'Food for thought' - Volume 55, Issue 3

STUDENT MEDIA AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2023 · VOL 55, ISSUE 3 · BADGERHERALD.COM

Food for thought: Clash between engineered and biological food systems creates challenges, waste

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AIR FARES HIGH IN DANE COUNTY 4 Herald Editorial Editor-in-Chief Managing Editors Print News Editors Digital News Editors Science News Editor Science News Associate

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Dane County Regional Airport fares are the highest in the nation, but flight costs are on the rise everywhere.

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Celia Hiorns Publisher Cat Carroll Sophia Scolman Allie Serterides Jeffrey Deiss Amanda Smith Social Media & PR Managers Clare Brogan Sarah Matysiak Adeline Sax Chloe Hansen Brianna Davis Ian Auger Advertising Director Sami Bitat Tarun Vedula Ben Kapp Blake Thor Lucy Wentink Chair Emily Otten Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Jack Rogers Outreach Aanika Parikh Members Maddox Durst Mike Hall Ariel Tamir-Pinksy Spencer Shapiro Ava McNarney Julia Vetsch Emma Kozina Maria Brunetta Jeremiah Frodl Phoenix Pham Corinne Loth Samantha Klepfer Abigail Leavins Abigail Leavins David Guenthner Jeffrey Deiss

PELL PATHWAY PROGRAM

Qualifying Wisconsin residents will now attend UW for free under a new program.

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12 FEATURES

14 OPINION

17 SPORTS

20 ARTS

MADISON WORKS TOWARD GOLD LEED CERTIFICATION

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Following the neighboring Middleton’s Gold LEED certification, read about Madison’s progress in sustainable infrastructure.

FORMER HEISMAN TROPHY WINNER RETURNS TO MADISON NFL star and UW alum Ron Dayne discusses a storied career as a Badger and a Houston Texan.

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UW campus celebrates Native November ‘Laughter Is Medicine’ theme highlights Indigenous community on campus

by Brianna Davis Campus Associate News Editor

Native American Heritage Month, recognized throughout the month of November, will be celebrated at the University of Wisconsin through the theme of “Laughter is Medicine,” according to the Native November website.

Indigenous groups and individuals have been celebrating the month since 1990, but this year will be the 10th official celebration at UW, according to president of Wunk Sheek and member of the Oneida Nation Kira Adkins.

In 1976, there was a “Native American Awareness Week” from Oct. 10-16, which was changed to “American Indian Week” Nov. 23–30, 1986. For the next four years, this continued, until 1990 when President George H. W. Bush signed into law a resolution designating November as National American Indian Heritage Month, according to the United States Senate website.

The month is a celebration of Indigenous culture and community, Adkins said.

The focus. is on uplifting Indigenous organizations and individuals on campus and educating non-Indigenous people about Native activism and culture.

“We will be going by a theme — which is ‘Laughter Is Medicine’ — for the entire month,” Adkins said. “That’s just revolving around celebrating who we are as a people and what we bring to the table and just the community that we offer to campus.”

The American Indian and Indigenous Studies Program teaches about Indigenous experiences all year, but November is a time they can truly highlight the community on campus, according to administrative assistant of the program Morgan Smallwood.

Native November is a time for those to celebrate Native American heritage, to recount its history and to show the contemporary experience of Indigenous people on campus, Smallwood said.

“The cool thing about November is it’s a month that’s been designated as a time for us to kind of collectively pay special attention to topics around Native and Indigenous issues,” Smallwood said. “It’s a time where there’s a lot of collaboration that goes on, especially on campus.”

There are events happening across campus through the whole month, including the Elder-in-Residence event. The American Indian and Indigenous Studies Program hosts and coordinates the Elderin-Residence, who stays on campus, attends classes and events and are also available to meet one-on-one with students as a resource and a connection to an important part of the Indigenous community, according to

Smallwood.

This year the Elder-in-Residence is former Director of the Menominee Language and Culture Commission Karen Washinawatok, who will be on campus Nov. 6-10, according

Center is hosting a Ribbon Skirt Workshop Nov. 3- 4, teaching Indigenous individuals how to make ribbon skirts and shirts, which are worn to important events and special gatherings, according to Adkins.

ALLIE SERTERIDES. THE BADGER HERALD.

“Reservation Dogs” actor Dallas Goldtooth will deleiver keynote speech to end month of celebrations. to the Native November events calendar.

This event provides students with access to essential cultural assets, to build relationships between Tribal Nations and the university and to enhance the overall campus experience and Native student retention, according to the events calendar.

Wunk Sheek and the Indigenous Student

Other events during the month include a discussion of the show “Reservation Dogs,” Nov. 9 and a screening of the movie “Killers of the Flower Moon,” Nov. 16.

A highlight of Native November is the keynote at the end of the month, Dallas Goldtooth, an activist and performer, best known for his role in “Reservation Dogs,”

from 7-9 p.m. at the Gordon Event and Dining Center.

Though the theme of this year is “Laughter is Medicine,” it is important to acknowledge and highlight the fact that Indigenous students are still being displaced on campus, according to Adkins.

“The Indigenous Student Center is still being displaced here on campus,” Adkins said. “This is not the first time, this isn’t even the third time. It has happened many, many times before, and it is still happening today.

I think raising awareness about that in this month not only comes and takes the burden off of Indigenous people, but it also just raises the awareness over what non-Native allies can educate themselves upon in their free time.”

Wunk Sheek will be sharing a timeline during the month of November of the history of their center ’s displacement on campus on their Instagram page, which everyone is encouraged to look into and educate themselves on, Adkins said.

For non-Indigenous people and allies on campus, education and raising awareness are important this month, Adkins said.

“I think when it comes to the month itself, coming to events where its intent is to educate non-Native people [is a good way to celebrate],” Adkins said. “There’s purposeful events for educating campus and there’s purposeful events for our non-Native allies.”

The events designed to educate are open to all people on campus, while other, more specific events are designed for Indigenous students and community members, according to Smallwood.

Another practical and easy way to become educated about Wisconsin in particular is to look into some of the different Tribal Nations that are in the state and learn about them, Smallwood said.

Financial support and donations are also highly encouraged, not only this month, but through the whole year, according to Adkins.

“We do need financial support when it comes to events like this,” Adkins said.

“There isn’t just money sitting around for us to put on all these different programs and all these different ways of celebrating. It’s something that we all have to put work in to find the resources for. If there is an ability to give financial support to these organizations, then I think that is just the best way physically to support this type of month.”

More information on events through the month and ways to celebrate and support Indigenous students and organizations can be found on the Native November website.

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Dane County Regional Airport flight departures most expensive in nation Flights around country increasing in price, including flights to, from Madison

by Ben Kapp State News Associate Editor

JEFFREY DEISS. THE BADGER HERALD.

Some students sacrifice convenience for cost savings, opting to fly out of Milwaukee or Chicago.

Madison’s Dane County Regional Airport is one of the nation’s priciest airports for domestic travel, according to a study by LendingTree.

As of the first quarter of 2023, Dane County Regional Airport is the most expensive airport to depart from in the United States. Moreover, there was a 16.6% increase in the price of domestic tickets at the airport from 2022 to 2023.

The average price of a domestic ticket out of Dane County Regional Airport will run travelers $537.70, according to LendingTree.

Just one other airport has an average domestic ticket price above $500, which is Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in Alaska.

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But while Dane County Regional Airport is more expensive than other airlines, air travel costs across the nation have been on the rise, according to LendingTree. Domestic ticket prices rose by 9.8% between 2022 and 2023 and 28.4% between 2021 and 2022. This is in part explained by Americans resuming air travel following the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

University of Wisconsin professor of agricultural and applied economics Steven Deller said airlines often set prices based on how prices are received elsewhere.

“A lot of the airlines play ‘follow the leader’

in setting prices,” Deller said. “One airline will up prices and see how others respond — if none of the other airlines follow suit they will drop their prices back in line, if others rise prices then we are at a new level.”

Dane County Regional Airport has little control over the prices of flights, Deller said.

Instead, individual airlines change prices. The airport does charge for things like gate fees and state and local taxes, like motor fuel taxes, but according to Deller, Wisconsin has one of the lowest motor fuel taxes in the country. People flying out of Madison are willing and able to pay higher prices due to ease of travel, so

airlines are capitalizing on that.

UW junior Caroline Kivlehan has never flown into Dane County Regional Airport because of the high costs, choosing instead to fly into O’Hare International Airport or Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee.

“I always fly into O’Hare or Milwaukee and I take a bus and it still ends up to be cheaper than flying [into Madison],” Kivlehan said.

“However, I do think that flying into Madison is super convenient, so unfortunately ... you’re paying a lot of money but you’re paying for convenience. A lot of students don’t want to take the bus to and from Milwaukee or Chicago because it makes a four hour flight like a 10 hour travel day.”

It depends if it’s worth it to travel to Milwaukee or Chicago to save on the Madison premium, Deller said. Generally, people are willing to pay a bit more for the convenience of flying out of Madison. Travelers have to decide if they value money spent on a closer plane more than they value the time spent traveling to Milwaukee or Chicago.

These prices usually peak around major holidays, like Thanksgiving and Christmas, as a result of high holiday demand. Kivlehan has seen ticket prices of up to $900 around these hot spots, she said.

UW junior Norhan Magdy has avoided flying into O’Hare in favor of the Dane County Regional Airport, but has recently taken note of how much flight costs are increasing. The high prices may force a change of plans, Magdy said.

“Flying in and out of Madison is so nice for how easy it is to get to the airport from campus … in theory it makes the most sense for me, but it’s starting to make less and less sense because of the price,” Magdy said.

The high prices of Dane County Regional Airport are due to one or two of the airlines that service Madison upping their fares with limited change in demand, Deller said. This means people still bought the tickets even with their high prices, which caused all of Madison’s airlines to follow suit in raising prices — they were seizing a business opportunity.

There are things people can do to save on airfare though, even with increasing prices.

Travelers should start looking at flights three to four months in advance and book their flight one or two months before their planned departure date for the best deal, according to Time. Booking mid-week travel dates instead of weekends also helps lower flight costs.

For the upcoming holiday season, it is unlikely that ticket prices will go down for the majority of airports across the nation, let alone Dane County. Domestic flight costs will continue to rise into the winter, according to FOX Business. But, the expected holiday season price increase in 2023 will be less than in 2022.

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Wisconsin Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force given additional funding Funding to bolster relationship between victim service providers, law enforcement

by Blake Thor State News Associate Editor

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul announced Oct. 19 that the Wisconsin AntiHuman Trafficking Task Force has received a $2 million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime, according to a press release.

WAHTTF originally began in 2020 and is a collaboration between law enforcement and victim services providers for the purpose of improving victim-focused and trauma-informed responses to human trafficking in Wisconsin, according to the Office for Victims of Crime.

“Building effective partnerships between law enforcement and victim service providers strengthens our ability to fight human trafficking,” Kaul said in the release.

The grants will allow WAHTTF to stay active for an additional three years and expand membership to additional law enforcement, victim service providers, community organizations, government bodies and tribal organizations starting in 2024, according to the press release.

WAHTTF is partnering with three new victim service providers in Wisconsin — Family Advocates Inc. in Platteville, Convergence Resource Center in Milwaukee and American Indians Against Abuse in Hayward, according to the press release.

Founder of trafficking awareness nonprofit 5-Stones Dodge County Tracy Scheffler is a member of the Madison AntiTrafficking Consortium where she works with law enforcement. Collaboration between law enforcement and victim service providers has changed the standard response to cases of human trafficking, Scheffler said.

“What I have seen through these years in regard to collaboration has been amazing,” Scheffler said. “There’s a vast difference from a decade ago in how we approach especially with law enforcement the issue of trafficking, whereas the old way was to criminalize the victim because they would have been known as a prostitute, the new way is to criminalize the trafficker which is exactly as it should be.”

Project Respect, an anti-trafficking organization based in Madison, is the central victim service provider for WAHTTF, according to the OVC. WAHTTF served 85 victims of sex trafficking and 12 victims of labor trafficking in 2020-21, 110 victims of sex trafficking and five victims of labor trafficking in 2021-22 plus 61 victims of sex trafficking and 10 victims of labor trafficking from March 2022 to September

2023.

Since 2007, Wisconsin has experienced 796 cases of human trafficking totaling 1,640 victims, according to the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Wisconsin has a prevalent human trafficking issue which

us [Wisconsin] higher up on the list of which states have trafficking problems.”

Milwaukee law enforcement reported 77 victims of sex trafficking aged 12 to 17 from 2010-12, according to a 2013 report from the Milwaukee Homicide Review Commission.

ABIGAIL LEAVINS. THE BADGER HERALD.

5-Stones Dodge County founder says trafficking has been reported all 72 Wisconsin counties. is mainly centered around Milwaukee, Scheffler said.

“There is a real trafficking issue everywhere in Wisconsin because it’s been reported in every county — all 72 counties,” Scheffler said. “Our proximity to Milwaukee is absolutely a factor in keeping

The youth affected were mostly African American girls living on the north side of Milwaukee, according to the report.

Milwaukee law enforcement reported 340 victims ages 25 and under from 2013-16, according to a 2018 MHRC report, 65% of which were Black women.

Relative to other U.S. cities, Milwaukee consistently ranked in the top five for most sex trafficking victims recovered from 201418, according to Urban Milwaukee.

Outside of Milwaukee, human trafficking is also an issue in rural counties of Wisconsin, Co-Executive Director at Hope House of South Central Wisconsin Jaime Sathasivam said.

“Hope House serves Sauk, Columbia, Juno, Marquette and Adams counties, and I would say that just like everywhere — whether we want to see it or not — human trafficking is a pretty prevalent issue in our area,” Sathasivam said. “We’re along that highway corridor and anywhere where you’re on a highway, a prevalent connector between states, you’re going to see some different types of human trafficking that are associated with truckers and truck stops.”

Hope House provides shelter-based support to victims of human trafficking at their Baraboo facility, Sathasivam said. Other services include community advocacy in the form of assisting victims in seeking out legal resources, counseling support and obtaining forensic medical exams.

Organizations like Hope House are important for victims to begin the healing process and move toward stabilization, Sathasivam said. But these organizations are facing funding and community awareness issues.

“If the funds aren’t there, then organizations like Hope House don’t have the employees,” Sathasivam said. “That really is the primary way in which we meet the needs of people who have been trafficked, it’s having supportive employees who can help with that trauma response.

There is also a lack of awareness. Just in general, people not recognizing the ways in which human trafficking is existing around them.”

Another issue human trafficking victim service providers are facing is the lack of specialized initiatives, Scheffler said.

Previous government funding has been granted to organizations that deal with overarching forms of violence, despite the uniqueness of human trafficking requiring more specialized resources.

“It’s part of the same problem, violence and sexual assault,” Scheffler said. “But it’s such a compound layered trauma that we really do need to have resources that are specializing and specific to the restoration of trafficking victims. So I see this money [WAHTTF funding] helping law enforcement to continually gain knowledge in what’s happening in trafficking.”

November 7, 2023 • badgerherald.com • 5

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Qualifying Wisconsin residents to attend UW for free through new program Bucky’s Pell Pathway supports over 900 students this fall

by Margaret Schreiner Reporter

EDWARD KUSTNER. THE BADGER HERALD.

UW students to receive aid through new Bucky’s Pell Pathway program.

In February 2023, University of Wisconsin Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin announced Bucky’s Pell Pathway program to ensure accessible education to Wisconsin students, building upon an existing program, Bucky’s Tuition Promise.

According to a recent press release from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, 977 students are benefitting from Bucky’s Pell Pathway this fall.

Bucky’s Pell Pathway was designed to aid instate students from low-income backgrounds.

According to the Office of Student Financial Aid, the program commits to meeting a student’s full financial need without loans, through grants, scholarships and work-study. The program supports first-year students through a four-year plan or transfer students through a two-year plan.

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Bucky’s Pell Pathway only requires students to complete the FAFSA for the program, meaning there is no additional application, according to the Office of Student Financial Aid. The U.S. Department of Education then determines whether or not you qualify for the Federal Pell Grant based on your expected family contribution, which is a measure of a family’s financial ability to pay for college attendance. The Federal Pell Grant is for students who are confirmed to have exceptional financial need based on their FAFSA. UW Office of Student Financial Aid Director Helen Faith said expected family contribution is subtracted from the total cost of attendance, which includes expenses such as tuition, housing and fees, in addition to personal expenses such as food.

Faith said if a family cannot contribute to any of these expenses, then they have an expected family contribution of zero.

The purpose of the program is to ease the financial stress of students who have worked hard to attend UW, Faith said. She said UW does not want a student’s ability to pay for college to get in the way of their experience. This goes beyond tuition to cover the essentials such as rent and food.

“We want to make sure that all those basic needs are met and they have a full college experience while they’re here at UW–Madison,” Faith said.

To maintain eligibility in the program, students must complete an annual FAFSA, take

at least six credits and maintain satisfactory academic progress, Faith said. Applicants must meet the same standards as other students who are receiving aid. Besides meeting those basic requirements, students do not have to worry about losing eligibility for Bucky’s Pell Pathway as students remain in the program until they have used their full eligibility.

Many students who are supported by Bucky’s Pell Pathway can also receive aid through Bucky’s Tuition Promise. Bucky’s Tuition Promise supports in-state students whose household adjusted gross income is $65,000 or less. Unlike Bucky’s Tuition Promise, Bucky’s Pell Pathway will pay the entire cost of attendance except for the family contribution, Faith said.

UW senior Evan Uebersetzig, who is studying psychology, said Bucky’s Pell Pathway has allowed him more time to focus on his education without the stress of working to cover attendance costs or taking out loans that would inhibit him in the future.

“It just allowed me more financial stability and just feeling comfortable and not stressed about making sure I can work a bunch and save up money to pay for school,” Uebersetzig said.

Uebersetzig said UW was one of two schools he applied to, however, he was worried college would not be an option for him due to the cost of tuition. Specifically, Uebersetzig feared that student loan costs would set him back.

After discovering he had received full tuition paid for through the program, Uebersetzig said he felt grateful to be able to attend UW through this financial aid program.

“It’s setting me up very well for the future because now I don’t have to worry about any undergrad student loans,” Uebersetzig said.

To ensure students attending UW through Bucky’s Pell Pathway have the full college experience, they are also able to take summer courses and study abroad. Students can match study abroad programs with their cost of tuition and use the money given to them through the program to study abroad, according to the Office of Student Financial Aid. Additionally, the Office of Student Financial Aid seeks to guide students throughout their time at UW. This is done through workshops and a student affinity community. Students can receive help on their annual FASFA through events held during the spring semester.

Faith said she hopes students from every part of the state know they are valued by UW. She said she hopes more Wisconsin residents will learn about this program, which will encourage them to consider UW. “We want to make sure they have a great experience, and we’re here to support them and ensure that they can be successful here,” Faith said.

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Middleton’s LEED Gold Certification drives Madison’s sustainability goals The City of Madison has sustainability goals, 13 buildings LEED certified, yet city lacks LEED Gold certification

by Vedaa Vandavasi Reporter

The City of Middleton is the first Wisconsin municipality to secure the LEED Gold Certificate, according to a press release. The plaque dedication ceremony took place Thursday, Oct. 6 at Stone Horse Green in downtown Middleton.

The U.S. Green Building Council started LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, as a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement and leadership, according to the website. It presents a rating system for the design, operation and maintenance of green buildings and neighborhoods in order to encourage people to be more environmentally conscious.

Joining cities like Austin, Texas, Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Beijing, the USGBC now recognizes Middleton for its practical and measurable sustainable strategies, according to the website. This achievement depicts the city’s commitment to clean energy, sustainability, public health and green economy. Sustainability Coordinator for the City of Middleton Kelly Hilyard played an active role in the certification process.

“Middleton has a really long history of sustainable action, and I think Middleton residents are really engaged on climate issues,” Hilyard said.

When the sustainability committee was formed in 2009, it immediately launched into writing a sustainability plan, according to Hilyard. The city held meetings with community members along with stakeholder engagement. Since then, interest in climate change and working on energy use reduction has increased.

Middleton has continued to be a state and local leader in sustainability over the past decade.

According to a City of Middleton flyer, it was the first city in the nation to organize an advisory referendum related to climate change.

According to the 2018 Resolution passed by the City of Middleton Common Council, Middleton took its first step to address global warming through clean energy, joining Eau Claire, Madison and 70 other cities across the nation in becoming 100% renewable by 2050.

Middleton’s 2021 Comprehensive Plan includes new solar arrays in three municipal buildings this year and aims to meet 50% of its electricity needs using renewable energy by the end of fall. In the plan, Middleton has incentivized the installation of several solar panels and water utility pumps all over the city.

Middleton also has special programs dedicated to helping small to medium-sized multifamily housing become more efficient while reducing operating costs, according to the 2021 Comprehensive Plan.

Madison, a neighboring city of Middleton, has also been committed to reducing greenhouse

gas emissions and mitigating climate change. In a significant effort to advance sustainability and combat climate change, Madison has undertaken the ambitious goal of reaching 100% renewable energy becoming carbon neutral community-wide by 2050, according to the City of Madison website.

Middleton worked on a grant with Madison and other communities in Dane County to create an energy plan to provide a road map for achieving those energy goals. It was a collaboration among seven Dane County communities with an energy plan created specifically for each community.

“I feel like there’s been a really steady progression of getting more and more serious, getting more and more detailed on how we’re going to do these things instead of just making goals or wanting to be sustainable,” Hilyard said.

“We’ve actually gotten, I think, 150 actions in our comprehensive plan that relate to sustainability.”

expanding green job training, implementing food scraps recycling programs and investing in stormwater and green infrastructure solutions to enhance water quality and reduce environmental impacts.

While the majority of Madison’s sustainability goals are yet to be met, it has already invested in solar energy through the city-wide installation of solar panels and building solar-powered electric vehicle charging stations, according to its agenda.

Adopting electric, hybrid electric and low-carbon fuel fleet vehicles and equipment has also pushed toward the goal of being completely carbon-free.

The recent implementation of the Bus Rapid Transit system, along with the redesigning of bus routes, represents a significant stride toward enhancing efficiency and promoting energy conservation, according to the Climate Forward Plan.

HERALD ARCHIVES.

To acheive LEED certification, a city must fulfill building and design construction requirements in different categories.

Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway’s Climate Forward Agenda states Madison will achieve a significant portion of its net-zero carbon goals in the next two years. Rhodes-Conway plans to replace thousands of streetlights with energy-efficient LED lights, expand the Green Power training program and fine-tune building systems for increased efficiency to accomplish this.

Madison is committed to meeting 100% of its municipal electricity needs with renewable energy and enhancing transparency by launching a public-facing building performance dashboard, according to the Climate Forward Plan. Stormwater regulations will be strengthened to enhance flood resilience, and efforts to improve affordable housing, transportation options and connectivity are in full swing.

The agenda also details Madison’s commitment to growing a climate-friendly economy, including launching a community climate grant program,

These actions complement Madison’s previous achievements, which includes the construction of 13 LEED-certified green buildings, most of which are on the University of Wisconsin campus. Some of these include Union South, the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery building, the Education Building, Nancy Nicholas Hall and the Wisconsin Energy Institute building.

“We appreciate seeing communities near campus achieving sustainability goals, such as LEED Gold certification,” UW Associate Director of Sustainability Nathan Jandl said. “We look to our community partners, research peers and best practices for inspiration as we continue to build facilities that are safe, sustainable and support the university’s mission, such as the new [Computer, Data and Information Sciences] building.”

The sustainability features of these buildings include recycling waste material generated during construction, LED lighting fixtures to reduce

energy use, underground parking to reduce heat absorption, green rooftops that decrease stormwater runoff and easy access to public transportation, according to the Office of Sustainability website.

Achieving LEED certification for building design and construction requires satisfying prerequisites and credits in the categories of integrative process, location and transportation, sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, innovation and regional priority.

But despite the claims by USGBC, the process of applying for the LEED certification can take a long time, according to Hilyward.

“It says the process takes about six months to a year, probably for a city,” Hilyard said. “Some cities with a larger staff like Washington D.C., can divide the work up and finish it quicker. But for us [Middleton], it took nearly three years.”

Vice President of the U.S. Green Building Councils Hilari Varnadore said the time taken for LEED certification for a city depends on a number of factors, including the quality and quantity of the city’s data and its access to external data sets.

Other factors include whether the city already has a group or team that meets to discuss sustainability issues. But population doesn’t seem to determine a city’s pace, Varnadore said.

UW ranks 27th in the Green Power Partnership Program held by the Environmental Protection Agency. Campus Resource Coordinator in the Office of Sustainability Travis Bolmberg said green power refers to the electricity generated from renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, geothermal and biomass.

The Green Power Partnership Program provides resources and support to help organizations, including businesses, institutions and government agencies transition to renewable energy sources, Bolmberg said.

To be included on this list, organizations must use green power at a level that meets or exceeds the partnership benchmark requirements and agree to update EPA on their green power use annually, Bolmberg said. UW has achieved a usage of 61,115,871 kWh/year of solar and wind power, according to the EPA. UW collaborates with the City of Madison and other communities through many means, including the Joint Campus Area Committee. UW and the City of Madison share close strategic alignment on sustainability goals and efforts. But, UW buildings are State of Wisconsin facilities, not City of Madison facilities.

“Sometimes we [Middleton] can get something passed through our Common Council that Madison would love to do and will do, but they have more stakeholders — the process takes a bit longer,” Hilyard said. “A lot of times Madison is first because they’re trailblazers and it’s amazing.

I do feel like all the cities in Dane County work together a lot.”

November 7, 2023 • badgerherald.com • 7

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Feminist Biology Initiative introduces gender-fair research to biology Post-doctoral fellowship is revolutionizing research at UW, according to experts

by Liliana Ernandez Reporter

THE BADGER HERALD ARCHIVES.

The Wittig fellowship accepts fellows from across multiple biology-related disciplines, including biological anthropology.

The Wittig Feminist Biology Initiative is a program through the University of Wisconsin Department of Gender and Women’s Studies funded by an estate gift from the late biologist Gertraude Wittig.

According to the Center for Research on Gender and Women Director Christine Garlough, Wittig was born in East Germany in 1928 before she fled to West Germany and earned a doctorate in zoology and botany. She then earned a scholarship to come to the U.S. and study insect pathology at the University of California–Berkeley. As a woman who faced resistance in her field, she became passionate about women in science and research.

Wittig was also an active member of the 8 • badgerherald.com • November 7, 2023

Association of Women in Science and wanted to find a gender and women’s studies program in the United States worthy enough to leave her estate to.

She decided to choose UW under the condition that the university create the Feminist Biology Initiative, Garlough said.

The Center for Research on Gender and Women supports the Feminist Biology Initiative, Ethics of Care Initiative and the Sexual Violence Research Initiative, according to the CRGW website. All three operate at the intersection of feminism and biological research.

According to former director of the initiative Janet Hyde, one part of the program requires that a person has just gotten their Ph.D. and works

in feminist science or feminist science studies.

This post-doctoral fellowship requires the fellows to teach one class on a concept relating to their fellowship per semester. The Wittig fellowship website also said there is a five-page research proposal and approval from a host lab required to apply.

Aside from the outstanding research done by the fellows, the overarching goal of the entire initiative is to reevaluate the way that scientists and average people view biology. Hyde said the initiative tries to remake the current field of biology to include a feminist component and gender-fair research. This is what the initiative calls their national approach.

Every two to three years, the directors and board

choose a new fellow. According to Garlough, they are chosen based on the rigor of their research, their innovative ideas and their willingness to get involved in the vibrant culture of the department.

Garlough said working in this department has been a highlight of her career, and those involved do everything they can to support individual research projects. The department has a vibrant, welcoming community that she could “talk about for hours.”

The scope of work the fellows have covered over the past ten years of this program is large. Hyde said a past fellow was a biological anthropologist who went on archeological digs, finding female skeletons. This biological anthropologist was Caroline VanSickle, and she is now a professor of anatomy who focuses on the development and evolution of the female skeleton at Des Moines University.

The 2016-2018 fellow Ann Fink studies the ethics of neuroscience concerning gender, mental health and social justice while also incorporating visual art for science communication, according to Hyde.

The 2020-2022 fellow is Kelsey Lewis, who Hyde said moved to become a professor in the Department of Gender and Women’s Studies at the University of Buffalo in New York. Her work focused on prenatal sex development and the science behind the way sex develops past a fertilized egg.

A second part of the program, Garlough and Hyde said, is the Wisconsin Symposium for Feminist Biology. This symposium occurs every two to three years and brings in scientists and researchers from all over the country. It gives a space for undergraduates, graduates, scientists and even medical doctors to come together and talk about cutting-edge research in the feminist biology field.

“There is a range of different disciplinary approaches and fields that have been represented, and it all involves bringing attention to issues that have not been addressed substantially,” Garlough said.

In the most recent symposium in 2021, professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of California, Los Angeles, Patty Gowaty gave the keynote speech on evolutionary biology and how it specifically relates to women, according to the symposium website.

Other talks from the symposium included “Endometriosis Patients and the Institution of Medicine” and “Reproducing the Environment: Mercury and Parent/Child Health in Amazonian Small-Scale Mining Communities,” among others, according to the symposium website.

By promoting female-based biology research at the UW and hosting the Wisconsin Symposium on Feminist Biology, those involved with the initiative hope to make a national impact on the way biology progresses and honor the legacy of Wittig, Hyde said.

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Film shows Mayan culture, science is key for environmental issues Mayan science, knowledge of environment may hold answer to contemporary Western agricultural issues

by Enson Zheng Reporter

“Maya Land: Listening to the Bees” is an award-winning documentary recently directed by University of Wisconsin Department of Spanish and Portuguese professor Kataryna Olga Beilin.

The film illustrates the profound connection Indigenous people in the Americas have with their land and the answers their knowledge holds for solving the issues of colonization and widespread degenerative agricultural practices.

Beilin said she began this project when she became interested in the relationship between humans and non-humans, like animals, plants and natural forces.

Beilin wanted to investigate the extent to which the relationship between humans and non-human beings becomes a part of human culture. To study interspecies dynamics, Beilin said she began working with Indigenous people to investigate the way they connect with the ecosystem.

Beilin said the film’s goal is to make the audience question what the world would be like if the bees were prioritized over human economic interests.

Beilin theorizes supporting the bee population would lead to more crops, healthier people and thriving ecosystems.

Indigenous people have a completely different set of technology than Western civilization, Beilin said. They also share a different environmental ideology — while Western civilization views the environment as a resource to achieve higher gross domestic product and industry expansion, Indigenous cultures view the environment as a relative.

While working on the Maya Bees project in Mexico, Beilin said she learned about the issues of technological expansion that threaten Indigenous Mayan people. Contemporary methodologies like genetically modified organism farming, industry expansion, mass production, urban housing and tourism place high demand on land and natural resources while also creating a lot of waste, Beilin said.

As these issues have expanded since the introduction of colonization, Beilin said Mayan people have increasingly lost their ancestral land, which begins to restrict their way of life.

In Catan, there has been major resistance against genetically modified agriculture because of its destruction of the forest ecosystem and bee population, Beilin said. As a result, scientists, activists and Mayan communities formed an alliance.

In the beginning, Beilin said it wasn’t a film project but rather an article that led to interviewing and filming locals and experts. After exposure to the Mayan culture, science and picturesque land, Beilin decided to capture more footage to make a documentary about their unique connection with the land. “[It was] a land of colors and very beautiful,”

Beilin said.

The project was not without obstacles — Beilin said there was a struggle to find funding for the project and the pandemic prevented them from getting the footage they needed.

One of the most interesting things Beilin said she encountered was the universal agreement between environmentalists and scholars that the Indigenous vision is the “right one.” The quality of today’s land

of the land. For instance, a patch of crops can be grown together or separate in one area, sowed and reaped at the correct season, Beilin said.

UW professor of Organic and Sustainable Cropping Systems Erin Silva researches community farming and partnerships and sees the benefits of learning from the Mayan practice of polyculture.

Monoculture systems have profound ecological consequences, and industry demands efficiency.

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Different from Western civilization’s view of the environment, Indigenous people view the environment as a relative. is thanks to the interaction between the Indigenous people and the environment.

Traditional Mayan technology — which comes from an intricate knowledge of their ecosystem and co-existing with it — is just as modern and sophisticated as Western society’s technology, Beilin said.

The Mayans practiced a tradition called Milpa polyculture, which Beilin said enables them to grow 20 different crops simultaneously, unlike Western agriculture which grows one crop at a time.

The Mayans studied crop placement in the environment, crop compatibility with others and the cyclical rotations of crops to maintain the health

“The reason we farm the way we do today is because of the demand for efficiency,” Silva said.

For example, Madison lakes have been impacted by monoculture, which increases nitrate levels leading to large algae blooms and poor water quality, Silva said. Because of these effects, it is imperative scientists look at different ways to produce food.

Developing an agricultural system that mimics the natural environment will introduce a diverse assembly of crops, which has been shown to support water quality, biodiversity, pollination and the natural environment, Silva said.

Silva said these practices help mitigate the

consequences of monoculture and promote crop adaptation to the climate while also ensuring food security for the community.

Intercropping systems, like the Mayan Milpa practices, are critical to the diversity of crops but also support aspects of ecology like soil quality and microbial environment, Silva said.

The diversity of plants can interact with each other and promote the proliferation of healthy compounds into the soil, which leads to more nutritious soil and plant resilience against disease, Silva said.

These practices are very sophisticated and require a deep understanding of changes and interactions between environmental factors. Beilin said Indigenous people have inhabited the same land for thousands of years, so their technology is advanced in many different ways.

For example, Indigenous people designed intricate science and technology around symbiosis, supporting a forest that yields resources without destroying the ecosystem. Researchers now study these practices to solve modern issues like climate change.

Mayan land, which had been thoughtfully constructed for 3,000 years through knowledge of organisms, ecosystems and climate, was harmed and appropriated by 200 years of colonization.

But, Beilin said, learning to understand these interactions and changes can allow the land to flourish again.

Mayan knowledge transcends academic disciplines. Beilin said it’s unknown whether Mayan ecological knowledge is considered a science, a culture or perhaps something more.

Beilin said the film should encourage viewers to reflect on their relationship with the environment and view themselves as part of the ecosystem instead of apart from it — much like how the Maya view their people.

In agreement, Silva said many Indigenous cultures and countries with less colonial history have stronger ties to their food and with cultures and traditions centered around them. The Indigenous people of North America have a strong bond with their food and are extremely productive in food production and feeding their community.

Beilin said integrating humanities with technology and science could help to solve difficult problems that require more than one discipline to solve, approaching problems with people from other disciplines like economics, history and Indigenous studies.

This can be achieved by teamwork and transdisciplinary education for students to encourage them to think about problems through multi-disciplinary perspectives, Beilin said.

To fulfill this need, Beilin said she is designing a lecture course about cultures of the Americas that will build on Indigenous knowledge, cultures and tools to direct future problem-solving across environmental, spiritual and psychological crises.

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People of UW: Slow Food co-executive directors talk building community Stories of students: Read about students making a difference on campus

by Cat Carroll Managing Editor

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.

to provide a healthful and nutritionally balanced meal made from really fresh and local ingredients to just provide a really accessible meal for everyone. We try to keep

It’s not just exclusive to students — we have regulars within the community who are like older and just always come to the meals. It’s always so amazing to see them want to learn

How can students get involved with Slow Food?

Tell me about yourselves. What are you studying at UW, and what draws you to those fields?

Stigler: Attending the meal services — they’re open for everyone always. We host Family Dinner Night Mondays at 6:30 p.m., and a Cafe Lunch Wednesdays at 12 p.m. We also have some other events which we post about on Instagram. Volunteering, where you can help cook a meal, is also a good way to get involved — you just sign up once or however many times you want and come to help with the next week’s meal service. We also have internships that accept applications on a rolling basis, but mainly at the end of each semester. We allow for half year and full year commitments, and have directors of our different departments ranging from elementary education to running Instagram posts to running the finances.

Stigler: I’m Graham Stigler, and I’m a senior at UW studying economics and biology. They’re pretty different, but I think having the two fields has helped balance my college experience.

Kim: My name is Celeste Kim, I’m a senior majoring in dietetics and nutritional science. I also have certificates in science communication and leadership. My major has really shaped my interests with food — that’s why I got involved with Slow Food, just to learn more about the local food systems and sustainability surrounding food and just how to cook food overall.

What is Slow Food, for people who don’t know?

Stigler: Slow Food is a student-run meal and information service that aims to provide good, clean, fair, fun food for all members of the Madison community. We try to make sure our food is sourced sustainably from people that use sustainable farming practices.

We want to make sure that we’re going with local farmers, so we can give an accurate representation of what’s being made in the community. We want the food to be healthy and culturally appropriate and respectful, so we try to show a lot of people different foods from different cultures while also staying true to how they would be served there. And then we want to make them accessible, cheap enough and available for anyone that they can get a meal with no questions asked.

Kim: The ways that we do this is through our partnerships with local farmers, and really emphasizing sustainability in all our practices, and trying to create a really inclusive and fun environment for all of our interns and any volunteers or guests who visit our space, which is located in the basement of the The Crossing Campus Ministry. We use the food we provide as a way to promote connection between people.

We also do a lot of collaborations with other organizations on campus.

What is the importance of what Slow Food does for the UW and greater Madison communities?

Kim: With our meal services, we aim

10 • badgerherald.com • November 7, 2023

about good, clean food in their area — it’s a really fun time. It’s really awesome seeing the impact — people continuously bringing new people into our space, seeing them always come back.

What is your favorite part about working with Slow Food?

Stigler: Originally, I started doing the finances for Slow Food and was learning a lot, but then I started learning more about marketing and management and things like that. I’ve learned a lot about working in kitchens, reading emails — it’s really fun to learn and have people teach you. I also really enjoy the community aspect, everyone is so dedicated, it’s insane. It’s super inspiring and really makes you feel like you’re doing something because other people are putting so much effort into it.

Kim: Learning from everyone’s experiences and having a sense of community. Being able to walk into the kitchen and see all my friends and everyone has a common interest — the love for Slow Food, cooking and sustainability. Everyone helps each other out and it’s a really wholesome environment. I also love how you can see a physical representation of all the hard work and dedication our interns put in through the impact in our community.

Photo Courtesy Celeste Kim, Slow Food

Slow Food builds community over meals, food education. our meal cost very cheap so that students who are on a budget can come in and enjoy a full plate of food to help nourish them. We try to lay out our tables to make it so that you can meet new people, and to foster new connections and really connect over the food.

more about what the students are doing. We also have partnerships with Badger Rock Middle School and Lincoln Elementary School, where we do weekly nutrition education sections with the kids and give the kids snacks . It’s about teaching them

What is your favorite meal Slow Food has served?

Stigler: The first meal I had at Slow Food — it was a chickpea and kale salad. I was having it with my now-roommate.

Kim: We had beauty heart radishes. We cut into heart shapes, pickled them, and served them with a Japanese curry to create an inviting dish for Valentine’s Day. It was just so amazing and everyone loved the food.

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Food for thought: Clash between engineered and biological food systems creates challenges, waste

by Sarah Matysiak Science News Editor

Over the summer, a single bottle of Huy Fong Sriracha was selling for up to $100 on eBay. Some grocers were limiting customers to one bottle per purchase while others sold out completely, and restaurants tapped into their last batches.

Nearly two thousand miles away from Wisconsin, Mexico was facing drought and had been for some time, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information. Huy Fong Foods, a California-based company that gets its supply of chili peppers from Mexico, issued a statement in April 2022 attributing its sriracha shortage to the drought and weather conditions, which affected the chili pepper harvest.

In the south, Georgia and South Carolina are facing peach shortages, according to the United States Food and Drug Administration.

California is also seeing a decline in its peach crop.

Washington and Idaho faced lower numbers in potato production in 2022, according to the USDA. Compared to 2021, potato production in 2022 for the U.S. as a whole was down three percent.

Winters are warming, wildfires are rampaging, regions are facing more droughts followed by periods of heavy rainfall and crops are subject to growth conditions they are not suited for.

According to practicing economic anthropologist Michelle Miller, the crops grown to be eaten struggle to do just that — grow — in these atypical and drastically changing weather patterns. And harvest season becomes harder to predict.

But it’s not just humans who are contributing directly to climate change — food waste is too, Miller said. As consumers, it’s important to understand where food comes from and where it goes. And food doesn’t just disappear after it’s thrown out — it becomes a factor of climate change too.

The pandemic also exposed cracks in the food system, according to Miller. As people became sick and needed to take time off, the food supply chain became backed up, exposing production and labor issues.

“It just shows you the importance of having trust and good communication and solid relationships during these times of uncertainty to manage the disruptions and try to keep things steady,” Miller said.

A look back at the food system, climate change Historically, the World Wars are a driver for

12 • badgerherald.com • November 7, 2023

why the current food system is the way it is, University of Minnesota professor of applied economics Hikaru Peterson said.

To this day, the current food system has retained some of the cost efficiencies of past food systems, Peterson said. It continues to support a growing population though it’s starting to feel constraints from a limitation of resources.

The earth has a history of a changing climate, State Climatologist Steve Vavrus said. Even long before humans were in the picture, there was some climate change.

“You look back in the Earth’s history and you’ll see examples of really, really warm climates when there was no ice anywhere in the world,” Vavrus said.

“Other times 20,000 years ago, we had huge ice sheets extending across the northern hemisphere.”

But what humans have done is “take the steering wheel” when it comes to climate change, Vavrus said. Humans are accelerating and pushing the climate system in a direction toward warming.

Vavrus said the concern for climatologists like himself is the pace at which climate change occurs.

“Just because we’re [humans] driving doesn’t mean it’s easy to apply the brake. And we really need to be careful not to [push things] too far in the wrong direction,” Vavrus said.

The “leaky” food system

Researchers have been looking at the problems with how the food system is currently configured for decades, Miller said. But COVID-19 exacerbated and revealed these cracks in the system to the public beyond the researchers.

Businesses began to understand why suppliers couldn’t deliver certain products to them during the pandemic as they were facing challenges at the production level. In a study, Peterson said focus groups expressed that they found it helpful to talk to other people in other parts of the supply chain.

For a long time, researchers like Miller have said more meat processing needs to happen at the community level. The problem with relying on only a handful of meat processors to move large enough volumes of animals to supply the entire system is that it’s overly efficient.

An overly efficient food supply chain is not diverse enough, meaning it will become dependent on just a few varieties of food or suppliers, according to Miller. For example, the chicken processing system is engineered efficiently to operate as much as possible and lose as little

money as possible.

But engineered and human systems like these are linear, causing path dependencies that limit change and create other problems in the food supply chain, Miller said. What path dependency causes is a habit of doing the same thing over and over without making changes that need to happen.

Issues occur, in part, because food systems have both biological and human components, but biological systems are nonlinear and uncertain, which don’t always work well with engineered, human systems, Miller said.

Miller said the heavy reliance on processing machinery to replace manual labor in wealthy countries like the U.S., though, causes problems with overproduction.

When overproduction occurs, food producers generate more food than can be eaten or sold on an international market, Miller said, costing more money to produce than businesses can profit from.

This is not only a waste of time and resources, it becomes a food waste issue.

The intersection of climate change, uncertainty and food waste Even before the climate was less disrupted and more steady, Miller said, there were already questions of when the peak time to harvest would be. Climate change just causes more uncertain conditions on top of already uncertain growing conditions.

“We’re talking weeks and months, in some cases, or not at all because we’ve had such horrible drought or major flooding [which have] completely disrupted production,” Miller said.

“As production is disrupted like that, it creates a whiplash through the whole [food] system — that’s the challenge with climate change and agriculture and food production in particular.”

A warmer growing season tends to be longer, Vavrus said, meaning farmers — who are at the front lines of climate change — will have more opportunity to plant early and harvest late.

While longer growing seasons may seem beneficial, the 2010s were the warmest decade on record for the state, which Vavrus said was “too much of a good thing.” “[A] key difference with climate change is that almost everywhere in the world has seen a warming trend, but some places have become a lot drier, some places quite a bit wetter, and we expect that difference to continue in the future,” Vavrus said.

Though the springs were warmer than in years past, this made it difficult for farmers to plant and harvest. In fact, according to Vavrus, the 2010s saw a large amount of flooding and especially wet springs, highlighting the trend toward wetter weather and flooding.

When it starts to get warm earlier in the year, the

first and last killing frost of the spring would become earlier, and the first and last killing frost of the fall would become later, Vavrus said. Plants would start responding to the warmth through budding or leafing, making them vulnerable to the cold snaps. This may even become more common in the future as Earth trends toward a warmer climate.

“A longer growing season, on average, doesn’t mean that every year will be longer, and you can pay a price if you have too warm of winter or early spring — you may prematurely develop plants before they’re really ready for the summer warmth,” Vavrus said.

Sometimes climate change involves trade-offs, highlighting its complexity and why researchers need to study these surprises better to become better prepared, Vavrus said.

While Wisconsin doesn’t need to manage wildfires or strong hurricanes, it may still feel the effects, as air quality suffered during the summer of 2023 due to Canadian wildfires, Vavrus said.

“This idea that Wisconsin will somehow be buffered from climate change because we don’t have some of these other problems that other states have, that’s really pretty simple-minded. We all are going to have our own challenges when it comes to climate change,” Vavrus said.

The greatest percentage of food waste happens in people’s homes, Miller said. It’s one thing to understand where food comes from before hitting the shelves, but it’s another to understand where wasted food ends up and how that points back to climate change.

“This is where you get into systems thinking,” Miller said. “If you produce less, increasing the cost, people buy less and there’s less food waste as a result of that. But then you’ve got people who can’t afford to buy the food because now it’s too expensive.”

Food insecurity should be met with food assistance programming

Food insecurity has become the leading indicator of well-being for vulnerable Americans, Baylor professor of economics Craig Gunderson said. But the wealth of the U.S. suggests there shouldn’t be people who are food insecure.

Since 2014, research has shown a dramatic decline in food insecurity, especially among

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But this doesn’t consider those who do not have resources to provide for themselves or their families and face constraints. One group includes people with disabilities, Gunderson said, which has become the leading predictor of food insecurity in the U.S. Gunderson is the lead researcher with the Feeding America Map the Meal Gap project, which estimates the food insecurity rate across the U.S. by county or district and age or race/ethnicity.

This resource has become the leading measure of food insecurity across the U.S., Gunderson said.

“What it really shows is the incredible amount of differences across the United States in terms of food insecurity rates when we look at the countylevel differences that would be obscured if we looked at it from the state level,” Gunderson said.

Wisconsin, for example, sees a huge variation in food insecurity rates, Gunderson said. The Native American or Alaskan Native populations in Northern Wisconsin experience much higher rates of food insecurity than the rest of the state.

To help with this issue, food banks play a “huge role” in providing food for those for whom the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — from the Food Stamps program — is not sufficient. Food banks also help those who do not qualify for SNAP, Gunderson said, which is an assistance program for low-income households that provides food benefits.

When asked about the importance of food assistance programs, Gunderson said SNAP is the most important resource for vulnerable households in the U.S. with charitable food assistance programs being second.

“It’s bigger than the national school lunch program and school breakfast program and far bigger than WIC [Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children],” Gunderson said. “SNAP is by far the largest but charitable food assistance is the second largest.”

Economic growth is another factor of food insecurity. People are leaving Illinois to move to Texas in the south because the economy is better there, Gunderson said. Concentrating on how to grow the economy is especially important for lowincome households.

“The thing about that relationship — the supply chain and the food system — is that all those economic transactions that take place both are affected by the context in which they operate

in, but also they affect [each other] back,” Peterson said. “It depends on what kind of technology is available to make all those decisions along that food supply chain. All the innovations that happen because of those economic challenges could give feedback to the technology for example.”

And with the mental health crisis the country currently faces, there is a much greater risk of being food insecure, according to Gunderson. It’s therefore imperative to continue talking about the challenges those with disabilities face regarding food insecurity to ensure they, too, can be food secure.

Big farm, small farm dynamic

The United States agricultural supply chain is the “envy of the world,” helping to keep prices low and decreasing food insecurity, Gunderson said.

“From our farmers to the meat packers and all the way up this chain back and down again, it’s really, really efficient. That’s helped food prices remain low,” Gunderson said.

Big farms and small farms both contribute to the marketplace but in different ways. Small farms need access to smaller markets, which Miller said creates a power dynamic between big and small farms.

Miller compared the dynamic to a pipeline, where the small farms are small pipes themselves trying to fit product through a large pipeline.

“If you’re a farmer, you’re a small pipe moving a small amount of product, you put it into a big pipe and you get lost in it,” Miller said. “You don’t have an opportunity to negotiate because you don’t have any power in the relationship — you’re too small.”

Farmers’ markets provide the opportunity for smaller-sized farms to start contributing to the marketplace, Miller said.

On the other hand, large farms and corporations like WalMart and Kroger can bypass this without having to deal with the small farms, Miller said, and have no issue moving product through a big pipeline.

The time it takes to process and bill a small order versus one large order plays a role in this dynamic, Miller said. While processing a small order takes the same amount of time as a large order, having to process many small orders to fulfill a larger need takes much more time.

“If you think about it in terms of Willy Street Co-op, when it was one store, it would bring in products and could handle many small orders because it didn’t need a lot of anyone,” Miller said. “But when Willy Street Co-op turned into three stores, suddenly it’s much harder for them to manage a lot of small orders coming in from farmers.”

Another co-op is the Wisconsin Food Hub Coop, which gathers food from smaller farms and delivers it to clients who want some local food on their shelves, Miller said. Contracts between co-ops and farms can end at any point, however, especially when the same product is available at a

cheaper price elsewhere.

“If you’re a small producer and you go to small claims court and say they [the other party] didn’t honor their contract, then that company might have to pay you for that load, but they will never buy another load from you again,” Miller said.

What it comes down to is small farms having no recourse because of the power differential between the small and large producers, Miller said.

What the region lacks is a middlesized market. There are small and large markets, but nothing in the middle, Miller said. At these middlesized markets, farmers would sell wholesale to a store.

“But it wouldn’t be so much product.

They [farmers] wouldn’t have to provide so much product to make it viable.

That medium-sized marketplace for wholesale is what’s missing in our region,” Miller said.

Other regions within the U.S. and outside of it have medium-sized markets. France, which is similar in size to the upper midwest, has about 20 of these markets, Miller said.

Markets of this size can handle both small quantities of food and larger shipments of food or food from a different region of the Eurasian continent, Miller said.

“Having that mid-sized market is a piece of the infrastructure that’s missing in most places in the United States and could be a real improvement to supporting small farmers,” Miller said.

The future of food systems

The Wisconsin State Climatology Office aims to provide and develop research products for farms regardless of size to help them make decisions on their farming operations, Vavrus said. Steps like these are necessary in the time of a changing climate.

“Things like when to plant, what’s the best time to spray [for pests], what’s the optimal time in the year to harvest, when are their livestock experiencing dangerous levels of heat or cold stress, things of that nature could all be very helpful for improving the lives and the livelihoods of farmers and others in Wisconsin,” Vavrus said.

Though the entire planet is experiencing some form of climate change, nuances in how specific regions’ climates are changing exist, Vavrus said.

One of the goals of the Office is to distinguish Wisconsin’s changing climate in particular from the rest of the world.

Experts are currently looking at two ways to successfully address climate change, Vavrus said.

Mitigation involves stemming the problem from the source by reducing carbon emissions or finding ways to draw carbon out of the atmosphere.

“Sometimes you hear the term ‘science is settled,’ and it’s settled in one way — we do know the climate is changing and humans are largely responsible, but it’s not settled in other ways. We don’t know all the different

facets of climate change or exactly what surprises may be down the road,” Vavrus said.

The other strategy involves adaptation, both now and in the future, Vavrus said.

Groups such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change have been working toward reducing the amount of carbon being released into the atmosphere through international cooperation and policies, Vavrus said.

Locally, the Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts is strategizing ways to adapt by looking at how climate change affects the everyday lives of Wisconsinites and finding ways for people to soften the impact. WICCI covers topics from wildlife and forestry to human health, tourism and infrastructure.

Gunderson said the government should also continue expanding and increasing SNAP benefit levels. In 2021, the Thrifty Food Plan, which sets the maximum level for SNAP benefits, raised it by 20%, which was unprecedented.

“That [food access] was a big issue that came up during COVID-19,” Miller said. “We had food pantries and food banks seeing long lines of new people using food pantries who had never used them before because suddenly people were losing their jobs and couldn’t afford food anymore.”

At the farm level, many regions grow only certain foods so that those foods can grow yearround. But this isn’t always the best solution to continuous food production, Miller said.

Having more places to grow the product, instead of restricting it to certain regions would make the food system less efficient but at the same time more resilient to disturbances like a pandemic or natural disaster, according to Miller.

The most room for improvement is at the bottom half of the food supply chain and a little above — the consumer and business level, according to Peterson. The way some businesses deem products “not marketable” or sort them inefficiently could be rectified. “[For] those of us in academia, the least we can do is to try to continue pushing the information out on how the overall supply chain and the food system are all interconnected and just try to raise people’s awareness,” Peterson said.

At the individual level, Peterson said people can start making small behavioral changes — like learning what products are compostable versus not which can go far in the interconnected food system.

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UW benefits often leave student employees out of equation Amid budget battles over faculty pay raises, UW should also champion fair pay for student employees

by Jack Rogers Opinion Editor

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Debate over UW pay raises, employee benefits leave out student workers.

Republican efforts to freeze the salaries of nearly 41,000 employees at the Universities of Wisconsin have dominated recent headlines. In response, Gov. Tony Evers announced a lawsuit against Republican members of the Wisconsin State Legislature in an effort to block the maneuver — a move in line with his reputation as a staunch advocate for public education.

If the lawsuit proves unsuccessful in reversing the blocked pay raises, many employees will soon feel their pocketbooks tighten as last year ’s 8% inflation rate slowly eats away at their earnings. All employees across UW campuses certainly deserve economic justice reflected in pay raises, yet campus administrators often leave student employees out of the equation.

As of the 2021-22 academic year, over 9,000 student employees worked across the UW–Madison campus. In roles ranging from dishwashers to research assistants, student 14 • badgerherald.com • November 7, 2023

workers are undeniably essential in keeping the university functioning each day.

The last major pay raise for student workers came right before the beginning of the Fall 2022 semester. University Housing and the Wisconsin Union increased starting hourly wages from $12 to $15 for students. But other campus employers continue to lag behind.

According to UW–Madison’s internal student jobs board, most on-campus student workers can expect to receive a starting wage anywhere from $11 per hour all the way up to around $17 per hour. While lucrative compared to the stagnant federal hourly minimum wage set at $7.25, on-campus wages are still unable to address the economic pressures many students face.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Living Wage Calculator uses data to estimate the hourly wage that full-time workers need to earn in order to afford basic costs of living.

According to this estimate, single workers without children need to earn at least $17.49 per hour to afford to live in Madison.

Hardly any widely available, on-campus jobs pay student employees nearly that figure.

Throw in the fact that student employees must work less than 30 hours per week — a policy likely designed to exclude student employees from full-time benefits — and some international students only able to work 20 hours during the school year, and suddenly a pay increase to $15 an hour for many students feels less charitable.

Demand for wages for student workers is not just a selfish grab for more money, but a muchneeded economic lifeline. In Madison, the cost of living is quickly spiraling out of control. Rent prices increased 14.1% since the spring of last year, which is the highest among major cities in the entire country.

The resumption of tuition hikes only adds

to the mounting financial burden students bear, raising tuition by nearly $400 for instate students and more than $1,100 for non-residents. Before this semester ’s tuition adjustments, more than 40% of UW–Madison students took out loans to cover the cost of tuition, placing the average debt for graduates who take out loans at a whopping $27,107.

According to data compiled by the Minnesota Daily, UW–Madison is not among the highest in the amount of debt that students graduate with but is well behind other Big Ten public universities. At Purdue University, for example, the average student debt during the 2021-22 academic year was only $3,389.

Despite all these rises in the overall cost of attendance for UW–Madison students, the minimum wage for students on campus has not budged from $12 an hour since February of 2022.

In fact, university policy often explicitly excludes its student employees when introducing pay raises and other benefits for staff and faculty. While this kind of exclusionary policy makes it convenient for the university to save on labor costs for its thousands of student workers, it also reduces student workers to second-class status.

Students often work alongside full-time staff, contributing in non-menial ways — helping conduct cutting-edge research, ensuring quality dining experiences and solving technical issues. If university faculty and staff deserve pay raises to guarantee a living wage and fair compensation, so too do student workers.

This is not to say that UW officials and campus administrators bear the full responsibility for keeping wages for student workers low. Battles over funding with the GOP-dominated state Legislature have certainly put the UW budget in a tight spot, forcing tough decisions on budget cuts. Raises for student wages just happened to be among the first items on the chopping block.

Wisconsin Republicans remain stubbornly obtuse in understanding the direct impacts on UW campuses due to their politically motivated decision to starve the university system of more than $100 million.

UW–Madison continues to excel on the national and global scale despite budget cuts, yet the state Legislature must prioritize funding UW or risk jeopardizing its educational excellence and ethical employment practices.

With an increase in funding, UW– Madison would have more resources to raise compensation for all workers, including student employees. But doing so requires a recalculation in attitude toward the very students who work so hard to keep the university running.

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

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Telehealth flexibilites must be expanded in Wisconsin

OPINION

Wisconsin must take action to ensure rural citizens can access telehealth appointments

by Emily Otten Opinion Editor

Telehealth is incredibly important for those in rural communities, even those who don’t have access to broadband internet connection.

But after the federal government ended the emergency declaration for COVID-19 in May 2023, the future of telehealth is unsure.

For those across Wisconsin, both in urban and rural areas, telehealth is a valuable resource and the state government should take action to ensure there is continual access to telehealth opportunities over the coming years.

During the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, telehealth claims across Wisconsin increased 2,400%, making up a total of 6.3% of total health insurance claims, according to PBS Wisconsin.

But even as the pandemic continues to wane, telehealth is still a popular option for those in rural areas who have to drive far distances to reach a hospital or doctors office.

During the pandemic, the government allowed individuals and families in rural areas to access telehealth appointments from eligible Medicare providers without geographic restrictions, which would typically force them to find a healthcare provider within a specific geographic zone, according to PBS Wisconsin.

For families who may need to drive far for a quick appointment, telehealth is an incredibly quick and convenient option to receive medical treatment. But health providers do say that telehealth can sometimes prevent them from seeing things they may only notice in person, like signs of abuse or symptoms the individual may not have picked up on, according to PBS Wisconsin.

This is especially true in rural areas where many residents dial into telehealth appointments instead of using video conferencing platforms like Zoom. Over the phone, healthcare providers are able to notice even less than over video.

Even with these challenges faced by healthcare providers, for the most part these providers are supportive of extending telehealth opportunities, according to PBS Wisconsin. The federal emergency declaration during the COVID-19 pandemic relaxed rules that existed surrounding how doctors can prescribe medication and how telehealth works with Medicaid and Medicare. The system works well for those quick appointments.

But after the emergency declaration was lifted in May 2023, healthcare providers are unsure how to proceed or how things will change.

Most telehealth flexibilities related to behavioral health and mental health were recently made permanent by the federal government, but other flexibilities are set to expire soon at the end of 2024 PBS Wisconsin

Reports. These flexibilities include the ability for doctors to prescribe medication through telehealth and the lightening of geographic restrictions as discussed earlier.

Though the federal government ensured Medicare patients can still get telehealth

appointments, meaning there was no financial difference for healthcare providers to offer inperson or telehealth services.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services announced this rate-matching would continue for Medicaid indefinitely as long as

ABIGAIL LEAVINS. THE BADGER HERALD.

Telehealth provides greater opportunities for behavioral health services, but needs further accessibility. services without geographic restrictions, many hospitals are unsure how long this extension will last.

PBS Wisconsin also notes the emergency declaration reimbursed hospitals and healthcare providers through Medicare and Medicaid at the same rate as in-person

the quality of telehealth appointments matched that of in-person appointments, but Medicare reimbursements are still up in the air. The Medicare reimbursement rate-matching will end in December of 2024 if no legal action is taken, according to PBS Wisconsin.

An option being considered by the

government includes Medicare reimbursing healthcare providers for materials that would be provided in an in-person appointment, but this would require hospitals absorbing some of the extra costs. If hospitals absorbed these extra costs it could result in them having to eliminate telehealth appointments due to financial issues, according to PBS Wisconsin.

Thus there are many concerns as to the future of telehealth in Wisconsin and around the country. To ameliorate some of these concerns, especially for individuals who are on Medicare or Medicaid, Wisconsin should pass legislation to keep telehealth available to all who need it.

First, the Wisconsin DHS should expand rate-matching to Medicare so hospitals and healthcare providers are able to keep offering telehealth appointments to those on Medicare.

Additionally, the multiple telehealth flexibilities that are set to expire should be expanded for longer, including those not related to behavioral or mental health care, especially the removal of geographic restrictions which directly impact individuals in rural communities.

The government stepping into the healthcare and telehealth field can ensure those on Medicare and Medicaid are still able to access telehealth doctors appointments. This is especially important for those in rural areas who may need to travel long distances to see a doctor that is approved to do a certain kind of appointment.

Another step the state government should take related to telehealth is expanding broadband connectivity in these rural areas of Wisconsin. This is something Gov. Tony Evers has been working on, according to PBS Wisconsin, but could be expanded further.

Some individuals in rural areas aren’t able to join a video conferencing call because they do not have reliable internet access, meaning their healthcare providers can miss certain visuals when they have a telehealth appointment over the phone, according to PBS Wisconsin.

The state government should focus on reducing the broadband gap between rural and urban areas to ensure all Wisconsinites have reliable access to the internet and to telehealth options.

The boom of telehealth during and after the global pandemic is changing the future of the healthcare industry by allowing patients to speak with their doctor from the comfort of their own home, but if Wisconsin doesn’t take legal action to ensure telehealth can be reimbursed and utilized by healthcare providers those in rural areas may suffer.

Telehealth needs to be saved and revitalized in the state of Wisconsin and across the country.

Emily Otten (elotten@wisc.edu) is a senior majoring in journalism.

November 7, 2023 • badgerherald.com • 15

OPINION

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First Amendment discourses must supersede ideology Comprehensive free speech education must include discussion of marginalized groups’ resistance

by Celia Hiorns Editor-in-Chief

Madison365 recently reported the University of Wisconsin added several additions to the “Our Wisconsin” online course, which was required for all incoming students starting in fall of 2023.

The new sections largely deal with concepts of free speech, and while most of the course was created by a third party, UW officials have added a number of customizations to the course, according to Madison365. For one, the modules mention student protest following the surfacing of a video expressing racist slurs and ideas in May 2023.

Another customization, which is causing concern for some, refers to the value of the First Amendment, particularly on a college campus.

“We recognize that it can be difficult and sometimes even painful to hear points of view with which individuals powerfully disagree,” the customizations said. “Even hate speech is protected speech.”

The customizations went on to explain that tolerating speech that is hateful is the tradeoff of creating a campus community that fosters academic excellence and progress. Despite this caveat, the language used in the customizations presents warranted concerns about presenting an accurate, useful portrayal of the First Amendment and how it can be employed on college campuses.

At the most basic level, proclaiming that hate speech is protected under the First Amendment is not entirely false, but it’s also misleading and lacks the context necessary to prevent this information from being weaponized against marginalized communities.

In the 2011 decision Snyder v. Phelps, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that hateful speech, on its own, is protected under the First Amendment. The Snyder ruling, however, does not extend to speech that involves illegal action. For example, hateful speech that incites violence, communicates true threats or rises to the level of a hate crime is unprotected.

There is a clear distinction between unbridled protection of hateful speech in any context, and the existence of limitations in some contexts.

Yet, this distinction is not made clear in the customizations that proclaim the protection of hate speech.

Further, just because in certain circumstances hate speech does have protections from government censure, it doesn’t mean that kind of speech should be socially tolerated. This highlights the other major problem with the language in UW’s customizations — though hateful speech is generally protected under the First Amendment, this does not mean it is not harmful.

In reality, hateful speech does not occur in a vacuum. Much of hateful speech is backed by historical or present-day oppression, so the 16 • badgerherald.com • November 7, 2023

use of speech as a weapon reinforces systems that commit institutional violence against marginalized people.

When slurs, epithets or “othering” language is used against individuals, that language has wide reaching impacts, according to the Oxford

speakers from government censure. But the First Amendment is also a critical tool of resistance against elite narratives. UW’s customizations offer some of the history of resistance to racism on campus, particularly led by Black students.

But the explicit connection between this resistance

EDDIE KUSTNER. THE BADGER HERALD.

Free speech education should include more than protection for conservative viewpoints.

University Press.

To this end, the First Amendment is much more complex than what the customizations imply. On its own, the notion that the tolerance of harmful speech is the price we pay for academic freedom leaves out a critical function of free speech in America.

All too often, contemporary discourses about free speech and expression position the First Amendment as a tool to protect bigoted

and the exercise of First Amendment rights is lacking.

Over the course of American history, marginalized groups who have experienced discrimination at the hands of the government have used their First Amendment rights to criticize the people, institutions and legislation that contributed to their persecution.

The 1982 U.S. Supreme Court case NAACP v. Claiborne Hardware Company decided that

nonviolent boycotts of racist, white business owners by members of the NAACP was protected expression under the First Amendment. The court held that protesters were acting within their rights to advocate for social change.

The constitutional basis of the NAACP decision was the 1969 ruling in Brandenburg v.

Ohio. In this case, the Supreme Court upheld a KKK leader’s right to advocate for the teaching of racist doctrines — as long as the speech is not likely to produce “imminent lawless action.”

In short, First Amendment rights are complicated. We can disagree with certain applications of free speech without dismissing the concept altogether.

The First Amendment is not directed at protecting speech at one end of the political spectrum, but instead on protecting all kinds of speech from government persecution. Since racist speech is tolerated in certain cases, speech that decries racism must also be permitted. But the latter portion of this concept has been losing traction.

Recently, First Amendment challenges have been controlled by conservatives on the Supreme Court, according to the New York Times. Since the 1970s, the Supreme Court has agreed to hear a growing number of First Amendment cases relating specifically to conservative speech, and rulings increasingly affirms people’s right to exclude and discriminate on the basis of free speech. As a result, discourses around the First Amendment, which were intended to not be ideological, are becoming much more dominated by conservative interests.

But when free speech is presented only as a conservative talking point, a critical function of the First Amendment is forgotten — the protection of the right to resist oppression. The association of free speech with conservatism coupled with experiences of harm as a result of protected speech has led some — especially those on the left — to resent the First Amendment altogether.

But now is not the time to give up on free speech. To empower people to exercise their rights, we must not convolute the First Amendment itself with the kind of speech it protects. As an institution looking to teach the importance of the First Amendment, UW has a responsibility to push back against mainstream narratives that free speech rights are intended to shield conservative expression alone.

It’s good that UW thinks it’s necessary to integrate a more comprehensive First Amendment education into every student’s college career. But without additional context, the new course may alienate people who have been disillusioned by modern free speech discourses — and threaten support for First Amendment rights.

Celia Hiorns (hiorns@wisc.edu) is a junior studying journalism and political science.

SPORTS

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Former Heisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne discusses storied career New Jersey native returns to UW, talks legacy, Big Ten football

by Maddox Durst and Mike Hall Sports Editors

In 1889, the University of Wisconsin football program was instituted on campus. Throughout the first 106 years of its existence, the team only clinched a bowl game appearance eight times.

Over the past 27 years, the program has played in 26 bowl games. While most of the Badger faithful have grown accustomed to its team finishing the season north of .500, that wasn’t always the case.

This streak of success really commenced with the presence of star running back Ron Dayne, a multi-sport athlete from Overbrook High School in New Jersey. Former football head coach and director of athletics Barry Alvarez made a personal trip to Dayne’s house to recruit him and offered the future Badger an opportunity he could not turn down — running the football.

It turned out pretty well for all parties, to say the least.

In 1996 — Dayne’s freshman year — UW took down the University of Utah 38–10 in the Copper Bowl. Dayne rushed for 246 yards and reached the end zone three times. Quarterback Mike Samuel threw for just 16 yards.

After two consecutive campaigns at 8-5, the Badgers took off with an 11-1 mark in 1998.

Dayne’s 246-yard tour de force in the ‘98 Rose Bowl propelled UW to a 38–31 victory over the University of California-Los Angeles. What awaited him in 1999, though, would separate Dayne from almost every other running back in Wisconsin’s storied history.

The Dayne Train’s 303 rushing attempts, 1,834 yards and 19 scores netted him the 1999 Heisman Trophy, an annual honor awarded to college football’s most outstanding player. In a race against future NFL record-breakers Drew Brees and Michael Vick, Dayne accumulated 586 of 700 first-place votes.

Following his historic 1999 campaign, which culminated with his 202-yard rushing masterpiece against Stanford University in the 2000 Rose Bowl, he punched his ticket to the Theater at Madison Square Garden for the 2000 NFL Draft.

Dissimilar to the atmosphere at Camp Randall, Dayne encountered a few hurdles in the big leagues. The New York Giants snagged the twotime Rose Bowl MVP with the 11th overall pick, but he never quite captured a fanbase like he did in Madison.

“That’s the college atmosphere that you really miss as a professional athlete,” Dayne said. “Here [Camp Randall], everybody is cheering no matter what. We could be losing, and they’ll cheer for you. In the pros, if we’re losing, we’re getting boos.”

Still, the New Jersey native drew oohs and aahs from crowds in the Big Apple, the Mile High City and the Space City over a seven-year professional career. Sure, bands didn’t play “On, Wisconsin!”

THE BADGER HERALD ARCHIVES..

Legendary running back Ron Dayne returns to alma mater to discuss career in Madison. at Giants, Broncos or Texans games, but not many can lay claim to 983 rushing attempts and 4,062 total yards in NFL threads.

Nov. 10, 2007, during his last hurrah with Houston in the 2007 season, Dayne’s No. 33 joined Alan Ameche, Elroy Hirsch, Pat Richter, Dave Schreiner and Allan Shafer as one of six displayed on Camp Randall’s facade. Inductions into the University of Wisconsin-Madison Athletic Hall of Fame, the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame arrived shortly after.

The most memorable flashpoint of his career, however, arrived Nov. 13, 1999, when Dayne surged past Texas star Ricky Williams for the NCAA Division I career rushing record.

Some extracurriculars certainly enhanced the experience.

“After I broke the record, I came off the sideline and everybody’s cheering,” Dayne said. “So it’s the second quarter, but we still have to get out there and play. It started quieting down, and all the sudden there was a roar. I turn around, and I see the streaker … I’m like ‘whoa, what?’ He came to my house that night. Everybody was asking, ‘do you know him?’ I said, ‘no, I’ve only seen his

backside, so how would I know who he is?’ But when they put all the white towels up at Camp Randall, that was pretty cool.”

Since Dayne hung up his cleats, football, like everything else in the athletic realm, has evolved for the better. Players possess more sway, and offense schemes appear as innovative as ever.

These athletic transformations trickled down to the college scene as well. In 2021, athletes could finally capitalize on endorsement deals through name, image and likeness, otherwise known as NIL, guidelines.

Dayne, a spectacle throughout his collegiate tenure, was not afforded the same opportunities.

Who knows how much dough he would’ve reeled in.

“I can’t imagine what I would have gotten with NIL,” Dayne said. “I was the biggest name out here. I don’t like to think about that because you could play five years in the NFL and make $12 million, whereas in college you can make $12 million just to stay in school and play on the team.

It’s a big difference.”

What cannot be disputed, however, is his place amongst the most coveted running backs to ever lace up on the collegiate gridiron. In an era

defined by lists, GOAT debates and hierarchies, the Great Dayne can high-step his way into any top-five ranking.

With his 7,125 combined rushing yards in both NCAA Division I regular season and bowl game matches, No. 33 still reigns supreme.

“I’ll be number one,” Dayne said, “I still have the most rushing yards in college football history.

Then I’d go Barry Sanders, Adrian Peterson, [Jerome Bettis] when he played for Notre Dame, then probably Eddie George. He was killing it at Ohio State.”

Luckily for George, Dayne wasn’t around to detonate on the Buckeyes’ defense. In 1999, the workhorse halfback tallied four scores and 161 yards on the ground en route to 42 unanswered tallies and a 25-point victory vs. OSU. Over 20 years later, the aura surrounding these stand-alone, prime time conference contests remains the same. The competitive juices never stopped flowing.

“It’s just great to be back,” Dayne said. “It’s special because of the fact that it’s a Big Ten matchup. Most of the time, when there are Big Ten matchups, it means a lot more. We wanted to win the conference and get to the Rose Bowl.”

November 7, 2023 • badgerherald.com • 17

SPORTS

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What to expect from Moseley’s team in 2023-24 campaign Optimism surrounds 50th season of women’s basketball in Madison

by Krissy Birdsall Sports Reporter

games off the bench averaging 9.8 minutes per game.

Badgers trip to Italy during the summer prepares team for 2023-24 season

The Badgers had a unique start to the preseason as the team traveled to Italy this August for a cultural and competitive experience. Following a seven-week training session in the summer, the team visited Rome, Florence and Venice and played three games during the 10-day trip.

In a statement released prior to the trip, Moseley was excited for her team to explore the cultural history of Italy while competing in the preseason.

“I am confident this experience will allow our team to bond on and off the court for the upcoming season,” Moseley said.

It was the team’s first experience playing together this season, as all 14 players traveled to Europe to participate in the three games.

During the tour, the Badgers saw highlight performances from Schramek, D’Yanis Jimenez, Ronnie Porter, Lily Krahn and Imbie Jones.

50 years of Wisconsin women’s basketball

The 2023-24 season is of special importance as it marks the 50th season of Wisconsin women’s basketball. The Badgers will highlight the program’s history and legacy with a 50th season logo, as well as honorary captains and featured events throughout the year.

Games of Note

KRISSY BIRDSALL. THE BADGER HERALD.

Third year head coach Moseley guides a young squad into a highly anticipated season.

The Wisconsin women’s basketball team opens its 50th season against Milwaukee Nov. 7 at the Kohl Center. Coming into the 2023-24 season, the Badgers are looking to build off the success of last year, a season in which Wisconsin finished 11-20 overall and won the most conference games (six) since the 2010-11 season.

“We feel like often times year three is the year where you’re trying to make a turn and that’s what we’re excited to do,” Badgers head coach Marisa Moseley said during a media day conference Oct. 4.

Entering Moseley’s third year as head coach, Wisconsin is looking to improve on the foundation of last year’s success and compete in a Big Ten Conference which saw eight teams play in the postseason, seven of which in the NCAA Tournament.

Wisconsin’s 29-game regular season schedule includes 15 home games, including nine Big Ten matchups at the Kohl Center. Before the Badgers 18 • badgerherald.com • November 7, 2023

officially tip off their season against Milwaukee Nov. 7, here is everything you need to know about this year’s squad.

New, young squad to highlight Moseley’s third year as head coach

Wisconsin will play this season with a relatively inexperienced squad of both players and coaching staff. Of the 14 rostered players on this year’s team, 10 players are listed as underclassmen. The Badgers will debut five freshmen as well as an overhauled assistant coaching staff in 2023-24.

“We graduated a good amount of points and experience,” Moseley told reporters during a media conference.

Wisconsin returns two of five starters from last year’s squad, including sophomore forward Serah Williams. In her freshman campaign, the Big Ten all-freshman team selection finished second in the conference averaging 1.9 blocks per game. The New York native led Wisconsin

in rebounds and finished second on the team in scoring — with 5.4 rebounds and 12.7 points per game.

Moseley will rely on the experience of seniors Brooke Schramek, Halle Douglass and Natalie Leuzinger during the 2023-24 season. Schramek is one of two returning starters from last year’s team, starting in all 31 games for an average of 30 minutes per game last season.

The two-year starter amassed 10.4 points per game last year and leads all-returners in assists and free throw percentage – with 2.7 APG and an 85.2% success rate.

Douglass returns to Madison this year after missing part of the last two seasons due to injuries. The Illinois native started in the first five games of the season, scoring 16 points and grabbing 28 rebounds before going down with a season-ending ACL injury.

Leuzinger’s role has increased since joining the Badger’s squad — last year she played in 25

Oct. 29, the Badgers detonated against the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater, 84–64, in the team’s first taste of the Kohl Center atmosphere. Williams dropped 30 points and snared five boards in the exhibition match while sophomore Porter accounted for 18 tallies and eight helpers.

Nov. 7, UW opens its season vs. Milwaukee.

The cardinal and white last played the Panthers Nov. 7, 2022, at the Klotsche Center and escaped with a 58–49 victory.

Nov. 24 and 25, the Badgers play in the Fort Myers Tip-Off against Arkansas and Marquette/Boston College at Suncoast Credit Union Arena.

UW opens its conference slate on Dec. 10 with a matchup against phenom Caitlin Clark and the University of Iowa Hawkeyes. The future WNBA superstar torched UW with 24 points, six rebounds and eight dimes Feb. 15, 2023, so Moseley and company will allocate all of UW’s resources to quelling her offensive arsenal.

Jan. 23 (home) and Feb. 20 (away), UW will play in its border battle matchups vs. Minnesota.

March 3, Wisconsin will wrap its regular season vs. Michigan State before the Big Ten Tournament Mar. 6 to Mar. 10 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

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Men’s Basketball: Fresh faces, fresh threads

SPORTS

Transfers, freshmen in roster headline UW’s quest for excellence this winter

by Cameron Wilhorn Sports Reporter

While the University of Wisconsin’s men’s basketball team returns 90% of its scoring production from a season ago, the buzz surrounding the team leading up to the 2023-24 campaign centers around the immediate contributions made by new roster additions.

Head coach Greg Gard reeled in an exciting 2023 recruiting class, highlighted by four-star big man Gus Yalden and a pair of three-star recruits in Nolan Winter and John Blackwell. The Badgers also landed former four-star recruit and current sophomore AJ Storr from St. Johns through the transfer portal.

Fans got their first look at the new Badgers during the team’s Red vs. White scrimmage, a yearly event that splits the Badgers’ roster in half and pits teammates against one another.

Though star forward Tyler Wahl — who was recently named to the preseason watchlist for the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award — led the game with 16 points and four rebounds, it was newcomers Storr and Winter who stole the show.

Storr got the Kohl Center rocking early in the scrimmage, skying through the lane to hammer home an alley-oop from Kamari McGee during a fast break. He finished with a team-high 15 points and took a game-high 13 shots during his 30 minutes of action.

Storr ’s eye-popping athleticism is paired with a sweet shooting stroke. The sophomore knocked down 40.4% of his 3-point attempts last year at St. John’s.

Storr only received 21.1 minutes per game last season as a true freshman. But he did notch 17 starts and log 8.8 points per game, all while consistently making highlight plays.

Winter also impressed on the day, showcasing his unique skill set at 6-foot-11.

The big man knocked down two of his four 3-point attempts, snagged 12 rebounds and secured a combined three steals and blocks.

He was a dominating presence inside and finished with a 13-point, 12-rebound doubledouble.

While Yalden and Blackwell were significantly quieter, each played quality defense and competed hard despite the offdays.

Though the Red vs. White scrimmage was purely recreational and none of these players have played a true minute in the cardinal and white, they’ve all managed to make an impact this season by adding depth and putting pressure on returning players to

improve.

“We’ve got competition in practice at all positions,”Coach Gard said during a press

For a team that missed the NCAA Tournament in 2022-23, the added level of intensity is welcomed.

JUSTIN MIELKE. THE BADGER HERALD.

Fresh faces provide spark for veteran Badgers. conference earlier this year. “When you have that competition around you, you can’t get complacent.”

Carter Gilmore, a key rotation piece from last year ’s squad, said that the freshmen have been impressive in coming in and

competing daily. He specifically praised Winter and Blackwell.

“You see Nolan [Winter] getting tips or rebounds and making plays, you got John running up and down [the floor] getting into you defensively,” Gilmore said. “[It] gives you depth and helps everyone grow.”

Senior guard Max Klesmit also shared high marks for some of the newcomers, calling Blackwell a hard worker.

“You can feel his energy on the court, and it feeds off on other teammates,” Klesmit said.

Klesmit seemed especially excited to talk about Storr.

The sophomore showcased his leaping ability with Badger faithful during the scrimmage, but it’s something his teammates knew about all along.

“I’ve never seen anybody leave the floor and float before,” Klesmit said. “[He’s] unworldly athletic.”

While both have their unique characteristics, Klesmit noted that Storr and Blackwell each came to Madison ready to work and with winning intentions.

Dating back to legendary head coach Bo Ryan, Wisconsin is notable for not relying heavily on freshmen. But, with the emergence of Connor Essegian last season and the prominent shortcomings of last year ’s team, opportunities have begun to form for the newcomers.

Of 352 teams last season, Wisconsin ranked 334th in bench points at 12.03 points per game and 317th in rebounding margin.

They also finished in the bottom half of the nation in field goal percentage (41.4%), free throw percentage (69.1%) and 3-point percentage (34.2%) to earn the 140th spot in offensive efficiency.

Given his dominant performance in the Red vs. White scrimmage, Winter could be the first of the freshmen big guys to see the floor. Slotting in as the fourth piece in the front court alongside Wahl, Steven Crowl and Gilmore, Winter should have the opportunity to assist in the rebounding department and use his shooting ability to stretch the floor and open up the offense.

After showing flashes of greatness in his freshman campaign, Storr will likely have opportunities to land a starting role or be the top option off the bench for Wisconsin.

His explosiveness and ability to get to the rim is direly needed for a roster that finished near the bottom of the barrel in free throw attempts last year.

While tip-off is still over a week away, the four fresh faces in the Badgers’ locker room have already been making contributions and are slated to have bright futures in Madison.

November 7, 2023 • badgerherald.com • 19

ARTS

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Popular Thanksgiving foods ranked UW students give their input on which Thanksgiving foods are best

by Abigail Leavins ArtsEtc. Writer

SOPHIA SCOLMAN. THE BADGER HERALD.

Read about our thoughts on Thanksgiving foods.

Thanksgiving is approaching at the end of the month, and with it comes numerous family gatherings all marked with a common thread — a variety of delicious food.

There is little debate over the existence of Thanksgiving feasts — can anyone really say that isn’t their favorite part of the holiday?

Regardless of family climates, sitting down for a feast is a universal comfort.

People do have different opinions about what is the best Thanksgiving food. The Badger Herald collected student opinions and added a few author’s picks in this list of the best Thanksgiving foods.

6. Turkey The classic entree for Thanksgiving is definitely a large turkey dish.

Carving a turkey is a core tradition for many families around the country. Regardless of if you get it frozen at the store or if your family hunted 20 • badgerherald.com • November 7, 2023

one that morning, the existence of the turkey is ubiquitous.

Students said turkey is a universal dish with high protein value — but University of Wisconsin senior Emily Kruger said turkey is consistently too dry, and ham is her preferred alternative.

Some families, including my family, like to offer both options for people with different preferences.

5. Rolls Though rolls are certainly not a main dish, they are a key element of any Thanksgiving meal. My family always gets Sister Schubert’s rolls, and other students mentioned crescent rolls or sweet Hawaiian rolls.

They are a favorite among younger family members, and when I was a kid, my sisters and I would challenge each other to roll eating competitions because they were so good. Kruger agreed rolls are an easy Thanksgiving choice.

“A bread roll is one of the easiest things to

consume, giving you simple carbohydrates,” Kruger said.

4. Other random foods A few students had specific food they enjoyed that might be less mainstream. These included various marshmallow and sweet potato dishes.

Kruger said her personal favorite is cranberry marshmallow fluff.

“It’s a perfect combination of bitter and sweet — the cranberry and the marshmallow,” Kruger said.

UW sophomore Caleb Ekezie said he enjoyed sweet potato dishes because there are lots of options for how to make them. They can be savory with chicken or turkey gravy or make them sweet with brown sugar, cinnamon and pecans in a casserole.

“It’s the tastiest, most versatile food,” Ekezie said.

3. Pies and other sweets It is pretty difficult to have a true Thanksgiving

dinner without a pie. Specifically, pumpkin pie.

That isn’t the only dessert students enjoy, however. A few mentioned apple pie, sweet rolls with jam or any type of fluff. Kruger said her personal favorite is raspberry silk pie, with a close second of French silk pie and pecan pie.

UW sophomore Natasha Hicks said she loves apple pie with ice cream.

“It’s just the right amount of tart and it’s not too sweet and it tastes like fall,” Hicks said.

2. Potatoes One of the most popular Thanksgiving foods is easily mashed potatoes. It’s a classic side dish, but I can’t say it’s my personal favorite.

Some students argued there are better alternatives. Kruger said she prefers twice baked potatoes, while UW junior April Krumpos said cheesy potato casserole is the best.

“Because it has the flakes on top and it’s extra crunchy and you can chew on it,” Krumpos said.

1. Stuffing My grandma is from the south — so she calls her famous stuffing “dressing.” After cooking chicken and cornbread in the oven, she eventually combines the two, with bread and water, to make a delicious dish that has become a family favorite.

Many other students mentioned stuffing was a favorite on Thanksgiving, but they might have different recipes.

Trader Joe’s stuffing is also a great option and easy to make. It only requires water, in addition to the box mix, and is definitely delicious. Because it is only available a few months of the year, I try to stock up so I can enjoy it throughout the year.

A deep connection A few students emphasized the relationship building that can happen over Thanksgiving dinner and even by cooking together in the kitchen.

“There are always good conversations in the Thanksgiving kitchen,” Kruger said.

Kruger said she enjoys being in the kitchen with family and preparing a meal with people she loves.

Additionally, UW senior Kaitlyn Israngkun Na Ayuthia said one of her favorite parts of Thanksgiving is connecting with special people in her life.

“It’s a time to share a meal and share life with people you love,” Israngkun Na Ayuthia said. “It’s an opportunity to care and be cared for.”

Looking ahead A few students said they are ready to move past Thanksgiving and get in the holiday spirit right away.

Hicks said she has already decorated for Christmas. To her, Thanksgiving is just a day, but Christmas is a lifestyle. Thanksgiving is but a means to an end.

“Once it’s over, people have no excuse not to start celebrating [the winter holidays],” Hicks said.

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Kanopy Dance returns to the stage with ‘Winter Fantasia: Reimagined’ Dancer, choreographer Udbhav Desai draws inspiration from experience with Indian festivals

by Akhilesh Peddi ArtsEtc. Writer

Madison-based dance academy Kanopy Dance is celebrating traditional Indian dance with their upcoming performance, “Winter Fantasia: Reimagined.”

Shows will take place from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3 at Overture Center for the Arts on State Street. There will also be an interactive, family-oriented performance in Kids in the Rotunda Nov. 11.

Kanopy Dance Directors Lisa Thurrell and Robert Cleary were praised for the academy’s 2022 Madison performances. In “Winter Fantasia: Reimagined,” they serve as co-artistic directors and choreographers.

They include the traditional “Garba” dance in the shows. “Garba” celebrates the Hindu goddess “Durga,” a protector of all that is good in the world, according to the Kanopy Dance website.

The event aims to emphasize different dance forms, incorporating Scandinavian folklore and American musical scores to embody the idea of winter with Garba as its central piece, according to the Kanopy Dance website.

Thurrell and Cleary have invited Virginiabased freelance dancer Udbhav Desai to choreograph and act as guest performer for “Winter Fantasia: Reimagined” after he worked for the academy the previous year.

Desai is originally from Gujarat, India, where he was initially introduced to the culture of Garba through Navaratri, an important Hindu festival commemorating the victory of Hindu goddess Durga against the demon Mahishasura over a period of nine days.

The mixing of diverse cultures and people leads to many variations of how the festival is celebrated across the subcontinent. But, in Gujarat, the festivities begin each night with small groups of people living on the same street dancing and singing to the traditional Garba songs. Oftentimes, there won’t even be any musicians, only a singer, Desai said.

Over the course of the night, each group proceeds to the center of the city until thousands crowd its streets, and the festivities burst into action. Men and women dance in circles around a “deepam” — a lamp — or an idol of the goddess Durga, beating wooden sticks called Dandiyas together and making a profound sound.

The night is filled with music, the golden glow of lamps and bright colors from clothing which is often ornamented with red, yellow and orange colors. This would repeat every night for nine nights, sometimes even 10, Desai said.

As a child, such an experience left Desai

with a profound appreciation for his culture.

“Growing up, every time Navratri was coming around, you could tell by the atmosphere, everyone was getting more and more excited,” Desai said. “People would

to Canada and then to the U.S., where he completed high school, he said. He then attended Northwestern University for a degree in chemical engineering, where he joined Northwestern’s South Asian Club

IMAGE COURTESY OF SHAWN HARPER..

New performance at Overture Center combines different genres of dance. buy all sorts of costumes and jewelry and make all sorts of sweets and snacks to get ready for the festivities. Growing up, it was like Christmas for me.”

Later, Desai and his parents immigrated

which held an annual Garba event.

But it was not until Desai’s move to Madison that his husband, a ballet dancer, introduced him to Madison’s many dance companies including Madison Contemporary

Dance and Kanopy Dance, where he began his freelance dance career.

This year ’s show, “Winter Fantasia: Reimagined” narrates the story of a woman, Rashmi, on the eve of Navratri. She is walking with her friends in the desert — a climate common to Gujarat — and is preparing for the festivities to come. Rashmi is sad in remembrance of her friend Pankaj — played by Desai — who has moved far away.

This is one of three acts that Desai composed in “Chalo Ramiye” or “let’s play” in Gujarati, according to the Kanopy Dance website.

Inspired by his own experiences and emotions surrounding leaving his country and his hometown, Desai uses the performance to show Madison that even though people move apart, their memory and spirit continue to linger in our hearts, he said.

The story of Rashmi and Pankaj — performed as a duet — is one of the many aspects of the show inspired from Desai’s personal experience with Garba.

Another place Desai draws inspiration is from Bijalben Patel, or “Bijal Masi,” as he called her — his mother ’s best friend who made dresses for Garba dances. A few years ago, Bijalben lost her life to breast cancer, leaving the work she did and the clothes she made with Desai’s mother, who bought them from her.

Many of those clothes were worn during the festivities and through the Garba dances. Later, Desai’s mother donated the clothes Masi made to “Winter Fantasia : Reimagined.” The clothes are used for the women dancers, integrating tradition into the show.

“They represent Masi’s legacy and contribution to Garba,” Desai said. “It would be her mark here in Madison.”

Additional preparations have been made to procure men’s dresses from India to further preserve the originality of the act.

Through the Chalo Ramiye show, Desai and Kanopy Dance aspire to show Madison the diverse cultures of the world and what it means to celebrate Navratri and the joy of Garba, Desai said.

“I would like for people to understand who the Gujarati people are, how Navratri is celebrated and what even is Navratri,” Desai said. “I would like to add that element of my culture to Madison.”

This performance season, Desi and Kanopy Dance bring the full flush of Garba color along with the jubilation and celebration of the diverse cultures of the world under the common emotions shared by all.

November 7, 2023 • badgerherald.com • 21

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Taylor Swift stylishly reclaims beloved era in ‘1989 (Taylor’s Version)’ Pop superstar continues successful re-recording excursion with latest release

by Clare Cowan ArtsEtc. Writer

Taylor Swift has had a whirlwind year, with the debut of her smash-hit Eras Tour, the release of “Speak Now (Taylor ’s Version),” the premiere of The Eras Tour concert film and now the release of “1989 (Taylor ’s Version).” Swift released “1989 (Taylor ’s Version)” Oct. 27, bringing new life to an album that revolutionized the pop music game.

“1989 (Taylor ’s Version)” is the highly anticipated re-recorded version of Swift’s fifth album “1989,” released in 2014. It follows Swift’s re-releases of “Fearless,” “Red” and “Speak Now.” These four albums represent Swift’s progress toward reclaiming the masters of her first six studio albums. Debut album “Taylor Swift” and “Reputation” are the two yet to be reclaimed by Swift.

The album has 22 total “Taylor ’s Version” tracks — 16 from the original deluxe album, 5 never-before-heard “vault” tracks and the re-recorded fan-favorite collab with Kendrick Lamar on “Bad Blood.”

The release has garnered praise and broken records, making it clear the global superstar really never goes out of style. Oct. 27, Swift became “the most-streamed artist in a single day in Spotify history” and “1989 (Taylor ’s Version)” became “Spotify’s most streamed album in a single day in 2023,” according to a statement Spotify made on X. The “1989”debut in 2014 demonstrated Swift’s ability to effortlessly shift genres, bringing a new ‘80s synth-pop sound to her music while maintaining the same vivid storytelling elements her fans love.

This era is defined by New York City, bobs with bangs and classic red lipstick. Nearly 10 years later, Swift still captures these infamous motifs in her version of the era.

“1989 (Taylor ’s Version)” maintains the adored components of the original album while incorporating elements that embody Swift’s artistic maturation. There are subtle but noticeable changes in the rerelease, such as “Style (Taylor ’s Version)” having a more clear and crisp guitar intro.

“I Know Places (Taylor ’s Version)” boasts a strong vocal improvement the second time Swift belts “and we run,” in the “Taylor ’s Version” track, topping an already impressive performance from the original release.

Swift shared on social media that “1989 (Taylor ’s Version)” is her favorite re-record so far because of the tracks from the vault, according to Billboard. These five songs shattered expectations and expanded the world of “1989.”

22 • badgerherald.com • November 7, 2023

“‘Slut!’” is a powerful statement from Swift, embracing the word that has been thrown at her for the majority of her career.

She sings “But if I’m all dressed up / They might as well be lookin’ at us / And if they

up to the release of “1989” in 2014 she had “become the target of slut shaming — the intensity and relentlessness of which would be criticized and called out if it happened today.” This dreamy-sounding vault track

CAT CARROLL. THE BADGER HERALD.

Taylor Swift has reclaimed her “1989” album with her newly released songs. call me a slut / You know it might be worth it for once,” emphasizing how she is always the one criticized in her relationships. In the prologue of “1989 (Taylor ’s Version),” Swift points out how in the years leading

holds a sharp meaning that combats misogyny.

Swift gets vulnerable in vault track “Say Don’t Go (Taylor ’s Version),” a letter to someone who is falling out of love. “I would

stay forever if you say, ‘Don’t go,’” Swift writes. It conveys the feeling of knowing your time with someone is nearing the end but holding out hope they will give you another chance and ask you to stay with them.

“Now That We Don’t Talk (Taylor ’s Version)” is an anthem for ending contact with someone you once shared your life with, whether romantic or platonic. Swift writes about reflecting on a relationship and wondering what that person is up to, though you’re now on the outside of their life. The strong lyricism and storytelling in this vault track is reminiscent of Swift’s sister albums “folklore” and “evermore.”

She sings “And the only way back to my dignity / Was to turn into a shrouded mystery.” Swift emphasizes the relief in leaving someone who made you feel like you had to put on an act around when she sings, “Now that we don’t talk / I don’t have to pretend I like acid rock.” It is easy to lose yourself in the perceptions of others and hard to step away from a performance that pleases them.

Swift demonstrates another strong narration of consuming relationships in “Suburban Legends (Taylor ’s Version).”

It shares the story of falling in love with someone too quickly and too intensely.

Swift describes the culmination of the relationship as “waves crash[ing] to the shore,” putting weight on the force and profound nature of the romance. She has a flair for catchy choruses and this song is no exception.

Perhaps Swift did save the best for last, with “Is It Over Now? (Taylor ’s Version)” finishing off the vault tracks. The clever and witty lyrics portray the feeling of betrayal when a past relationship moves on — “If she’s got blue eyes I will surmise that you’ll probably date her / You dream of my mouth before it called you a lying traitor.” Blue-eyed Swift details that the subject of this song has a new girl who is her “clone.” “Is It Over Now? (Taylor ’s Version)” has parallels to “Style (Taylor ’s Version)” also on the album, where Swift writes “And when we go crashing down, we come back every time.” Both songs are odes to a relationship that doesn’t have a clear ending and seems to continue in an unhealthy cycle.

“1989 (Taylor ’s Version)” is a strong continuation of Swift’s re-recording journey and incorporates the classic elements of the original album while showcasing her vocal and stylistic growth.

BANTER

facebook.com/badgerherald Editor’s Note: All Banter stories are satirical.

Gentle Clowns maintain monumental winning streak Light work

by Jeremiah Frodl Banter Editor

THE BADGER HERALD.

In matters of self-congratulation the Gentle Clowns have continued their historic sporting winning streak over their rival newspaper the Dirty Birds. In a match some have described as “too easy” and “almost hilariously uncompetitive” the Gentle Clowns team came out of theirbeersoaked journalism caves and dominated in an altogether nerdy, beta sport known as “ultimate frisbee.”

Disappointed in the fact that frisbee isn’t made any more fun by adding an ultimate in front of it — and in spite of the urge to bully themselves for playing it — the Gentle Clowns proved that true champions adjust to new circumstances by rocketing to a hefty four point lead out the gates.

Hitting back with the force of a 140-pound banter editor, the Dirty Birds would respond with a touchdown of their own. However, led by the steel resolve and booming voice of team Captain CC Big Irons, Sports Editor Mad Dawg Bingley and Banter Editor Ford Kingston V combined with some slick combo passing to put home the Clowns’ response. The Clowns would seal the first of the three game series by immediately recovering after kickoff and putting away an easy pointaroo.

Hoping to see if the Dirty Birds had any dawg left in them whatsoever after such a humiliating first game, the Gentle

Clowns mercifully skipped straight past the B team and subbed on their C team.

Despite having a line up that included Occasional Writer Snaaard Flipflop, and John “Just Some Guy Who was There” Doe, the Clowns continued to dominate the proceedings — thanks to the brilliant game plan and on field adjustments made by coaches Overlord Jenna Howitzer and Harietta “The Lioness of Snodgrass” Diggins.

If not for Hohurtz missing several pinpoint touchdown passes from Mister Kingston V and the Mad Dawg — throwing a small fit and refusing to help out on defense for the entire last of the game — the Gentle Clowns would’ve easily swept the second game six to zero. But the Clowns had to settle for a disappointing six to one victory.

With two games in hand, the Clowns put the series away before it even reached the full three games and left no doubt as to which paper was the more athletic and tactical. In a sign of surrender, the Dirty Birds staff would approach the celebrating Clowns and tell them they were not only the prettiest newspaper staff on campus, but also a beacon of journalistic integrity for student news everywhere. In response, the Gentle Clowns staff was reported to have called them “NPCs” while sticking “L” signs on their foreheads.

TOP: ADRIAN ALESSANDRO CARMOSINO. THE BADGER HERALD. BOTTOM: JEREMIAH FRODL. THE BADGER HERALD.

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