'Welcome to Madison' - Volume 55, Issue 0

Design by CELIA HIORNS

ICYMI: NEWS FROM SPRING 2023

Editor-in-Chief Celia Hiorns

Managing Editors Cat Carroll

Print News Editors

Digital News Editors

Science News Editors

Science News Associate

Campus News Associates

City News Associate

Publisher Logan Hash

Sophia Scolman

Allie Serterides

Jeffrey Deiss

Amanda Smith

Clare Brogan

Ave Vystrcil

Sarah Matysiak

Adeline Sax

Chloe Hansen

Brianna Davis

Ian Auger

Sami Bitat

Tarun Vedula

State News Associates Ben Kapp

Features Editors

Opinion Editors

Opinion Associate

Sports Editors

Sports Associates

ArtsEtc. Editors

ArtsEtc. Associates

Banter Editors

Copy Chiefs

Ariel

Public Relations Director Madison Hibner

Herald

Advertising Director Parker Johnson

Chair Will Romano

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Blake Thor

Ben Cadigan

Lucy Wentink

Emily Otten

Jack Rogers

Aanika Parikh

Maddox Durst

Mike Hall

Tamir-Pinksy

Spencer Shapiro

Ava McNarney

Julia Vetsch

Emma Kozina

Maria Brunetta

Jeremiah Frodl

Phoenix Pham

Corinne Loth

Samantha Klepfer

Photo Editor Abigail Leavins

Video Directors

Podcast Director

Abigail Leavins

David Guenthner

Jeffrey Deiss

Members

Sydney Triplett

Celia Hiorns

Cat Carroll

Sophia Scolman

Logan Hash

Madison Hibner

Parker Johnson

Audrey Thibert

Ben Cadigan

Phoenix Pham

THE SEMESTER THAT WAS:

CAMPUS CITY

UW student facilitates MENA Heritage Month return to campus for the first time since 2018

University of Wisconsin student Dana Tabaza organized nine events throughout March to recognize Middle Eastern North African Heritage Month — which last took place on campus in 2018.

Tabaza said she felt frustrated with the lack of MENA representation at UW and decided to take matters into her own hands by organizing the event. In collaboration with the Multicultural Student Association, Tabaza created the MENA Heritage Month Planning Collective, which was made up of 40 students from 16 different student organizations, in order to set the plan in

Blk Power Coalition organizes hundreds of students in call to action gathering in response to racist student video

After a video of a University of Wisconsin student using racial slurs surfaced in early May, Black students from various campus communities created the Blk Power Coalition, which organized a silent demonstration, delivered demands to the Office of Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin and led a campus-wide demonstration to support UW’s Black community.

The Blk Power Coalition gathered hundreds of supporters at the base of Bascom Hill, leading them to Library Mall where leaders and community members spoke and played music. Students

motion.

“The concept behind it, is we want people who are MENA or non-MENA to come to these events and to see this part of the world through our eyes because our part of the world is extremely misunderstood and has tons of negative media coverage around it consistently, especially from the west,” Tabaza said.

“We wanted this to be an opportunity for the campus to see our identities through our eyes and away from all these misconceptions that you see online.”

Tabaza is confident that MENA Heritage Month celebrations will become an annual event, and she now serves as UW’s firstever MENA Cultural Programming Intern.

then turned onto Lake Street and then University Avenue, before marching back down Bascom Hill.

The demonstration followed Mnookin’s response to the Blk Power Coalition’s demands, which were delivered to her personally the day prior outside of her office inside Bascom Hall. Demands included a public apology from campus officials, academic accommodations for affected students, an investigation into the expulsion of the student in the video and more.

“Don’t give up on us, this is not over after today,” one student at the demonstration said. “Today is about joy. Yesterday was a lot of hard feelings, a lot of hard stuff that had to be said, but today is about celebrating us and the Black people on this campus.”

City launches Metro bus line redesign to transition Madison to Bus Rapid Transit System

Though University of Wisconsin bus routes will remain unchanged, improved routes from the outskirts of Madison aim to decrease disparities in transportation for commuters — specifically people of color.

“...We’ve had concerns through the years that people of color have to transfer more and that their trips are longer, especially on the far reaches of town,” Metro Transit Marketing Manager Mick Rusch said. “So we are addressing those concerns and one other big thing is that we are getting routes

Oliv apartments erected off State street to designate 10% of units as affordable housing

The 10-story Oliv apartment building is slated to open this fall on the corner of Gorham and State Street, reserving more than 100 out of 386 beds for moderate to low-income students.

According to University of Wisconsin professor of Urban Planning Kurt Paulsen, Madison is currently 11,000 units behind what would be needed to address the city’s housing crisis.

The project’s steering committee said this development is not meant solely as a business venture, but a good-faith step towards increasing affordable housing for

ready for our bus rapid transit system, which is coming next year.”

The redesign, which launched June 11, is the first major change made to Madison bus routes since 1998, Rusch said. The new routes will allow residents to travel across town without transferring buses, Rusch said.

Bus lines, aside from routes 80 through 84, will be referred to by letters instead of numbers. There will also be fewer total lines, though the remaining lines will be much more efficient, allowing Metro Transit to operate at full capacity for the first time since 2019, Rusch said.

Madison’s student population, according to their 2021 report.

Though anyone can rent the low-income units, students with qualifying financial need will be given priority, Campus Area Neighborhood Association President Eli Tsarovsky said. After applying for a lease at Oliv, interested students should obtain a letter demonstrating financial need from UW’s Office of Student Financial Aid. Paulsen predicts that increasing affordable housing downtown, and transition to the Bus Rapid Transit System, which should allow students to live farther away from campus, should ease the housing struggles currently plaguing the Madison community.

Our news team compiled a summary of this semester’s biggest System, increased Multicultural Student Association programming

WAS: SPRING 2023 RECAP

biggest stories. Read on to learn about the new Bus Rapid Transit programming and President Biden’s visit to Madison area.

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers and Republican legislature find middle ground on shared revenue plan

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers and Republican leaders reached an agreement at the beginning of June regarding a bill outlining the future plan for shared revenue — tax revenue that can be used largely without restriction by Wisconsin municipalities.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said in a statement that the compromise expands shared revenue benefits to Milwaukee County, though it requires funds to be allocated to law enforcement and K-12

President Biden visits Madison area after State of Union address

Following his State of the Union address at the beginning of February, President Joe Biden spoke to trade workers at the LIUNA Training Center in Deforest, Wisconsin, where he echoed sentiments expressed in his address and highlighted the strength of the American economy.

Biden said 12 million new jobs have been created under his administration, inflation rates decreased and the U.S. sits at a 50year low for unemployment levels.

“Folks, I hate to disappoint them, but the Biden economic plan is working,” Biden said.”

Biden also mentioned improvements in

schools statewide.

“...The bill guarantees that new state revenue may only be used for police, fire, and EMS services,” Speaker Vos continued, “and for the thousands of parents in the School Choice program who are worried about the ability of their child to continue receiving a fair education, we’re proud to say the program will grow, thrive and prosper,” Vos said.

According to a statement from Gov. Evers, the agreement will allocate $1 billion spendable revenue to K-12 schools, in addition to $30 million and $50 million in funding for K-12 mental health services and literacy efforts in public schools, respectively.

the Madison area including the move to the Bus Rapid Transit System which will increase job opportunities to residents.

In his address and during his appearance in Wisconsin, Biden emphasized the importance of the middle class to the nation’s economy, saying he aims to build the economy from the middle-out and bottom-up.

“I have never been more optimistic about America’s future than I am today,” Biden said.

Madison Mayor Satya wRhodes-Conway, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, University of Wisconsin Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin, U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan and District 8 Alder Julianna Bennet were also in attendance at the event.

SCOTUS strikes down affirmative action in college admissions

UW professor discusses ruling, next steps for higher education institutions

by Lucy Wentink

Features Editor

In a landmark 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court of the United States ended race-conscious college admissions nationwide. After decades of affirmative action, the ruling has made it unlawful for colleges to take race into consideration as a specific factor in admissions.

Affirmative action dates back to John F. Kennedy’s presidency, University of Wisconsin professor of political science and legal studies Howard Schweber said. Then, in Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978), the Supreme Court considered the constitutionality of an affirmative action program in the University of California system.

UC–Davis had a system of preferences for racial minorities in its admissions to medical school, Schweber said. When the case went to the Supreme Court in 1978, they claimed four justifications for having these preferences — to make up for past discrimination, to increase minority representation among the population of physicians, to increase services to minority patients and to enhance the educational experience of everyone at the medical school by increasing diversity.

According to Schweber, the Bakke ruling only accepted the last reason as legitimate. The first three reasons were all excluded as unconstitutional when exercised by a public institution. This ruling remained in place until June 29.

“There is no longer any acceptable justification for racial preferences,” Schweber said. “That’s where we’re at today. A big lesson here is that elections have consequences.”

Former President Donald Trump said he would elect justices that will strike down affirmative action, and that is exactly what happened, Schweber said.

Affirmative action practices in college admissions were struck down on the basis that they violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, according to the June 29 ruling.

The Equal Protection Clause says that everyone is entitled to equal protection under the law, Schweber said. Its purpose was to ensure that Black people will not be discriminated against by white people after the abolishment of slavery.

“If you are an originalist, as many of the current justices are, then you would ask, ‘What was the original understanding and purpose of the Equal Protection Clause?’ And the answer is what I just said – to prevent the oppression of Black people by white people,” Schweber said. It was not originally intended to prevent government actions to help Black people.”

According to Schweber, in the 1990s, a newly conservative Court changed its stance and said the Equal Protection Clause is as hostile to laws trying to help minorities as it is to laws trying

to harm them. This neutral treatment principle of the clause is the one that has carried forward. Any time a law dictates treating people differently based on their race, it needs to satisfy strict

Schweber said. “But then 39 pages later, he adds a kind of throwaway comment that says no one should read this case to mean that colleges may not take into account an individual student’s

impermissible in how colleges treat these personal statements.

Minority students who attend schools with college counselors or have family members who have been through the college application process will likely be able to navigate writing a personal statement highlighting their experiences and will likely not be as affected by this decision, Schweber said.

“So in other words, the very students we would most like to be able to reach if we really cared about increasing opportunity are the ones who will find it most difficult after this to receive any advantage from the schools seeking to diversify their student body on racial grounds,” Schweber said. “Conversely, wealthy and privileged minority students will effectively, it seems, be able to avoid the effects of this opinion pretty much altogether.”

There are still ways for universities to both follow the law and increase diversity, Schweber said. One way to do this might be to stop effectively setting aside an enormous portion of every class for white people. For example, at Harvard, about one-third of the class is composed of legacy students, children of donors and recruited athletes. All three of these categories are overwhelmingly white.

Another way for universities to adjust after the June 29 ruling would be to focus on economic class as a way of diversifying schools, which is constitutionally less problematic, according to Schweber.

“If colleges focused on insisting that some proportion of their entering class be below some economic threshold, not only would that likely be more meaningful in terms of increasing opportunities for people who need them and using colleges as instruments of social mobility, it likely would result in greater racial diversity than race-specific preferences,” Schweber said.

A statement from UW Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin said that while the ruling will require some modifications to the university’s admissions process, racial diversity remains a “bedrock value” of the institution.

The Associated Students of Madison released a statement saying UW does not do enough to recruit and retain marginalized students and that they should see this decision as a call to action.

scrutiny — the highest level of constitutional review and the one that is most difficult to meet.

The Court’s decision leaves a lot of uncertainty, Schweber said.

“So the case opens with a big sweeping blanket statement by Chief Justice Roberts that says racial preferences are never permitted in education,”

experience as a member of a racial minority in assessing their life story.”

This shifts the burden to the applicant to make whatever kind of narrative they want to make about their racial status in their personal statement, according to Schweber. This case does not make clear what is permissible or

The ruling comes around the same time Wisconsin’s budget for the next two years is being discussed. Almost a week after the ruling, Gov. Tony Evers signed into law the next biennial budget with a proposed $32 million cut to the University of Wisconsin system — about the amount of money that would have gone toward diversity, equity and inclusion programming.

“That pretty much tells you where our legislature is at on this issue,” Schweber said.

The SCOTUS decision leaves uncertainty with college admissions across the nations.

MARISSA HAEGELE. THE BADGER HERALD.

Affordable housing crisis persists amid development of luxury complexes

by Amanda Smith Digital News Editor

The Madison City Council recently rejected a development proposal that would have added upwards of 200 luxury apartments in the downtown area.

The luxury apartment development was proposed by Chicago-based developer Core Spaces, which has worked to develop several properties around the city in the past. Under the proposal, affordable rental units would have been demolished to build a 12-story luxury apartment complex.

Though President Eli Tsarovsky and Vice President Cleo Le of the Campus Area Neighborhood Association were not directly involved in the City Council’s decision, they began the conversation surrounding the proposed development project.

In early May, CANA requested deferment for the project, to grant them more time

for community outreach and to give the development team ample time to compose an informative package regarding the development proposal for the community, according to Le.

“What we strive to do at CANA is to come with transparency, come with information and come with neighborhood input and try to do as much outreach as possible,” Tsarovsky said.

Based on CANA’s outreach, they presented the Council with a report of concerns and input from those most affected in the community. The report also included what the developers told those in the association about the project, and how those conversations progressed.

The City Council voted 13-6 to reject the proposal which would have destroyed affordable student housing units in the area. Though the development project was overturned, the issue of affordable housing in

Madison persists.

Since the market rate value of these luxury apartment complexes is already abnormally high, Tsarovsky fears as many of these other developments begin to hit the market in the next few years, the prices will only continue to rise or remain stagnant.

“Yes, these developments are market rate housing, but also look at what the market shows us right now,” Tsarovsky said. “And honestly, in my heart I do not completely agree that once all this housing hits the market, the prices will go down.”

Tsarovsky and Le referred to the situation as a housing experiment in Madison. While they recognize luxury apartments will be hitting the market in the years to come, they also acknowledge that it is impossible to predict the effect that it will have on the housing market at

that time. They are also concerned about how current students will be supported in the coming years as more affordable housing is demolished to create room for luxury complexes in the area.

“If things are being demolished, that’s less housing available in this area, so the housing crisis is only going to get worse until more is built,” Le said.

The buildings set to be demolished by Core Spaces are prime examples of “naturally occurring affordable housing” which represents older homes and buildings without amenities such as air conditioning, making them less valuable.

“I would define affordable housing as basically, students can pay a little bit of what they earn to rent and still have money left over to afford groceries, pay for food, go out and then still have some money to spend at the end of the day,” District 8 Alder MGR Govindarajan said. “That is not the case in Madison.”

While state law prevents Madison from implementing any form of rent control, Govindarajan believes some measures can be taken to alleviate housing affordability issues throughout the city.

“What I would love to see Madison do at the end of the day is to build more affordable housing in general,” Govindarajan said. “So, this means we do not need luxury pools or gyms within the buildings when we have the Nick and the Bakke Center, for example. Just focus on what students need and not all the extra amenities — I think that is a great place to start.”

According to Govindarajan, there are a considerable number of inconsistencies when it comes to the availability of housing options in different price ranges.

“There’s a lot of high-income housing, and there’s a decent bit of low-income housing, but there’s not a lot of middle-income housing and that’s what I mean by affordability,” Govindarajan said.

When discussing the importance of housing affordability, the representatives from CANA stressed the importance of sustainable affordable housing.

“Not only are we trying to push the idea that we need affordable housing, but we also need quality affordable housing that does not violate tenant rights,” Tsarovsky said.

Le also discussed the difficulties that come with the affordable housing phenomenon and how it intersects with Wisconsin state policy.

“I think it’s a very interesting question on a policy level because both the university and the city have a responsibility for creating enough housing in the market so there are affordable prices,” Le said. “Unfortunately, college students are not a protected group in terms of being eligible for what would typically be seen as affordable housing for low-income individuals.”

As City Council balances developer, resident interests, advocates worry affordable housing availability suffer

Though there are new complexes being built, a lack of affordable housing in the city of Madison.

JOEY REUTEMAN. THE BADGER HERALD.

Republican attack on UW System DEI initiatives puts students in danger

by Emily Otten Opinion Editor

The Wisconsin Legislature pulling funding from the University of Wisconsin System is a direct attack on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives that puts campus communities across the state at risk.

Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature voted in a joint finance committee to pull $32 million from the UW System claiming DEI initiatives at the universities were to blame for the cuts. Speaker of the House Robin Vos is incredibly critical of DEI initiatives, claiming the initiatives “indoctrinate” students with liberal perspectives using taxpayer money.

Vos estimates $32 million is the amount universities in the UW System spend on DEI initiatives each year. Some Republicans in the legislature believe DEI initiatives contribute to liberal biases on college campuses which stifle the voices of conservative students.

The concern of liberal biases on college campuses, specifically in Wisconsin, comes

from a survey UW System students completed related to free speech. The survey found conservative students felt uncomfortable speaking up in class or felt pressured to think in a particular, more liberal way.

But DEI initiatives should not be viewed in terms of liberalism or conservatism. DEI initiatives should be important to every single student, legislator and citizen regardless of political opinion because they promote the inclusive treatment of all people.

DEI initiatives are especially important on college campuses. These initiatives refer to actively and equitably engaging people of various groups or backgrounds (i.e. race, religion, sexual orientation, ability) in a certain community. DEI initiatives focus on making sure all people are treated equitably and feel welcome in a certain environment.

Actively advocating for the equitable inclusion of people from diverse backgrounds is

not an attack or indoctrination. Universities or offices implement DEI initiatives so people feel like they belong in a community, so people and their peers feel everyone is treated fairly.

DEI initiatives also have many benefits. In the workplace, DEI initiatives help drive innovation and foster a sense of belonging and community amongst individuals. People tend to collaborate better when they feel connected to their peers.

The implementation of DEI initiatives is incredibly important at UW-Madison in particular given there were multiple racerelated acts of hate on campus in the past year. These acts of hate included a physical assault of a UW-Madison student and a video of a UWMadison student using multiple racial slurs and expressing a desire for Black students to die.

These acts of hate hate, in addition to other discrimination, are not uncommon on UWMadison’s campus. The UW System must

further improve and implement DEI initiatives so that acts of hate like those that have happened on UW-Madison’s campus never happen in the first place.

DEI initiatives do not fully eliminate discrimination, but help ensure that universities take the proper steps to ensure an equitable and inclusive environment. At UW-Madison in particular, DEI initiatives include resources for educators to be more inclusive in their teaching, workshops to avoid bias and offices and officers that students can seek out for assistance.

These initiatives are not extraordinary or close to indoctrination, they are merely educational resources that for the most part are completely optional. UW-Madison encourages professors to include alternative perspectives in their educational materials, but students do not have such responsibilities.

If anything, DEI initiatives across the UW system need dramatic improvement. If only a month ago a UW-Madison student was spewing incredibly racist slurs and threatening to harm other Black students, clearly the initiatives on their own are not creating a welcoming environment for students of color, especially Black students.

In the wake of the racist viral video on campus, students from the Blk Pwr Coalition and other campus organizations protested, even hosting a sit-in at the chancellor’s office. But students don’t have enough power to create inclusive environments at every campus in Wisconsin, the universities need to chip in too in order to enact systemic change.

Gov. Tony Evers has the opportunity to stop the pull in funding from the UW System when he evaluates the budget in the coming weeks. Evers is against the decrease in funding in the Republican’s budget, in addition to other changes the legislature wishes to implement.

Evers can partially veto certain aspects of the budget proposed by the Legislature, sending those pieces of the budget back down for reapproval. The budget currently sits on Evers’ desk where he plans to make as many partial vetoes as possible.

Though DEI initiatives are nowhere near effective enough to wholly prevent discrimination based on gender, sexuality, race, ability or religion, they are a step in the right direction for college campuses.

These initiatives are not indoctrinating students nor are they forcing students to change their political opinions. DEI initiatives attempt to make all students feel welcome at their university by providing them with resources and encouraging inclusion and acceptance.

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

Republicans pulling funding from UW System is direct threat to DEI initiatives on college campuses, putting communities at risk

Funding cuts to campus DEI initiatives harms students, communities.

THE BADGER HERALD.

People of UW: District 8 Alder and UW student MGR Govindarajan

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

by Lucy Wentink Features Editor

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

Tell us about yourself.

I’m a rising senior majoring in legal studies and political science. I’m also the District 8 alder, so the City Council representative for the students. My parents live in Brookfield, Wisconsin, so I’m from there. I was born in India and I’ve moved around the United States quite a bit, but most of my time has been here in Wisconsin. I came here mainly for high school and then I also came here for college.

On campus I’ve been involved in the Associated Students of Madison for most of my time, but more heavily for the past year and a half. I’ve been involved in a lot of various groups throughout campus, mostly advocacy groups. I would say a lot of that just comes with being alder as well, and obviously being alder itself is one organization through the city of Madison that I’m involved in.

Why did you decide to run for alder?

I decided to run because I have spent most of my time on campus fighting for things that students really care about. Affordable housing, mental health access, improved transportation, things like that. A lot of my focus used to be on the state level, but then the more and more I worked on it, I realized that these problems are more of a local issue. I’ve always been frustrated with how little of a voice students have on things that affect us specifically when it comes to UW or at the city level. That frustration eventually got the best of me and I decided to run hoping that it would make a real impact and that I would be able to uplift the student voice and get other people to speak up for themselves as well.

What has been your favorite experience since being elected?

There are two experiences that stand out. I do this weekly thing on Instagram, a weekly Q&A kind of feature, which is such a simple thing. But for me, it makes me really happy because students who see it engage and ask questions. I get to share what I’ve been doing and a lot of the time it leads to Instagram DM conversations where I get to talk about what’s happening and even learn a little more about them. So that’s been a recurring favorite thing that’s been happening recently. Another thing is that in the past few weeks, we’ve been having a really healthy discussion in the City Council about affordable housing for students specifically. And that’s a conversation that is long overdue. It’s the key thing that I ran on and something that I

felt like students never really had a voice on, even though it affects us directly. And for the first time

The biggest challenge has definitely been my work-life balance. Being alder is supposed to be

definitely been the biggest challenge so far. What do you hope to accomplish during your term?

My main goal outside of policy-related things is just getting students involved. Whether that’s sending an email with comments, showing up to a City Council meeting and speaking in favor or in opposition to anything or sitting on a city committee. That’s my main goal because I really, really believe that students need to be represented more in the city of Madison. We are one sixth of the population and we only have one dedicated seat on the City Council. And there are so few of us on any city committees. This past week has been really amazing because alders have been consistently hearing from students. So that’s my main goal, just making sure that students engage and continue to stay engaged.

How do you balance everything you are involved in?

I would love to say I have the answer, but I’m still working on it. This summer has been a little bit of a trial run if that makes sense. Just because classes obviowusly are not as heavy of a load. I have been trying to treat the City Council kind of like a 9-to-5, but not every single day. I also have an internship going on. Towards the evening, I try to enjoy my life a little bit and just give myself some me-time.

Who inspires you?

My parents. They both own a small restaurant and worked really hard to get there. As I mentioned before, I moved around a lot before and a lot of that was because my dad would move around with restaurants. I’ve seen them work from the bottom up and now they’re able to own their own restaurant. I’ve seen them persevere through Covid, and so they are really hardworking people and they are the people who inspire me.

Any advice you would like to give to incoming freshmen?

in a long time, we’re having that conversation. There seem to be some things that are actually changing, so I’m very excited to see how this goes. What has been the most challenging thing?

a part-time job, but it really is something that takes over if you let it, so I’m definitely a little bit nervous for this upcoming semester. Balancing a heavy class load on top of everything else. That’s

Everyone always says to get involved, but honestly, I feel like that really is the best advice. My freshman year was Covid, so it was really hard to get involved when everything was virtual. So personally, I feel like that is still the one thing I wish I could have done differently. Go to as many organizations and clubs as possible. Try to explore things that are out of your comfort zone, is the biggest piece of advice I would give. I did not get involved in any political organizations in high school, so doing that my freshman year over Zoom was the best thing I’ve done. None of this would have happened if I hadn’t done that. I would say just pick a random club and try it, see how it goes. The worst-case scenario is that you’ll make a few friends but never go to the meetings again.

Govindarajan shares the importance of getting involved on campus, in the greater community.

MGR GOVINDARAJAN

Your undergraduate Bucky List

Things to complete before the best four years of your life come to an end

by Ben Cadigan Features Editor

Welcome to Madison, freshmen! You’re about to begin the best four years of your life. Use them wisely — it’ll be over before you know it. From lounging on Bascom Hill to passing out after the Mifflin Block Party, we’ve noted some of our favorite things to do and favorite places to see in the best college city in the country.

See it once

□ Capitol Rotunda

□ Olbrich Botanical Gardens

□ Henry Vilas Zoo

□ Monona Terrace

□ Lost City Forest in the Arboretum

□ Killing time on a weekend

□ Shopping at Hilldale Mall

□ Kick back with a view at Governor Nelson State Park

□ Play tennis or soccer, or literally any other sport, at Near West fields

□ Walk the Lakeshore Path

□ Walk all the way to Picnic Point

□ Shopping on Willy Street

□ Hoofers for kayak rentals when it’s warm

□ Walk or bike the Lake Monona Bike Loop

□ Hike through the Arboretum

□ Grab a bite on King Street

□ Relax at James Madison Park

□ Use the field at Brittingham Park Day trips

□ Devil’s Lake

□ Milwaukee

□ Chicago

Must-have experiences

□ Go to and pass out after the Mifflin Street Block Party

□ Participate in the Bascom Hill Snowball Fight

□ Go to concerts at the Sylvee, High Noon Saloon, Orpheum or Majestic

□ Buy fresh produce at the Dane County Farmers Market

□ Slip and fall on your face at Lily’s

Classic

□ Journey to the middle of Mendota in the winter

□ Join in a completely inappropriate chant at UW hockey games

□ Jump around with your classmates at a UW football game

Regular study spots

□ Grab a bite, sit by the water or see a concert or movie at the Memorial Union Terrace

□ Feel the sun and see the city from Bascom Hill

□ Overlook the water on the Education Building rooftop

□ Check out the plants in the Discovery Building

□ Buy something from the food trucks on Library Mall

Must-see eats

□ Paul’s Pel’meni: Russian dumplings

□ Conrad’s: Tot wraps

□ Nitty Gritty: Pub food, best cheese curds in town

□ Chocolate Shoppe: local ice cream!

□ Ramen Kid: it’s in the name

□ Memorial Union: Strada pizza, Der Rath pub food, Carte sandwiches and salads, Daily Scoop ice cream, Peet’s coffee

□ Library Mall food trucks: authentic Asian, South American, European food trucks

□ Ian’s Pizza: perfect drunk pizza at 2 a.m.

□ Short Stack Eatery: breakfast!

□ Camp Trippalindee: pub food on a rooftop

□ Vintage: pub food with outdoor seating

Whatever you do in college, make sure you take advantage of the freedom you have. Make the best of Madison while you’re here. Have fun and make bad choices.

Design by CELIA HIORNS, THE BADGER HERALD.

Notes, highlights, projections for UW athletics in 2023

Badger football, volleyball, cross country, soccer prepare for fall 2023 season

by Maddox Durst Sports Editor

As the summer comes to a close and the weather begins to cool throughout the Midwest, students at the University of Wisconsin will look to sport their pinstripe-laden overalls and Bucky t-shirts during the Badgers’ quest for athletic triumph this fall.

The 2023 semester features a group of teams who hope to ignite excitement across campus, highlighted by conference victories, bowl games and national championships. Multiple squads take the field, court and course in just over a month, including six programs anticipating an eventual championship to punctuate their 2023 campaigns.

Below are team previews on the six teams who will be performing right away as the school year begins.

FOOTBALL

Despite Wisconsin’s one-score victory and appearance against Oklahoma State in December’s Guaranteed Rate Bowl, Wisconsinites experienced a tumultuous 20222023 season at Camp Randall.

After UW athletic director Chris McIntosh relieved coach Paul Chryst, the third-winningest coach in program history, of his duties commanding the sidelines in October, Wisconsin football fanatics endured something uncommon on the Badgers’ fabled gridiron — instability.

Now, with former college athlete and head coach of the University of Cincinnati Luke Fickell inheriting head coaching responsibilities, Wisconsin appears poised to revert to its excellence on the turf. Not to mention, seven new quarterbacks and wide receivers utilized the transfer portal to commit to UW for the fall campaign, so an overhaul in personnel may provide the program with new life as the leaves turn orange and yellow.

Another bright spot revolves around UW’s Derrick Henry-esque running back Braelon Allen. His 11-touchdown, 1,242-yard sophomore season certainly attracted some attention from opposing coaching staffs, but his freshman output illustrated how dangerous the Fond du Lac native could become down the line.

With Fickell’s offensive emphasis oriented toward bolstering the offensive line, Allen’s productivity could surge with quarterbacks Tanner Mordecai, Braedyn Locke or Nick Evers taking snaps under center.

Ultimately, Wisconsin will likely fall short against NFL-feeders Ohio State and Michigan, but with Fickell’s intensity and a shift in philosophy, the Badgers will certainly contend for another Bowl Game this winter.

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

Following a successful trip to Europe earlier this summer, Wisconsin’s women’s volleyball team will receive recognition as a

national powerhouse. With a 2021 National Championship and an Elite Eight appearance this past season under their belts, pundits across the country cannot discredit this group’s continued success.

The Badgers return with both experience and winning culture, highlighted by senior Devyn Robinson and junior Anna Smrek, two star athletes staged on the front line for Wisconsin heading into 2023.

Other pieces return in 2023, as numerous players who made a name for themselves in 2022 led Wisconsin to a nearly flawless 28-4 record, including the likes of outside Sarah Franklin, outside Julia Orzol, setter Izzy Ashburn and libero Gulce Guctekin to name a few.

UW also welcomes Northwestern transfer Temi Thomas-Ailara and Minnesota transfer Carter Booth, two 2022 First-Team All-Big Ten award winners.

The collection of talent within this program is significant, as the nine-time Big Ten champions

and head coach Kelly Sheffield make the UW Field House a prime place to visit on campus at the start of the semester.

MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY

It’s more of the same for head coach Mick Byrne and the men’s cross country team. The crimson and white return a majority of the runners who led UW to a Big Ten Championship, Regional Championship and a sixth place finish at the NCAA Championships last November.

Junior Bob Liking, sophomore Adam Spencer, senior Jack Meijer and redshirt junior Rowen Ellenberg were four of the top five finishers at the NCAA Championships to cap off the season, and they each return this fall to strengthen Byrne’s platoon.

The star who emerged throughout the past year was senior Jackson Sharp, who accumulated accolades in both cross country and track and field. Coming off All-American honors in both seasons in the 2022-23 school year, the

redshirt senior is back as the projected top runner for the Badgers, solidifying this group as a top-25 team once again in 2023.

WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY

The women’s cross country team featured a senior-heavy roster in 2022, but it still returns a quality number of athletes this fall.

Following a standout 2021 season, senior Shea Ruhly put together another solid year in 2022. The redshirt senior emerged as Wisconsin’s top runner, including a 14th place finish at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional. She will be joined by senior Heidi Heuerman, redshirt sophomore Emma Watcke and sophomore Leané Willemse as some of the top performers of this group, who look to once again finish in the top half of the Big Ten.

The Badgers host both the Nuttycombe Invitational and the NCAA Great Lakes Regional at the University Ridge Golf Course in just a couple of months.

MEN’S SOCCER

Offense was hard to come by in 2022 for Wisconsin’s men’s soccer team. The group finished the season with a 6-6-4 record.

They will continue to look to improve that facet of their game as they bring back their goals scored leader, Maxwell Keenan. He will have assistance from fellow teammates Jack Finnegan and Tim Bielic, along with sophomore Mitchell Dryden, the former Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association Plater of the Year in 2021, who looks to take on a bigger role this fall.

With a solid foundation, the Badgers are set to bounce back in the 2023 campaign. They welcome a large freshmen class who have the opportunity to guide the red and white to success in the near future.

WOMEN’S SOCCER

After a fast start last season, the women’s soccer team hit a rough stretch and dropped out in the first game of the Big Ten Tournament. Despite this reality, an overall 11-5-3 record and third place finish in conference sets up UW well as the school year begins here in 2023.

Senior Emma Jaskaniec, the Midfielder of the Year in the Big Ten, returns for a fifth season accompanied by a young core, including two 2022 All-Big Ten Freshman honorees in Rylee Howard and Liv Curry.

On the defensive end, Erin McKinney returns for a final season to fill the goalkeeper role, coming off a stellar 2022, where she finished with 85 saves and a 0.802 save percentage, making a difference in multiple games for the crimson and white. McKinney, along with the rest of these Badgers, look to make noise at the top of the Big Ten standings and on a national stage by the end of the season.

Badger football poised for success after Luke Fickell was named head coach in October.

AHMAD HAMID. THE BADGER HERALD.

Fashion trends to watch this fall

Your guide for back-to-school style

by by Ava McNarney and Julia Vetsch ArtsEtc. Editors

Brainstorming a first-day-of-school outfit isn’t just for high schoolers. Regardless of how many semesters you have under your belt, all students can benefit from preparing for the busy months ahead. Feel extra confident about what you’re wearing by reading up on these seven styles that will surely be all over the University of Wisconsin campus this fall.

“Princess Diana” Style

Fall is the perfect time to look to Princess Diana’s iconic style guide from the 90s. This look is for days with a high of precisely 60 degrees — they are scarce, so use them wisely. Diana’s look consists of a simple pair of biker shorts, a comfy pair of tennis shoes (slouch socks optional) and an oversized crewneck sweatshirt. This formula never fails to satisfy the desire to look presentable and classy on campus while also staying cozy. It won’t be an unbearable outfit to put on when you have an 8 a.m. class and all you want to do is stay in your pajamas. It’s a perfect way to put all your Badger crewnecks to use. This look can be accentuated with a pair of sunglasses, chunky earrings, a purse and (if you have time for a Peet’s run) an iced coffee.

Leather Jackets

In case you missed it, leather jackets are back. Perfect for fall, they add a slight extra layer of

warmth while giving a basic outfit that extra boost of fashion, making any look seem purposeful and chic. According to Elle magazine, leather jackets are coming back oversized in 2023. While leather jackets can be pricey, it’s not uncommon to find them more affordably (and sustainably) in a thrift store. Since leather jackets were huge in the 90s, there’s also a chance that your mom has a true vintage piece in the back of her closet.

Fall Colors

Fall 2023 is welcoming some fresh colors to the table. Editorialist magazine forecasts which hues will be most prominent this autumn. Get excited, Badgers, because one of the most upcoming colors of this fall is scarlet red. Don’t be shy when stocking up on those bright red UW t-shirts and sweatshirts, since not only will you be sporting school spirit, you will be in style. Another color that we should prepare to see emerging this fall is butter-yellow. This color has a soft, glowy look and will make any dress or blouse look dainty. We should also prepare to see a classic chocolate brown. This darker shade signals the change in seasons and compliments the natural colors of fall.

Always-In Staples

Trends come and go, but there are some pieces that should always be in your closet in the fall. It may be tempting to put away your shorts and tank tops and dive right into sweater weather,

but Madison fall tends to stay hot. Cool clothes in classic fall colors are your best friend — tank tops in shades of brown, purple, and deep reds and oranges can help you stay seasonal while considering the weather. Flannels are versatile and perfect for early fall weather. Straight-leg jeans can be worn with almost any shoe and are a basic and timeless staple. When the weather finally starts to cool down, sweaters are another fall favorite — whether cable-knit or argyle, these sweaters can help give you a stylish vintage look while staying cozy. These staples are sure to help you embrace autumn and get you ready to go apple picking, pumpkin patching and curled up with a steaming mug of cider.

Denim Maxi Skirts

While denim mini skirts have been everywhere for the past few years, their longer counterparts have made a huge comeback in 2023. Denim maxi skirts promise themselves to be a staple for looking cute while keeping your legs covered up as the weather starts to cool off this fall. Simple yet sophisticated, this piece can be dressed up with boots and a button-down top or worn with a t-shirt and sneakers for a more casual look. It also comes in a variety of styles, so those who prefer to stick to a certain aesthetic won’t have to stray from it to hop on this trend. For a Y2K going-out look, try a denim maxi with patchwork seams or lace-

up detailing and a pair of funky platform sandals.

Crochet Bags

Looking for something to help you carry everything you need around campus that isn’t a boring old backpack? A quirky crochet tote is practical while adding a splash of playfulness to your look. These pieces can be purchased from fashion giants like Target and Urban Outfitters, but can also be handmade with yarn and an inexpensive crochet kit from a craft store. More than just a way to create unique accessories, therapeutic hobbies like crocheting are healthy distractions from the stress of schoolwork and other responsibilities. Pick up a new bag in your favorite shade or pattern while — if you’re up for it — learning a new skill this fall.

Suit Vests

The iconic button-down vest is loosening its ties with menswear and workwear and becoming a distinctly unisex, versatile staple. A trending substitute for more basic sleeveless tops, these vests can be worn on their own or under a jacket or cardigan as inconsistent temperatures arrive with the fall season. Go with a denim version for a more contemporary feel — and wear it with your favorite pair of jeans for an extra bold look. And when matched with dress pants or slacks, details like pinstripes or a statement collar can give the suit vest a really high-end pop.

Design by CELIA HIORNS, THE BADGER HERALD.

Hot tips, tricks to hit the ground running this school year

Professors HATE number two

by Jeremiah Frodl Banter Editor

As a disheveled on-and-off college super duper senior, a lot of people look up to me. I can not count the amount of times I have been asked for unsolicited advice during the social fests that are discussion sections. In order to spread the wisdom only experience and academic achievement can give, I have compiled a few life hacks for new and old students to use in the upcoming school year — things that will save you time and effort when it comes to meeting the academic expectations you have for yourself. First of all,

Augustus Caesar once said, “Gee, it sure is nice to have the divinely self-proclaimed Emperor as a father figure.” While only some of us can brag about having an adoptive family that directly gained wealth from imperial expansion, most of us are here because of the hard blue-to-white collar crime of our parents. A thankful mindset toward their labor can inspire you to Work hard

president, once said, “I like to tell the C students, you too can be president.”

30K a year. Given this and his relatively introverted nature, it would be easy to bribe him away and steal his identity. Once this is done, you have the influence to change your grade in his specific classes. It’s a bit of a one time thing and you would be stealing my emergency free A in a STEM class, but I’m here to give you the tips no one else would. This is really nice of me because

It’s everyone for themselves

Trust absolutely no one, every idea you have is probably up for sale on the deep web. At one point I suggested to my lab group that we should break up our work into four equal parts, ensuring equal workload. Imagine my surprise and disappointment when I saw another lab group creating and implementing the exact same system I had suggested. Though I loudly complained in lab to my TA, nothing was done about the flagrant stealing. This is why I think it’s best to Cheat

Pat yourself on the back

You are the future, do not forget that. Congratulations on taking your first step toward changing the world — and failing that, at least getting a job that will ensure you can pay off a credit card. Take a moment to remind yourself how far you’ve come. Once you’ve measured how far you’ve came, take a moment to

Be thankful to your parents

One of the things that will move you fastest towards the right academic track is an ancient Mesopotamian concept known as hard work (phonetically: h-ahr-d w-uhr-k). This philosophical idea essentially believes ritualistic recitation of sacred texts and long sessions of meditation on the ideas within lead to higher level of knowledge and understanding. When applied to math and science however, I have found this philosophy to be of mixed effectiveness. In this case I have found it best to

Set low expectations

George W. Bush, everyone’s favorite

Low expectations can anchor you firmly in the gray, depressing realities of reality and leave you coldly comfortable with any tests you fail. Why does failure matter when you — probably — have another test in another class? A firm set of loose expectations leaves you better prepared for the worst, especially when you haven’t prepared at all. Even if low grades come from the next test, I’ve found it easiest to

Creatively use money and influence

If you have enough of your parent’s money to burn, I’ve got the hottest tip on campus for you. Leon Saddler Redfield is a UW professor who teaches in Michael Tyson Statistics Hall at UW. Given his relatively low status as a professor — and what I’ve seen of his apartment while following him home — he can’t be earning more than

John F Kennedy once said, “I’ve cheated death in the Pacific, I’ve cheated the electoral system in Illinois, I’ve even cheated on sobriety tests in the Oval Office. Today for the sake of America, I will cheat on this test here and on my wife in the bathroom later.” According to a poorly formatted list of greatest presidents my uncle shared on Facebook, Kennedy is the ninth best president we’ve ever had. Checkmate hard workers. Now, the best way to cheat is to

Surrender to your new AI overlords

I was going to generate my last 100 words with ChatGPT to demonstrate to you the effectiveness of ChatGPT but I don’t want to let down the tens of fans committed to the integrity of The Badger Herald’s banter section.

At the end of the day, if you got anything at all from this article, remember these three things as you begin or continue your college journey. Remain indoors, trust no one and doing anything will make it worse. Get off my lawn.

JEREMIAH FRODL, THE BADGER HERALD.