STUDENT MEDIA AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2017 · VOL 49 Issue 11 · BADGERHERALD.COM
POINT BLANK UW chancellor talks free speech, campus climate
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Michael Lim
MADTOWN CRIER
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Madtown Crier Madtown refuses to slow down. Here are some upcoming events The Badger Herald recommends to keep you up to speed.
Thursday 11/30 The Jag at North Street Cabaret, 8-11 p.m., $5 cover
Tuesday 11/28 A Place At The Table at the Multicultural Student Center Lounge, 6:30-7:30 p.m., FREE with Wiscard
Wednesday 11/29 Whitney with Ne-Hi at the Majestic Theatre, doors 7:30 p.m./show 8:30 p.m., $18
Thursday 11/30 Spring Awakening at Bartell Community Theatre, 7:45 p.m.T.B.D., $18 ADV./$22 DOS
Friday 12/1 IT (2017) showing at The Marquee, Union South, 5:30-8 p.m., FREE
Friday 12/1
Saturday 12/2 Open Mic Mixer: Melanin Speaking & The Madison Review at ZuZu Cafe, 7-9 p.m., FREE
Sunday 12/3 Yung Gravy with Lucien Parker at The Sett, 9-11 p.m., FREE
Saturday 12/2 Delta Rae at the Majestic Theatre, 8:3011:30 p.m., $36-$69
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54th Annual Hoofer Ski and Snowboard Resale at Union South, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Prices vary
Monday 12/4 Textiles and Fashion Design 2017 Fall Showcase at the Ruth Davis Design Gallery, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., FREE
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Reports find minorities have more negative experiences across universities.
The Badgers headed to Minnesota on Saturday with the Axe in their possession, and had no plans to change that anytime soon.
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CAMPUS CLIMATE ACROSS BIG 10 7
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All That Remains guitarist Oli Herbert talks changes in music production, genre terminology since he first joined the band in 1999.
Voter ID disenfranchises minority voters
Voter fraud thinly veiled excuse for Republican-led legislation disproportionately targeting minority voters, lower socioeconomic communities.
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FIELD NOTES
UW professors express concern over future of biosecurity International scientific community experts worry that gene editing, if plaecd in the wrong hands, could threaten national security by Ben Sefarbi Reporter
In an international workshop in Hanover, Germany in October, scientists from around the world met with bioethicists and government experts to discuss gene editing and the national security implications it entails. The workshop was organized by the InterAcademy Partnership. In attendance were three University of Wisconsin and Morgridge Institute for Research professors — Pilar Ossorio, professor of law and bioethics, and professors of life science communication and Morgridge affiliates Dominique Brossard and Dietram Scheufele. One of the main topics of the workshop was the CRISPR Cas9, a gene editing tool that is drawing a lot of attention in the world of science. It is more accurate and precise than previous techniques of editing DNA and has a wide range of potential applications. Cas9 is an enzyme that can cut specific strands of DNA so other strands can be added or removed, UW professor of biomedical engineering Lloyd Smith said. A piece of RNA called “guide RNA” binds to DNA through pre-designed sequences that “guide” the enzyme, Cas9, to the desired portion of the DNA. With all the hype of the technology comes concerns, Smith said. The CRISPR Cas9 getting into the wrong hands is a possibility. “It becomes very easy to engineer pathological organisms,” Smith said. The threat of bioterrorism has many, like Ossorio, wary of the national security issues that may come with the CRISPR Cas9. This includes using the technology for concocting infectious diseases through genetic mutations in humans as well as animals such as mosquitos. Another concern with gene editing technology is gene drives. UW assistant professor of biomedical engineering Krishanu Saha said without a gene drive, when entities with different versions of a gene procreate, each offspring has at most a 50 percent chance of inheriting either version 4• badgerherald.com •November 28, 2017
problems. “There are safety and environmental concerns about releasing an organism that has a gene drive into the wild,” Ossorio said. The CRISPR Cas9 is already in use in the agricultural context. Multinational agrochemical and agricultural biotechnology corporation Monsanto is a consumer of the technology. Crops that have been edited are raising eyebrows in the world of public health, Saha said. Scientists can have a difficult time telling the difference between edited crops, so the average consumer probably can not either. “It is so hard to tell whether they have been edited or the crop has just evolved over time,” Saha said. UW professor of biochemistry and genetics Richard Amasino believes the workshop in Hanover recognizes the importance of an open and inclusive dialogue when it comes to gene editing, and doesn’t express any grave concerns about using the technology. While genome editing is being used more Photo · At a workshop in Hanover, UW professors discussed the CRISPR Cas9 gene editing tool. widely, in particular the CRISPR Cas9, this Riley Steinbrenner does not necessarily mean that there will be The Badger Herald increased risks of misuse that we haven’t heard already, Amasino said. “There are other more important things of the gene. organism now has two copies to pass on to I’m more concerned with, like carbon dioxide A gene drive guarantees that a specific the next generation. being released in our environment,” Amasino gene will be inherited. As confirmed by Saha, With a gene drive, when parents with said. one gene can have different versions and different versions of a gene pass on their The workshop concluded that the next each organism gets two copies of each gene. DNA, essentially all offspring will inherit the steps to take are to clarify what is currently He said a gene drive contains instructions gene with the drive, Saha said. uncertain and where there is consensus, and from a molecular tool, like the CRISPR Cas9, “Security experts also worry about a to communicate the continuing responsibility that targets other versions of the chosen gene. gene drive that could be used to gradually of the scientific community to tackle these Saha believes one of several methods poison a food supply, or enable a mosquito to complex topics. used by the CRISPR Cas9 is scanning the transmit more rather than less virus,” Ossorio According to the European Sciences organism’s DNA and looking for other said in a press release. Science Advisory Council, it would be versions of the gene. Once the CRISPR Cas9 The workshop participants discussed desirable to develop a sustainable network of finds another version, the tool cuts that methods to resolve potential national experts to share opinions, identify priorities version of the gene out. security concerns that come with the CRISPR for further study and serve as a basis for Left with a hole, the body of the organism Cas9 and its applications. Various technical, expanding engagement on genome editing. uses the gene with the gene drive as a legal, regulatory and policy approaches were “We cannot envision all of the directions template to patch up the hole, Saha said. The suggested to prevent and mitigate potential this technology could take,” Ossorio said.
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Proposal would require camera surveillance in Madison convience stores Mayor Paul Soglin aims to increase security in convienence stores to deter armed robberies, with benefits outweighing costs
by Emilie Cochran Campus Editor
In response to a surge in armed robberies and gun fires at Madison convenience stores, Madison Mayor Paul Soglin has introduced a proposal requiring convenience stores to have properly placed surveillance cameras in their facilities, and keep the tapes for 30 days. If armed robbers knew cameras were in the stores, they would be less likely to come in with a gun and rob the store, Soglin said. “Convenience stores unfortunately are a target for a lot of robberies, particularly armed robberies,” Soglin said. “Having the cameras would help significantly in deterring that kind of crime.” The ordinance comes at a much-needed time, public relations officer for the Madison Police Department, Joel DeSpain, said. “We’ve had a rise in the number of shots being fired in the community,” DeSpain said. “This is a rise in the last few years, and a number of them have been in convenience store parking lots.”
The proposal is currently in a draft form. It would require cameras on the doors, in counter areas – especially around the cash register – and in the parking lot, Soglin said. The proposal will then need to pass through city council before becoming an ordinance. The ordinance would also require each owner and operator to install their own cameras. But National Association of Convenience Stores vice president of strategic industry initiatives Jeff Lenard said this can be expensive, and fail to accomplish the intended purpose. “[Cameras] would add costs to stores because you have to buy equipment,” Lenard said. “On top of that, [the proposal] is a one size fits all requirement that may not accomplish what the goals of the program are.” Lenard also believes cameras will not stop criminals from robbing a store. He said cameras are effective in apprehending criminals, but not deterring them. “Because of this, there might be other
ways to go about addressing the problem,” Lenard said. These alternatives include reducing the amounts of cash on hand and increasing visibility in the stores to reduce robberies, Lenard said. Reducing the amount of cash usually means having a time release drop safe as well, Lenard said. With that kind of safe, convenience store employees and criminals can’t pull out money any faster. “Time is the enemy if you’re a criminal,” Lenard said. “They want to get the money and get out fast, and the longer it takes the more likely they are to not be spotted.” Reduced posters along the windows would help with security as well, as workers would be able to see outside, and police would be able to see inside, Lenard said. But Soglin believes the cost of cameras would be relatively small, especially when it means keeping the Madison community safe. “Our standard is the benefit to the owners and what is it going to cost them,
and we think it is a very reasonable expense,” Soglin said. Soglin also said the ordinance would only affect those currently without cameras. Many stores are already doing this and many companies already have similar policies in place, such as Kwik Trip, which just bought out PDQ stores throughout Wisconsin. Despain and Soglin agree that the cameras are not that expensive and they could help police solve crimes faster, and more accurately. DeSpain said there were more shots fired this year in Madison than any other year. No matter what the outcome, Lenard stressed that safety is key, and that nobody wants a robbery in their store. “Not only don’t you want to be robbed because it’s your property, but it also is your reputation,” Lenard said. “[A robbery would] make it less likely that people will want to come to your store to work or to shop. The question is how do you reduce the likelihood that you are a target of a crime?”
Wisconsin incarceration rates surpass neighboring states, report finds Experts suggest state spend less money on correctional facilities, redirect funding toward rehabilitation efforts by Molly Liebergall Repoter
In late October, the Wisconsin Budget Project published a study which found that Wisconsin incarcerates a larger share of its population and spends more per resident on corrections than any neighboring state. This report comes after the passage of the 2017-2019 biennial budget. In that budget, the state allocated more than $1.1 billion for corrections spending — money that many, including WBP research analyst Tamarine Cornelius, believe should be spent elsewhere. Cornelius maintains that instead of funding facility expansion, policymakers should take a more reformatory approach. “Governor Walker has said that we’re out of room in the corrections system, and we need to add more space, but there is another way to go and that would be to bring down the number of people we lock up,” Cornelius said. “That’s a long process and it’s not something that can happen overnight, but we haven’t even started.” Rather than turning to corrections, Cornelius’ report recommends funding services like Wisconsin’s Treatment Alternatives and Diversions, which provides counties with state grants for keeping people with addiction and mental health issues in rehabilitative programs,
instead of in prison. Two other options Cornelius suggested for reducing the number of prisoners held in state facilities include lowering recidivism rates by improving transitional job programs and decreasing the amount of prison admissions based solely on parole violations. “Derail the Jail,” a coalition made up of various groups including Freedom Inc. and the Affordable Housing Action Alliance, also support alternatives to imprisonment. The group recently attended the Nov. 8 Dane County Council meeting, where several members spoke out against a $76 million proposal to centralize all county jail activity at the Public Safety Building in the wake of current deteriorating prison conditions. Edward Basso, a University of Wisconsin graduate student, spoke about the intersection of race and socioeconomic status in incarceration at this meeting. “[The jail] just creates more incentive to lock people up, especially minorities, and promotes more racial and economic inequality,” Basso said. Basso spoke in reference to Wisconsin’s achievement gap, which is one of the worst in the nation. In Madison, Basso said black people are
arrested at a rate of ten times more than white people. At the time of a 2010 Census Bureau study, 12.8 percent of working-age African American men in Wisconsin were imprisoned, a number which topped all other states and was almost double the national average of 6.7 percent. Damage inflicted to minority communities and families is one of the consequences of incarceration Cornelius said she explored in her report. Although she is staunchly opposed to the construction of a new jail and an increase in the corrections budget, others believ that current safety issues with state and local prison facilities are too pressing to not construct a new building. Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney expressed support for construction of a new jail and an increased corrections budget given the unsafe conditions at the old jail. Mahoney said it has become a choice between housing people in unsafe conditions or finding an alternative solution. In addressing the number of people locked up for parole violations or for an inability to pay bail, Mahoney said the county does its best to screen everyone for bail monitoring program eligibility. One of his main concerns, Mahoney said, is
for the safety of prisoners in the City-County Building jail. In the past two months alone, more than 10 inmates have attempted or succeeded in hanging themselves from bars which will not exist in the new proposed facility. John Witte, a retired UW professor who taught political science and public affairs, said if Streit’s proposed method were to actually be applied, it should be approached “cautiously” and integrated very carefully with the probation system. In the same vein, Kenneth Streit, a retired UW clinical associate law professor specializing in the criminal justice system, envisioned his own alternative to incarceration and construction of a new jail, which would integrate legislation, a judicial committee, law enforcement and treatment providers. Streit’s alternative would involve a monthly $1,500 award from the state for every nonviolent inmate returned to the county and enrolled in its treatment-transition programs up to one year before their scheduled release date. “At $1,500 per month, this would provide funds for needed services, but be only half of what [the Department of Corrections] would spend to build and operate added capacity,” Streit said. “It would also achieve far, far better public safety outcomes than currently happen.” November 28, 2017 • badgerherald.com • 5
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UW System faculty, alumni feel voiceless in restructuring proposal
Under proposed resolution, the 13 colleges will be joined with seven four-year institutions, effective July 1, 2018 by Kai Brito State Editor
The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents approved a proposal to restructure UW College and UW-Extension earlier this month, but some faculty and staff members feel their voices were not considered in the decision making process. Under the proposed resolution, the 13 UW System colleges will be joined with seven four-year institutions, effective July 1, 2018. Some faculty and administrators voiced concerns over the timeline for implementation of the plan, a span of less than a year. Greg Summers, UW-Stevens Point Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, said the plan would be enacted by the July 1st deadline, but it’s not yet clear what will change by that deadline. “The important thing to remember, is there’ll be some things that change, but a lot is going to stay the same,” Summers said. “Think of July 1st as sort of the first stage.” The transition to a UW System merger will take a few years and it will probably happen in stages as the plan is implemented, Summers said. While carrying the plan out in stages might remove some anxiety from the transition process, he said each additional college brings a new set of issues that adds more layers of uncertainty to institutional problems they were already trying to solve. The key budget details have not yet been discussed among the restructuring plan steering committee members, but would be an important step moving forward, Summers said. UW System President Ray Cross admitted at a November BOR meeting that the proposal did not include any financial information. He emphasized the proposal was just meant to start the beginning phases of restructuring, and further research would occur if it was approved. Cross also said the main goal of restructuring was not to save money, but to increase the accessibility of higher education options for Wisconsin residents. However, he said the process could become more cost-efficient in the future as the plan carries forward. But institutional budgets and enrollment are closely tied together, and both have seen declines in recent years. Recent financial and enrollment issues have already sparked some UW System
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campuses to take institutional action. UW-Superior announced it would suspend 25 academic programs, UWMadison School of Business considered suspending admission to its Master of Business Administration program and UW-Stevens Point proposed eliminating the Geography and Geology Department last month as part of a larger course restructuring initiative. Ultimately, UW-Madison WSB and UWStevens Point did not take action, but UWSuperior is still moving forward with the academic program suspension plan as of now. After UW-Superior officials announced
It sounded like the decision “already been made to close
had the program without being consulted or having our feedback taken into account. It just felt like, as stakeholders, we should have had some methods for feedback before we heard about it through social media
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Jane Allen Graduate Business Association President
the changes last month, several university students protested the decision, as reported by the Superior Telegram. Additionally, faculty members across the UW System, like UWMadison sociology professor and faculty senate member Chad Goldberg, have signed a petition to oppose the suspension of academic programs at UW-Superior. “I’m deeply disturbed by the situation at UW-Superior,” Goldberg said. “Faculty and students were not consulted about the decision ... these program closures are a continuation of aggressive efforts to dismantle public higher education in Wisconsin.” UW-Superior wasn’t the only institution to use collective gathering power to oppose unpopular
administration decisions. After UWMadison WSB publicized its proposal to suspend admission for the full-time MBA program, waves of alumni spoke out against it. Class of 2016 Graduate Business Association president Jane Allen created a petition calling for WSB Dean Anne Massey to retain the full MBA program at UW-Madison. “It sounded like the decision had already been made to close the program without being consulted or having our feedback taken into account,” Allen said. “It just felt like, as stakeholders, we should have had some methods for feedback before we heard about it through social media.” More than 750 people signed the petition, which Allen saw as a success. Massey withdrew her proposal sometime afterward and WSB will now retain the full-time MBA program. Some faculty and staff were also concerned the restructuring process could have impacts on hiring and retention
for several positions at UW System institutions. Noel Radomski, Director of the Wisconsin Center for the Advancement of Postsecondary Education, said many questions still remain about faculty and staff contracts already signed for the next academic year. Radomski said the restructuring proposal could change criteria for faculty on a tenure track plan, which are unique to each institution, and may invalidate certain contracts. This is just one example of several problems that could arise and lot more conversation was necessary before the proposal moved forward, Radomski said. “All of a sudden, as of July 1st, [some faculty] will become UW-Milwaukee [faculty], but UW-Milwaukee has it’s own set of criteria,” Radomski said. “What’s going to happen?”
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Across Big Ten campuses, minorities report less positive experiences
Campus climate reports at major universities indicate students of underrepresented backgrounds struggle to find sense of belonging by Gretchen Gerlach Reporter
In a report detailing the results of the campus climate survey released earlier this year, the University of Wisconsin claimed its results, which included findings that minority students experience a less positive campus climate, are similar to other universities across the country. The report emphasizes that the university hopes to use the results to improve the campus community for all students. The goal of the survey, according to the report’s official text, was to understand how students’ experiences affect perception of the campus climate, especially as this relates to disparities in experience for students of different identities. Of all UW undergraduate and graduate students invited to participate, the report found 21 percent students completed the survey. UW found the demographic of student respondents to be reflective of the student body as a whole. In a conference call earlier this month with Madison area reporters, UW Chancellor Rebecca Blank spoke about the survey results and the goals of the university going forward. “This is the first time we have surveyed students on campus climate,” Blank said. “It is part of what we are trying to make a transparent and data driven approach to creating a campaign where every student feels welcome, feels safe and is able to thrive.” While the survey found roughly 80 percent of the total population of students at UW experience a positive campus climate, the report also found disparities among certain demographics. Historically underrepresented groups, including LGBQ students, trans/nonbinary students, disabled students and students of color shared overall more negative views on campus climate. A number of universities have released similar campus climate surveys, including the University of Illinois System, the University of California at Berkeley and the University of Michigan. Upon UW’s release of the survey results, Chancellor Rebecca Blank said UW’s results were similar to the findings at these other schools. “While the results are not directly comparable because the surveys are not identical, the findings were broadly similar, particularly the disparities in
experience among students based on personal identity,” Blank said. In campus climate surveys conducted at other universities, there were differences in the number of students surveyed, method of analyzing data, responses rates and demographic of student bodies. Despite these differences, all of these universities reported a less positive campus climate for minority students. Additionally, creating a more inclusive environment for students who do not experience a positive campus climate was a central resolution in all of these schools’ reports. Upon review the results of the UW survey, a task force including students and faculty made recommendations aimed at eliminating these disparities. UW Chief Diversity Officer Patrick Sims, co-chair of this task force, said the university is actively working toward creating a more inclusive campus climate through its faculty and student populations. “We are very keen on boosting recruitment of underrepresented
create a more positive campus climate for all students, Sims said. Additionally, both programs are sufficient methods to get responses from the 80 percent of students who did not participate in the campuswide climate survey. “The ‘Our Wisconsin’ program is a huge step in this direction to create an environment where students understand that people bring different lenses to the work that they are engaging in,” Sims said. “The SOAR introductory program also reaches out to everyone before they come to campus.” According to the report, campus-wide climate surveys will be conducted every four to five years so that the institutional implementations pursued by UW have time to take effect before the next survey is conducted. Many universities, including the University of California-Berkeley and the University of Michigan, reviewed the
results of their respective surveys and determined similar courses of action in a systemic, institutional effort to create a more inclusive campus environment. Diversity training, hiring of more diverse staff, faculty mentorship programs, the upholding and recognition of free speech and university-sponsored diversity programs are of the many recommended actions from the campus climate survey task force. “We have to insist that and ensure that every student on our campus is free from harm, has a strong sense of belonging, and is treated with respect. Anything less is simply unacceptable,” Blank said. “We are working very hard to address these disparities, but this is an effort that is going to require everyone’s involvement. It cannot be done just from the top down.”
“
We are very keen on boosting recruitment of underrepresented students, faculty and staff. And most importantly, we not only want to recruit them, we want to retain them. We are focused on increasing the capacity of students, faculty and staff to hostile harassing, and or intimidating behavior
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Patrick Sims UW Chief Diversity Officer
students, faculty and staff,” Sims said. “And most importantly, we not only want to recruit them, we want to retain them. We are focused on increasing the capacity of students, faculty and staff to intervene when possible and respond to hostile, harassing, and or intimidating behavior.” Sims also highlighted programs launched by UW in the last two years aimed at addressing campus climate issues. The “Our Wisconsin” program and certain elements of the SOAR program for incoming freshmen are examples of institutional efforts on UW’s part to November 28, 2017 • badgerherald.com • 7
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UW professor, former journalist encourages travel to Middle East
African cultural studies professor Samuel England saw gap in freelance writers, pursued career with Lebanese newspaper by Avery Aurand Reporter
University of Wisconsin African cultural studies professor Samuel England started his career not as a teacher, but as a journalist in the Middle East during the nineties, where he advanced his knowledge of Middle Eastern affairs and the Arabic language. A fresh graduate of the University of Michigan — Ann Arbor with a degree in near eastern studies, England said he received his first job at an English newspaper based out of Egypt. There was a gap in staff writers compared to freelance writers, so they needed people. “In retrospect, I wish I had it more in mind to get involved with this paper earlier in college,” England said. “I only wrote one story for them.” He returned to the Middle East, a place where he briefly grew up and studied, to pursue a career in international journalism. As a child, England lived in Cairo, Egypt with his mother while she taught at the American University of Cairo. There, he lived in a fairly sheltered metropolitan area where he attended American school. He said he didn’t learn Arabic in school, and, in fact, barely knew any Arabic by the time he left Cairo two years later. “I knew basic phrases, like ‘Can I have a Coca-Cola,’ but I was by no means fluent,” England said. He returned to Cairo during his college career to study abroad at the American University of Cairo, where he studied Arabic, literature, art and architecture. While in college, he fostered a love for writing and worked at the university’s newspaper, which, he said, pushed him to be a professional journalist. “I had people [at the University of Cairo] who cared about teaching and took an interest in young people who were interested in Arabic,” England said. “It made me want to study it more and more.” In the Middle East, England worked for an international English newspaper based in Lebanon that was co-owned by the Washington Post and the New York Times. He described Lebanon as an epi-center of press activity during his time travelling throughout the Middle East. “Unfortunately, this job didn’t work out,” England said. “If I would’ve stuck with it, I might’ve been a full-time journalist, but I don’t have any regrets. 8• badgerherald.com •November 28, 2017
After some time in the Middle East, England returned to America and continued to pursue a job in journalism, he said. He continued his journey at a newspaper in Washington, D.C. The work was more like a temp job, and it was only fun when he was able to go out into the field and interview people. This is when he decided to explore other career options. “I decided to go into academia because I was worried about job security as a journalist,” he said. He added the current state-of-affairs of journalism in the Middle East consists more of governmentally motivated information collection and war prosecution than reporting or taking photographic evidence. Soon enough, England attended graduate school at the University of California, Berkeley where he received a Ph. D. in comparative literature. Now he teaches African languages and literature through the College of Letters and Science’s African Cultural Studies Department at UW. He said living in Madison is so easy. The people are friendly, it’s easy to get around and the university is functional. This, however, is not to say Madison was his first choice. He said he went wherever he was needed. However, he is still very
invested in the university and its students Photo · England started his career as a freelance here. journalist in Middle East England added he is glad he did not Catherine A. Reiland accept a job teaching at the American UW Madison University of Cairo. “I certainly don’t want to badmouth it [American University of Cairo]. It’s a really The only moment there was potential great institution,” England said. “I think it’s for danger was when he lived in Cairo in just hard living in Egypt right now if you the eighties as a child, he said. There were dislike the current regime. I don’t like that substantial riots, and he and his mother regime very much.” were under curfew for a few weeks. As an American faculty member in Egypt, “We as Americans are pressured to think if he were to speak out against the regime, that something bad will happen to us when colleagues or friends may shun him, he said. we get to the Middle East,” he said. “Then Worst case scenario — the university would you get there and realize things are pretty ask him to leave. normal. The people are kind.” Despite his opinion on the current affairs England was perplexed as to why these of the Egyptian government, England highly ideas have currency in our society, but said encourages people to travel to this region. the media may have a role. Places like Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, He compared the fear of Americans Tunisia, Jordan and Lebanon are all lovely travelling to the Middle East to a foreigner and interesting, he said, and he rarely felt travelling to America. In this scenario, the threatened during his times in the Middle foreigner would say, “Don’t go to America! East. You’ll get caught up in a mass shooting.” So many students come to him expressing While the U.S. country definitely has a a desire to study abroad in these areas, he mass shooting problem, he said, that doesn’t said, but their parents won’t let them. mean this happens day-to-day. “If that’s what you want to do,” he said, “Generally speaking,” he said, “I feel safer “then you should do it.” in the Middle East than I do in the states.” Places where study abroad programs occur are generally in safe areas, he said.
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Melanie McCabe’s latest non-fiction book brings out the mystery lover in all of us McCabe’s latest project plays on urge to uncover family secrets, learn more about background of famous playwright Tennessee Williams
by Jillian Kazlow ArtsEtc. Associate Editor
Melanie McCabe, a poet, teacher and newly branded investigative non-fiction writer explores her hounding curiosity as she delves into the mystery of her father ’s past life in her latest book, “His Other Life: Searching for My Father, His First Wife, and Tennessee Williams”. Thrilling, chilling and encapsulating, McCabe draws in readers with a similar urge to uncover family secrets, or anyone who desires to witness a greater glimpse into the private life of the highly acclaimed playwright, Tennessee Williams. “My father died when I was sixteen,” McCabe said. “I was curious about his life and I asked my mother about it. She had told me a few things about him and one of the things she revealed to me back then was that he had been married before he had married her, which I had no knowledge of.” This new knowledge sparked a passion within McCabe which propelled her on a journey towards uncovering more information about her father’s life and first marriage. It had been revealed to her that Hazel, her father ’s ex-wife, had previously been in a romantic
relationship with Tennessee Williams. The connection to Williams drew Melanie even deeper into the story, as she had also been very involved in the arts as a published poet and English teacher. “I read Tennessee Williams’ memoirs and I read books about him. I thought my dad was mentioned and that was all I knew about it... I had shared that information with a friend a few years back and she called me one day and said, ‘Did you know that in his last years Williams wrote a play called the “Red Devil Battery Sign” and there’s a character in it named Terrence McCabe?’ which was my dad’s name.” This news had shocked Melanie and caused her to take this investigative journey more seriously. She originally started off by simply going through some of the memorabilia her father had left behind. She then traveled across the country in search of newspaper articles, court testimonies and more hard evidence coinciding with the tumultuous story about her father ’s secret life. She even turned to Ancestry.com in search for possible ancestors of past characters that she could interview for a more substantial
image of her father, Hazel and Tennessee’s lives as young adults. “I found a lot of people and talked to a lot of people and that was helpful. I managed to track down her will and that proved useful,” McCabe said. As it turns out, her father and Hazel met at the University of Wisconsin. Some of what was discovered was predictable or could be deemed typical, while other information was intriguing and even alarming, as some evidence is still inconclusive to this day. McCabe began researching the story in the spring of 2014. While she had enough material to write a short essay by 2014, the evidence she found propelled her to continue researching for perhaps a larger project. “I probably officially stopped [researching] in late 2015, but the whole time I was researching I was working on putting pieces of this together. I think I pretty much finished it in ‘15 and I was trying to see if I could get a publisher for it. One night I was Googling around and I found the University of New Orleans Press, they were looking for nonfiction manuscripts and I said ‘Well, okay, I’ll send it,’ and I won. So that’s sort of the path
that I took.” While McCabe mostly wrote poetry prior to the book, something about the story demanded her attention. The story caught McCabe by surprise, and became her first published piece of prose. “I just couldn’t stop thinking about and it took me off on a sidetrack that I’ve been on since, I guess,” McCabe said. The urgency for this story to be shared was due to McCabe’s desire to feel a connection to her father on the grounds of one adult to another. Because her father passed away when she was a teenager, she felt remorse that she and him never had the opportunity to know each other as adults. The book drew her closer to his life, in the context of her as an adult being reintroduced to a side of her father she never knew as a child. She felt as if this project had allowed her to know her father in a new light, which would provide a greater sense of closure. “We all sort of wonder, what were our parents like before we were born. How did they live their lives? What do we not know? At least for me, those are the kind of things that I think are really interesting.”
Brian Regan to bring distinct, rich humor to the Orpheum Theatre
With an emphasis on current events, stand-up comedian covers every day occurences in a relatably hilarious way by John Zack ArtsEtc. Staff Writer
In the difficult, competitive industry of comedy, it’s almost impossible to break the mold—but one comedian coming to Madison in early December aims to do so with his unique brand of observational humor. Brian Regan has been prevalent in the comedy industry since the early ‘90s, and still maintains the momentum he gained so many years ago. Recently, he signed a deal with Netflix to record two hour-long specials, the first of which—Brian Regan: Nunchucks and Flamethrowers—has already begun streaming. Now on a nationwide tour, Regan will be performing at the Orpheum Theatre on Dec. 8 with the same charisma and talent that has brought him so much success. From his 1997 recording, Brian Regan: Live, to his most recent Netflix special, his success has withstood the test of time. According to Regan, his comedy often beckons descriptors such as “observational,” or “slice of life.” None of these descriptors, however, have been able to articulate what Regan’s comedy is truly about. “It’s hard for me to find a word to describe it,” Regan said. “I just let it speak for itself.” Regan’s comedy spans a broad spectrum of topic—often involving everyday events such as visits to the optometrist or shipping packages through UPS, and manages to do so while 10 • badgerherald.com • November 28, 2017
appealing to audiences of any age group. His comedic style is often simply described by others as “clean,” according to Regan. Vulgarity is unheard of in Regan’s standup — a rarity among many comedians. Regan’s assertion, however, is that simply tagging his comedy as “clean” could potentially give the wrong impression. “I can talk about some quirky stuff, but it happens to be clean,” Regan said. “It would be weird if somebody described The Beatles’ music as clean – and it is! What if all that anybody ever said was, ‘Have you ever heard The Beatles? They’re amazingly clean!’ And after a while you’d go, ‘I guess it is, but it’s sort of beside the point.’ I feel that way about the clean label on my comedy.” Cleanliness aside, Regan’s comedy is constantly being developed over months and years. It’s through this constant nuancing that Regan is able to tackle more serious topics in the same light manner that many people may expect from him. According to Regan, his new special includes topics such as Kim Jong Un and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as plenty more lighthearted topics. “I don’t like to be a one-trick pony,” Regan said. “I want to be able to be bold as a performer, and that includes changing my topic choices.” According to Regan, he’s almost constantly performing. It’s over these long stretches of performances that Regan is able to perfect his
art. Through the process of trial and error, he has honed the craft of joke-telling to be able to deliver to audiences what he understands to be the best of what his comedic mind has brought to the table. By Regan’s estimate, he’s been doing comedy for 97 years. Through the years he’s been performing standup comedy, he’s come to understand that his comedy routines must constantly be evolving. “You’re always in the process of creating new stuff, and every joke is in a different state of development,” Regan said. “It’s a process, you know.” Regan’s process has always been one of trial and error. Regan says that the fun of developing a comedy routine lies in not knowing whether or not a joke in the early stages of development will completely resonate with an audience. “You’ll have bits that you try, and you go ‘Hey, that’s a pretty solid laugh’ and you work on it, and you see what happens with it,” Regan said. “So, you never know.” Regan found his passion for comedy when he was in a college speech class, and found that he was able to entertain the entire class with his speeches. When he noticed his entire class and teacher laughing at his delivery, he was able to identify his knack for comedy. “I don’t impress people when I’m in biology class,” Regan said. “I’m entertaining people here
in speech class.” As he pursued more speaking events during his college years, he began to figure he could turn his comedic ability into a living. Through further practice in the skill, Regan soon discovered his calling for comedy — and he discovered it was more than just a hobby. “When I hit on that, it was pretty fun for me, because I was like, ‘Wow, so this is what passion is!’” Regan said. “I knew that whatever this comedy thing was, I was willing to put all kinds of effort into it.” Regan’s passion for comedy has remained unbounded, and for that, he has become critically acclaimed. It has even taken him to the realm of television. Regan recently debuted his role in Audience Network’s television series titled Loudermilk, created by Dumb and Dumber director Peter Farrelly. Regan plays a supporting role in this dark comedy that focuses on substance abuse. Regan’s recent involvement in the television industry solidifies the notion that his comedy has remained steadfast over decades of constant evolution and progression. Very few comedians in history have remained such an unwavering presence in the comedy industry as well as Brian Regan has. His familiar flavor of comedy is set to entertain people on Dec. 8 at the Orpheum Theatre at 8 p.m.
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Conversation Starter All That Remains guitarist Oli Herbert discusses changes in music production, metal scene since the late ‘90s, early 2000s by Kristin Washagan ArtsEtc. Editor
Veterans of the metal scene, All That Remains prepares for their 2017 tour stop in Madison with their eighth album, “Madness.” Since their formation in 1998, All That Remains has cycled through a variety of stylistic and member changes, while remaining true to their distinct core sound. The Badger Herald had the opportunity to speak with the band’s guitarist, Oli Herbert, about the band’s roots in the scene, favorite venues and their upcoming stop at The Orpheum on Dec. 9. The following interview has been edited for style and clarity. The Badger Herald: Can you tell me a bit about your most recent album, “Madness?” Oli Herbert: We wanted to take a different approach and add the vocal lines and the lyrics first instead of the music. Not for every song, but we tried it with a bunch of different songs. I think it was pretty cool, because it gave me the chance, as the guitar player, to write around vocal melodies, which gave me a more clearcut role. Instead of coming up with ‘okay here’s some random riffs, hopefully we can make a song from that.’ Lyrically, it runs the gamete. Obviously it’s very political. A lot of time he speaks from experience, relationships and stuff like that. The song “Madness” has a lot of political overtones to it. But I think we just try to be current and reflect the current state of affairs. BH: How is the sound of the album similar or different from past works? OH: I’d say we kind of have our core sound in there. Songs like “Open Grave” are definitely — I don’t want to say ‘run of the mill,’ but... definitely the ATR sound. I think where the album differs is the fact that there’s a lot of keyboard work on it, and other electronic type sounds. We definitely wanted to include just a different vibe instead of just guitars, you know, two guitars, bass, drums and vocals. We wanted to have some outside electronics just to do something different. How is this similar? Let’s take a song like “Halo.” That’s a pretty straight up All That Remains song. It has keyboards in it and stuff, but structurally it’s very in line with what we’ve done in the past. BH: When did you first begin playing
together as a band? OH: I joined the band in ’99, but its conception was in ’98. So I’ve been in the band for 18 years now. It’s been a long process, you know? Lots of member changes and stylistic changes and just [as] people, we grow as musicians and our tastes kind of vary from album to album. It’s just a part of the journey. BH: Coming from that perspective of being in the scene for 18 years or more, have you noticed any changes in the scene, or music production in general? OH: Oh god, yeah. We recorded our first album in the 2000s… so we would record a part, and if you didn’t play it right, there would come a time where you’d run out of punches and would have to come back the next day to fix all your parts. So it was a lot harder… that was grueling, to get through that album. And then by the time that “The Fall of Ideals” came out, we were able to utilize that technology differently, and now that’s the standard… everyone’s job is a lot easier when it comes to recording. That’s why every band has a perfect sounding album now… I think it’s a good thing, but I also think it homogenizes the sound of music. I don’t want to sound like the old guy, but if you listen to bands from the ‘70s, ‘80s or even ‘90s, every album has a very different vibe to it. And a lot of times there’s mistakes even, which is kind of cool. But now, we expect only perfection. It’s not a bad thing. It’s a lot easier to record now — it’s better if you’re doing it by yourself. If you understand how to use ProTools, you can really put out polished recordings…Again, it’s subjective. BH: What do you gain inspiration from most? OH: As far as musically, you’ll always be influenced by everything around you, all the time… an idea will come to me, it’s a matter of just capitalizing off of being able to say ‘this is a good idea, this is not a good idea’ and being able to further develop them. BH: Are there any other artists or bands that inspire you, or the band as a whole? OH: I mean, we listen to pretty much an entire gamete of music. I’d say [there are] not many bands we all agree on. I can’t think of one that wouldn’t be contested. I
enjoy classical music, especially people like Danny Elfman or Jack Williams. They were really inspirational to me. If I’m writing a new album, I tend not to listen to a lot of metal. I get myself to a different headspace. I want to study kind of more profound music, you know, more structuralized. If I’m listening to people who are my peers, I might unintentionally rip them off. I don’t want to ever do that. BH: Looking back at past performances, do you have any favorite shows? What’s the best show you ever played? OH: That’s hard to say. There are two clubs in the country where I feel like have the best stage sound for, and that’s The Orbit Room in Grand Rapids, MI and the 9:30 club in Washington D.C. BH: What should fans bring or expect at your upcoming Madison show? OH: We’re just a metal, hard rock band.
We come here, have a good time, have some beers, party hard. We try to put on a high-energy show. It’s not coming out to the opera or something, you know. BH: How would you describe your genre? OH: Like I said, we’re a metal band. We also have hard rock — we have singing, we have some screaming. We have a couple ballads, we have some really raging songs… I’m not a big fan of mainstream labels of music. I just feel like the people that use [genres] like, ‘oh I love black metal but I hate death metal,” I want to punch them in the face. You have to look at 100 years from now, how will that music be classified?
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New television remake of Spike Lee film ‘She’s Gotta Have It’ provides empowering series centered on sex positivity, agency by Tolu Igun Hump Day Columnist
In 1986, Spike Lee released his first film, “She’s Gotta Have It.” The story revolves around a beautiful, young female artist, Nola Darling who lives in the Fort Greene neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. As far as what you really need to know about Nola, she does not like being called a freak. With quotes like, “I consider myself abnormal, but who wants to be like everyone else? Not I,” Darling does not believe in one word labels. These include the labels that are attached to her many romantic partners. People on the outside like to say that Nola has three
12 • badgerherald.com • November 7, 2017
boyfriends, but she would never agree with this. Nola is dating Jamie Overstreet, Mars Blacman and Greer Childs at the same time. All of them are aware that she has other lovers, as she refers to them, but they have never met one another. So how does she keep herself from confusing her men? Nola has a lot of rules. One of which implies that she only makes love in her loving bed. She makes sure to set boundaries with her partners because without these many rules, her relationships and her life would become chaotic quite fast. Lee portrays Nola’s relationships as a polyamorous lifestyle, but he needs to think
about the negative implications doing so can have on the already existing polyamorous community. I would not consider Nola’s relationships as polyamory at all and neither should other people who watch this show. Polyamory is the practice of, or desire for, intimate relationships with more than one partner, with the knowledge of all partners. This last part of the definition is key because in Nola’s situation, Jamie, Mars and Greer do not meet until the final episode of season one. Additionally, Nola has a fourth lover, Opal Gilstrap. Opal is Nola’s only female lover and makes a reappearance in her love life when she is ready for a man cleanse. The unawareness of one another for these four lovers cannot equate to polyamory because this would suggest that they are all in the relationship together when really they are all in it for Nola. “They all know me differently, but all the same think they control me,” Nola said. Even though Lee was unable to get polyamory quite right, “She’s Gotta Have” does an excellent job of confronting the prevalence of sexual assault in our communities. Within the shows first few minutes, Nola is already addressing how brutal it can feel to walk down the streets of Brooklyn as a woman. Women are often hollered at and called pet names excessively to be called attention to. They are simply trying to go about their day and cannot do so easily without being bothered or harassed. Not only is Nola harassed verbally, but early on in the series she is also sexually harassed. A man grabs her on her way home at night from a friends and reverts to calling her a “black bitch” as she escapes his grip and runs away. She employs her love for art as a chance to send a message to the man who sexually harassed her in addition to the many men just like him. The show addresses many other controversial issues in our current climate such as homelessness, gentrification and the Black Lives Matter movement. Nola Darling is one of first Hollywood
characters that I can relate to on a personal level. This show is crucial for young black females because it allows them to see someone that looks like them in a role they never could before. Black women are overtly hypersexualized in the media and rarely receive leading roles. This gives a false sense of what it means to be a black woman. Hopefully the show can work as a positive step in the right direction away from such demonization. Lee’s inclusion of sex positivity and being comfortable in one’s own skin is an important message for any female because the era of slut shaming has still not come to an end. Unlike Lee’s original 1986 film, there is much more inclusion of the female perspective. Now that he is a father and husband, he sees things different from before. Lee sought advice from many wise females on how to portray these themes so accurately. Mecca, a friend of Nola’s who is selfconscious about her butt, contemplates getting implants for much of the series. The incorporated show “She Ass’d For It” sends toxic messages to young women like Mecca about what they need to look like. Nola supports Mekka with whatever choice she makes because to have freedom as a women is not only about disregarding the male perspective. “Isn’t freedom also having the right to do whatever you will with your own body?” asks Nola. This show will help young females of all shapes, sizes and colors understand that no one is in control of their own body expect for themselves. Women should not be judging one another, but rather supporting and uplifting each other. The series shows this through strong female friendships, and the importance of agency throughout each of the women’s decisions. Not only will any female learn a lot from this show, but so will men. The message that you cannot and should not control another person is explained throughout the series in the eyes of Nola Darling.
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‘My Shrunken Universe’ uses relatable characters, mystical circumstances to create a suspenseful story of misadventure by Aidan McClain ArtsEtc. Editor
Welcome to StoriesEtc, a place where University of Wisconsin students can share their original works of creative writing with the community, whether it be poetry, short stories or anything in between. As a section dealing with the arts, it feels only natural to create an opportunity for students to share their creative talents. With that being said, let’s meet this week’s contributor, and The Badger Herald’s ArtsEtc. editor, Aidan McClain: Tell us about yourself. What’s your major? I’m a junior at the University of Wisconsin studying journalism. I just chose to pursue the strategic communication track, which revolves around marketing and public relations. I hope to start a career in the entertainment industry, which is why I’m currently one of the ArtsEtc. editors here at The Badger Herald. Define your writing, authorship, and perspective. It’s hard to describe my writing because I tend to just write down what comes to my head in the moment. I don’t plan ahead, I just type and type and type—like I’m doing now. My authorship depends on what I’m writing. I like to write poetry and music because it serves as an outlet for expression, but creative stories allow me to use my wild imagination to create a world that doesn’t exist outside of my head. Writing is personal, and everyone has their own writing style. Every writer and non-writer should embrace their writing style and make the best out of it—even if you aren’t confident in your work. When I write songs, I have trouble finishing most of them, but that’s okay. They’re mine and no one else’s and that means something to me. Talk about your creative process. What inspires you, and how do you get from an idea to a
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finished product? I tend to be the most creative when I’m not planning to be. I always tell myself that I should have a voice recorder constantly running so that when I say an idea out loud or sing a song lyric, I won’t forget it. That tends to be my biggest problem. Since my creativity comes out-of-the-blue, I usually don’t have time to find a piece of paper to write down the words. When writing songs, I’m inspired by the emotions I’m feeling. I’ve heard people say that writing songs is like having open-heart surgery because you expose yourself to the core, and I’d have to agree. It’s not an easy thing to share my work with anyone. Luckily, my piece today is a creative writing sample, which is easier for me to share because it doesn’t show my emotions, but rather my carefree side that is reminiscent of a child. When an idea forms, whether it be a song or a creative writing piece, editing is key. When I write on paper, there are many scratch marks, arrows and underlines. It can be frustrating to finish a piece, but patience is everything. Here is a sample of McClain’s work:
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“My Shrunken Universe” On that dreadful day in September, my normal professor was absent from class. This took us all by surprise, as there was no warning email, but the class was pretty pleased at first. After all, no regular professor means there is going to be a guest lecturer, and guest lecturers are always a joke. My excitement for a blow-off period quickly died as the lecturer jumped right into heavy coursework. He must have been able to read our minds — he said this material will indeed be on the next exam, so we best pay attention. As I struggled to stay awake, I heard the repetitive tick of the clock slowly tick tick tick tick as the speaker’s monotonous
voice droned on and on and on. I wish I could say this was all a nightmare, but that’s not the case. It’s not the class that I wish was all a dream, but what happened after the clock finally hit its 50-minute marker, and the buzz of the bell told us to leave. You would think I was relieved. And I wish I was, too. I began to pack my bag and get out of the class as soon as possible—if I didn’t get fresh air I was bound to collapse of exhaustion. But the lecturer offered us something that my sweet tooth couldn’t resist: candy. And so I accepted his offer, as did most students, and we popped the sour candy into our mouths. But this candy’s sour flavor soon turned bitter. A wave of fear overtook my body as my body started to shake, and everything around me began to grown. But the room wasn’t growing—I was shrinking. Smaller, smaller, smaller. At the time I wasn’t worried because I thought my mind was wandering as my body slept, listening to the lecturer ramble. So I thought it was an adventurous dream. I decided I needed to get off my chair and onto the floor, so I crafted a paper plane out of my drooled-upon notes and flew down to the ground. I began to walk to the
classroom door but since I was so small, it felt like miles. After what seemed like a century, I made my way out of the building and onto the street. I began to panic as I found myself stuck to the ground. Fear wasn’t paralyzing me, but rather a piece of chewed gum was holding me down. My immobility didn’t last long, as I was lifted into the air by a few environmentallyconscious kids picking up trash from the ground. I was thankful for my freedom of movement, but unfortunately ended up in a trash can. My story doesn’t get better, but it does get more entertaining. A cute little dog that was walking itself stuck its head into the trash, and I ended up on its back. After quite the ride, I was painfully scratched off—he must have thought I was a flea. I somehow ended up at my apartment, where I had to slide myself through the keyhole to get inside. After my roommates nearly stepped on me, they picked me up and I explained everything. I can’t imagine what was going through their heads— poor guys. Besides the fact that I had to sleep in a tissue box, I was doing alright. The next day, my roommates brought me to my STEM friends, and they worked their magic to bring me back to my normal size. Like I said, this wasn’t a dream, but I wish it had been. My body and mind were shrunken to something I never imagined to be possible.
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UW chancellor encourages community to confront strained campus climate as national tensions escalate Rebecca Blank looks toward the future of free speech, faculty retention and Foxconn
by Alice Vagun Editor-in-Chief
For University of Wisconsin Chancellor Rebecca Blank, it’s been a quieter fall than expected. It’s been a year since the election of President Donald Trump, and UW — like other college campuses and cities — continues to wrestle with how to solve the racial, political and social tensions that have heightened in the past year. UW students are working to spark conversations about these issues that permeate their lives, but continue to face challenges when it comes to listening to the other side. Blank sat down with The Badger Herald to discuss some of the most pertinent challenges facing UW, ranging from the current campus climate and free speech, to Foxconn coming to town, to faculty retention.
Campus climate survey reveals ‘unsurprising’ reality at UW Earlier this month, the campus climate survey revealed underrepresented communities, such as racial minorities and LGBTQ+ students, share less positive experiences and feel less safe on campus. The results of the survey, which Blank called “unsurprising,” were on par with similar climate surveys from other universities, and have called into question the effectiveness of previous cultural competency measures. Some argue UW is not doing enough to cultivate an inclusive environment. “I can’t say what the reasons are [for the results], but I can 14 • badgerherald.com •November 28, 2017
suggest what I suspect some of them are. We are a majority white campus and any place where there are not a lot of people that come from your background or experience … can sometimes be more alienating,” Blank said. “That’s something I know Native American students experience, something African American students experience. And I’ve heard such things from students who come from small, rural towns around the state coming to a more urban environment feeling that type of alienation as well.” Along with the feeling of alienation on campus, issues culminating at the national level — such as immigration reform, hate crimes, discriminatory rhetoric or disparities in the criminal justice system — can shape how students experience campus, especially for minority students. Heated national controversies seep into daily campus life. According to the survey, only 65 percent of students of color, 69 percent of LGBQ students and 50 percent of transgender or nonbinary students feel welcome on campus. “This survey says an unacceptably large number of particularly students of color feel less welcome on campus,” Blank said. “I would say the same thing about people with alternative sexual identities clearly came out in this survey as well and we need to be very aware of that and figure out what we can be doing to keep becoming a more inclusive and welcoming campus for all groups.” The university has launched a number of initiatives surrounding campus climate over the last couple of years, including 18 in fall 2016. One of the most important initiatives and “first step” for incoming students, Blank said, has been the Our Wisconsin program, which expanded to include all freshmen last semester. According to a fall 2016 pilot program review, there was a significant difference between students who participated in the Our Wisconsin program and those who did not in terms of how they perceive and discuss race and diversity. For example, 82 percent of those who participated in the Our Wisconsin program said they were somewhat, very or extremely likely to question a friend about a biased or stereotypical comment, compared to 73 percent of those who did not complete the program. The campus climate survey put forth a list of recommendations which, broadly, hope to promote the development of more programs that will facilitate conversation surrounding diversity and inclusivity. Specifically, the School of Education has put together a curriculum called “The Discussion Project,” which is aimed at working with faculty to address issues such as teaching in a more diverse classroom and helping understand how one makes sure their comments, examples or even exam questions are sensitive to a much wider and more diverse range of students. “There is no one magic bullet here, it’s simply working at this in multiple ways all the time … We are always looking to say, ‘What are we not doing that potentially we should think about doing that would be helpful?’” Blank said. “... People come at things with very different perspectives, and what you partly want to provide is a set of opportunities, all of which engage people in different ways.”
To avoid “survey fatigue,” Blank said they plan on conducting the survey in four to five years. She added this will allow time for the initiatives to have a more measurable impact.
Blank says free speech policy is not ‘anti-protest’
As tensions surrounding issues of race and identity heat up on college campuses, so does the dilemma of how to engage in more difficult conversations. After a year of seemingly constant student-led and city-wide protests, the UW community struggles to define the boundaries of free speech. When a group of protesters interrupted controversial conservative pundit Ben Shapiro at an event hosted by Young Americans for Freedom last year, the UW System Board of Regents began to reevaluate ways to ensure visiting speakers
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facebook.com/badgerherald had the right to speak, no matter how unpopular the opinion. The result ended in a policy that mandates UW System schools discipline students who disrupt speakers. In the resolution, a student who disrupts the free expression of others on two separate occasions will face suspension. That same student will face expulsion if he or she is found to have disrupted free expression a third time. Since the passage of the resolution, many, like Blank, have taken issue with the vagueness of the language used. But as the vague language allows for a more broad interpretation of the resolution, Blank said it also allows the disciplinary process to be more “flexible” for students found to be disruptive. Blank, who considers herself a “strong proponent of free speech” and participated in protests in the past such as antinuclear protests in the 1980s, has been publicly critical of the part of the policy that mandates disciplinary sentences. She emphasized the policy is not “anti-protest,” as students are still allowed to lawfully protest so long as they don’t actively disrupt the speaker to the point where they cannot be clearly heard. “If there is someone speaking down at the Union and there’s a major protest in Bascom Hall, by definition ... that will not be subject to [disciplinary action] because there’s no way that that could disrupt the speaker,” Blank said. “If there were people who went [to the event] and stood inside with a sign and said nothing, that would not disrupt the speaker. It would have to be something that it would keep someone who wanted to listen from actually listening and understanding what the speaker was saying.” There are different types of protest, Blank said, and the mandatory sentencing policy does not apply to all of them. The chancellor emphasized that disciplinary action will only be taken when an event is disrupted to the point where audience members are prevented from hearing the speaker. Critics of the resolution have also expressed concern that the policy will silence minority voices on campus, and allow those with controversial opinions to spread hate. While there have been speakers who have said things counter to the values the university would like to express, Blank said as a public university, they are limited in preventing certain speakers from expressing their opinions. The university cannot prevent certain speakers from coming to campus, however deplorable their views. But Blank said she can still condemn hateful rhetoric and make sure students have protected spaces. “What is allowed on Bascom Hill is not allowed in your dorm room. You have a right to protect your living room from someone coming in and spewing hate at you,” Blank said. “So, we tend to have much tighter restrictions on what can happen inside dormitories, for instance, than we do on what happens on Bascom Hill.”
Foxconn provides prospects for partnerships, employment
With Foxconn set to open a $3 billion facility in Mount Pleasant by 2020, Blank said the university already has its eyes on taking advantage of potential partnerships with the Taiwanese technology giant. “I think the biggest opportunity here is going to be for student placement and internships, and ways to provide the trained workforce that Foxconn wants,” Blank said. “ … We have particularly unique advantages given the quality and presence of our business school, our engineering school and our computer science department.” The university has already been in conversations about how to do various career fairs with Foxconn and how they
Since this budget is the first one in many years with no cuts, Blank hopes to “go back to normal” and use the next two years as a window of opportunity for investment. In addition to faculty retention, Blank hopes to see UW tackle issues on all fronts — even those that are uncomfortable for students to face. “As you know, some of our fellow schools have had a variety of very difficult incidents — and we’re always half a day away from something like that happening here — but I’m actually pleased to believe that more of our students are understanding that we are in a moment of a lot of conversations around diversity and cultural differences, and ethnic and racial issues and religious issues,” Blank said. “And those are conversations we need to engage in, but we need to engage in them in a way that actually invites people in rather than pushes them away. By and large, I’ve been pleased with how our students have dealt with these issues on campus. … It’s a difficult time for some of our students and I understand that.”
can be integrated into the career events that are already happening on campus, Blank said. Over time, the chancellor said she hopes to establish some sort of research connections as well some joint research work between Foxconn and UW faculty. “Foxconn has a lot of interesting imaging equipment, and we happen to have a group in our school of Medicine and Public Health that is one of the top groups in the world on radiology imaging,” Blank said.
Michael Lim The Badger Herald
UW hopes for continued stability in retention
Despite years of budget cuts and controversial changes to tenure, Blank said she is hopeful UW will be able to grow faculty in the future. In the midst of tumultuous relationships with the state Legislature and the Board of Regents in 2015, UW saw a 44 percent increase in outside offers from other institutions. Even though UW retained 80 percent of faculty in the 2015-16 school year, Blank said 80 percent of a much bigger number still means UW lost more people than it wanted to. Still, the recent $140 million reinvestment in the UW System in Gov. Scott Walker ’s 2017-19 biennial budget provides UW with opportunity for growth, Blank said.
Designed by Autumn Brown November 28, 2017 • badgerherald.com • 15
OPINION
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Wisconsin voter ID laws disenfranchise marginalized voters statewide Voter ID laws in Wisconsin discourage voters of color, low socioeconomic status from participating in elections by Aly Niehans Opinion Editor
Voting in free and fair elections is a cornerstone of today’s version of the American democracy. While voting rights certainly didn’t extend outside white, male landowners when the democratic experiment was written into existence in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, as this country has grown, expanded and modernized, so too has the number and scope of people allowed to elect their political officials. As part of the restructuring of the south following the Civil War, the 15th amendment granted African American men to vote. In 1920, women were granted the same right by the 19th amendment after extensive lobbying for a right they deserved equally as much as their male counterparts. Fast-forward to the 21st century, and voting turnouts are despicably low, with the national turnout rate slightly more than 58 percent for the 2016 presidential election. At least 19 states saw a decrease in voter turnout in 2016, a statistic antithetical to previous data showing an increase
in voter turnout in presidential races where no incumbent is on the ballot. So, either 42 percent of Americans are disillusioned enough with American politics and the electoral process to abstain from exercising a right so desperately sought after in other parts of the world, or there is something else at play here. Enter Republican-sanctioned voter ID laws. As of the 2016 presidential election, 32 states now require some form of voter identification laws. Of these 32 states, seven states require the presentation of a photo identification at the polls in order to cast a ballot. Six states, Wisconsin included, have come under fire in both the judicial system as well as in the public eye for voter ID laws that are thought by some to discriminate against minority groups, making it disproportionately harder for them to exercise their right to vote. The Wisconsin Voter ID law was enacted by Scott Walker and Wisconsin Republicans in 2011. To vote, people are required to produce either a valid driver’s license, a passport or naturalization
Photo · Wisconsin voter ID laws, among the strictest in the nation, disproportionately disenfranchise minorities and low socioeconomic communities, swaying elections in favor Republican candidates. Badger Herald archives 16 • November 28, 2017 • badgerherald.com
certificate, among several other relatively unusual and expensive forms of identification. Immediately, the law sparked outrage from individuals and organizations such as the ACLU, and in April 2014, following a lawsuit filed by the ACLU, a district court ruled the law was unconstitutional. However, just six months later, the lower court’s decision was overturned by the Court of Appeals, meaning the law was back in business, deemed constitutional. A federal appeals court, in 2016, blocked lower courts in Wisconsin from allowing voters to cast ballots without proper photo identification, allowing the law to be in enforcement for the 2016 election. In early 2017, the same federal appeals court heard arguments in the case Frank v. Walker, the official lawsuit against Wisconsin’s voter ID law. Scott Walker and Wisconsin Republicans argue that more stringent voter ID laws will protect Wisconsin elections from voter fraud that ultimately causes voters to feel as though their legal votes are being negated by votes cast illegally. “Our administration will continue to work to make it easy to vote and hard to cheat,” said Walker. Voter fraud is a thinly veiled excuse for enacting laws that blatantly aim to disenfranchise minority communities and people of lower socioeconomic status. Voter fraud affects less than one-tenth of a percent nationally, with just four cases of fraud detected in the 2016 election, amounting to 0.000002 percent of all ballots cast. In Wisconsin’s 2004 election, one of the most hotly debated in the state’s history, there were only seven substantiated cases of voter fraud or 0.0002 percent of all ballots cast in the election. According to the Brennan Center study, “The Truth about Voter Fraud”, not a single one of the seven illegal votes cast would have been preventable had there been voter ID laws in place. What is really motivating the Republicans’ insatiable push towards stricter voter ID laws? While Republicans repeatedly claim that not a single person will be disenfranchised because of stricter voting laws, the laws demand identification that is both difficult and expensive to obtain. In Milwaukee, the 2016 election saw a 41,000 vote decrease in comparison with the 2012 election. One of the most segregated cities in the country, Milwaukee saw a particular decrease in voter turnout in four districts with the most “transient, high poverty” levels. For those who are unable to afford a new form of ID, or who are unable to take off of work to register for one because of the inflexibility of hourly jobs, voting becomes more of a hassle
than a positive experience granting someone the chance to influence the outcome of an election. A new study coming out of the University of California San Diego has successfully shown that “strict photo identification laws have a differentially negative impact on the turnout of Hispanics, Blacks, and mixed-race Americans in primaries and general elections.” This same study found that, in states with strict photo ID laws, the turnout gap between whites and Latinos doubled in general elections, and the black-white gap almost doubled in primary elections. These findings can help explain the drastically lower turnout rate in Milwaukee in 2016, as the strict ID laws directly targeted minority communities in districts that were already socioeconomically disadvantaged. Research coming out of the University of Wisconsin found that in Dane and Milwaukee counties, 11.2 percent of voters were discouraged from voting. These two counties, both predominantly Democratic voting areas, also happen to be two of the most densely populated areas of Wisconsin, therefore retaining the ability to color the state either blue or red. The study finds that 80 percent of the discouraged voters had voted in the 2012 election and that dissuasion from voting because of stricter laws largely was pointed at black and poor communities. What we have in Wisconsin right now is a set of voter ID laws that have been proven by multiple studies to disproportionately disenfranchise minority and socioeconomically disadvantaged communities. With Republicans controlling the government, this directly benefits them, as minorities tend to vote democratically and are increasingly becoming a more represented and influential section of the American electorate. With voter ID laws in effect even while held up in courts, Republicans effectively silence the vote of thousands of minorities who are unable to afford or obtain new IDs or are discouraged from voting in the first place either by people at the polls, in their communities or simply because of the law. Last time I checked, this is not the 1950s, and discrimination is illegal. A political party that uses its unchecked control of a state’s legislature to craft blatantly discriminatory laws is a party that can never claim to uphold the sanctity of the American democracy, claim to care for its constituents or claim that it works in the interests of the people. The color of one’s skin or the amount of money saved in a bank is not grounds for the revocation of a right. Aly Niehans (aniehans@badgerherald.com) is a sophomore majoring in international studies and intending to major in journalism.
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Wisconsin prioritizes increaing funding for prisons over UW system Statewide trend of overspending on punitive system puts at-risk youth at severe disadvantage, underscores education
by Cait Gibbons Columnist
In 2011, the Wisconsin budget crossed a line --- literally and figuratively. For the first time, the state allocated more money to the Department of Corrections than to the entire UW System. Prior to 2011, the UW System had long been one of the top three recipients of state funds, after K-12 schools and medical assistance programs, such as Medicaid, but in the 2011 biennial budget, the Department of Corrections surpassed the state’s public universities, making Wisconsin taxpayers’ number three priority the prison system and correctional facilities. Much of the Wisconsin’s budget comes from what is called General Purpose Revenue (GPR), which is primarily sourced by income tax. Over the past 20 years, the state’s GPR has steadily increased, as expected with inflation, with an annualized increase of about 1.95 percent. This increase in the state budget would theoretically mean similar increases in funding for all departments, but that has not necessarily been the case. According to the Department of Administration annual fiscal reports, over the past 20 years, while allocations to the UW System have remained relatively stagnant, with an annualized increase of about 0.43 percent, the allocations to the Department of Corrections have increased steadily, with an annualized increase of about 2.84 percent (nearly 50 percent more than that of the total GPR). As such, in 2016, the Department of Corrections received about $1.16 billion of GPR, while the UW System received only $993.5 million. A survey conducted by the Vera Institute of Justice estimated that in fiscal year 2015, the State of Wisconsin spent about $38,644 per inmate per year --- about 22 percent more than the national average. Conversely, the National Center for Education Statistics released a report estimating that Wisconsin schools spent about $10,897 per student per year --- less than 30 percent of the spending per inmate. The return on investment in education, particularly post-secondary education, is relatively easy to quantify. When students are able to attend school and receive an education, they are able to graduate with skills that allow them to land a lucrative job, enabling them to then reinvest money back into the economy. A recent study conducted at Georgetown University estimates that by the end of 2018, 63 percent of jobs in the workforce will require at least some postsecondary education, which is part of an increasing trend shown in this graph compiled by the Center on Education and the Workforce at Georgetown. The return on investment in prison systems is a little bit more complex. While prisons do not generate any tangible
revenue, there is a significant value to be placed on public safety. This is very difficult to quantify, but its importance is not to be discounted. It is, however, difficult to disaggregate investing more money in the prison systems from increased public safety. According to the Public Safety Performance Project, from 1990 to 2012, the Wisconsin state legislature increased spending on prisons by 620 percent. The increased spending in 1990 was a direct result of Governor Tommy Thompson (R) and the legislature’s desire to crack down on non-violent crime, particularly drugrelated offenses. The state also worked to implement Truth in Sentencing. In that decade, the state spent money building additional correctional facilities to accommodate a growing prison population, which increased by over 200 percent from 1990 to 2014. Crime rates have been steadily decreasing over the past several decades, and one could argue that the reduced crime rate is a direct result of the increased spending on the DoC. However, according to data on violent crimes from FBI UCS Annual Crime Reports, rates of violent crime in Wisconsin had already started decreasing by 1980, and with the increased spending on prison systems that began in the 90s, the rate of decrease did not change very significantly. This would suggest there is not a significant correlation between increased spending on prisons and decreased violent crime rate. This shift that occurred in 2011 calls into question the priorities of our state, and our society. Are we going to prioritize the perpetuation of institutionalized racism and a class system that traps people of color and lower income citizens just to mitigate our own prejudicial fears about other people? Or are we going to prioritize encouraging a new generation of learners, creators and innovators who work to participate entirely and meaningfully in our society? We should be providing at-risk youth a promise of quality post-secondary education, not investing in departments that reinforce systems of fear, poverty and discrimination. The prison-industrial complex is a pervasive system of institutionalized racism that traps people of color into the omnipresent cycle of oppression perpetuated by inequality in the justice system, as well as income inequality, job discrimination and other oppressive power structures. According to a study conducted at the University of Wisconsin -
Photo · Allocating more funding to the prison system than to UW detracts from potential educational opportunities while bolstering system of mass incarceration. Logan Reigstad The Badger Herald Milwaukee, Wisconsin has the highest rate of incarceration of black men: 12.8 percent of black men in Wisconsin are incarcerated, compared to the national average of 6.7 percent. Similarly, the incarceration rate of Native American men in Wisconsin is 7.6 percent, as opposed to the national average of 3.1 percent. Politicians often argue that the UW system can handle budget cuts better than other departments because it has other, significant sources of income (i.e. tuition), while low-income public schools and correctional facilities do not take in the same amount of money from its users. While it’s true that the UW system does budget for around $5 billion in program revenue, as opposed to the approximately $120.4 million in program revenue budget for in the Department of Corrections, the heavy reliance that the state places on UW’s tuition and fees from students and their families means that the higher education system is becoming increasingly inaccessible. Even with the tuition freeze
placed on the public universities for several years, increases in student segregated fees, student housing and other nontuition related costs are causing the cost of attendance to continue to rise. Investing in education encourages the mobility of money amongst classes and helps minimize economic disparity by spreading the money around. Investing in the prison system pushes more money into the hands of a few, while funding the perpetuation of the gap between lower and higher income Wisconsinites, those who have the resources to attend university, and those for whom postsecondary education is not a realistic option. We need to recognize the power of investing in things that benefit the masses, because in the end, we will all benefit from a more skilled workforce more than we will from a higher prison population. Cait Gibbons (cgibbons3@wisc.edu) is a sophomore majoring in math. November 28, 2017 • badgerherald.com • 17
OPINION
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Improving bus system boosts Madison’s reputation twofold
By taking steps to improve public transportation system, Madison serves underprivileged community, benefits environment by Lucas Johnson Opinion Editor
Public transportation has an innate ability to blend in. Passing buses and bright yellow taxis, roadside passenger shelters and drab benches all do an excellent job of deflecting attention from themselves. They are aspects of our infrastructure that are generally assumed to be adequate if functional. Rarely is much thought allocated to their improvement by the average passerby. Madison Mayor Paul Soglin, however, has made it a personal mission to reevaluate the current system in an attempt to shave time off commutes through a multitude of strategies as well as improve the overall quality of buses in Madison. Per The Cap Times, the plan has been dubbed the Bus Rapid Transit system and will aim to make travel times shorter by using high-capacity buses, a system of prepaid tickets, cutting down on the volume of stops and even granting bus drivers the ability to extend green lights. This tentative plan is predicted to cost nearly $155 million to construct, and around $10 million to operate annually. Additionally, the planning process alone would require
around $1 million in state revenue and $1 million in federal revenue. While these figures may seem inflated, and an argument could be made in favor of allocating the funding to another sector of Madison in need of improvement, this plan benefits those not fortunate enough to have access to a car, as well as students in need of a quick way across our expansive campus, and that’s important. It’s refreshing to read about a plan to improve life in Madison void of partisan disagreement revolving around identity. This isn’t a plan that implicitly targets a minority population, or one that sorely needs to be advocated for — rather it’s an honest attempt to improve the lives of the average Madison resident. According to a BRT study conducted in 2013, the new system would cut the travel time from Capitol Square to West Towne from its current 51 minute total down to just 36 minutes, and on average would halve wait times from 30 minutes down to 15. These direct investments into the functionality and flow of Madison should be supported by our local government not only because of the benefit such a
plan will bring to the underprivileged sector of Madison, but also because of the scope with which it could benefit Madison environmentally. The plan is a part of a larger, more sweeping transportation plan titled
“Measures
like improving the current public transportation system can make this idealistic goal that much more attainable.
”
Madison in Motion, which is centered around implementing effective and accessible alternatives to driving. David Trowbridge, transportation policy and project manager for the Planning Division, spoke to The Cap Times about the implications of a city less reliant on common cars. “It’s not that we ignore cars, but we also know that a city that’s completely relying on cars is a city we don’t want to live in, it’s overly congested,” Trowbridge said.
While congestion is a valid concern, there a noticeable, even obvious correlation between the number of drivers in a city and the city’s emissions. Should more city dwellers choose busing over their own cars, effectively carpooling to their respective destinations, one could expect overall emissions to decline. Measures like improving the current public transportation system can make this idealistic goal that much more attainable. Under an administration that has demonstrated neglect for both underprivileged populations and the undeniable effects of climate change, this public transportation overhaul, however minor in its global implications, is the kind of low-stakes high-reward legislation Madison officials should unequivocally be supporting. Measures such as these both boost the reputation of the city as environmentally conscious all while making the lives of those often overlooked that small bit better. Lucas Johnson (ljohnson52@wisc.edu) is a sophomore majoring in journalism.
Trump, Republicans should look towards Rubio for tax reforms Sen. Rubio’s plan counteracts rising costs of raising children, protects middle, lower-class American families by Abby Steinberg Columnist
No matter what race, religion or political party one aligns with, something we can all agree on is the importance of families. From birth, a child depends on their family for physical, emotional and financial needs. A family is a child’s first and strongest influence, one that instills the positive values and work ethic that creates productive members of society. The American family in its various forms may be in trouble, as the costs of rearing children have risen immensely in the past few years. A recent report by the USDA, “Expenditures on Children by Families,” reports that raising a child costs $245,000 on average. This figure does not include the cost of a college education. Add the USDA’s projected inflation rate of 2.4 percent, and the cost increases to $304,000 per child. This obviously causes significant economic stress on middle-to-lower class families. Recently, former Republican presidential hopeful and current Florida Senator Marco Rubio expressed his concern for the American family in terms of the economics of raising children. Rubio concludes that American families should be the main 18 • badgerherald.com • November 28, 2017
beneficiaries of tax relief because of the increase in cost of child rearing, as a child under economic stress may miss out on the opportunities and support essential for success later on in life. In 2015, Rubio and Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) presented a tax reform based on increased aid for families by doubling the per-child tax credit to $2,000 and making it refundable against payroll tax liability. As we know, Rubio’s plan was not put into action and as expected, the new reform drawn up by President Donald Trump does little to reflect the interests of the American family. On Sep. 27, President Trump unveiled his tax plan to mixed reviews. After being approved by the House of Representatives last week, the bill now awaits Senate approval before becoming law. President Trump claims that the plan is designed to favor middle and low income families, however, after multiple nonpartisan analyses, it can be concluded that the wealthiest one percent reaps most of the benefits. This is bad news for the majority of American families, because according to the
most recent census data, nearly fifty percent of Americans are living in poverty, or can be categorized as low income. When the statistics are broken down by age, children make up fifty-seven percent of Americans living at, around, or below the poverty level.
“In these times of partisan conflict and
political gridlock, it would be meaningful if Trump took a few pointers from Senator Rubio.
”
By condensing the current tax brackets from seven to three, the lowest tax bracket, where a majority of families lie, will go from paying 10 percent of their income to a whopping 12 percent. Also, according to the Tax Policy Center, “single parents and large families with low or moderate income would likely pay more taxes ... because the plan would eliminate head-of-household filing status and all personal and dependent exemptions.”
And it only gets worse over time, as the minor tax breaks for the lowest groups are front-loaded for the lower and middle income groups. Individual income taxes will be cut for all groups, and lowerincome groups will receive a variety of tax preferences — until 2025. Afterwards, the Tax Policy center predicts that 8.7 million families could see tax increases. Over 11 million children will be affected by this injunction. Although his plan never came to fruition, Rubio’s ideas on tax reform were movements in the right direction. Sadly, they did not transfer to the current administration. In these times of partisan conflict and political gridlock, it would be meaningful if Trump took a few pointers from Senator Rubio. More than ever, we need unity among the American people, for the sake of our posterity. But unity among two influential figures of the Republican party would be a decent start. Abby Steinberg (abigailsteinberg@outlook. com) is a freshman majoring in political science and intending to major in journalism.
The business of religious freedom College Republicans: Businesses retain right to refuse service
College Democrats: Practicing religion does not excuse discrimination
Over two years ago, the Supreme Court radically misconstrued the millenniaold definition of marriage. Today, the ramifications of that decision are compounding. The marriage redefinition allows the state to discriminate against religious members of our society. In order to “coexist” in today’s culture, we must protect the religious liberties that allow us to live with our differences while respecting human dignity. We mustn’t allow the First Amendment to slip through our fingers. It allows us to attend Mass on Sunday, pray freely in public spaces, attend meetings with various faith groups on campus or even refuse to be religious at all. It gives us the freedom to practice an integral part of the human experience. A prime example of this has come before the Supreme Court in Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission. Oral arguments are scheduled for Dec. 5 for the case that will decide the fate of business owners with religious objections. In this particular case, a religious bakery owner in Colorado was asked to bake a cake for a gay wedding and refused on the basis that it violated his personal religious beliefs. The Colorado Civil Rights Commission and an appellate court ruled that the owner ’s religious beliefs did not usurp the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) laws set in place in Colorado. First off, let’s set the record straight. Those who object to serving gay couples are not objecting to serving them in general. They simply do not want to be complicit in an act they believe violates their religious duties. This does not open the doors to allow shop-owners to refuse service to gay people in any case. Democrats constantly argue that cases like this lead to a slippery slope. If we allow religious bakers to object to gay marriages why not allow them to refuse service to interracial couples as well? This simply does not hold up to the religious freedom tenet.
America is becoming more accepting of same-sex couples, with the 2015 Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide and, more generally, an increase in individuals identifying as LGBT in recent years. However, this didn’t stop Masterpiece Cakeshop from refusing to sell a wedding cake to a gay couple five years ago. Since then, the case has made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court after the Colorado Court of Appeals found that the bakery unlawfully discriminated based on sexual orientation. The bakery owner asserts it is his constitutional right of freedom of religion and freedom of expression to discriminate based on sexual orientation, although it violates the Colorado state law that prohibits such discrimination. If the Supreme Court rules in the owner’s favor, the floodgates will open to many other cases of discrimination. In other words, if the Supreme Court rules in the bakery’s favor, public businesses will have a constitutional right and precedent to discriminate based on whatever they deem against their beliefs. Forget the Civil Rights Act, forget anti-discrimination laws, forget equal treatment. A business can deny you simply because something goes against their beliefs. In the past, the Court has ruled there are limitations to the First Amendment. Can an owner refuse to serve black customers if it goes against their religious beliefs to serve them? No. The Supreme Court ruled in Newman v Piggie Park Enterprises, Inc. that the owner’s right to religious freedom was not protected if he discriminated against customers based on race. This is no different. What about how, in the 1970s and 1980s, employers claimed they could pay women less than men because of the popular belief that men should be the head of the household? The courts have ruled that religious views, although protected, do not warrant the right to discriminate. I, for one, would not want to live in a country that allows individuals to impose their beliefs on the public and deny a paying customer because who they love. The bakery owner also argues that because baking and decorating a cake is an artform, it violates his freedom of expression to create a cake for a gay wedding. However, the First Amendment only protects content inherently
Interracial marriages or any other random marriages would not be held up in the court of law as a reasonable religious objection, as they shouldn’t. At the heart of the case is an issue of ordering priorities and rights. Conservatives believe that a religious objection, at least a credible one like the right to disagree with gay marriage, cannot be infringed upon as guaranteed to us in the Bill of Rights. The left believes freedom of religion only allows us to practice religion independently but not to restrict the lives of others. The problem with this logic is it forces businesses to provide services against their will, or forces them to close down, like a bakery in Oregon. Business owners should always have the right to run their business as a religiously upholding organization — just ask Chickfil-A. The Colorado Civil Rights Commission and the Democratic Party would rather coerce a business owner into violating their own ethics than allow the owner to politely ask the customer to find a business owner who is willing to accommodate their needs. In the end, those businesses willing to provide those services would probably provide a better service to the client than a business forced to anyway. It is time the left starts practicing the tolerance they preach. Tolerance includes those who believe in a higher power and wish to uphold their businesses to the same ethical standards they personally believe in. Hopefully, we’ll see the Supreme Court, now leaning the conservative direction with phenomenal Justice Neil Gorsuch, side with Masterpiece Cakeshop and protect the First Amendment freedom of religion. Jake Lubenow (lubenow@wisc.edu) is a senior majoring in political science and finance. He is chairman of the UW College Republicans. Bailey La Sage (blasage@wisc. edu) is a senior majoring in political science and Spanish.
expressive or meant to send a message. When someone sells a good to a customer, they are simply providing a service. Moreover, the owner “categorically refused” to accept the cake order without any discussion of “what the cake would look like.” Additionally, the owner was “not asked to apply any message or symbol to the cake.” The Colorado AntiDiscrimination Act does not require him to write “God Bless this Gay Marriage” on the cake, nor was he asked to do so by the customers. The owner may have the right to pick their message, but not to the right to choose customers based on sexual orientation. Colorado ensures its citizens may purchase goods and services even if they do not look, or love, or worship like the vendor. As one of the amicus briefs states, the baker can choose to make the cake in whatever expressive way he wants — he can choose the design, for example — but he cannot refuse to sell to someone based on sexual orientation. There is no right to discriminate based on Freedom of Expression. Floyd Abrams is the nation’s most prominent First Amendment lawyer and almost always favors the side of the those claiming First Amendment protection. In this case, he does the opposite. Abrams said, “Could a painter invite the public to his gallery at which he painted portraits of them for a fee but refused to paint black people? Could a musician invite the world to his studio where he wrote songs about them for a fee but refused to do so for Jews or Muslims? The First Amendment protects a lot, but not that conduct.” Many people participate in expressive conduct. Many people have deeply held beliefs. If those beliefs or expressions gave anyone and everyone the right to discriminate, then anyone could discriminate on the basis of anything. Think about that next time you walk into a store and expect service. Claudia Koechell (ckoechell@wisc.edu) is a sophomore majoring in history and political science. She is the press secretary for UW College Democrats.
19 • badgerherald.com • November 28, 2017
SPORTS
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With playoff bracket looming, Badgers prepare for CFP selection show Although one of few undefeated teams, Wisconsin remains uncertain of potential playoff standing, must prevail over Ohio State Saturday Kristen Larson Sports Editor
It seems strange that someone would have to argue giving a spot in the College Football Playoffs to an undefeated team in one of the best conferences in the nation, but that is exactly the situation that the University of Wisconsin football team finds themselves in. Week 13 was meant to help solidify the top four teams in the nation, but due to key games across the country, things now remain more uncertain in the CFP world than they were at the beginning of the season. It seems as though the team that is going to suffer the most is not going to be one of the teams that lost, but the Badgers, who wait to see the decision that the committee makes. While the final CFP decision will not be made until Dec. 3, the decision made by the committee on Nov. 28 will be a strong indicator of how they plan on filling their bracket in a little less than a week. Where Wisconsin falls on this list will determine how hard the Badgers will need to work in Week 14, and if that work has the possibility of amounting to something. Right now, one of the biggest things going against Wisconsin has nothing to do with the team itself, but rather an upset in the SEC during Week 13. Many did not see Auburn coming in and upsetting then No.1 Alabama during their final week of the regular season, but this victory is causing a lot of waves across the NCAA. For starters, SEC and ACC teams tend to be favored by the CFP committee over teams from other conferences. Teams like Alabama and Auburn usually find themselves early season favorites due to their history within the CFP and the potential that they have to make revenue for bowl game hosts. Auburn was a threat to Wisconsin when they were sitting at No.6 in the rankings, but their upset victory over the Crimson Tide gave them a strong case for earning the fourth seed in the 2017 playoff schedule. In the event that Auburn earned the fourth seed, they would find themselves playing Clemson, a far more favorable match in the committee’s eyes than any potential Wisconsin match. However, this is also a committee that has a strong tie to southern football, and Alabama is pretty much the definition of southern football. Alabama is a 16-time national champion, and many automatically assume that they will be in the CFP lineup. The CFP committee is going to lean towards two SEC teams rather than a Big Ten team, regardless of that team’s record. Wisconsin is going to have to fight for their lives against Ohio State if they want to find themselves in the top four, and even that might not be enough. At this point, Clemson and Oklahoma have already punched their tickets into this year’s playoffs, as it is highly unlikely that either team will lose during their respective 20 • badgerherald.com • Novermber 28, 2017
conference championship games. Wisconsin is going to have to fight for the third or fourth spot on the bracket, and that fight might not be enough. What will it take to get Wisconsin into the CFP’s this year? Well, it is going to take one hell of a win against Ohio State, for starters. Ohio State has always been a favorite of the CFP committee, and with fans in general. Many argue that the Big Ten East is far superior to the Big Ten West, and that the conference is incredibly one-sided when it comes to talent. While Wisconsin has remained undefeated this season, many are already looking at their series against Ohio State as a future failure, believing that Badgers will cave when they meet the Buckeyes. UW needs to win, and they need to win by a sizable margin. A single score victory will not be enough to ensure Wisconsin a spot in the CFP’s. They need to pull ahead by at least 10 points against the Buckeyes. A sizable victory against a great team like Ohio will silence many who have doubted the Badgers, since Ohio State has always been one of the best teams in the nation. Wisconsin winning in Indianapolis on Dec. 2 should be enough to get them into the playoffs, and maybe even enough to secure them the third seed overall. At the very least, a victory would
allow the Badgers to get some equal treatment when it comes to this year’s playoff schedule. Of course, a Clemson/Oklahoma/Alabama loss would also favor the Badgers, but at this point in time it is not something that Wisconsin should be hoping for. The Badgers need to make a case that can stand regardless of what happens to any of the other CFP contenders, and that can only come from an Ohio State win. Even with that win, odds are Wisconsin will take the fourth seed. One of the end goals for the committee is to see Clemson return to the championship game again, and many believe that the best chances of that happening occur when Wisconsin and Clemson meet. It is sad that an unbeaten team in a top 5 conference finds themselves on the brink of not making the CFP schedule, but this season has not been one that has favored the Badgers. Thankfully this is a team that is used to adversity, and if there is a team out there that can handle this kind of pressure, it is Wisconsin. For now, the Badgers need to focus on Ohio State since that is the only thing that they can control. Hopefully the College Football Playoff committee will come to their senses and give Wisconsin a place in this year’s bracket, but only time will reveal that answer.
Photo - Although they have been outperforming their opponents this season, the Badgers find their fate in the College Football Playoffs uncertain due to stigma around Big Ten football. Bea Frank The Badger Herald
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Former Badgers take on the NBA
The Badger Herald breaks down which former UW standouts currently play in the pros, and where you can find them
Herald Archives
Devin Harris UW 2001-2004 Currently with the Dallas Mavericks The longest tenured Badger in the NBA is Devin Harris. In his 13 years in the league, Harris has averaged almost 12 points per game and has had successful stints with the Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks, New Jersey Nets, and the Utah Jazz. Harris is making the most out of his time with the Mavericks, hopefully leading them to the playoffs. for the third time during his tenure with the team.
Jason Chan
Frank Kaminsky UW from 2011-2015 Currently with the Charlotte Hornets The former Wooden Award winner is making his presence felt in the NBA as he has become a solid rotational play for a Charlotte Hornet’s team that is in contention for an Eastern Conference playoff spot. He leads all Wisconsin players currently in the NBA with approximately 11 points a game, and his versatility leaves much room to grow in the future.
Jason Chan
Sam Dekker UW from 2012-2015 Currently with the Los Angeles Clippers Dekker left Wisconsin in 2015 and entered the NBA draft where he was selected by the Houston Rockets. After an injury-riddled rookie season, Sam broke out in his sophomore campaign and was subsequently sent to the Los Angeles Clippers as part of the Chris Paul mega-deal. Dekker is looking at staying in LA for a while after the Clippers signed him to a four year rookie deal.
Herald Archives
Jon Leuer UW from 2007-2011 Currently with the Detroit Pistons Drafted in 2011, Leuer has carved out a solid career for himself in the pros. While he is definitely not the most flashy player in the league, Leuer is solid and can always be counted on to come off the bench and stretch the floor.
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Football: Wisconsin brings Axe home to Madison for 14th year
Badgers lead throughout entire game against Gophers, capitolizing on Minnesota’s lack of experience, new head coach by Kristen Larson Sports Editor
Paul Bunyan’s axe is returning to Madison after the University of Wisconsin football team trounced the Minnesota Golden Gophers during their final game of the regular season. Wisconsin has been phenomenal this year, remaining undefeated despite many challenges that have come their way. The 2017 season was beautifully wrapped up when Wisconsin managed to shut-out their Border Battle rivals Minnesota. Wisconsin quarterback Alex Hornibrook knows all too well how difficult this season has been, with the starter going through some difficult times during the first few weeks of the season. Struggling with interceptions since week one, Hornibrook has been fighting an uphill battle to place the ball in his receivers hands. Hornibrook has been working to prove fans and critics wrong, challenging himself with each game to try and get better. Minnesota would be the turning point for him this season, as Hornibrook would throw for an impressive 151 yards, completing 15 out of 19 passes, earning Wisconsin three touchdowns. The Wisconsin quarterback was not the only one who was shining in Minneapolis today, as UW’s defense made a strong case for why they should be considered the
No.1 defense in the nation. It would be a challenge that the Minnesota offense would be unable to compete with, and the Gophers would only gain 133 yards throughout the game. Wisconsin’s defense was lead by Ryan Connelly, who earned two sacks Saturday. UW’s linebacking core would prove to be too dominant for the Gophers to handle, with the Minnesota offensive line caving to the pressure that Wisconsin would generate throughout the game. The Badgers showed strength, heart and determination, earning their final victory in a perfect season. Wisconsin now awaits for the College Football Playoff committee Tuesday to release their latest poll. With Miami losing during their final game of the season, and the Alabama vs. Auburn game throwing the ranking system into a loophole, it is unclear if the Badgers will be able to break into the top four of the polls. Wisconsin has been dealing with the constant oversight of the CFP committee this year, and it is highly possible that the Badgers might miss the CFP semifinal tournament due to this same oversight. A solid performance next weekend against Ohio State would help seal Wisconsin’s fate in the CFP semifinals, hopefully earning UW the final spot in
the playoffs. The pressure will be on for Wisconsin next weekend if they want to compete against the best teams in the nation. For now, Wisconsin and its seniors should raise that axe high, knowing that they have
given Madison some of the best football in the nation. There is no doubt that UW is one of the best teams in the Big Ten, and in the nation.
Photo · Although he has been struggling this season, UW quarterback Alex Hornibrook helped lead his team to victory against the Gophers, with a final score of 31-0
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Riley Steinbrenner The Badger Herald
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Men’s basketball: Wisconsin walks away from HOF Classic winless
Many changing their expectations for Badgers this season following lackluster games against UCLA, Baylor Danny Farber Men’s Basketball beat writer
The University of Wisconsin men’s basketball (2-4) fell in both the first round and consolation game of the 2017 Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City. The losses came Monday in a 70-65 defeat against No. 25 Baylor (5-0) and Tuesday where the Badgers lost 72-70 on a last second score by No. 24 UCLA (4-1). For much of the game against Baylor the lead seemed insurmountable, with Wisconsin trailing by as much as 17 halfway through the second period. However, strong performances by Ethan Happ and freshman Brad Davison gave the Badgers a fighting chance toward the end. Unfortunately, Happ’s 23-point performance and Davison’s clutch 10 points in the second half were not enough to get the win. Senior guard Manu Lecomte continued his strong campaign notching 24 points on 60 % shooting from beyond the arc.
The contest against UCLA was much closer throughout, as the score was tied on 15 different occasions over the course of the game. While the Badgers led by five at the three minute mark, it was ultimately a game winning layup by Aaron Holiday that clinched the win for the Bruins with 0.8 left on the clock. Holiday was also the leading scorer for UCLA, going 7-12 from the field with five assists. The loss was unfortunate for Wisconsin, as the Bruins are arguably the weakest they will be all season, missing three key freshman that were suspended following their shoplifting charges in China. LiAngelo Ball, Cody Riley and Jalen Hill were all suspended indefinitely after they returned to the States last week. Though the Badgers fell short in both contests, there are some positives that Wisconsin and Coach Greg Gard can take away from the games: First, the emergence of freshman Brad Davison in the last few games has given
us a glimpse of what this young team will look like when they reach their potential. Davison’s minutes increased dramatically against Xavier and Baylor, outplaying his counterpart Brevin Pritzl in key moments during the second half. Davison’s strong 10-point second half against Baylor earned him his first career start against UCLA where he performed well, going 4-11 from the field and 3-8 from 3 for 14 points. Wisconsin’s grittiness as a young team is also a trait they displayed during their two games in Kansas City. With inexperienced teams it is often easy to act carelessly with the ball and cause turnovers in key moments. While there are certainly areas the team can improve in closing out games, Wisconsin generally improved in correcting these mistakes as time went on and turned the ball over less than both UCLA and Baylor. Their week in Kansas City might not have ended as well as Wisconsin hoped for,
Daniel Yun but the Badgers cannot allow themselves to fall into a downward spiral at this point. Wisconsin needs to work on rebounding after these tough losses if they want to see the rest of their season pan out well. Wisconsin has one more non-conference game left before they begin their Big Ten schedule. They will take on Virginia before beginning their Big Ten schedule against Ohio State on Saturday, Dec. 2.
Novermber 7, 2017• badgerherald.com • 23
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Dana Rettke: Wisconsin’s freshman hitter reveals goals for season
The 6’8” rookie has earned a grand total of nine Big Ten Freshman of the week honors, continues making name for herself Alanna Goldman Volleyball beat writer
For Dana Rettke, hard work, teamwork and having fun are the keys to success. A freshman on Wisconsin’s volleyball team, Rettke has taken the volleyball world by storm. A native of Riverside, Illinois, Rettke did not start playing volleyball until her freshman year of high school. She was named No.8 on the Senior Aces list her senior year of high school, and since beginning college, has received nine Big Ten Freshman of the Week awards and two Player of the Week awards in Big Ten play. When her high school volleyball season ended, Rettke was ready to be a Badger. She graduated early, and enrolled at the university in the spring so she could get more experience and start building a relationship with fellow early enrollee and setter, Sydney Hilley. When Rettke arrived in Madison, she was not sure how much of an impact she was going to have this season on the court. Since arriving, she had been growing as a player every week and by the time the fall came around, she earned a spot in the starting lineup, and quickly started to make a name for herself. “I just knew I had a lot of work to do. I started playing volleyball so late and everyone is so good in the Big Ten, so I knew I had a lot to work on and I told myself that I was going to come in and do whatever I could.” Thus far, Rettke as proven herself to be one of the best middle blockers in the conference, and has made her case to receive Big Ten Freshman of the year. However, Rettke did not expect to receive all of this recognition. “It’s really cool. It’s not something I strive for, I want to be the best but when I get those awards it’s not really a me thing, I think of it more as a team thing because I couldn’t really do that without by teammates.” Rettke is a team player that wants to improve to not only help her team in any way she can, but also wants to leave her own individual mark on the Wisconsin program. She is filling a space left by four-year starter Haleigh Nelson. In 2015, her junior season, Nelson had the highest hitting percentage in program history with .422, but Rettke is on track to pass that record this year by hitting .445 through Big Ten play. “I always want to be the best,” Rettke said. “Just to think that I can be, and its very attainable right now and into the future, that’s just awesome.” All the acknowledgements and success have
24 • badgerherald.com • Novermber 28, 2017
just motived her more. She knows that other teams are watching her, but she’s willing to put in the effort to elevate her game to the next level. For Rettke, getting to the gym and practicing is fun. She loves seeing the results that all of her hard work have earned her as the season continues to progress. Rettke is not worried about hitting her volleyball ceiling any time soon. She believes that as long as she is working hard, she has more space to improve. Rettke has high expectations for herself, and puts a lot of pressure on herself to keep improving and helping her team. “I still have so much I can get better at,” Rettke said, “I was watching film and seeing that there is still so much I have to get better on, so this is not my plateau. It’s going to keep going up.” Hopefully Rettke can continue making strides as a player as the NCAA tournament begins. The Badgers failed rank in the top 16, so they will be traveling to Iowa State to take on Marquette in the first round on Friday, and hopefully the winner of the Iowa State game and Princeton on Saturday. Mentally, Rettke seems prepared and warns against counting the Badgers out from making a run for the National Championship. She knows that this is a close knit team who will do anything to help each other succeed, especially during such a crucial time of the year. “NCAA tournament time is the best time for any sport, and we need to just play.” Rettke said. “We can’t play scared against anybody and we need to leave it all on the court for our seniors because any game could be their last in the tournament, so we have to play for them.” At the end of the day, Rettke wants to walk out of her freshman year a national champion. If Rettke has any say, the Badgers are going to put up a fight. They went 10-0 in their non-conference season, but have faced adversity since then. Wisconsin dropped their first match of the Big Ten season to an experienced Michigan State team in five sets. The Big Ten is the strongest conference and every night is a battle, as proven by Wisconsin’s conference record. They have played in four matches that have gone to five sets and played ten top 25 teams. In the Big Ten, players need to focus on the match in front of them, not matches in the future. The Badgers rigorous schedule during
the Big Ten will only help them in the NCAA tournament where grit and focus are imperative to surviving and advancing. At the end of the day, Dana Rettke is just trying to enjoy her time in Wisconsin’s volleyball program while achieving personal
and team goals. She knows what she is capable of, and wants to do everything she can to help her team succeed. She’s a hardworking individual that appreciates the game and her team’s success.
Photo · Wisconsin volleyball celebrates yet another victory on the court, one of many that they have earned this season. Despite having the second hardest schedule in the nation, the Badgers still remain No. 8 in the national polls. Emily Sachs The Badger Herald
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HERALD COMICS 1
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THE LAND OF SUDOKU!
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This kingdom was divided into a grid and inhabited by number-shaped people. To complete their quest, the newspaper reader had to fill every row, column and 3x3 box with one of each type of numbershaped person: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
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PUZZLE BY PETER A. COLLINS
DOWN 1 Paintball cry 2 Doggie 3 They’re next to some records 4 Multilevel military readiness system 5 Long way to explain something 6 MGM Grand setting 7 Throwaway part of an apple 8 7-0 baseball victory, e.g. 9 Michael of “Juno” 10 Protection 11 Rehab candidates 12 Intrinsically: Lat. 15 “Late Show” broadcaster
PUZZLE SOLUTIONS
17 Europe/Asia border range 22 French playwright Jean 25 Mr. ___ (“Three’s Company” role) 26 Hairy hand 27 Its head is in a bucket, often 28 Year, in Uruguay 30 Cultural fads 32 Cooking medium 33 University wall covering 34 Place-kicker’s aid 36 Message from Smokey Bear, e.g., for short 38 Prankster’s weapon
DIFFICULTY RATING: So easy, it could be finished in a 30 minute episode!
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41 Cousin of catalán 43 Sayings of Jesus 46 Menu reassurance 48 Hindu meditative rituals 49 It might accompany a wave in Waikiki 50 “___ disturb” 51 Unease 53 Busts 54 Orange Muppet 55 Union goal 57 Picoult with the 2004 best seller “My Sister’s Keeper” 58 Dinners for G.I.s
DON’T BE CHEATIN’
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ACROSS 1 Product with Air and Mini models 5 Hosp. hookups 8 Cousin of a mallard 13 Blues musician ___ Allison 14 Brooklyn hoopster 15 18-Across topper 16 19-Across topper 18 Fast-food offering 19 Soda shop offering 20 Alternative to the elevator 21 Ruby parts of some hummingbirds 22 Car in a Ronny & the Daytonas song 23 Louisville-to-Atlanta dir. 24 “To Live and Die ___” (1985 action thriller) 25 Race, as an engine 27 “No ___!” 29 Who says? 31 Implied 35 Working in the mess hall 37 Toondom’s Pepé ___ 39 What a surfer catches 40 Entourage 42 Headbanging music 44 Bill the “Science Guy” 45 Ed of “Elf” 47 Oz visitor 49 Nabokov novel 52 +: Abbr. 53 Storyteller 56 Impasse 58 60-Across topper 59 61-Across topper 60 Trattoria offering 61 Ballpark offering 62 End of a professor’s address 63 Social reformer Jacob 64 “Shake ___ Feather” (1967 R&B hit) 65 I.R.S. datum 66 Sheltered
ONCE UPON A TIME, A NEWSPAPER READER DECIDED TO JOURNEY TO
PRESENTS
LE SUDOKU MONSTER!
To mount a defense, the number-shaped people called on their neighbors and allies, the letter-shaped people. Now a general, the newspaper reader had to direct the troops so that every row, column and box would contain 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A, B, C, D, E and F.
DIFFICULTY RATING: This Monster is a worthy opponent!
SUDOKU MONSTER
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Currently enrolled in five classes for next semester but I only need two of them. These next few days when I drop three classes will be like The Bachelor which classes will get The Rose™?? zwags
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It turns out that the Midwestern “ope” noise is in the dictionary My 11 year old brother woke up this morning, rubbed his eyes, and said “Alexa, play HUMBLE” and I shed one
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i love the clothing at earthbound in theory but when i try anything on i just look like i’m wearing a slutty stevie ok why does it feel like the purpose of Animal Crossing Pocket Camp is to brianna
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Novermber 28, 2017• badgerherald.com • 27