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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2023 · VOL 55, ISSUE 4 · BADGERHERALD.COM
‘Profit off OF play’: Evolution of NIL impacts all universities today, including UW
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A recently introduced Assembly Bill would set a 75-year-old age limit for state Supreme Court justices.
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EXAM SEASON WELLBEING
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Stress and academic pressure rise during final exams, but resources are available to students.
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Q&A WITH STATE SEN. KELDA ROYS
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Sen. Roys talks to Badger Herald Editorial Board members about Wisconsin Republican’s impact on students.
LOOK BACK AT THIS SEMESTER’S SPORTS
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Take a look back at how the Badgers succeeded on the field, court and ice during the Fall 2023 semester. 2 • badgerherald.com • December 5, 2023
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Student Veterans of America pushes for community space
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Study shows student veterans feel lower sense of belonging paired with lower academic success, leaders say shared space can fix this by Ben Kapp State News Associate Editor
The Student Veterans of America chapter at the University of Wisconsin–Madison is encouraging UW to approve a space to be built near Camp Randall, according to previous reporting from The Badger Herald. The space would be dedicated to helping student veterans and members of veterans’ organizations meet for networking, programming and community. The Veteran Education to Workforce Affinity and Success Study surveyed student veterans from a variety of Universities of Wisconsin schools, including UW–Madison. According to their website, The Veteran Education to Workforce Affinity and Success Study’s mission is to provide insight into how student veterans’ social lives intersect with their career paths. They found student veterans often lack the community support they need at college. The organization’s most recent data report indicates strong social support networks are linked to improved overall academic experiences for student veterans. On average, student veterans had between only five and six people in total with whom they discussed their personal life and academic or career challenges, with less than one being a fellow university student. “This research has shown that the number one indicator for student veterans’ success is having a place of community, because that sense of community was so built into the military,” UW Ph.D. student and retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Jim Gingras said. “When we get out and are looking for it, if it’s not there — like it’s not in the UW system or UW–Madison right now — it’s much more challenging for student veterans to feel that isolation or not have that support community that we had come to rely on in the military.” Director of University Veteran Services and veteran of the United States Marine Corps Joe Rasmussen encouraged traditional college undergraduate students to put themselves in student veterans’ shoes. Rasmussen said many veterans don’t come to college right out of high school. They often show up by themselves and are a little older than all of their peers. As a result, many student veterans don’t feel the same immediate sense of belonging that traditional first-year students do. The student veterans who indicated positive results in the study are individuals who know a greater number of fellow students at the college or university they’re attending. Furthermore, Rasmussen said these students do better when their community has a physical space to themselves. Student Veterans of America are using this report,
along with other research, to justify their request to the university to provide a permanent collective space, he said. “I think a lot of that belongingness, a lot of that attention comes from a physical
history often overshadowed by modern-day stadium fanfare. The grounds of Camp Randall originally played home to the Wisconsin State Fair in the mid 1800s, Gingras said. During the Civil
AHMAD HAMID. THE BADGER HERALD.
Student veterans hope to build community space in Camp Randall. space, and it’s awfully difficult that the space we have currently isn’t large enough,” Rasmussen said. Student Veterans of America, in which Gingras is heavily involved, hopes this space can be built on the grounds of Camp Randall — a plot of land that has a storied military
War, the land was used for a different purpose — a fully-functioning military site. At Camp Randall, 90%, or 70,000, of Wisconsin’s Union troops came into or out of service, Gingras said. When the Civil War ended, Camp Randall returned to a fairgrounds until the late 1800s when it was no longer needed, so it
was divided up. Civil War veterans advocated to the Wisconsin Legislature for a piece of the land due to its history, and they granted six and a half acres to UW to manage the land, with a part of the acreage meant to be a veteran’s memorial park, Gingras said. UW has used this land extensively for athletic facilities, starting with the Camp Randall Stadium, eventually building the Camp Randall Sports Center, or the Shell and McClain Center Athletic Facility. UW moved forward with construction of the Shell and McClain Center over the objections of veterans, Gingras said, as the buildings took away some of the grounds of the reserved Camp Randall Memorial Park space and splintered it into less conducive spaces for veterans. Earlier this summer, a new facility to replace both the Shell and the McClain Center was included in UW and Gov. Tony Evers’ 2023-25 Capital Budget proposals. The $285 million project was given the green light by Wisconsin’s Joint Finance Committee, with construction expected to begin in 2025, according to BadgerExtra. “Right now, we have this unique opportunity where at the same time as this construction is going on, to build a relatively small, purpose-built space for both military and veterans on the campus which are currently spread out over the entirety of the campus,” Gingras said. “You have the ROTC attachments from one side of the campus to the other. We have University Veteran Services, we have Student Veterans of America, we have all these different, important groups that represent a community of about 2,000 students and faculty. Right now, none of them have a permanent home, none of them have a purpose-built home.” Gingras so far in his promotion of the Student Veterans of America’s plea for an official meeting space, has heard a lot of yeses. He has sent a letter to Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin and reached out to UW’s Athletic Director, Chris McIntosh, but both have yet to respond. He hopes to sit down with Mnookin and McIntosh to show how a space for veterans at Camp Randall can coexist and work together with existing and planned athletic buildings. “I hope people will realize that this is an opportunity to do something better for a large community that has thus far been under supported by the university and, compared to the other Big Ten universities, significantly under supported,” Gingras said. “This is a perfect time and space to do something really meaningful ... Let’s use history. Let’s learn from the past. Let’s make things better.” December 5, 2023 • badgerherald.com • 3
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Microsoft invests billions into Wisconsin sites to build data centers After being declared U.S. Regional Technology Hub, Wisconsin attracts big data companies by Sami Bitat City News Associate Editor
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Microsoft is investing billions into Mount Pleasant and Racine County, bolstering job prospects for Wisconsinites. The Mount Pleasant Village Board voted to approve a deal with Microsoft, allowing the company to buy more than 1,000 acres of village land to build data centers, according to The Journal Times. The deal was then approved by the Racine County Board, receiving unanimous approval Nov. 28. The approval comes after an announcement from Gov. Tony Evers, D-Wis., that said Microsoft will invest billions of dollars in Racine County and Mount Pleasant to develop new data centers, according to a Nov. 10 press release. Through collaboration with organizations like United Way of Racine County and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, Microsoft officially announced the start of construction for their first data center in Mount Pleasant, according to Microsoft’s project overview. There are multiple reasons why Wisconsin has recently become so attractive to big technology 4 • badgerherald.com • December 5, 2023
corporations such as Microsoft, one of which being the state’s recent designation by the Biden administration as a U.S. Regional Technology Hub. The designation was a major reason for Microsoft’s investment in the state, according to the Nov. 10 press release. Another factor that has contributed to Microsoft’s decision to make such a large investment into Wisconsin stems from the passing of Evers’ 2023-25 biennial budget, which included new data center sales and use tax exemptions for attracting new large data centers, WEDC Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating Officer Sam Rikkers said. In an email statement to The Badger Herald, UW professor in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics Steven Deller said the aftermath of a botched 2017 investment by the big Taiwanese tech corporation Foxconn Technology Group in Wisconsin serves as a
significant incentive for Microsoft to invest in the Mount Pleasant and Racine County area. In 2017, Foxconn announced an interest in Wisconsin to build an enormous factory that would employ over 13,000 people, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. In response to the announcement of Foxconn’s plans, government officials in Mount Pleasant, Racine County and the state of Wisconsin began preparing the area to sustain such a large investment, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Officials in Mount Pleasant and Racine County began purchasing land back from homeowners while the state legislature worked on a tax incentive contract. The contract would have given Foxconn tax credits if they succeeded in creating jobs and developing the area, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. In 2018, Foxconn accepted the contract, prompting the development plan to begin. But
in the following years, the capital investment dropped from $10 billion to $672.8 million. The statewide employment goal also decreased to 1,454 from the 13,000 job openings Foxconn originally claimed the factory would bring to the community, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Similar to the Foxconn project, Microsoft’s current investment to build data centers would need significant contiguous land and access to state of the art infrastructure, including access to high power lines and water cooling systems, Deller said. The original Foxconn site provides all of this. Rikkers said Microsoft is better positioned to follow through with a development project in the area than Foxconn was. In addition to having investment commitments in the Mount Pleasant area, Microsoft has the potential to bring many benefits to Wisconsin with the data centers, Rikkers said. “Microsoft is already committed to investing billions of dollars in the site,” Rikkers said. “With that will come really tremendous job creation. It will also draw other companies to Wisconsin when you have this type of investment from such a highly regarded tech company like Microsoft ... it will be a really attractive point for our engineering and data and AI problems, data computing, educational programs in Wisconsin.” For one, Microsoft has committed $4.2 million to restore approximately 1.5 miles of Lamparek Creek through partnership with Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network, according to Microsoft’s project overview. President and Chief Executive Officer of United Way of Racine County Alexa Haigh said that so far, United Way’s relationship with Microsoft has been positive. “It’s not often that we have a company that is transitioning into our community that says, ‘Hey, we want to come to your organization, sit down with your staff, learn more about what you all are doing, what the needs are and how we can support you,’” Haigh said. “They’ve come to our office, they’ve toured our community schools and I know for a fact that they are doing external discussions with community at large to learn about what’s going on.” United Way of Racine County and Microsoft are also working together to roll out a fund that is open to non-profit organizations looking to provide access to technology to historically marginalized communities within the Racine County area, Haigh said. The technology will be used to address a wide range of service gaps, including access to mental health services, career development resources and higher paying jobs, Haigh said.
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UW faculty discuss medical amnesty policy, student protections Medical Amnesty Through Responsible Actions program protects students from certain UWPD violations by Tarun Vedula City News Associate Editor
In 2022, there were 690 liquor and drug law violations on campus property, according to the University of Wisconsin’s 2023 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. To combat the risk associated with underage drinking, the Medical Amnesty Through Responsible Actions program was implemented in 2017, aiming to provide a safer environment for students who find themselves or others in need of medical assistance during such incidents. Madison is nationally ranked for its binge drinking, according to the Observatory. Much of this binge drinking revolves around the university, which is well known for its party school reputation. With 47% of undergraduate students at the university engaging in high-risk drinking, according to University Health Services, the university has recognized the need for proactive measures to ensure student safety. UHS defines high-risk drinking as consuming four or more drinks in one sitting for females, and five or more for males. UHS Drug Misuse Prevention Specialist Jenna Retzlaff said medical amnesty removes the possible barrier for a student calling for help. “Amnesty is put in place to help make sure the fear of consequences doesn’t get in the way of student safety,” Retzlaff said. “Students might be worried about calling for help if they or someone they know is under the influence of alcohol and/or other drugs. And so with part amnesty, the [UWPD] want to make sure that students are calling if they feel they need to call for help.” The Medical Amnesty Through Responsible Actions policy specifically removes violations for both students who call for UWPD as well as individuals requiring aid if they cooperate with first responders, according to the policy website. This differs from the previous Responsible Actions Guidelines which only gave the caller amnesty. Associate Director of Student Conduct and Community Standards Ryan Podolak said the policy change came after discussions with students. “The amnesty policy used to only cover the caller or the student who was calling for help and not the student who needed help,” Podolak said. “Several years back, students were consulted and student affairs got feedback on that. A few years ago, the policy was updated so that amnesty protects both the caller and the student that needs
help.” If a student receives treatment at a medical facility for alcohol or other drugs,
recommendations from their AOD provider and OSCCS staff member, according to the Office of Student Conduct and Community
EDDIE KUSTNER. THE BADGER HERALD.
Drug misuse prevention specialist, student conduct associate director discuss medical amnesty at UW. they will not receive an official sanction if they attend the required follow-up program/intervention, and comply with
Standards. While the student completes the requirements from OSCCS, UWPD will
pause any underage citations until the student meets their obligations. Students’ parents or guardians may still be contacted if they are transported to the emergency room for an alcohol or drug overdose, according to UW’s Parent/Guardian Involvement Policy. The amnesty policy does not protect the supply of alcohol or other drugs, students who exhibit a pattern of repeated behavior with alcohol or other drugs, or students who violate other student conduct policies. Further, amnesty only applies to violations handled by UWPD — violations handled by the Madison Police Department will not be protected under medical amnesty. “It’s tricky for students to understand that this only applies to citations issued by the University of Wisconsin Police Department,” Podolak said. “So if students are off-campus somewhere, we don’t have a vote about if anyone gets issued a citation or not. We would like to think in all likelihood, that if someone needs help, and they’re off-campus, and they call 911, they’ll receive medical attention and people won’t generally be interested in trying to issue citations to the four or five friends that are there just trying to get help for the student, but that’s ultimately a Madison Police Department decision.” A study conducted at Georgetown University examined call data for six semesters prior to and after the implementation of a medical amnesty policy on its campus. Data revealed an increase in the number of alcohol-related calls to the college-based emergency medical services as well as an earlier median time of alcoholrelated calls. There was also a 5.3% decrease in requests for advanced life support resources. Similarly, a Cornell University study revealed fear of punishment is one of the primary reasons students don’t seek medical attention for severely intoxicated friends. The most cited reason, based on a sample of Cornell undergraduates, was that students weren’t sure if their friends were sick enough to warrant medical help. The second most cited reason was that students were afraid their friends would get in trouble. Information about the amnesty rule is available in the AlcoholEdu program which is required for all first-year students. Additionally, all registered student organizations are required to have one member complete an orientation which includes additional training about the amnesty policy, Retzlaff said. December 5, 2023 • badgerherald.com • 5
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Assembly bill sets age limit at 75 for state Supreme Court justices Wisconsin could join more than 30 other states in setting judicial age limits by Blake Thor State News Associate Editor
The Wisconsin State Assembly passed a bill Nov. 9 that would set an age limit of 75 for state Supreme Court justices, according to the Wisconsin State Legislature. The bill was introduced by Rep. Nik Rettinger (R-Mukwonago) and co-sponsored by Sen. Cory Tomczyk (R-Mosinee) and passed the Assembly by a vote of 53–44 with two abstentions. Democrats of the Assembly were joined by nine Republicans in voting against the bill. Younger generations need to take control of the state judiciary, Tomczyk said in a testimonial statement in support of the bill. “As individuals age, we know that their ability to tackle different tasks becomes increasingly difficult,” Tomczyk said. “We frequently see those in positions of power fail to acknowledge this reality and turn over the reins to the next generation.” The bill would prohibit individuals from serving on the state Supreme Court if they are elected on or after their 75th birthday, meaning individuals could still serve if they turn 75 after being elected, according to the bill’s text. Further, if made law, the bill would not apply to current Supreme Court justices seeking reelection and temporary reserve judges appointed by the chief justice. Assembly Bill 552 is a continuation of a 1977 ballot initiative titled “The Wisconsin Unified Court System Amendment,” according to Tomczyk’s testimonial statement. The initiative passed with support from 67.46% of the voters and resulted in an amendment of the state Constitution, which gave the Wisconsin Legislature power to set Supreme Court age limits at 70 years and above, according to the testimonial statement. Data from the National Center for State Courts show Wisconsin would be joining more than 30 states in setting 70- to 75year age limits for state Supreme Court justices if the bill were made law. One argument in favor of age limits is to combat unrepresentative gerontocracy in the American judiciary, University of Wisconsin political science professor Howard Schweber said. “[Supreme Court justices] are representative in the sense that they speak to and on behalf of the country as a whole and there is a general democratic sense of discomfort with such an important role being played by people who are drawn 6 • badgerherald.com • December 5, 2023
from such a narrow spectrum of society and that may have to do with education or wealth or in this case, age,” Schweber said.
decisions related to the internet, for example, should be familiar with what the internet is and how it works, Schweber said.
CAT CARROLL. THE BADGER HERALD.
Assembly Bill could result in a younger state Supreme Court, UW political science professor says. Aside from being unrepresentative, gerontocracy also prohibits informed decisions on new-age issues, Schweber said. Judges who make First Amendment
There is also a general concern that some aging Supreme Court justices are unable to carry out their responsibilities because of declining health, Schweber
said. “There have been justices about whom it has been argued they really should have retired sooner than they did, right, because they were just getting old,” Schweber said. “They were no longer able to perform their duties in the way that they should. I don’t know if that’s an immediate concern, but it’s a general concern.” But there is also a general argument in opposition to setting judicial age limits, Staff Attorney for the State Democracy Research Initiative at UW Law School Bryna Godar said. Opponents of age limits argue the experience of older judges should be appropriately valued, Godar said. “On the flip side, opponents of these provisions say that setting a cut-off age is overbroad,” Godar said. “In terms of the health concerns, they’re very individual to individual and there are plenty of judges on the bench past age 70-75 who are still very cognitively healthy and healthy overall. Setting an age limit can mean judges stepping down, who still have a lot of experience and wisdom to contribute.” Godar said the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which has a Wellness Commission that routinely evaluates the cognitive and mental health of its judges as a viable health management alternative opponents of age limits have pointed to. There are key functional differences between setting judicial age limits and having term limits, Godar said. Term limits focus on how long a judge serves, whereas age limits focus on when judges step down, Godar said. “Say you had an 18-year term limit, if somebody started on the bench at 70, they could serve until 88,” Godar said. “But if you had a retirement age [at 75], somebody could start serving on the bench at 70 and only serve for five years.” The bill arrived at the Senate on Nov. 10 and was referred to the Wisconsin Senate’s Committee on Shared Revenue, Elections and Consumer Protection. The Committee doesn’t currently have any hearings scheduled, according to the Wisconsin State Legislature. The long-term implications of the bill are unclear, Schweber said. “I think the general ramifications would be that we have a somewhat younger judiciary,” Schweber said. “And beyond that, it is an experiment ... there’s no really strong clear assertions that I can make.”
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Campus resources are available to support students during final exams.
Stress, academic pressure rise around final exam season Pressure surrounding exams can be combated with sleep, counseling by Brianna Davis Campus News Associate Editor
In the past decade, depression and suicide rates in the United States have been rising strongly, especially for college students, according to University of Wisconsin professor of human ecology and psychiatry Dr. Charles Raison. Academic pressure sets people up to be more depressed and anxious, especially those who are already sensitive to stressors, according to Raison. As the semester progresses and moves toward finals season, depression and anxiety rates creep higher, Raison said. “There is a very reliable pattern, which is that people’s depression tends to get worse as they approach finals and midterms, and tends to drop a lot over the break,” Raison said. There are higher numbers of people that reach out for mental health services around midterms and final exam season, as well as a higher level of distress from those University Health Services is currently seeing, according to Associate Director of Clinical Services at UHS Ellen Marks. Counseling as well as a service called Let’s
Talk — informal, confidential consultations at no cost for UW students — is available all year through UHS. These services, while available all year, can be something to lean on during finals season, Marks said. “I think it’s [Let’s Talk] is particularly helpful around this time of year, where a student might not need ongoing mental health support, but in this period of ... time in particular, they could use some additional support,” Marks said. Let’s Talk gives opportunities for dropin talks with counselors, with both virtual and in-person options. When in-person, consultations are spread across campus in locations such as the Red Gym, College Library or other locations UHS knows students are located, according to Marks. Appointments for Let’s Talk are much more readily available than normal UHS services, often available in a day or two, Marks said. “The appointments are half an hour and tend to be more solution-focused,” Marks said. “It’s really great as it’s not a big time commitment, but students can quickly and
easily access support with a counselor.” Over the course of the semester, UHS has been hosting THRIVE workshops to support academics, relationships and overall wellbeing, according to its website. The last workshop of the semester, titled “Test anxiety,” will take place Dec. 12 and is designed to help build skills, provide resources and offer academic support to those in attendance, Associate Director of Campus and Community Engagement at UHS Brittany Howell said. Exam season is already a stressful time for students, so when it is paired with end of semester final projects and exams all due in a short period of time, it makes it harder on students, Marks said. “And at the same time, the weather — it’s getting colder — so folks who may have been coping or taking care of their mental health by getting outside or exercising outside may be having to shift what they’re doing to be able to take care of themselves,” Marks said. Academic performance is often tied directly to a student’s identity, so performance on exams can be a matter of who they are as people, something UHS is aware of and thinking about, Marks said. Students are also individual in their needs, which is why it is important to pay attention to changes and feelings as the semester progresses, Howell said. “Some of the basics you can do as a student is focusing on your sleep, your eating, your body changes and trying to address those,” Howell said. “So whether that means getting
more sleep or eating healthier meals, or being able to eat with friends and not be alone … giving yourself grace, embracing imperfection, allowing yourself to make mistakes and knowing that you don’t have to be perfect all the time.” Howell also said that looking at the bigger picture can help students move forward during stressful periods. Rather than getting caught up in every grade and assignment, students can relieve academic pressure on themselves by realizing one exam won’t dictate their entire career, Howell said. A lot of old wives tales have merit when trying to live a healthier lifestyle, according to Raison. Getting enough sleep, not partying too much and eating healthier will all help combat the academic stress which leads to heightened depression, Raison said. Further, while there are certainly challenges associated with accessing professional help, seeking professional care is very important for people experiencing ongoing mental health symptoms, Raison said. UHS offers a 24-hour crisis line which students are always welcome to call, even if they are unsure if what they are experiencing counts as a crisis, Howell said. “If it feels like a crisis, or if students feel like they need support in that moment, they should always just call to talk to someone who can provide support,” Howell said. “Folks are also able to walk in when we’re open between the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to talk to a counselor.” December 5, 2023 • badgerherald.com • 7
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Fit Families makes exercise accessible to children with disabilities Researchers at UW Madison develop inclusive exercise programs, plan to expand by Nalina Cherr Science News Reporter
Families and their children with intellectual and developmental disabilities often face many barriers to getting accessibility to exercise. But, in 2019, University of Wisconsin associate professor of Kinesiology Luis Columna brought the Fit Families program to Madison — a program that adapts exercise to individual kids and encourages parents to be involved in their child’s physical health. Columna said he became inspired to found the Fit Families program by accident when he observed parents stepping up to assist their children with visual impairments at a sports camp in Guatemala. “At the end … I interviewed a parent,” Columna said. “One told me, ‘I’ve read a lot about physical activity, I know it’s important, but it’s not the same reading about it versus doing it.’ And I said, ‘You just gave me a phenomenal idea.’” Often, the biggest obstacle isn’t the activities themselves but the mindset of the parents, who can be overprotective of their children — which can unconsciously hold them back from the confidence they need to have fun, Columna said. Perceptions of personal expertise have a huge impact on the limits of what a child can do and when parents are afraid for their children, their mindset tends to rub off on them. Fit Families teaches parents to give their kids the confidence to set their own intentions. “[If] you have the intention to do something, most likely you’re going to do it,” Columna said. “If you want to do physical activity, you have the intention, you will do it.” Parents of children with intellectual or developmental disabilities also need support in helping arrange their children’s physical activity. For example, while some parents can tell their children to run around in the backyard, other children may need more direction — their parents don’t always know how to give them the tools they need, Columna said. According to Columna, physical education classes today are missing communication. Physical education teachers must reach out to parents, just as they would if a student were struggling in math or English and share resources about the activities they’ll be doing in class. This would give parents the opportunity to break down activities for their kids at home, making gym class a less daunting place for all students, particularly those with disabilities, Columna said. Engaging kids in physical activities is important — being healthy, having intentions for their health and confidence in one’s abilities are what allows people to enjoy life, Columna said. He hopes to expand Fit Family offerings to include classes for adults. Engaging in physical activities such as strength training and yoga 8 • badgerherald.com • December 5, 2023
could help parents destress and provide an environment that shows children that being active is normal, Columna said. As a parent himself, Columna emphasized the importance of being a role model for his own sons. “They see how we [parents] eat, that we
aims to bring the program to adults with Down syndrome. People with Down syndrome are very likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, Columna said, but exercise could be one way to slow the progression of neurodegenerative diseases.
ALIYA IFTIKHAR. THE BADGER HERALD.
Program organizer hopes to expand toward helping adults with disabilities as well. are physically active, and they will imitate,” Columna said. The bottom line is that having a healthy body sets kids up for having a healthy life, Columna said. According to Columna, physical education is just as important as other subjects and should be mandatory for all children — those with disabilities and those without. According to Columna, when students are physically active, their grades are higher, behavioral issues are reduced and they have a more positive learning mindset. It isn’t only kids and their parents who benefit from physical activities, Columna said. He now
With his colleague and UW professor of human development and family studies Sigan Hartley of the Waisman Center, Columna is currently developing a program for adults with Down syndrome focusing on strength training. Rather than with kids, where the goal is to teach them fundamental motor skills like kicking and throwing, adults need a physical activity that prepares them for everyday physical tasks like walking to the grocery store, Columna said. UW graduate student Heather Katz is working to make inclusive exercise for adults by designing an effective, evidence-based group exercise intervention that will prepare people
with intellectual or developmental disabilities for work and independent life after high school. The first stage of her exploratory study involved interviewing group exercise instructors from across the U.S. about their perceptions of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, how prepared they feel to teach them and what they would need to implement group exercising programming, Katz said. “I wasn’t surprised with a lot of the things I found,” Katz said. “They just haven’t been exposed to people with disabilities before. It’s common … People with disabilities face a lot of barriers to being active in society.” Sometimes adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities are not able to get to a gym and may rely on other people to drive them, Katz said. Often, gyms themselves are not adapted to the needs of people with developmental disabilities — they might play loud music or have large classes with overwhelming numbers of people. Just as many buildings today are outfitted with ramps, gyms can begin to incorporate accessible resources such as headphones to block out unwanted noise or classes with intentionally softer music or smaller groups of people, Katz said. Gyms could also offer classes where movement is broken down and taught more slowly, so people can grow a sense of confidence rather than being launched into a fast-paced class. “I would love to see a standard curriculum that exercise instructors can go to,” Katz said. Another route that interests her is people with disabilities serving in roles as group fitness instructors, Katz said. She already sees a few instructors with intellectual or developmental disabilities, including Zumba instructors with Down syndrome and thinks there’s room for more. At UW, there are multiple programs designed to support affected groups, but it isn’t widespread enough to change the world, Katz said. There’s a mountain of change to be climbed and Katz said it cannot be overcome all at once. Through interviewing group exercise instructors, she noticed a desire for change — people want to be more inclusive, but they just don’t know how to do it, Katz said. Researchers have to incorporate the community members into their research and understand their audience as a whole in order to meaningfully change lives, Katz said. “I think it’s really important in every step of the research process that we’re keeping the target audience or the affected group in mind and being creative on how to include them,” Katz said. “Getting out there and getting to know your community or participants and doing something that helps them, I feel that kind of stuff is important.”
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Cheese-making organism may become state microbe, researchers say
As more states propose legislation to adopt state microbe, Wisconsin follows with important microbe for the dairy industry by Anna Smith Science News Reporter
The Catalysts for Science Policy organization plans to introduce a bill aimed at adopting Lactococcus lactis as Wisconsin’s state microbe. Affiliated with the University of Wisconsin, CaSP’s goal is to educate and bring awareness about scientific policy to non-graduate and graduate students alike, which they aim to do with this new bill. Considering the state of Wisconsin is the leading producer of cheese in the country, according to Statista, L. lactis is a heavy contributor to Wisconsin’s success. Due to this, CaSP has advocated for its adoption as the state microbe, according to CaSP’s website. “Having a state microbe would provide an opportunity not only for students to learn about the cheesemaking process — something that is culturally very important to Wisconsin — but also to learn a little bit about microbiology. We want people to understand that there are beneficial microbes, that a lot of the things we enjoy in life are dependent upon microbes and that they do really good things for us,” CaSP CoPresident Christopher Dade said. Unlike a state bird, rock or flower, a few states have chosen to adopt a state microbe. According to CaSP’s issue brief, only three states have passed a state microbe into law — Oregon signed Saccharomyces cerevisiae, New Jersey signed Streptomyces griseus and Illinois signed Penicillium rubens. Hawaii has a proposed state microbe, Aliivibrio fischeri, but it has yet to pass much like in Wisconsin. While Wisconsin attempted to pass L. lactis as the state microbe in 2009, it did not pass through the Senate, Dade said. But now that other states have adopted the idea of a state microbe, the path for L. lactis may be easier this time around. According to Dade, there is high hope for the bill’s success. According to ScienceDirect, L. lactis is a part of the mesophilic bacteria group, meaning it prefers moderate temperatures, and is a crucial component for the production of dairy products. “In effect, without this bacteria [L. lactis], we could not make a majority of the cheeses in Wisconsin which the state is known for and a large producer of,” Dade said. “In addition, Wisconsin is the largest producer of cheese cultures … so Wisconsin not only makes the cheese, but Wisconsin mass produces the bacteria to help other people make cheese as well.” CaSP member Austin Hall said one of the main reasons L. lactis has been proposed to represent Wisconsin is its crucial role in the cheesemaking process. Cheesemakers will add the bacterium into pasteurized milk, and it will produce an acid that catalyzes, or speeds up, the curdling process. These curds are finally separated, shaped and aged in a way specific to
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Wisconsin is the largest producer of cheese cultures, Catalysts for Science Policy president says. the type of cheese being produced. This simple yet significant technique is used throughout the state for not only the development of cheese but also for the insurance of food quality, Hall said. “Changing the acidity of foods typically can protect against other harmful pathogens from colonizing or changing the food,” Hall said. “L. lactis also produces a chemical called niacin. It’s a natural food preservative that a lot of other microorganisms don’t like, so they can’t grow as well.” The adoption of L. lactis as the state microbe is intended to honor the history and economic value of cheesemaking in Wisconsin, according to a CaSP poster. As a part of Wisconsin law, all state symbols are taught in school, which would then bring awareness to the two key figures of
Wisconsin’s cheese-making history — Charles Rockwell and Anne Picket. Beginning in the mid-1800s, Charles Rockwell produced cheese from the Fort Atkinson area, and Anne Picket began the first cottage industry cheese farm in 1841, according to the poster. Ultimately, their success sparked Wisconsin’s economic and cultural relationship with cheese. As time progressed, the amount of demand for cheese increased, so factories dedicated to producing cheese were formed. Immigration helped introduce other forms of cheese into Wisconsin’s cheese production. Ultimately, the popularity of cheese only increased and is still a major part of Wisconsin today, especially the economy, according to the poster. Agricultural practices in Wisconsin account for 11.8% of the state’s employment, contributing
$104.8 billion to the state economy, according to CaSP’s issue brief. Of that $104.8 billion, the dairy industry contributes approximately half. Another big contributor to Wisconsin’s economy rests in the distribution of cheese cultures. CaSP has distributed its memo detailing its proposal to acquire co-sponsors that may support the bill, Dade said. Depending on the speed of the legislative cycle, the members of the organization hope this bill will be introduced officially by the end of November or early December so the public gains an awareness of this unique microbe. “The early signs that we’ve seen show that we have bipartisan support in both the Assembly and the Senate to get the ball rolling,” Dade said. “We think we could build a coalition if the legislation moves forward.” December 5, 2023 • badgerherald.com • 9
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People of UW: Humorology executive board member talks raising money Stories of students: Read about students making a difference on campus by Mia Hermansen Public Relations Associate
at UW every spring. Humo students compete in teams or casts that write, choreograph, direct and perform their own original mini musical comedy. Our casts also compete against each other to fundraise the most money for our beneficiary. It’s mostly made up of difference FSL organizations, which are fraternity and sorority life organizations. Not all of them are involved, but a lot are and continue to be year after year. I think there are 28 chapters involved this year, which brings our total numbers to just under 1,000 students. Also, Humo isn’t exclusively FSL members and every year, we usually have students that join casts as “independents” that aren’t in a sorority or fraternity.
What’s your specific role?
My sophomore year, I started out as a member of a cast, so I was in almost every scene in our final show, including dances and musical numbers. Last year, I was on the directing team for my cast. I helped the writers create our show last year. Then this year, I was super honored to be on the executive board as the financial administrator. Basically, I keep track of most finances, administration information for the casts, and help to keep Humo a legal nonprofit organization. I also give guidance to our cast to help their show reach its full potential along with other members of the exec board.
What are the plays about?
Photo Courtesy Taylor Wild
Humorology raises money through performance. 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.
which is half an hour from Madison. After graduation I’m hoping to find a job in the sustainability field that allows me to continue my passion back to my community. I joined Alpha Xi Delta during the fall of my sophomore year.
My name is Taylor Wild. I am a senior at UW majoring in environmental studies and geography. I’m from Deerfield, Wisconsin,
Humo, as we call it, is a student organization at UW, and we’re also our own nonprofit organization. We produce an annual musical variety show that takes place
Tell us about yourself.
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What is Humorology?
The plays are inspired by other movies or stories but they’re all original and produced by the directing teams of each cast. They always throw in joke sets that students at UW might know. So they might reference people like Tunnel Bob or, different jokes of things on campus, like beating Minnesota. The plays are put on through donations in general. Our cast raises money all year. They reach out to family members, friends, businesses, friends of friends and anybody else that they can reach out to tell them what we’re doing and the organization they’re a part of, just to help raise money for their cast and the beneficiary.
How is the beneficiary selected?
Our beneficiary changes every year, which is one of my favorite parts about Humo because it allows us to help an even greater amount of people in the community. We often have local charities apply to your beneficiary, and our executive board and directors vote to choose our beneficiary of
that year.
What’s the selected beneficiary this year?
This year the beneficiary is Logan’s Heart and Smiles, which is a Madisonbased nonprofit that helps families in need by building accessibility and safety modifications for children with disabilities or special needs. It’s a really amazing organization because their work empowers children’s independence in their own home which is really important for their development. Logan’s Heart and Smiles was founded by Joe Herr who has been absolutely wonderful to work with. He started the organization in honor of his son Logan, who was born with cerebral palsy. Something I find really sweet about Logan’s Heart and Smiles, is that every child they help joins their family as Logan’s friends.
How much has Humo raised?
To date, we have raised over $2.4 million for the Madison community. Last year, we raised over $520,000, for the Canopy Center of Dane County, but it’s kind of difficult to give an average just because totals can vary so much by year. Our goal this year is to raise $450,000 for Logan’s Heart and Smiles. But of course, all of us on the executive board are striving to go above and beyond that to raise as much as possible.
What’s your favorite part of Humo?
I would say I have two favorites. I absolutely love being part of an organization that can create such an immense difference for local nonprofits and so many families in the community. And another thing I love about Humo is just getting so many students involved in the performing arts, many of which have never done so before. They all form such close friendships through the creative process, and it’s just a really wonderful thing to see.
What’s next for you?
I’m not completely sure, but I’m really interested in working with food recovery programs. Big parts in sustainability is that there’s a lot of food that could be saved and given to people who are in need and maybe struggling with hunger at home. Recovery programs take that food that would otherwise be wasted and give it to people that can’t afford it.
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‘profit off OF play’:
Evolution of NIL impacts all universities today, including UW by Maddox Durst Sports Editor
This fall, Badger Sports Properties, the multimedia rights holder of University of Wisconsin’s athletics, signed a deal with wireless service UScellular to officially sponsor the company’s “Timeouts” campaign, according to sports media company Learfield. Three UW athletes — Izzy Ashburn (volleyball), Chayla Edwards (women’s hockey) and Maema Njongmeta (football) — are representing both companies by filling their social media channels with posts and stories about how they stay connected from a digital perspective. For UScellular, the Timeouts campaign emphasizes the importance of stepping back and taking in quality communicative connections without screens. It’s supposed to be a reminder for all. So let’s take a step back, and delve deeper into how that partnership with UW’s student-athletes came to be. Simply put into one phrase, it’s all about name, image and likeness, also known as NIL. It is an ever-evolving field that has provided college student-athletes with a way to make money with brand partnerships while competing on some of the biggest stages in the United States. Ashburn and Edwards have each accumulated at least one national championship as Badgers in their time in Madison, and Njongmeta is a current captain of the football team. They have large followings on social media and beyond. Though these three athletes represent some of UW’s most prolific athletic teams, the importance of NIL has proven to be useful to athletes part of any sport. The future of college athletics was altered in 2019 when the state of California implemented the Fair Play to Pay Act, which prohibited the NCAA from punishing a student-athlete for making money off of their own name, image and likeness, according to Forbes. California’s ruling led to a nationwide movement July 1, 2021, when the NCAA allowed all college athletes to NIL be allowed for all college athletes, according to an announcement on June 30, 2021. The only limitations set on the ruling was determined by the laws of the state. From there, NIL has grown at a rapid pace. Athletes and universities have prioritized this concept in bettering the experience of college and eventually the future. The NIL 12 • badgerherald.com • December 5, 2023
field has provided numerous opportunities, but is still shaping itself as a concrete industry. Legally, NIL has not quite formed strong or consistent rules for its users. There’s an opening in the market for anyone to represent these athletes, no matter age or experience. That’s where Joshua Frieser — a sports business lawyer and principal attorney at Frieser Legal — comes in. Frieser has worked in this new field ever since its inception. He was with the NCAA when the California news hit in 2019, and now runs his own legal firm to help studentathletes and their marketing agents who are pursuing a deal. “I represent athletes on a variety of matters, related to college athletics, high school athletics, etcetera,” Frieser said. “And it’s across all sports, obviously, whatever comes through the door to some degree … A lot of what I do is I provide the backend legal support for the athlete’s marketing agents.” It is people like Frieser, and other members of the growing industry, who contribute to the experiences the public has with NIL advertising and brand partnerships.
The landscape today
As viewers sit and enjoy a nationally televised football game in the fall, or basketball in the winter, collegiate athletes are posted throughout advertisements in between the game action. Caitlin Clark — a star women’s basketball player out of the University of Iowa — has recently been featured in a State Farm commercial with the infamous “Jake from State Farm.” NIL’s publicity expands to athletes such as 2022 Heisman Memorial Trophy winner Caleb Williams out of the University of Southern California, who showcased his acting skills on a series of Dr. Pepper commercials that coincide with the college football season. Another member of USC’s athletic program — LeBron James Jr., also known as “Bronny” — is projected to make nearly $6 million just in NIL deals in his freshman year of college, according to On3’s NIL rankings. Due to an early season injury, the son of LeBron James has not appeared on the court for the Trojans. Despite his absence, the 19-year-old is predicted to make more money than nearly half of the NBA’s current players, according to ESPN. Other collegiate athletes who have found
their niche both on the playing field and throughout multimedia productions have been the likes of University of Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders and Louisiana State University gymnast Olivia Dunne — who each project to make seven figures by the end of the year, according to On3. It’s just the tip of the iceberg in an everexpanding industry. This was not the case just a couple of years ago. Travel back to 1995, senior year for University of California-Los Angeles men’s basketball forward Ed O’Bannon. O’Bannon — after dealing with injuries early in his career — elevated to stardom in his final season at UCLA. The eventual All-American led the Bruins to an NCAA National Championship during the 1994-95 season, as O’Bannon earned the NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player award. From there, O’Bannon enjoyed a career that included playing time in the NBA and overseas in Europe. While he is known for his prowess on the court, O’Bannon’s impact was heard nationwide in 2008 for something much larger. O’Bannon discovered that Electronic Arts used him as the cover photo for their new video game without his consent. So, the company was profiting off of his image — leading O’Bannon to sue the NCAA and others in 2009, according to the American University Business Law Review. Six years later, O’Bannon and his team of lawyers earned approximately $46 million from the NCAA due to its violation of rules, according to Sports Illustrated. The former star out of UCLA’s situation demonstrates the evolution of the college landscape today. It’s a wide open field in the NIL market, providing student athletes with unlimited access to businesses and profit. The problem is that the field has shown to be quite flexible. Collegiate athletes, NIL agents and other personnel continue to learn the ropes of this system, as laws and regulations change. For example, in the state of Alabama, there have been three separate legislative changes in less than two years, Frieser said. Constant adjustments make the law difficult to keep track of from the athletes’ perspective within their individual NIL program. Understanding the rules of NIL is not necessarily the most important aspect in using it wisely, Frieser said. “I think what’s really important for student athletes is to surround yourself with smart folks, with a good team, with people
that know what they’re doing,” Frieser said. “And I think that’s the biggest challenge that I’ve seen in this industry is there are folks who know what they’re doing. They have experience working with the NCAA rulebook who have experience with NCAA compliance, and then the other folks that have no clue.” There’s a low barrier to entry for agents looking to explore the NIL field, Frieser said. This makes trust in an individual important for when a collegiate athlete is trying to make a deal with a business. It’s where Frieser and his legal team enter the conversation, and guide these partnerships to their fullest potential. “I think it’s really important for student athletes… [to] make sure you’re always going through those compliance checks, make sure you’re having conversations with your on campus staff and surrounding yourself with a good team is really pretty paramount,” Frieser said.
UW’s formula, athletes’ success
Campus staff — as Frieser mentioned — is now essential for a university to recruit athletes and promote their message to the highest level. It has created even more competition between schools to persuade athletes to attend their respective universities. At UW, an NIL department was launched in 2022 over the past couple of years to help elevate the profit and experience for student athletes, according UW Athletics. Led by Director of NIL Strategy Brian Mason, the university has created a website that houses the cardinal and white’s athletes. It’s called the YouDub Marketplace, a site where UW’s athletes can promote themselves to earn business inquiries. Athletes have the choice to put in background information on themselves, similar to a resume. This gives them the choice and opportunity to create a platform through the university, which ultimately connects them with businesses who are on the hunt for promotions. The YouDub Marketplace was a building block to bigger and better things, as many individual athletes learned throughout the process. The NIL department at the university also provides viewers with a website which breaks down the goals and values of the newly formed team in Madison. “Elevate Your Brand” and “Maximize Your Value” are the two main slogans that
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facebook.com/badgerherald reflect the NIL department’s goals at UW. “Student-athletes at Wisconsin benefit from the ability to elevate their personal brand simply through their association with the Badger brand, which boasts one of college athletics’ most passionate fan bases, a pool of 465,000 living alumni, tremendous social media reach, massive television exposure and a dynamic, growing city in a sports-loving state,” the website states when discussing the benefits of attending UW. From the athletes’ perspective, junior Maggie Munson has used NIL to her advantage in her time here at UW. She has received guidance, and ultimately has created a successful name for herself through the use of NIL. Munson is a member of the cross country and track and field programs at the university — two sports that don’t necessarily receive the same amount of attention as some of the major athletic teams. For example, ESPN announced at the end of 2022 that it had accumulated 4.1 billion minutes of viewership from its consumers on just college football alone. On the other hand, the only nationally broadcasted meet of the cross country season takes place on ESPNU, typically on the morning of a college football Saturday, according to the NCAA. Munson received help from the athletic department before taking off in the realm of NIL — emphasizing the importance of putting her values first before promoting a business on her individual social media accounts. “It was like a business plan, basically,” Munson said. “And she [NIL Marketing Manager Paige Sadoff] was so helpful and explained that, breaking it down, telling me what analytics to look for and how to go for deals that represent the brand that we’re trying to portray. So I really appreciated the help from YouDub.” From there, Munson hit her stride through the use of Instagram and TikTok. She created partnerships with EatStreet, Klarbrunn sparkling water and A Better Wisconsin Together early on. Munson also joined up with fellow teammates in juniors Mya Bunke, Kylie Finger and Leané Willemse to create @ therunningrats Instagram page, an account focused on running. The platform documents their in-season work and gives their audience a behind-the-scenes look at the daily lives of these student-athletes. As the team of four posted consistently, the page started to gain attraction on a national scale. Today, it attracts over 36,000 followers, as some of their videos have exceeded one million views over the fall semester. Their activity on Instagram and rapid popularity garnered attention from some businesses. It allowed the four athletes
to create a partnership with a major convenience store staple in the state of Wisconsin — Kwik Trip. The business has been super helpful in encouraging and brainstorming social media posts to promote their brand, and their friendly attitude has played into the values of “The Running Rats,” according to Munson. All four members of the page grew up in Wisconsin, making the deal even sweeter. “We’ve been very collaborative with the Kwik Trip social media team,” Munson said about the experience so far. “They’re honestly awesome. They really pride themselves in not only helping you create content, but also supporting you in life, which is so cool.”
deal to have success. Bubbl’r has figured out that NIL formula, and used it wisely to better expand their brand to new heights. They’ve allowed athletes and even fans of the company to enjoy clothing products and merchandise — featuring another way brands continue to advance in an attempt to engage their audience. “A lot of people are always really interested in it,” Hansen said of Bubbl’r clothing line. “A lot of people at events through work do a bunch of this. My coworkers will wear that stuff to the events and people are asking … they want it and then we obviously push them towards the website.”
products, and do so effectively. That’s a lesson that UW senior Cameron Hansen — a current member of AreaRED — has learned in his job as a brand ambassador at Bubbl’r. Bubbl’r is a sparkling water brand that has rapidly elevated its presence throughout the United States, and has developed strongly in the Madison area over the past couple of years. Similar to the aforementioned Kwik Trip — Bubbl’r provides its audience a vibrant energy on social media channels — sparked by humor and positivity. In his time there, social media and branding is a power that Hansen has noted. “I think what we do really well as a company is on social media, we present ourselves in the manner that we want people to see us,” Hansen said. “So all of our posts, announcements, or how we interact with our consumers, it really correlates with our goal and our standards and what we want. Like how we see ourselves as a brand, which is this exciting, positive, really bubbly personality, as a brand.” The sparkling water brand is a part of the Pepsi family, which has led to multiple student-athletes at UW to use their NIL to partner with Bubbl’r. One of the main partners with the university is the Pepsi brand, according to the NIL website. Due to the high demand of collegiate athletes wanting to promote through their own page, it requires Bubbl’r take them through a screening process beforehand, Hansen said. Representation is important when branding, and who a company chooses to be the face is key to its success. “Our goal with that is our main focus is: ‘Is this person going to follow our morals, our ethics,” Hansen said. “Do they present themselves in a way that aligns with above or wants to be presented?” Munson and Hansen both explained that goals and values of the company and collegiate athlete need to align in order for a
Due to the aforementioned flexibility of NIL, the field provides endless opportunities for individuals to create partnerships with businesses. William Hazelton — a member of the UW Marching Band — discovered he could take his passion for a brand to the next level. Hazelton grew up in Edgerton, Wisconsin, approximately 30 minutes southeast of Madison. He is currently a senior at UW and plays the mellophone in the band. In being a Wisconsinite, similar to “The Running Rats,” Hazelton always had a love for Kwik Trip. It’s a staple of his daily routine here in Madison, as a Kwik Trip conveniently lies across the street from Camp Randall Stadium. As he discovered the realm of NIL and how athletes were using it, Hazelton had an idea. One email later, and the rest is history. “They [Kwik Trip] were receptive of it, and it sounded like they had a previous notion of getting into a partnership with the whole NIL market,” Hazelton said. “So when I reached out, they were like, ‘Wow this is a great initiative from somebody, this is something that we want to do, so let’s roll with Will and see where this goes.’” Members of the UW band endure a stressful schedule during the school year. Hazelton — like many others in the band — performs at football, men’s hockey, women’s hockey, men’s basketball, women’s basketball and volleyball events. There’s not much wiggle room throughout the week when academics are added in, similar to a college athlete. Preparation is key as well, and that’s where Hazelton views himself as something greater than just a member of the band. During marching band season, practices last about two hours Tuesday through Friday, Hazelton said. Any home football game in the fall takes up the entirety of their Saturday, too. “To me, that’s what puts us in that
Social media’s power in Expansion business but not For businesses with contracted NIL athletes deals, there is a constant need to promote
continues, just for
category in being a collegiate athlete, even though that’s not the official title of someone in the marching band,” Hazelton said. “There’s so much practice, and that the marching band is such a public face for the university and the whole state of Wisconsin, that it’s something that everybody in the band wants to spend a lot of time on to ensure that it’s of good quality, that we perform well and sound good.” That led to the eventual NIL deal that Hazelton created with Kwik Trip a couple of months ago — representing a major milestone as the company’s first NIL deal with a student partner. Hazelton set a precedent that NIL can be extended beyond collegiate athletes, showcasing its diverse platform. The geological engineering major continues to partner with the gas station today, and plans to do so for the rest of his time in college.
Entering an unknown future
NIL continues to expand, and was thrown into a larger spotlight when the conference realignment era of college athletics was developed. Beginning in 2024, the Big Ten will add the University of Washington, University of Oregon, UCLA and USC with the disbanding of the PAC-12 Conference. The University of Oklahoma and the University of Texas will be joining the SEC, as one of the other monumental changes to the college landscape. It puts athletes on a bigger stage from a national viewing perspective, which is how NIL can continue to grow. Attention will be increased both in-person and on television screens — leading to more popularity amongst college athletics. The transfer portal continues to send shockwaves throughout the NCAA as well, where athletes have voiced interest in the schools that set them up for success with partnerships and deals, according to CBS News. Questions remain up in the air about the state of international student-athletes and how they can use NIL. As of now, they are prohibited from doing so due to the contradiction of current F-1 visa laws. International students are not offered the same opportunities as some of their teammates, which could be a changing factor in the future — once the field fully develops. The future landscape of NIL is unknown, similar to the many changes happening throughout the NCAA. Values and goals of the individual and the business will remain at the forefront of everyone’s minds as evolution of the industry occurs. Editor’s Note: At the time of this article’s publishing, members of UW’s NIL Department had not responded for comment.
December 5, 2023 • badgerherald.com• 13
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Age limits for Wisconsin justices balance responsiveness, experience Limit set at 75 years old may not be best for every situation, but in-line with public opinion by Sammie Garritty Opinion Writer
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Move towards younger Wisconsin Supreme Court would have benefits as well as drawbacks. A new bill has been introduced into the Wisconsin Legislature attempting to implement age limits for Wisconsin justices, and barring anyone under the age of 75 from being appointed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Wisconsin Rep. Nik Rettinger, one of the main proponents of the age limit bill argues that there is public pressure to elect new justices and fresher perspectives to courts in Wisconsin, according to Wisconsin Public Radio. There is precedent set for the bill, as 30 states across the country have already implemented this age limit into their Supreme Courts — including Minnesota and Michigan. But there is great debate surrounding this bill among Democrats and Republicans alike 14 • badgerherald.com • October 3, 2023
because of the number of politicians currently holding office that would be affected by the proposed age limit. Since there are justices like Clarence Thomas serving past that age limit now on a federal level, some Wisconsin politicians argue that this fact makes Wisconsin’s proposed age limit unfounded. Rep. Ron Tusler acknowledges that an age limit must be set, but believes 75 to be too arbitrary, according to WPR. Determining age limits comes down to a matter of longevity and competency. It is a slippery slope — there are some politicians who at age 75 could be deemed incompetent to serve, but there are also others who do their job well past that age. A middle ground must be found where politicians and the public both agree that
their best interests are being served. If this bill were to be passed, the makeup of the Wisconsin Supreme Court would shift drastically. If older people aren’t able to serve, the demographic would naturally shift younger — an effect that could be both beneficial and harmful. A younger, fresher perspective is welcomed by many. There is much public outrage surrounding the same politicians who have served for decades and fail to adapt to the ever-changing world. A younger court would be more relatable and potentially more accessible to attending and serving the public need. But there is also the viewpoint that with age comes experience. Politics has always been known to be
somewhat of a game. There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes in backrooms — deals struck and compromises made that keep the wheels of government turning. As politicians serve for longer periods, they naturally become accustomed to the rules and know-how of this game. It is part of their day-to-day life. They know what works to get things done and tactics to get desired results. Younger politicians tend to be more responsive to electoral incentives, anticipating a longer political career ahead of them. This unfortunate naivety could prove problematic, especially in such a high-ranking court. Justices need to be seasoned and trustable. The public needs to know that the people they elect understand their responsibility in office and can handle it professionally. Overall, there needs to be an age limit set to prevent the same people from serving for an extended period. It is not productive to have the same people running the government for decades on end, no matter what experience they bring into office. But there also need to be heavy requirements for who qualifies to be a Supreme Court justice Just because a new perspective is fresh, doesn’t necessarily mean that it is informed. Such a compromise strikes a balance between public opinion and the functionality of the government. At the end of the day, it is natural that as people age, natural changes occur in their body and that includes the brain. These changes can affect mental function even in physically healthy people. While 75 may not be the right age to limit Supreme Court justices, there needs to be a limit that protects public interests. Age limits are not an attack on older people, but rather a precautionary measure to ensure that the people in charge of making highly important decisions are fully capable of doing so. Most Americans support age limits for elected officials, regardless of political party, and 79% of the public wants to see the American government go younger. There is no widespread hatred that could warrant a claim of ageism, but it is more of a concern surrounding how long these justices have been in office. While there is a concern surrounding the mental faculties of some, there is a larger concern surrounding how long these politicians have served. There needs to be a greater focus placed on government efficiency and guaranteeing that there are plenty of perspectives considered to make rational, balanced decisions. The courts are about making sure justice gets served — the same few people should not be handing down court opinions for the majority of their lives. Sammie Garrity (sgarrity3@wisc.edu) is a freshman studying journalism and political science.
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Luxury apartment complexes threaten local businesses, Madison charm Construction of new apartments complexes in Madison removes local businesses, threatens unique charm of city by Emily Otten Opinion Editor
A new Madison apartment complex intended for University of Wisconsin students will be built on Broom Street, offering 1,600 beds with 165 of those beds offered for under-market affordable housing rates, according to the Cap Times. While it is important to provide housing for students and residents in Madison amidst the housing crisis, Madison is losing much of its charm and local businesses to apartments and chains — something that will likely change the dynamic of the city in the coming years. Just in the past year, two large-scale student apartment complexes have begun construction in downtown Madison. The Oliv building, located off of State Street, features 386 units for students with 110 beds to be leased at undermarket affordable rates. But most beds in the Oliv complex run a hefty cost. For a standard four-bedroom apartment, rent is approximately $1,035 per bed, with the price-per-bed going up steadily for two and three bedrooms and up to $1,625 for a studio apartment. Students also have the opportunity to upgrade their units from “Standard” to “VIP” or “Mansion” which offer nicer amenities, such as a private outdoor terrace and hot tub for a much higher price. The second complex under construction, Verve Madison, is being built on the corner of Bassett and Johnson. Verve offers similar amenities to Oliv, marketing itself as a luxury apartment complex for students. At Verve, a four-bedroom starts at around $1,500 per bed and many of the Verve units are already sold out for the 2024 leasing year. The new complex that was approved by the Madison Plan Commission would tear down multiple student houses and the Johnson House apartment complex, occupying 408 W. Johnson to 318 N. Broom Street, according to the Cap Times. The housing developer building on this lot is Core Spaces, a Chicago-based company that is working on the Oliv building and built the Hub on Campus in Madison, another luxury student apartment building. Multiple city staffers, the mayor and City Council members have identified the need for more student housing, according to the Cap Times. This is not surprising amidst the Madison housing crisis that has been occurring for multiple years. Since 2020, 5,600 residents have moved to the city and Madison is now one of the most expensive places in Wisconsin to rent or buy a home, according to PBS Wisconsin. Students do play a large role in this, taking up much of the rentable housing close to campus, thus why housing developers are jumping on the opportunity to build more student housing in
KENNEDY SLATER. THE BADGER HERALD.
Increased housing comes at the expense of classic Madison businesses like Vintage Spirits and Grill and Essen Haus. areas close enough to the university. While many of these apartment complexes are necessary to bolster the amount of students and residents who need housing in Madison, they are removing a lot of the charm that makes Madison, Madison. Madison is known for having unique, local restaurants, cutesy small businesses that offer products for every type of person and local activities like the Dane County Farmer’s Market that focus on what Madison locals have to offer. But many of these local businesses are struggling to keep up with rising rent in Madison. Many businesses on State Street in particular have been bought out or are left empty as they were unable to afford the price of rent. Most recently, chain restaurants have been replacing these local businesses on State Street, including the new Auntie Anne’s, Sweetgreen and Pure Green. Local favorites like Vintage Spirits and Grill
and Essen Haus in Madison are under threat, with Vintage being recently bought out by a Madison-based apartment developer and Essen Haus desired by an Eau Claire developer who wants to build a hotel and apartment complex. The growing trend of chain restaurants and luxury apartment complexes is not seeming to slow down and this could have disastrous impacts on the city of Madison as a whole. Surely, providing housing for students and residents is a good thing, but it is coming at the cost of local businesses who are the backbone of the Madison community. People move to Madison and love it because of how local it feels for a city — there is a pride in being a Madisonian and supporting local shops. But with the construction of chains and luxury apartment complexes, Madison is becoming like any other city, and that unique energy is slowly fading away with each local establishment that goes out of business.
To ensure the unique aspects of Madison that residents appreciate so much are saved, Madison city officials should prioritize local businesses and restaurants that have existed for decades over those apartment developers who seek to buy them out. In the long run this could be more profitable for the city as it would draw in more tourists and residents as that unique locality brings new people to Madison. While, the construction of apartments is necessary to help alleviate the housing crisis, city officials should be more critical about where these apartments will be constructed and avoid tearing down well-loved, historic businesses to do so. Madison should remain a city supported by small businesses and historic buildings, instead of succumbing to the luxury apartments who seek to destroy it. Emily Otten (elotten@wisc.edu) is a senior majoring in journalism. December 5, 2023 • badgerherald.com • 15
EDITORIAL BOARD
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State Sen. Kelda Roys discusses Republican attacks on higher education Relationship between Wisconsin GOP, UW has implications on student experiences, Roys says by The Badger Herald Editorial Board
Editor’s Note: This interview was edited for length and clarity.
taught, what professors are hired, what students are admitted, what books are on the syllabus. I think that shows that there’s a real disconnect between Republican politicians and Wisconsinites throughout the state, whatever
abortion. Well, turns out abortion is actually pretty popular ... As our country makes progress towards a more perfect union, Republicans have to find new things to rile up the most reactionary elements of their base because they think that’s
less job security for the faculty and because we lose our best and brightest to Stanford and University of Chicago and Harvard. There is an effect over time of UW losing its prestige and its place in the top world class research universities. Basically, the Legislature is trying to do away with tenure and attacking the Wisconsin Idea — all the things that make UW such a special asset for the state, such a special place, and things that really impact the student experience. The more we make it hard for the Universities of Wisconsin to thrive, the more students will be harmed — majors will be cut, we’re seeing staff being laid off and furloughs at campuses all around the state. We’re seeing campuses close, we’re going virtual only. And that cuts off access for people all over Wisconsin. Whatever your pathway is to higher education, we should be making it easier and more affordable and more accessible for more Wisconsinites to pursue their education post-high school and instead, we’re doing the opposite at a time when we have a record, multibillion dollar surplus.
For students who really care about this issue or want to become more involved, what can they do?
AINA MOHD NASER. THE BADGER HERALD.
Campus-area representative says students should remember they can vote for higher education issues. Sen. Kelda Roys was elected to the Wisconsin Senate in 2020, having previously served in the State Assembly. As a representative of the University of Wisconsin campus, Roys sat down with The Badger Herald Editorial Board to discuss Wisconsin Republicans’ attacks on higher education.
Tell me some of the background of the recent relationships between Wisconsin Republicans and higher education, or the University of Wisconsin in particular.
Historically, the University of Wisconsin has always been widely understood to be our most important economic asset. It’s the best thing we’ve got going for us. You know, beer, cheese, the Packers and UW. And unfortunately, over the last several decades, we have seen that strong understanding and support for the university eroded by right wing interests that want to eradicate public education — both K-12 and higher education. And so Republican legislators in the Capitol here have embarked on a project to defund the University of Wisconsin. At the same time, they want to insert themselves into every tiny management decision — what classes are 16 • badgerherald.com • December 5 , 2023
their political leanings. People understand that having a strong UW System means opportunities for their kids. And it means economic prosperity for the state. The fact that Republican politicians are willing to harm the University of Wisconsin to further their political agenda and foment culture wars to excite their base, it just shows how disconnected they are from what Wisconsinites actually want and need.
Nationally, there has been a lot of discussion about the relationship between Republicans and DEI efforts. But in Wisconsin, this conflict is playing out uniquely. Can you speak on that?
I think understanding the historical context makes it easy to see that the current scuffle over DEI is just today’s excuse for their long-term animosity towards UW. If it weren’t DEI, they would be giving some other nonsense reason for why they’re cutting funds from the university at a time when we had a $7 billion surplus. DEI is today’s red meat for the ultra-MAGA base that Republicans are now exclusively playing to. For a long time it was integration, civil rights, racial equality, then for a long time it was
their way to hold on to power. Today’s DEI or critical race theory is but a buzzword that they’re using as their excuse to try to divide people and pit people against each other. It’s a very cynical approach. We just passed a bill to keep the Brewers in our state. Most if not all Fortune 500 companies and major corporations and major public institutions all have some form of diversity, equity or inclusion work that they’re doing because it is a business necessity. It’s too expensive to not have a workplace that is welcoming and where people feel like they can do their best work ... For the Republican politicians, [DEI] is just what they say to excuse their financially harmful decisions.
What is important for students to know about attacks on public education, and how it might impact their experiences at UW? It’s gonna have a huge impact — it already is today. Underfunding for decades has meant increased tuition. It means bigger class sizes, it means it takes you longer to graduate because you can’t get all the classes that you need in time. It means that you’re taught more by [teaching assistants] than by professors because there’s
The most important thing is to remember that they are all voters. They have the ability to get out there and work for the kind of political change that they’d like to see. There’s so many different ways they can do that. Obviously voting is sort of step one, everybody should be voting in every election — and not just the big presidential one that’s going to happen next year. Get involved with an organization that’s working on an issue you care about — whether it’s climate change or housing or economic justice — get involved and mobilize people around that issue. Email and call your legislators. I represent campus. I’m on your side when they advocate for our campus community. But talk to your friends and neighbors. We have seen a massive outpouring of support for the Engineering building from all sorts of unlikely places — Republican CEOs that really want nothing to do with politics other than to get their tax breaks from Republicans. And they are saying we need this. So that’s the kind of mobilization effort that I think we need around our public higher education. We need look no further than our sister states of Minnesota and Michigan, which understand that the path to prosperity today and tomorrow is through our public higher education systems, and that’s why they’re investing their surpluses in this unbelievable economic engine that we’re all lucky to have. The Badger Herald Editorial Board serves to represent the voice of the editorial department, distinct from the newsroom and does not necessarily reflect the views of each staff member.
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Women’s Basketball: Wisconsin’s hot start, early success
SPORTS
Moseley, Badgers riddle off early wins, usher new wave of optimism by Vincent Hesprich Sports Writer
KRISSY BIRDSALL. THE BADGER HERALD.
Strength of schedule ranks in upper 12th percentile of college basketball after six games. There is plenty of merit behind the argument that Wisconsin women’s basketball was destined for another season of failure. From a macro perspective, the team’s last winning season came in the 2010-11 season when former President Barack Obama was in the midst of his first term, and the players on the current team were in elementary school. The last time fans could flock to the Kohl Center and watch a Wisconsin team finish the year ranked in the AP Poll was in 2001 when the Kohl Center itself was three years old.
A micro perspective would yield an identical, if not stronger, impression that the 2023-24 iteration of Wisconsin women’s basketball was doomed to repeat its pattern of maladroitness. Last season was the second under head coach Marisa Moseley and purely from a record perspective, it was more of the same. Wisconsin finished 6-12 in the Big Ten and 11-20 overall in a season that involved multiple 30-point-losses to rival Iowa. Furthermore, three of the top four scorers from the 2022-23 team departed for various
reasons. Julie Pospisilova, who ranks top 10 all-time in career Wisconsin scoring, graduated to play professionally in Spain. Avery LaBarbera’s excellent shooting, underrated ball-handling and elite basketball IQ was lost when the senior graduated and took a coaching position at Boston College. Perhaps most devastatingly, freshman Maty Wilke announced she was transferring to Utah following the season. Moseley had in the past described Wilke as a “cornerstone” piece and for good reason. The freshman showed immediate results in the short-term by being the third-leading scorer while showing flashes that loudly screamed deadly two-way potential. With a tattered road of subpar results in the rearview mirror and a front windscreen clouded by missed opportunity, it was easy to believe the remnants of the Wisconsin bandwagon were driving directly to their own demise. But to paraphrase Mark Twain, the reports of the Wisconsin women’s basketball program’s death were greatly exaggerated. The leading scorers from last year ’s squad may not have carried over to the current team, but the momentum they injected did. The 2022-23 women’s basketball team quietly won four of their last five conference games which included a 88–62 dismantling of Rutgers and a stunning yet thorough victory over No. 12 ranked Michigan. Last season’s quiet surge has correlated to loud results this season. Somehow, almost inexplicably, the Wisconsin team that collected 11 wins and lost three of their best players entered their next season by playing their best collective basketball in years. The 4-2 record by itself is impressive, but that alone does not capture the level of play that Wisconsin has reached. It is easy for a program to disguise their shortcomings by piling up early-season wins through playing uncompetitive opponents. Wisconsin demonstrated this in 2018 when an 8-3 start cascaded into a 4-16 finish. This Badger team is different. Through six games, Wisconsin’s strength of schedule ranks in the upper 12th percentile of college basketball. Western Illinois is 5-1 with each of their five wins being by at least 20 points. Their lone loss is a 52–74 defeat at the Kohl Center that saw Wisconsin hold the Leathernecks to 28.3% shooting from the floor. South Dakota State finished last season with 29 wins, a Summit League Championship and a March Madness victory over USC. Their two losses this season were served compliments of No.1 ranked juggernaut South Carolina and Wisconsin who beat the Jackrabbits thanks
to a Brooke Schramek game-winning bucket with under a second left. Even Wisconsin’s most recent victory came against Boston College, who finished last season with five more wins than Wisconsin and beat then top-10 ranked NC State. Poking holes in the Badgers’ early wins involves admitting that the bar of expectations needs to be raised. Despite the success, the Badgers have not played close to perfect basketball. Wisconsin’s 3-0 start was brutally snapped during a 57–75 defeat at Kansas State where the score was 37– 60 going into the fourth quarter. The Badgers also squandered a seven-point halftime lead to Arkansas and ultimately lost a onepossession game to a Razorback team now sitting at 6-1. On the individual side, there are still causes for concern. Standout sophomore Serah Williams’ impressive defense and team-high 14.2 PPG has been slightly undercut by her 4.3 turnovers per game. Brilliant playmaker Ronnie Porter ’s 4.7 3-point attempts per game have resulted in a subpar .250 shooting percentage behind the arc. Brooke Schramek’s .375 3-point-percentage is contrasted by .563 free throw percentage. But these nitpicks are not reasons to expect decline. In fact, they signal the opposite. The problems that plague this Wisconsin team are the best kinds of problems to have — fixable ones. A roster where 11 of the 14 players are underclassmen is expected to be inconsistent, especially when four of those underclassmen are in the starting lineup. The highs of an inconsistent team are usually seen in singular plays or brief stretches of success within portions of a game. This Wisconsin team is doing more than putting together good stretches against good teams. Instead, they are beating these teams outright through an exciting brand of stingy defense and timely shooting. The Badgers women’s basketball team has plenty of games left to play and there will undoubtedly be a plethora of ups and downs in the months ahead. Growing a consistent winning culture takes a mixture of impressive coaching and talented players. That does not change the fact that this Wisconsin team has all the ingredients to cultivate that winning program. Between a strong fanbase, a promising young core, an established head coach, an exciting start to the season and the potential to drastically improve during the course of the year, there is plenty of merit behind the argument that Wisconsin women’s basketball is destined for future seasons of success.
December 5, 2023 • badgerherald.com • 17
SPORTS
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The fall that was: Five teams that found success this semester
A look into UW athletics’ highlights from the first four months in school by Dani Savin Sports Writer
As the fall semester concludes, it’s time to reflect on the performances of various sports teams and individual players from the University of Wisconsin. Based on preseason expectations, several teams and players have shined — demonstrating exceptional skills and resilience. Here’s a closer look at the standout performances and key players from five prominent sports — women’s soccer, men’s soccer, football, volleyball and women’s hockey.
record, earning a bowl appearance for the 22nd straight season. Running back Braelon Allen showcased his skills with notable statistics, including a seasonhigh 145 rushing yards against the University of Illinois and two rushing touchdowns against the University of Nebraska. Allen finished up his final season at UW by entering his name into the NFL Draft. Quarterback Tanner Mordecai — the
to a 26-3 overall record, where they rose to the top of the NCAA rankings for a majority of the year. Outside hitter Sarah Franklin — a Big Ten Player of the Week — played a crucial role in the team’s victories. She led the team with 4.16 kills per set and achieved 1,000 career kills during the season. Fellow teammate Anna Smrek — known as the tallest women’s athlete in team history at
Women’s Soccer
The women’s soccer team showcased a remarkable season with standout performances from key players. Forward Aryssa Mahrt started in all 23 games for UW. She scored five goals and contributed seven assists. Mahrt’s .781 shots on goal percentage was the highest on the team, and she accumulated 17 points throughout the season. On the defensive end, goalkeeper Erin McKinney started in 22 of the 23 matches. McKinney earned third team All-Big Ten and demonstrated a .805 save percentage with 62 saves. She also qualified for the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team, showcasing excellence both on and off the field. Forward Emma Jaskaniec, despite a seasonending injury in the 2022 season, bounced back this fall. She earned several accolades, including first team All-Big Ten honors and College Sports Communicators Academic AllDistrict Team. Jaskaniec was the spark plug for the Badgers all year long, as she led the team in goals scored with 12.
What Went Well
Men’s Soccer
The men’s soccer team enjoyed a hot start to the season and had notable contributions from key players. Forward Maxwell Keenan tied for a teambest eight points in 16 games, earning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors. His versatility was evident with an assist in each of the first three matches and contributions to the team’s success. On the defensive end, defender Nils Vallotto played in 12 games, starting in nine, and recorded his first career assist and point in the final game of the season against Indiana University. Similarly, defender Ryan Quintos had an impressive freshman year, starting in all 16 games. He was recognized on the TopDrawerSoccer’s Midseason Top 100 Freshman list and made the Big Ten AllFreshman team.
Southern Methodist University transfer — contributed significantly to the team’s offensive success, with notable performances in rushing and passing yards, showcasing his versatility. As the season carried along, running back Jackson Acker’s usage increased — including rushing for 65 yards against Rutgers University and recording a receiving touchdown against Nebraska.
The football team saw standout performances from key offensive players during the semester. That led them to a 7-5
The women’s volleyball team demonstrated dominance on the court, with key players contributing to their success. It led the group
Football
18 • badgerherald.com • December 5 , 2023
12 games — made her a standout player on the ice. She broke the school record for consecutive games with a goal scored and led the team in assists. Defender Anna Wilgren’s contributions included 13 points on one goal and 12 assists in 11 games — showcasing her skills on both ends of the ice. Fellow defender Laila Edwards also demonstrated her scoring ability with 18 points on five goals and 13 assists in 12 games, contributing to the team’s success. The UW women’s hockey team enjoyed the No. 1 ranking to open the season. They suffered their first blemish of the season with backto-back losses against Ohio State University. Despite this, the team boasts a quality 12-2 record 14 games into the season.
SOREN GOLDSMITH. THE BADGER HERALD.
Running back Braelon Allen wraps up successful career by announcing NFL Draft entrance.
Volleyball
6-foot-9 — made impactful contributions. This included 10 kills and a .667 hitting percentage in a match after returning from injury. Additionally, middle blocker Carter Booth’s defensive prowess was evident with 1.6 blocks per set, leading the team and ranking eighth in the NCAA.
Women’s Hockey
The women’s hockey team had outstanding performances to begin their 2023-24 campaign, with numerous players leading the charge. It starts with forward Britta Curl, whose impressive statistics — including 28 points in
Across multiple sports, the teams experienced success in various aspects. Women’s soccer showcased a balanced offense with goal-scoring contributions from Mahrt, McKinney’s stellar goalkeeping and Jaskaniec’s impressive individual performances. That led them to a second round appearance in the NCAA Tournament, where they just came up short against the University of Texas. Men’s soccer saw standout performances from Keenan, Vallotto and Quintos — highlighting the team’s depth. They look to use this experience as a stepping stone in the near future. The football team witnessed outstanding offensive plays from Allen, Mordecai and Acker, contributing to the team’s victories. A sluggish portion throughout the middle of the season was noteworthy in head coach Luke Fickell’s first year in his tenure. The team bounced back though and closed the season with two straight victories. Under the helm of head coach Kelly Sheffield, women’s volleyball dominated on the court with strong blocking, powerful kills and exemplary performances from Franklin, Smrek and Booth, along with others. As the women’s hockey season continues to evolve, Curl, Wilgren, Edwards and the entire team demonstrated exceptional skills — leading to a successful start to the season under legendary head coach Mark Johnson.
Concluding thoughts
The fall semester showcased exceptional performances from Wisconsin’s sports teams and individual athletes. Key players shone brightly — contributing to their teams’ success in various ways. While facing challenges, these athletes demonstrated resilience, determination and a commitment to excellence. As the semester concludes, the Wisconsin athletic community can look back with pride on a semester filled with remarkable achievements and promising performances.
SPORTS
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SOREN GOLDSMITH. THE BADGER HERALD.
SOREN GOLDSMITH. THE BADGER HERALD.
Wisconsin exellence in action Fall 2023 Badger athletics in photos
SOREN GOLDSMITH. THE BADGER HERALD.
SOREN GOLDSMITH. THE BADGER HERALD.
KRISSY BIRDSALL. THE BADGER HERALD.
SOREN GOLDSMITH. THE BADGER HERALD.
SOREN GOLDSMITH. THE BADGER HERALD.
December 5, 2023 • badgerherald.com • 19
ARTS
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Turn Key brings cozy supper club experience to Madison American-style eats, games make for lively dining experience by Jenna Innab ArtsEtc. Writer
PHOTO COURTESY OF REESE RAILLING/TURN KEY
In its first year, Turn Key draws eager crowds to its historic location on East Washington Avenue in downtown Madison. Turn Key Restaurant, located on East Washington Avenue in downtown Madison, has been a vibrant addition to Madison’s culinary landscape over the last year. Housed in a historic building from 1885, Settle Down Tavern and Oz by Oz owners Sam Parker, Ryan Huber and Brian Bartels opened Turn Key’s doors in September 2022, according to Channel 3000. The restaurant also features Madison’s only deck shuffleboard court, according to Turn Key’s website. General manager of Turn Key and friend of the owners, Reese Railling, teamed up with them in this new endeavor. Railling has been working in kitchens for about 25 years. Through all of his life experiences, he said the restaurant industry always calls him back. Turn Key is a supper-club style restaurant, adding to Madison’s ever growing selection of 20 • badgerherald.com • December 5, 2023
these establishments. Offering a menu of local and seasonal dishes, Turn Key has been an appreciated addition to downtown Madison. “We love to focus on food as local as we can,” Railling said. Turn Key stands out amongst Madison’s culinary scene due to its fresh food. The combination of delicious food made by culinary professionals with a welcoming atmosphere and weekly specials makes Turn Key a great place to visit. Since its opening, Turn Key’s owners have seen success. “[We had a] great reception, especially with folks in the neighborhood,” Railling said. The restaurant has been praised for its delicious food, cozy atmosphere and friendly service. Its classic American-style menu taking inspiration from a variety of fusions is certain to
leave any customer satisfied. Some of the most eye-catching menu options are the Fried Green Tomato Toast, the Tagliatelle and the Turn Key Gnocchi. Turn Key is housed on two floors, featuring a grand bar with 33 seats, a second-floor event space seating up to 70 people, a main dining area and even a recreational room. Turn Key’s space at 1344 East Washington Ave. is on the National Register of Historic Places, according to Madison Magazine. The building lived many lives before it became what it is today. Formerly built as a farm room, this landmark location has decades of history. The owners of Turn Key strived to retain and display as much character of the building as possible. The candlelit wooden oak tables create a beautifully warm and inviting space. “We’re ready to have some fun and be
welcoming to everybody,” Railling said. Turn Key also features the only deck shuffleboard court in Madison, a grand patio and maybe the biggest showstopper of them all, an enormous — and free — parking lot in the back! Turn Key’s charming oasis is perfect for date nights, happy hour, family outings and other special events, like upcoming graduation parties — looking at you, students graduating in 2024. Turn Key has also worked with the University of Wisconsin, hosting department dinners in the past. “We’ve seen a lot of birthdays, a lot of anniversaries and a lot of work parties lately,” Railling said. With Turn Key’s exceptional location near Willy Street and The Sylvee, a live music venue, the restaurant attracts locals, visitors and UW students as diners. Tuesday through Sunday, Turn Key features specials, including a Friday Fish Fry and a “Cheap Date Night” special on Thursday evenings. A salad, two entrees, dessert and bottle of wine or pitcher of beer for $60 is bound to be the perfect dining experience for college students. Railling mentioned that Turn Key, being in the middle of all of the typical Thursday night action, brings in a lot of business during their happy hour. Their Sunday Brunch special from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. offers a $35 special of bottomless coffee, coffee cake, an entree and two cocktails. Not surprising that brunch is one of their busiest times! Turn Key saw their busiest Sunday Brunch over the weekend of the Madison Marathon. “It was the busiest one we’ve ever had,” Railling said. There are lots of mouth-watering options on the Sunday Brunch menu, from the Sinaloa Sunrise to the Brioche French Toast. Many Madison locals know of Pasqual’s Cantina, the previous occupant of Turn Key’s location. To Railling’s surprise, many diners enter Turn Key without realizing it is no longer Pasqual’s. They walk in and order margaritas and chips without even realizing the difference. Once diners realize the restaurant is no longer the place they thought it was, they are almost always pleasantly surprised. “I’d say, 99 times out of 100 they end up really happy,” Railling said. How could you not end up happy with a menu like Turn Key’s and the self-proclaimed best bartenders in the world? Turn Key has been a brilliant addition to Madison’s thriving culinary scene. Offering an experience that blends fine and casual dining and combines locally sourced ingredients with a lively and eclectic atmosphere, Turn Key is without a doubt a must-try restaurant to add to your list and keep an eye on for its future endeavors.
ARTS
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Nonprofit supports Madison businesses through Shop Local Celebration 2023 celebration promotes Dane County businesses until Dec. 17 by Akhilesh Peddi ArtsEtc. Writer
Until Dec. 17, Dane Buy Local is holding its fourth annual Shop Local Celebration — an initiative shifting the consumer trend from large national chains to local independent businesses, Madison-based nonprofit Dane Buy Local Executive Director Paula Severson said. The event began Nov. 1. Dane Buy Local is a nonprofit aimed at educating people on the benefits of shopping locally and promoting local businesses and ventures. They have over 600 registered members, from banks, to grocery stores, to cafes owned and operated by members of the Dane County community, according to the Dane Buy Local website. The Shop Local Celebration 2023 is led by Severson and two others. The event is one of their many initiatives aimed at promoting local business by providing an incentive throughout larger national changes. The main issue is the prices, Severson said. “It is hard for local businesses to compete,” Severson said. “Think of the purchasing power that Walmart has. When they order a product for Christmas, they can get it at a cheaper price because they are buying so much of it and local business can’t source that many and the pricing becomes substantially different.” Many prefer to buy from larger national chains with cheaper prices, but this can have a negative impact, Severson said, citing Dane Buy Local’s 2019 survey conducted alongside Civic Economics, an economic analysis and strategic planning consulting company based in Chicago and Tulsa. A 10% market shift from national chains to independent business in Dane County can increase up to $173 million of revenue per year, also leading to an increase in employment and growth in the region, according to the survey. This is not the case with national chains, which remove money from the local economy. By purchasing local and paying an extra $5 or so, the entire community benefits, Severson said. Last year, Dane County’s economy was evaluated at $1.6 billion, according to Severson. In comparison, Amazon sales in Dane County were around $625 million, according to the Civic Economics survey. Though Amazon is now bringing employment to Dane County, it is not the same with most large national chains. To have a healthy and thriving economy, it is important for people to understand the effect of purchasing locally. Severson said that the people of Madison and Dane
PHOTO COURTESY OF KIT BRATH.
Dane Buy Local Executive Director says support of local businesses supports economy. County, especially students, should make an effort and help shift their purchases from large chains to local business. “I know Amazon is easy, and it’s popular, but rather than ordering something on there see if there’s somewhere local you can get it from first,” Severson said. “Just look at where you’re eating lunch and if you are doing your Christmas shopping before you head home for the holiday break.” She also gives the example of fastfood restaurants such as Qdoba. They are convenient, but there are also Mexican restaurants owned by local families and making that small effort to find one and go there can really make a difference both to the
economy and the family, Severson said. In local outlets, 47% to 60% of the revenue goes back to the local economy, whereas this return is only 13% to 30% for national chains, according to the Civic Economics survey. Shop Local Celebration 2023 brings about this change and awareness. As part of the program, a minimum of 70 gift cards are awarded to customers, encouraging them to making purchases at local businesses listed in their catalogue called a passport, Severson said. Each time a customer makes a purchase equivalent to or above $10 in one of the designated outlets, they can email their receipts to lieneke@danebuylocal.com to participate in the competition. They are
then placed in a random lottery which picks winners every week. The program also involved events such as Small Business Saturday on Nov. 25 and Cambridge Christmas from Dec. 1 to Dec. 3, awarding additional benefits to locally purchasing customers. With the program, Dane Buy Local hopes to share the stories of local businesses and promote the local economy. “It is helping tell the stories of local business owners and helping them realize their dreams,” Severson said. “Like a business that just has a food cart and has a dream to get in their own restaurant space someday.” December 5, 2023 • badgerherald.com • 21
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ABIGAIL LEAVINS. THE BADGER HERALD.
Madison record store is set to transfer leadership to a new owner in 2024.
Owners of Strictly Discs to retire after 35 years New owner shares three goals for iconic Madison record store by Abigail Leavins ArtsEtc. Writer
Just off the University of Wisconsin campus, a retro record store sits on the corner of Monroe and Harrison Street. The store is immediately striking from the outside because of its vibrant colors and brightly colored lights. The inside of the store is equally nostalgic. The walls are covered in old vinyls and CDs, with shelves and stand-up racks throughout the room. But the store doesn’t end on the main level. After exploring the vinyl selection upstairs, customers can walk down the store’s stairs, the walls of which are covered in old newspapers and retro art. In the basement, the space is tightly packed with rows and rows of more CDs, vinyls and even a few cassette tapes. On its 35th anniversary, Strictly Discs announced on Facebook that owners Ron and Angie Roloff had sold the store to new owner Rick Stoner in early November. Angie Roloff said they love the store, but they 22 • badgerherald.com • December 5, 2023
are excited about the transition. “We take a lot of pride in what we’ve built and we’re very happy with what we’ve done and we’re excited for somebody else to continue that legacy,” Angie said. Ron founded the store in 1988. He and Angie met in the store, later married and have owned the store together for the past 22 years. Angie said they never had kids, so the store is almost like their baby. When asked what her favorite part of the business has been, Angie said it is definitely the people. She pointed out that their business does not sell needs, but wants, so people value what they are buying. She and Ron say they have met a lot of their best friends through the store. “You do get to meet some extraordinary people in this town,” Angie said. “So we’ve been blessed by that.” Many of the store regulars are sad to see the
Roloffs go, Angie said. But customers are reassured knowing that they plan to stick around Madison and will still be involved in the store when they can be. They hope to rest a bit after officially leaving in January, but know they won’t ever totally leave the Strictly Discs community and store. Angie said another factor that is helping them to move on easily is the transition to a new owner. She said they are confident Stoner will be a good fit for the store. The Roloffs took their time with the hiring process and Angie thinks he has a lot of relevant experience. Stoner said he was not specifically looking to own a business in Madison. But when he got connected with Strictly Discs, he was “ecstatic.” Stoner is from Wisconsin and attended UW. He was a journalism and communication arts major and wrote for The Badger Herald ArtsEtc. section in 2005. He said that Madison changed his life. “An excellent university and community like Madison just opens your mind and frees you to think and exposes you to people from completely different walks of life,” Stoner said. Stoner said he did not want to acquire a startup, but was excited about stepping into an already successful business. He knew about Strictly Discs already, because he had visited the store during his time as a student. Stoner already loves the job. He said it is exciting to meet the regulars and work with the staff. When asked about what he hopes for Strictly Discs in the future, Stoner had a few additions
in mind, but wants to focus on maintaining the current success of the store. “We’re a national destination for the quality of our inventory,” Stoner said. “We get people from all over the country.” Stoner wants to focus on the customer experience and a positive environment in the store. He has three things in mind looking ahead to 2024. First, Strictly Discs already has a warehouse in Cambridge, a city east of Madison. Stoner said he hopes to open the warehouse up for retail in June. Second, Stoner plans to explore experiential marketing and try different ways of bringing products to customers. This could mean attending festivals or offering pop-up sales throughout the year. The third goal Stoner has is a bit more longterm. This goal involves creating a subscriptionbased record club that would mail records to people who pay a certain amount every month. Stoner said this could expand the store’s reach outside of Madison and around the rest of the country. Stoner is excited to be back in Madison and calls his taking over the store a “Madison love story.” He pointed out that two of the people investing in Strictly Discs with him are friends he met in college. “The people that you meet when you’re in college could very well change your life,” Stoner said. “And you never know what’s gonna happen.”
BANTER
facebook.com/badgerherald Editor’s Note: All Banter stories are satirical
String of grand theft auto incidents linked back to Elf on the Shelf Citizens not quite terrorized because Elf is still only five inches tall, but are rather nettled by Jeremiah Frodl Banter Editor
In news of the more festive variety, a string of grand theft auto incidents have been reported in the Madison/Middleton area and local residents are shocked to learn that the source may be an Elf on the Shelf. To find out if the malicious miniature was maybe too high on the Christmas spirit or had drank too much Eggnog, the extremely self-aware reporters of The Badger Herald banter section Naruto-ran into the streets to investigate this matter of private property safety. Hoping to get a scoop by interviewing the shelfish Elf on the Shelf that probably partook in this particular piece of pitiless plundering, we started our investigation by parking a 2000 Mazda Protege out in the middle of the gritty, crime-ridden Langdon streets. Unbeknownst to any potential ne’er do elves looking to score the car of a lifetime, we had attached a high tech tracking device to the back of the vehicle.
“We’ve been runnin’ outta coal for the stockings of the gits on the naughty list and now we’ve decided to get back at ‘em by forcing them to take public transportation instead.”
Unfortunately, come next morning, the car had gone out of the tracking system’s range. With The Badger Herald’s whole budget emptied into procuring the 2000 Mazda Protege and my not having any more string at home, we switched to more noir methods. Using The Badger Herald’s underground contact, Santathemed fixer Kris Krump’em, we were given the directions to the elf’s hideout as long as we promised to be nice for the rest of the month. The inside of the abandoned shelf factory was lit only by the soft glow of Christmas lights and what meager rays streamed through the worn exterior. On the highest and most ornate shelf, the elf of the moment sat with hands
Sun has decided to take some time off Thing just needs a break
by Jeremiah Frodl Banter Editor
In recent news of such actual importance that it feels like incompetence for coverage to be given to the more financially oriented banter section — the sun has announced that it will be taking a break from its usual job of shining down on Earth for a couple of weeks. “In an increasingly results-based world it’s not just that I find it difficult to continue to justify my intense shining of radiation onto the increasingly over-radiated earth’s surface, but mostly I have an increasing backlog of movies I haven’t been able to watch as I rise in the morning to project onto everything,” the sun said. Many people and things have had words to say about this, ranging from farmers to not farmers. Local not-farmer Julian “Tank” Ricardo-Benevidez Thomas III responded to the news as we kicked our way into the weird Memorial Library study-cage-thing he was trying to quietly do his work in. “I actually have no real opinion on the loss of the sun at all, I don’t even see it most days anyways and when I do it really ruins the view of my TV,” RicardoBenevidez Thomas III said. “Frankly, I really support the sun if it takes its time off, maybe it could pick up some useful habits like watching educational PBS documentaries, learning to dance or smoking a lot of cigarettes.” But local farmers have had differing opinions
than their stuffy, city-folk contemporaries. Wearing a sun hat and having a chew on a rustic and delicious piece of unprocessed wheat, local farmer Joshua Heene shed a single tear as he looked over his patches of carrots. He took a deep breath and looked back toward us. “I’m boned,” Heene said. In order to support the slightly nervous farmers, the moon has offered to step in to provide a pale reflection of the sun’s light. But, only on a part time basis, as the moon (an intellectual) has been reading a lot of books recently and wants time to describe how good reading is to its pals. The ocean has actually been rather excited about this development. “Bro it’s getting hot in here and I can’t take off all my clothes due to my rampant case of beer belly, so a few days without the sun is primo in my opinion,” the ocean said. The ocean, while definitely in need of some time to cool off, had seemed to have forgotten about the massive amounts of Phytoplankton that require consistent sunlight in order to sustain the base of the ecosystem it maintains. When asked about this topic the ocean responded with a jarring statement. “Bro phytoplankton is microscopic does it really matter that much, you can’t even sea it.”
clasped together. “Ey buddeh I’m sure yer wonderin what a little bloke like me is doin’ takin’ all these chap’s rides innit?” He asked with a weirdly gruff British accent typical of properly-paid factory laborers since the 1800s. “Seen ya comin’ a mile ‘o way, sneakin about and all that. These Elf on the Shelf eyes see all.” Despite the fact that our subtle investigation had been blown from the start, we remained calm and pressed the elf with the hard questions. How could one work for a benevolent, wise paternalist like Santa Claus and perform such evil deeds? “Ya’ tosser, the boss ordered it,” the elf said.
With the mystery of the evil Elf on the Shelf solved and even with a punchy little twist, the reporters of The Badger Herald wished the elf a good day, happily packed up and headed out. We originally had planned to report the stolen items and the thief to local law enforcement, but Santa’s naughty and nice list is the only objective measurement of a person’s character and we didn’t want to interfere with justice.
ADRIAN ALESSANDRO CARMOSINO. THE BADGER HERALD.
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