion Editor

While TikTok can be a platform for worldwide connection, there are multiple issues that must be addressed. This does not necessarily mean banning the platform itself or forcing ByteDance to sell it is the right path, but guidelines should be put in place to ensure the platform is safer for all people.

A large complaint amongst those who want TikTok to be banned is the addictive and at times dangerous nature of the algorithmic “For You” page that provides content to users based on their interests and previously interacted with videos on the platform, according to Amnesty International.

The “For You” page on TikTok is infinite — there is no end to the content a single user can receive. This design choice was made to maximize users’ time spent on the platform, according to Amnesty International. Youth interviewed by adolescent psychologists said they spend hours scrolling through their TikTok.

Amnesty International also said the “For You” page can push self-harm or suicide related content to teens who identify an interest in mental health within three to 20 minutes of signaling that interest. Additionally, in a single hour, an account that signaled an interest in mental health received multiple videos romanticizing and encouraging suicide, with over half of the videos on that account’s “For You” page relating to mental health struggles.

TikTok’s algorithm can also share dangerous disordered eating content with young users. A study conducted by the Wall Street Journal created multiple automated accounts with an age of 13 and found these accounts received thousands of videos related to weight loss. These videos included diets, how many calories a person should eat to lose weight, water cleanses and promoting weight loss “competitions” amongst users.

Aside from the algorithm, the TikTok platform collects copious amounts of data from its users. Another study conducted by Amnesty International found that by keeping users addicted to their platform, the app is able to collect data classify users. TikTok makes these classifications available to advertisers, who target ads toward users — including children. In areas of the world with fewer laws and regulations, TikTok performs more invasive data collection, according to Amnesty International.

It is clear TikTok is a dangerous app — especially for children due to its addictive nature and data collection policies. But banning or forcing a sale of the app is not the right path either.

Before TikTok even existed, researchers extensively discussed the addictive properties of social media platforms on youth. Social media is designed to entice people to continue scrolling, and platforms need users to consistently utilize the app for that platform to keep running, according to Harvard Business Review. The addictive, algorithmic nature of social media is not a problem specific to TikTok, but to all social media platforms.

TikTok does not actually collect any more data than Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, according to the Washington Post. In fact, TikTok, Meta and Google utilize many of the same data collection methods and provide such data to advertisers, according to CNN. Though TikTok collects a lot of data, it is not any more invasive than what American companies are already doing.

Instead of banning a single app, the solution should be to restrict the collection and sale of data to advertisers, and to enforce age restrictions on social media, so individuals — especially children — are best protected from harmful content and data collection practices

Emily Otten is a senior majoring in journalism.

UW must weigh risk of losing DEI programs against receiving state funding

Million dollar campaign to appease Republicans could be detrimental for marginalized students

by Aanika Parikh Opinion Associate Editor

The University of Wisconsin is investing $1 million into its “You Can’t Stop a Badger” marketing campaign aiming to reduce stereotypes regarding the university and higher education, according to a report from The Cap Times. Documents showed UW aimed to combat the idea that the university is too “elitist” and “leftist,” according to the report.

But considering the political context of this effort provides a complete picture of the university’s intentions.

Last summer, the Republican-controlled Wisconsin State Legislature withheld $32 million from the UW budget until the universities agreed to cut certain diversity, equity and inclusion programs. While UW recovered the deficit when the Board of Regents approved a controversial proposal to cut DEI initiatives in December, trends show the state’s commitment to higher education may be faltering.

According to a press release from UW President Jay Rothman, Wisconsin ranks 43rd nationally in public funding for higher education. And a 2021 report from the Wisconsin Budget Project found that Gov. Tony Evers’ proposed $40 million to support the UW System was rejected by the Legislature.

The effect of the Legislature’s attitude toward higher education can be seen in the declining enrollment and underfunded universities throughout Wisconsin. Five of the UW System’s ten 2-year branch campuses faced shut down just in the last 18 months, according to the Wisconsin State Journal.

Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester), who negotiated the deal to cut DEI in exchange for funding, told CBS News that university funds should be used for “something better than indoctrinating kids with left-wing ideology.” Indeed, Republicans throughout the state worry that the presence of liberal ideologies on college campuses might censor students with conservative views.

From the perspective of UW, appealing to these politicians is the path toward mores stable funding. The pricey “You Can’t Stop a Badger” campaign might be what UW needs to challenge stereotypes about the university. In fact, UW–Madison spokesperson Kelly Tyrrell told The Cap Times this is not the first time the university has used marketing campaigns to combat political impasses, declining enrollment and other issues.

But, the marketing efforts fail to get at the key area of contention and the reason why UW was denied funding in the first place — DEI programs. The risk of appeasement with Republicans in the Legislature is the inverse relationship that now exists between DEI initiatives and critical funding for the UW System.

But the need for DEI programs to support marginalized students has never been greater. Just 3% of students at UW–Madison identified as Black in the most recent data from fall 2023 — a disproportionate share compared to Black people making up 12.4% of Wisconsin’s population.

DEI initiatives were created to serve those underrepresented in higher education feel more supported through resources and community — until Republican politicians started striking down these opportunities.

The new campaign’s ambitious goals of both appeasing the state Legislature and promoting the accessibility of higher education are going to come into conflict. It is UW’s responsibility

to responsibly weigh the risk of losing DEI programs against the benefit of receiving state funding in the best interests of its students.

But UW might be able to make steps forward in promoting the affordability and value of higher education in other ways. For instance, the university claims that its marketing efforts will shine a light on the stories of the number of students who have benefited from the Bucky’s Tuition Promise tuition assistance program, the research and innovation set in motion by UW students and various post-graduation outcomes for UW graduates, according to a news release from last year. Sharing these stories may uncover the multifaceted value of higher education for Wisconsin amidst perceptions of unjustifiable

expenses and leftist political leanings.

If the university is able to balance political support with diversity efforts, this campaign can serve as a tool to positively change stereotypes regarding the the stereotypes that universities are “elitist” and intolerant of conservative views. The campaign can certainly open doors toward those with negative perceptions of higher education and highlight how a post-secondary education can empower Wisconsinites. But in the process, the university must take accountability by repairing the damage done to its DEI initiatives and focus on ensuring accessibility and support for marginalized students into the future.

Aanika Parikh (aaparikh5@wisc.edu) is a sophomore studying molecular and cell biology.

Appeasing Republicans in the Wisconsin State Legislature creates problematic relationship between DEI programs and state funding.

BENNETT WAARA. THE BADGER HERALD.

Football: Wisconsin finds success in pre-NFL Draft workouts

Allen, Bortolini, others impress with advanced skill sets

by Julien Payen Sports Reporter

The University of Wisconsin football team sent three of their team members to the NFL Combine that took place from Feb. 29 to March 3. Running back Braelon Allen, offensive lineman Tanor Bortolini and linebacker Maema Njongmeta showcased their talents to scouts from across the NFL in the hopes of being selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, which will take place April 25–27.

The NFL Combine is an invitational event that allows draft prospects to show their strengths in six different events — a 40-yard dash, vertical jump, broad jump, 3-cone drill, shuttle run and bench press. Only about 300 prospects are invited to the NFL Combine each year, but they have the opportunity to opt in or out of events at their discretion.

Bortolini, a Kewaunee, Wisconsin, native, played almost every position on the offensive line during his time at UW, showing his versatility as a prospect. He elected to compete in every event at the combine — recording first place finishes in the 3-cone drill and the shuttle run out of 28 and 26 competing offensive linemen respectively, while also finishing second out of 49 offensive linemen in the 40-yard dash.

Bortolini’s only struggle was on the bench press, where 21 reps at 225 lbs. was only good enough for 25th place out of 28 offensive linemen. Post-Combine, ESPN ranked Bortolini as the sixth-best center out of 12 and 122nd best prospect overall in the 2024 draft.

Allen suffered an ankle injury during the Badgers’ game against Ohio State University in October, but that didn’t stop him from coming back and putting up over 200 yards and four touchdowns in the final two regular season games — including the winning overtime touchdown against the University of Nebraska in a 24–17 victory.

The Fond du Lac native was more selective at the combine, only competing in the vertical jump, broad jump and bench press. But Allen still showcased his strength, which was one of the key aspects of his role at UW.

Allen finished 19th out of 21 running backs in the vertical jump, 15th out of 20 running backs in the broad jump and an impressive second out of 11 running backs in the bench press with 26 reps. ESPN rated Allen eighth-best running back out of 28 and 151st overall.

Njongmeta was the final Badger invited

to the combine and was the most selective in terms of events of the three. He competed in both the 40-yard dash and the shuttle run, finishing last place in both. Irrespective of his combine results, Njongmeta has been described as an solid,

shows his strength as a pass rusher, which he’ll need to emphasize this off-season. ESPN ranked Njongmeta as the 25th best inside linebacker out of 25 and 329th overall in this upcoming draft. The combine was not the only place

albeit “old-school” linebacker and will need to continue to prove himself in order to land an NFL roster spot.

Njongmeta’s best season as a Badger came during his junior year, where he recorded 95 total tackles, one interception and three-and-a-half sacks. This stat line

where Badgers were able to show off their abilities in front of NFL scouts, as UW’s Pro Day — a combine-like event that colleges host for prospects to try to raise their draft stock — took place March 15.

A scout from every NFL team excluding the Los Angeles Rams attended the Pro

Day, according to Badgers Wire, where star quarterback Tanner Mordecai, offensive lineman Michael Furtney, outside linebacker C.J. Goetz, safety Travian Blaylock and German prospect — and Joe Thomas’ protégé — Marlon Werthmann, among others, including the three combine participants, garnered the attention of scouts from across the league.

Blaylock put up some of the most impressive results during Pro Day, recording a 39-inch vertical jump that would’ve seen him go top-five at the combine alongside a 4.42 40-yard dash, which would have listed him at two at the combine for safeties.

Mordecai also put up a phenomenal Pro Day — recording a 4.46 40-yard dash and a 4-foot-5 vertical jump, both results which were better than any quarterback at the combine.

Though the Green Bay Packers don’t currently have a former Badger on their roster, this off-season could change that. The green and gold have the joint-most number of picks in this year’s draft with 11 and with five of those coming in the first three rounds.

The Packers had a busy March — releasing running back Aaron Jones, offensive lineman David Bakhtiari and linebacker De’Vondre Campbell, while signing running back Josh Jacobs and safety Xavier McKinney to fulfill team needs. The Packers also have a reported $21.9 million in cap space to spend, meaning there could be another notable free agent signed or trade made before the first game of the season in the fall.

Green Bay will select their first pick at No. 25 in this year’s NFL Draft. While it may be likely early on in the first round, most of the aforementioned Badgers will still be on the board looking for a new home.

Names like Allen, Bortolini and Njongmeta have a chance to join a short list of the UW-to-Green Bay pipeline from the college to the NFL stage.

Most notably, Mark Tauscher — the current color analyst for UW’s football team — enjoyed a 10-year career with Green Bay. Tauscher earned a Super Bowl ring with the Packers back in 2011, flipping between the tackle and guard position on the offensive line.

Our very own Badgers are equally set up for success thanks to last season’s film, some promising combine results and a vastly underrated Pro Day performance from what UW’s fanbase and staff hope may be some future NFL stars.

Football Badgers show skills in strength and conditioning events at NFL Combine and Pro Day.

SOREN GOLDSMITH. THE BADGER HERALD.

Women’s Rowing team celebrates season opener, Olympic qualifiers

Women’s rowing team charts progress on Melton Hill Lake

by Dani Savin Sports Editors

The 2024 season opener for the University of Wisconsin women’s rowing team at the Cardinal Invitational provided a promising glimpse into what lies ahead for the Badgers. Held at Melton Hill Lake in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, this regatta served as a platform for the team to assess its strengths, make adjustments and set the tone for the season.

The highlight of the regatta was the remarkable performance of the second varsity four, which demonstrated resilience and determination throughout the competition. Placing second in both the morning and afternoon races on the first day, the crew showcased consistent improvement, culminating in an impressive second-place finish in the final race. Notably, they managed to shave off 21 seconds from their afternoon race time, underscoring their adaptability and capacity for growth.

Additionally, the third varsity four delivered a standout performance, securing a first place finish over their sole day two competitor, Notre Dame. Dominating the race by a margin of almost 25 seconds, this crew exhibited cohesion and strength, setting a high standard for future competitions.

The second varsity eight and third varsity eight boats also displayed commendable progress, with both crews improving their race times from day one. Notably, the second varsity eight trimmed their afternoon race time by seven seconds, while the third varsity eight achieved an improvement of 15 seconds. These results underscore the team’s commitment to continuous improvement and the effectiveness of head coach Vicky Opitz’s strategic lineup adjustments.

Opitz provided valuable insights into the team’s performance earlier this season, emphasizing the positive takeaways from the regatta. She commended the athletes for their adaptability and willingness to experiment with different lineup combinations, which contributed to increased speed in the second varsity eight and fours. Moreover, she expressed pride in the varsity four’s selfless act of switching boats, highlighting their teamwork and sportsmanship.

Looking ahead, Opitz conveyed optimism about the team’s trajectory and emphasized the importance of incorporating the lessons learned from the regatta into future training sessions. With a focus on continuous improvement and a resilient spirit, the Badgers are poised to build upon their early-season successes.

As the team prepares for the Big Ten Invitational in Sarasota, Florida, Opitz and her athletes remain determined to capitalize on their momentum. The regatta presents an opportunity for the Badgers to measure themselves against conference rivals and further refine their strategies ahead of the upcoming season.

As they embark on the remainder of the season, the Badgers are primed to make their mark on the

collegiate rowing landscape, following in the foot steps of two UW alumni set to make waves at the 2024 Olympics.

The journey from humble beginnings on the tranquil waters of Lake Mendota to the grand stage of the Olympics is a testament to the dedication,

For Wanamaker, a Neenah native, the path to Olympic glory has been paved with determination and grit. Having already tasted the intensity of Olympic competition at the 2020 Tokyo Games, Wanamaker returns to the Olympic stage with a wealth of experience and a hunger for success.

perseverance and talent of two remarkable athletes — Sophia Vitas and Maddie Wanamaker. Both proud alumni, these women have earned their spots on the prestigious 2024 U.S. Olympic rowing team, poised to represent their country with pride and passion at the Paris Qualifiers this summer.

Maddie Wanamaker

A decorated international rower, Wanamaker’s journey began as a walk-on at UW in 2013, where she quickly made her mark on the collegiate rowing scene.

Throughout her tenure at UW, Wanamaker’s dedication to her craft propelled the team to impressive heights, culminating in a pair of top-10

NCAA finishes in 2016 and 2017. Her leadership and tenacity on the water earned her a spot on the U.S. Senior National Team, where she has since become a six-time member, solidifying her reputation as one of the nation’s premier rowers.

Wanamaker’s achievements on the international stage are equally impressive, with notable performances at the 2023 World Rowing Championships and the World Rowing Cup II, where she secured a fourth-place finish and a gold medal, respectively. Now, as she prepares to compete in her second consecutive Olympics, Wanamaker’s versatility and skill make her a valuable asset to the U.S. rowing team, with her participation in the women’s four and women’s eight crews eagerly anticipated.

Sophia Vitas

Franklin native Vitas made her Olympic debut in the women’s double sculls. Vitas is poised to showcase her talent on the world stage and etch her name in the annals of rowing history. Like Wanamaker, Vitas’ journey began as a walk-on at UW in 2013, where she quickly emerged as a rising star in the sport.

During her time at UW, Vitas played a pivotal role in the team’s success, contributing to a third place Big Ten Championship title in 2014 and helping the second varsity eight secure a fourth place finish in the NCAA Championships petite final in 2016. Her dedication and determination did not go unnoticed, earning her a spot on the U.S. Senior National Team, where she has since amassed an impressive five-time membership.

Vitas’ crowning achievement came at the 2023 World Rowing Championships, where she captured a bronze medal in the women’s double sculls, securing an Olympic spot for the USA in the process. Now, as she prepares to represent her country on the grandest stage of all, Vitas’ talent and tenacity make her a formidable contender in the women’s double sculls event, with her sights set firmly on Olympic gold.

As Wanamaker and Vitas prepare to embark on their Olympic journey, they join a distinguished lineage of UW athletes who have left an indelible mark on the world of rowing. From Carie Graves, Peggy McCarthy and Jackie Zoch, who secured bronze at the 1976 Olympics, to UW’s first Olympian Stewart MacDonald, the university boasts a rich tradition of excellence in the sport.

With Wanamaker set to become the 19th all-time Wisconsin women’s rower to make the Olympic team and Vitas poised to make her mark as a debutant, the Badgers’ legacy of Olympic success continues to thrive. Their achievements serve as a testament to the university’s commitment to fostering athletic talent and nurturing the next generation of champions.

As they take to the waters of the Seine River, Wanamaker and Vitas will carry with them the hopes and dreams of Badger nation, poised to make waves and etch their names in Olympic lore.

Women’s rowing team celebrates its achievements while preparing for Big Ten Invitational in Sarasota, Florida.

DANIEL YUN. THE BADGER HERALD.

WNIT gives new players extra game time and allows veterans to enjoy tournament play, according to head coach Marisa Moseley.

Women’s Basketball team builds legacy, gains experience in WNIT

Marisa

by Max Kappel Sports Associate Editor

Head coach Marisa Moseley and the Wisconsin women’s basketball team took an important step this season — they made the Women’s National Invitation Tournament for the first time since 2011.

An alternative to the NCAA tournament, the WNIT has long offered programs an opportunity to continue playing after the regular season should they not earn an NCAA bid. Veterans can continue to enjoy the fruits of their labor, young players can gain invaluable experience and teams often feel a boost in the following season.

Moseley and the Badgers won’t let this opportunity slip.

“For us, it was definitely like ‘if we get the chance [to play in the WNIT], we’re going to take that,’” Moseley said in a press conference in late March.

To Moseley and UW, the tournament is a step in the right direction.

After her hiring in March 2021, Moseley sought to create a new culture in Madison. She established five pillars for the program to work on — winning mindset, integrity, selflessness, communication and legacy. Making the WNIT certainly helps towards

building a strong legacy with a winning mindset. It’s not true for every team, but the WNIT has proved to be beneficial for many programs. While teams that make the WNIT don’t necessarily see large jumps in winning percentage the following season, it appears to help improve their odds in making the NCAA tournament.

Less than a quarter of teams in the NCAA make the NCAA Tournament each season. Between 1998 and 2023, a total of 8,402 squads competed for 1,608 Tournament spots, so just 22% of the entire field earned a spot. To see the impact of making the WNIT, the field needs to be narrowed down further.

A total of 6,942 teams that did not play in the WNIT in the prior season competed for 1,544 NCAA Tournament spots between 1999 and 2023. If these teams were selected to be in the tournament at random, they’d have a 19.1% chance of making it. The odds are slightly better for teams that played in the WNIT the prior season. Of the 1,224 teams that have competed in the WNIT, 23.3% of them have gone on to make the NCAA Tournament the following year.

That figure becomes even more prominent when limited to just the power conferences — the Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, ACC, Big East, Pac 12 and their earlier iterations, such as the Pac 10. The following season, 33.8% of WNIT teams from one of those conferences made the NCAA Tournament.

Many non-power schools that make the WNIT are at the top of their game or at least in better positions record-wise than teams from power conferences. There’s a few outliers, like California Baptist’s 0.963 winning percentage in 2021 and Missouri’s 0.409 in 2021, but the median winning percentage of the 893 non-power teams that have played in the WNIT since 1998 is 0.657, compared to 0.563 among 331 power teams.

Teams like UW, a power school that had a win percentage lower than 0.6, had a nice 32.3% chance of making the NCAA Tournament the following year.

It’s possible the experience coaches and players gain playing in a postseason environment like the WNIT or simply from playing more games against difficult opponents, helps develop and strengthen them for the future.

Young Badgers, like guards Ronnie Porter and Sania Copeland and forward Serah Williams, could benefit from the extra playing time. The three of them led UW in minutes played per game and now with postseason playing experience, they could be even better next season.

“To get that experience and to see what that feels like, to continue to prepare and keep playing at this time of year — I think it’s invaluable,” Moseley said.

Though the WNIT provides extra time for

younger players to gain valuable experience, Moseley wants to allow her veterans to enjoy the tournament, too.

They’re a program on the rise, but Moseley addressed in the same press conference UW hasn’t reached this level for a while. It wouldn’t make sense to suddenly turn games into future showcases for inexperienced players to get reps.

“Ultimately, the goal is to compete and to put your best group out there,” Moseley said. “I also think there’s something to be said for the group that kind of [puts] you in a position to get here for them to experience that too and not to look ahead in any way.”

The Badgers earned a first-round bye before winning a tight game 67–62 over Southern Indiana. Williams, Porter and Copeland all logged at least 37 minutes in the victory, with Williams leading the scoring at 24 points.

The victory came with a massive 25–7 fourth quarter, which UW rode into its second game against Illinois State. Williams again left her mark offensively, tying Copeland for the team high in points with 18.

The Badgers nearly made it to the semifinals, but lost a close one to Saint Louis 65–60. Catastrophe struck when Williams went down with an apparent knee injury after UW’s first possession. Senior Halle Douglass stepped up and logged a season high 38 minutes, putting up seven points, seven rebounds and four assists.

It was an unfortunate end for the Badgers, but one that holds some promise. It likely won’t be long before Moseley guides them to even greater heights.

Moseley, women’s basketball team set sights high in postseason play

MEGAN EDWARDS. THE BADGER HERALD.

How to grow while staying rooted this spring

Spring cleaning tips that will tidy up more than just your house

by Emma Kozina Arts Etc. Associate Editor

Spring cleaning means dusting the untouched corners of your dorm or apartment or scrubbing the mysterious substances off of your floor you told yourself you would eventually get to months ago. But spring cleaning can, and arguably should, go beyond tidying up your physical space. It’s been a long year, and spring is a great time to take care of yourself and prioritize your mental health. Here are some tips on how to keep growing while staying grounded this spring.

Make a space that reflects your mind

As cliché as it sounds, the first step to feeling more productive is cleaning your space. Not only can it make you feel more at ease, but it shows you care about yourself enough to give yourself the space you deserve to live in. I recommend turning on your favorite playlist or podcast and starting with the easiest space to clean. This way, it’s easier for you to clean more difficult spaces because you’re already in a good flow. If you live with roommates who tend to be messier, it’s okay to have a conversation about cleaning up a little bit more. I’ve been on both sides of these conversations, and open communication and kindness is key. Upgrading your space may require planning a day where you have time to clean or staying in for a night. But I think the best way to clean is to slowly do it throughout the day — small changes add up to make a big difference.

Write it down

Buy a journal, notebook or use your notes app to write down your feelings and thoughts. Even the simple act of recording yourself talking about your thoughts out loud can be therapeutic. Don’t believe journaling can improve your life? Try doing this for 30 days, and if you’re still not sold, that’s fine. A 2008 study from the Educational Resources Information Center Institute of Educational Sciences found journaling can have a positive impact on college students’ self-growth and inner characteristics such as self-confidence. There’s tons of ways to journal — one of my favorites includes using prompts for the purpose of getting to know yourself better. To do this, I suggest looking up journal questions on Pinterest. If you don’t have Pinterest, or you’re feeling lazy, I came up with a few to get you started.

1. General check-in: How are you feeling? What’s your mood, and what are the things you did today that could have impacted your mood?

2. Write down a few things that make you feel genuine happiness. How can you maximize your time spent with these things, people or activities?

3. Who do you feel you can be yourself around? How can you plan on seeing these

made you feel genuinely upset. Why did it get to you?

6. What’s an aspect of your life you’ve been ignoring or pushing to the side?

7. Think about your goals and what your daily life looked like at the beginning of the

people more?

4. Is there anyone in your life you feel you can’t be yourself around? What can you do about this?

5. Think about the last time someone

year. Write down a few things you’re proud of yourself for or goals you have achieved since then.

8. What do your goals look like now as compared to the beginning of the year?

I believe in you! Happy journaling. Get your priorities straight

Another reason journaling is helpful for self-improvement is because it helps you realize where you spend your time and where you might be giving it away. If you have certain goals you haven’t been able to meet, such as securing an internship, it’s time to think of what you can change to achieve these goals. You can make an action plan by thinking about your goal and steps you can take to get there. Steps don’t have to be linear. For example, if you want to be more productive during the day, you could start by getting more sleep or eating healthier or in the reverse order. If you’re a type B person like I am, this can feel daunting, but you don’t have to organize it precisely. You can set a tiny goal to reach your bigger goal, like instead of hanging out with friends on Wednesday, use that time to write a cover letter for your internship. This leads us to the next thing that might come up at this stage of spring cleaning your life. Spend less time with people who don’t make you happy

If you’re prioritizing yourself and your goals, you may want to create more time for things and people who make you happy by spending less time with those who don’t. This also goes for relationships that make you feel like you continuously give more than you get.

This task can be hard because people assume the length of time you’ve known someone or the depth of memories you have with them dictates the amount of time and loyalty you should put into that relationship. But there’s a magnitude of reasons why ending or putting less effort into a relationship can be good for you. By relationship I mean friendship, romantic relationship, professional relationship or any other type. This is different for everyone, but know it’s okay to prioritize yourself.

Have compassion for yourself

Finally, spring is the perfect time to stop to smell the roses as winter defrosts. Spend time every day reframing your mind by thinking about what you’re grateful for. Look up from your phone while walking to class, and notice something as simple as liking someone’s outfit. This world isn’t fair, but by focusing on what we do have as compared to what we don’t, we set ourselves free of unnecessary negative self-talk. This also helps you grow because having a more positive outlook on life allows you to transform your thoughts. I hope this guide helps you hop into spring with a positive mindset.

BENNETT WAARA. THE BADGER HERALD.

Western vibes to gingham: Step outside your comfort zone this summer

Use our summer 2024 trend guide to revamp, elevate your personal style

by Maria Brunetta ArtsEtc. Editor

Summer is nearly here, which means a brand new season of clothes, colors and styles. While we said trends are out and personal styles are in earlier this year, here are some updated predictions for those still workshopping a unique, uninfluenced personal style.

From cottage core to coastal grandma, there are so many trendy styles to base your outfits on, but these are the ones to look out for this summer.

Western wear

While cowboy boots, hats and flared jeans have been on trend for a while now, the release of Beyonce’s new album will bring a new renaissance of western fashion to the streets. Pair cowboy boots with a slip dress for a casual and trendy on-the-go look or get yourself a straw hat and pair it with a colorful outfit for a weekend outfit.

Maximalism

If you’re not a fan of experimenting with colors and patterns, then this trend may be daunting, but maximalism is so for the coming season. Spring is a perfect time to reinvent yourself and play with color so why not try putting together gingham and polka dots, or maybe going bolder with different prints and textures? Cheetah and stripes anyone? The world is your oyster, don’t be afraid to play.

Gingham

Also known as “picnic blanket material,” gingham has been slowly making its way into stores. It’s easily recognizable with its checkered pattern with white alternating another color. It’s a classic spring pattern that became a favorite after The Wizard of Oz and has now come back to the big screen — and our closets — thanks to Barbie’s pink gingham dress. Gingham can

be worn in a variety of ways with a variety of colors. A gingham dress is a perfect look for hanging out at the Terrace, but you can also mix it up with a gingham skirt and a t-shirt for a more casual look. Gingham pants are also an adorable and playful way to wear the pattern that can be dressed down with a pair of sneakers or dressed up with a pair of sandals or ballet flats.

Metallics

From shoes to clothing, metallic looks are so in for the season — especially silver metallic. Thanks to Beyonce’s “Renaissance,” the silver metallic has made its way into our everyday styles. Metallic shoes have been all over so if you’re looking to buy some ballet flats or a statement sneaker, metallic is a good choice for the style. In the same way that black goes with everything, metallic can also be paired with

many different types of clothing and styles for both day and night looks.

Footwear

Shoes can make or break an outfit. They are also a way to take your outfit from day to night quickly and stylishly. These are the shoes that will be everywhere this spring.

The ballet flat

Ballet-inspired styles have been on the rise, with the bolero top making its way into people’s closets as a perfect sweater for those days when it’s not too hot but not too cold. But the next ballet style that’s been all over stores and fashion influencers’ Instagrams is the ballet flat. Pair it with a statement tight or wear it with jeans and a fun pair of socks to elevate the classic shoe.

Statement sneakers

During the summer and fall of last year, the Adidas Samba was the it-girl shoe and while that still is very much in, statement sneakers will be all over in the spring and summer. Colorful Samba sneakers, gazelles and the Asics Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 shoe have been all the rage. If you already own a pair of Sambas there’s no need to go out and buy another pair. Instead, elevate what you already have with fun colored laces.

Must have items

For spring, you don’t have to buy an entire new wardrobe — you should use what you have. But, if there are any items you should invest in, these are them.

Capri pants

Love them or hate them, capri pants have come back in style. People like Kendall Jenner have been spotted wearing the controversial item and it’s garnered mixed reviews. Spotted at Urban Outfitters was a pair of gingham capris that would be part of an adorable vintage-inspired look paired with flats or kitten heels. If you’re the sporty type, pair them with your favorite pair of sneakers for an on-the-go look.

Statement bags

Mini shoulder bags are a classic, perfect staple to any going-out outfit. This spring, these classic bags are elevated with studs and detailings that can take a basic outfit to the next level. With bags, there has also been a rise in the cross-body bag once again. But this time with a short strap, so that it falls right on your chest — a cuter version of the crossbody fanny pack look that was popular a few years back. If you’re into a beachier, more natural vibe, straw, woven and basket bags are also huge this season.

This season, challenge yourself to try something new. Put two items in your wardrobe that you didn’t think would work and wear it with confidence. Summer is all about reinvention and the best way to do that is through your wardrobe.

Movies and music will heavily influence trend upcoming season’s trends.

MARIA BRUNETTA. THE BADGER HERALD.

Comprehensive guide to spring concerts in Madison

Put spring back in your step with girl in red, The Driver Era

by Julia Vetsch ArtsEtc. Editor

As spring approaches, the sun starts peeking through the clouds, the grass turns greener, the trees start to bud, seasonal depression starts to lift and the city of Madison starts coming back to life. It’s time to change out of your warm winter pajamas and get back out on the town — and what better way to celebrate the arrival of spring than with live music at one of the many concerts Madison has to offer in the last weeks of the semester? From The Sylvee, to The Orpheum, to High Noon Saloon, Madison has no shortage of venues to bring all your favorite musical styles and artists to Madison this spring.

The Driver Era

Kicking off the start of school after spring break, The Driver Era will visit The Sylvee on April 10. The Driver Era combines the musical talents of brothers Ross and Rocky Lynch. You might recognize Ross Lynch from his time on the Disney Channel or both brothers from their former band, R5. The Driver Era takes on a whole new identity with an alternative pop-rock sound

and an electrifying stage presence. The band has released three original albums since 2019 — “X,” “Girlfriend” and “Summer Mixtape.” Some of their most popular songs include “A Kiss,” “Preacher Man,” “Afterglow,” “Rumors” and their most recent release, “Get Off My Phone.” A Driver Era show promises an intimate performance laced with a sultry energy and vibrance. General admission tickets for The Driver Era show at The Sylvee start at $35 and can be purchased online.

Caroline Rose

Next on the calendar, alternative singersongwriter Caroline Rose is set to perform at High Noon Saloon on April 19. The Grammy-nominated artist originally released a folk and country inspired album “I Will Not Be Afraid” before transitioning to a more pop-rock sound with their next three albums, “Loner,” “Superstar” and “The Art of Forgetting.” Rose’s performances are lively, playful and personal, always keeping the crowd on their toes, according to a review from WERS radio. Some of Rose’s most popular songs are “Jeannie

Becomes A Mom,” “Feel The Way I Want,” “More Of The Same,” “Cry!” and “Soul No. 5.” Caroline Rose’s show at High Noon Saloon is already sold out, but there is a waitlist available for those who still want a chance to see the spirited performance.

Godsmack

April 22, The Orpheum will host hard rock band Godsmack on “The Vibez Tour.” Godsmack recorded their first album in 1996 and has since become a rock staple with classics like “I Stand Alone,” “Awake” and “Voodoo.” The band has released 11 albums total with their most recent album “Lighting up the Sky” being the focus of the Vibez Tour — and what they also say will be their final album.

“The powerful storytelling of ‘Lighting Up the Sky’ covers boy-meets-girl, obstacles in relationships, the polarized political climate and the state of the world, betrayal, connection, rebounds, and more,” according to Godsmack’s website.

Tickets for the Godsmack performance at The Orpheum start at $108 and can be purchased online.

Alvvays

April 24, Canadian band Alvvays (pronounced ‘always’) will take The Sylvee stage at 8 p.m. Alvvays is an indie-pop band that formed in 2011, consisting of vocalist and guitarist Molly Rankin, keyboardist Kerri MacLellan, guitarist Alec O’Hanley, bassist Abbey Blackwell and drummer Sheridan Riley. The laid-back energy of Alvvays’ dream pop, shoegaze musical style transfers into their performances. Alvvays has released three

albums since 2014 — the self-titled “Alvvays” of 2014, “Antisocialites” released in 2017 and “Blue Rev” which was released in 2022 and is the highlight of their current tour. Some of their most popular songs are “Dreams Tonite,” “Archie, Marry Me,” “Adult Diversion,” “After The Earthquake” and “Tile By Tile.” General admission tickets to the Alvvays performance are $30 and can be purchased online.

girl in red

Nearing the end of April and the semester, Norwegian singer-songwriter Marie Ulven, known professionally as girl in red, will perform at The Sylvee for her “Doing It Again World Tour.” Girl in red’s popularity has exploded in recent years following her debut album “if I could make it go quiet” which came out in 2021, even performing as an opener on Taylor Swift’s renowned Eras Tour. Her indie bedroom pop musical style compliments her fun persona onstage, guaranteeing an entertaining and vivacious performance. Some of her most popular songs include “we fell in love in october,” “bad idea!” “i wanna be your girlfriend,” “Too Much” and her latest release “You Need Me Now?” which features pop star and fellow Eras Tour opener, Sabrina Carpenter. Girl in red will take The Sylvee’s stage on April 28 at 8 p.m.

General admission tickets for the show are sold out, but balcony seating is still available starting at $114.

Whether you’re into Alvvays’ dream pop or Godsmack’s hard rock, Madison’s 2024 spring concert scene is sure to create unforgettable musical memories.

Madison sure to impress with upcoming shows at The Sylvee, The Orpheum, High Noon Saloon.

KATIE COONEY. THE BADGER HERALD.