THE SPECTATOR
THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-EAU CLAIRE’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1923
VOL. 92, NO. 23
NEWS PAGES 1-5
Charles Person, then a college freshman at Atlanta Morehouse College, was 18 when he boarded a Washington D.C. bus with 13 other people on May 4, 1961. Ten days later, the bus stopped in Birmingham, Ala., where Person, and 12 other freedom riders, were severely beaten while police officers did nothing. More than 50 years later, Person and Drue Lackey, a former Montgomery police officer, will meet for the first time thanks to UW-Eau Claire senior journalism major Ginna Roe. “Last time I interviewed Charles Person, I asked him if he had ever received any sort of apology from any law enforcement and he said no, he hadn’t,” Roe said. “He didn’t expect to, but it’s always been on his bucket list to sit down and have a conversation with law enforcement.” The first time Roe went on the Civil Rights Pilgrimage in January 2013, she met a man who knew someone who had fingerprinted Rosa Parks. She later got to interview that individual ROE
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SPRING 2014
SPORTS PAGES 7-9
OP / ED
CURRENTS
PAGES 14-15
PAGES 10-12
— Lackey. After talking to both men, Roe was able to set up a meeting between the two, which will take place this Saturday in Atlanta. PFITZINGER Associate professor of journalism Jan Larson helped Roe with funding while fifth-year broadcast journalism student James Pfitzinger helped planned the forum. He also assisted with audio and video to document this historic event. “It was because of my course that she was able to go on the pilgrimage in the first place,” Larson said. “I had a Civil Rights Pilgrimage course and it was because of that she was able to first meet Mr. Lackey. I’m their producer, I guess, for lack of a better word.” Roe, Pfitzinger and Larson have spent the past few days down South preparing for the event this weekend. “Thursday we actually will be sitting down with Mr. Lackey and Charles Person is coming down from Atlanta. So we are actually having a private meeting with them,” Pfitzinger said. “Tuesday we met with Charles Person one-on-one and we got to know him a little bit more, such as his experience as a freedom rider and some of his later parts in life such as
STUDENT LIFE PAGE 16
Taming water and bottling sunlight
Journalism students and professor to hold historic forum with two civil rights movement figureheads STAFF WRITER
Blugolds win conference but still miss NCAA tournament
Thursday, March 13
Bringing two sides together
Courtney Roszak
BITTERSWEET:
Senate pledges cash for river patrol gear; solar panel vote next week Nate Beck
CHIEF COPY EDITOR Senate voted to pledge money for flashlights, radios and other gear toward a river safety patrol program that hasn’t secured funds to operate, at its meeting Monday. The program, called River Watch, is a proposed expansion of University Police’s Student Patrol, who report illegal or dangerous activity on weekends after dark, Sergeant Jay Dobson of the University Police said. “Equipment expansion is one thing,” Dobson said. “We’re just hurrying up and waiting until we get the green light on funding and can start training people.” Dobson said although patrollers could use new flashlights, radios and uniforms, police won’t spend that money until the university finds funds to support training and patrol staff wages. UW-Eau Claire’s Student Affairs Office started planning the patrol in the fall. But so far, it hasn’t been able to find departments on campus to fund the program, he said. Senate moved $600 from its $7,000 travel fund to pay for River Watch gear. So far this year it has only spent about $650 from its travel fund and expects to spend no more than $800 extra by the end of the semester, according to the bill passed Monday. The Center for Alcohol Studies and Education will pitch in the other half of the $1,200 startup costs. CASE director Peggy O’Halloran did not return phone messages by press time. Campus police cover campus property, anything outside of that is Eau Claire city police jurisdiction. Senator Christian Paese said moving money from the travel account into programs like River Watch is a good use of Senate’s static funds. “If (the River Watch) saves one person from an accidental slip, it’s worth every penny,” he said. Two Eau Claire students have died in the Chippewa river since 2011.
JAMES PFITZINGER / Submitted
MEETING HISTORY: Freedom rider Charles Person sits down with UW-Eau Claire students Ginna Roe and James Pfitzinger Tuesday in Atlanta.
when he was involved with the U.S. military.” The forum is being held at the King Center-Freedom Hall in the Sweet Auburn community, east of downtown Atlanta.
Sweet Auburn is where Rev. Martin Luther King Jr was raised and did a lot of preaching during his lifetime.
>> FORUM page 4
>> SENATE page 2
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NEWS
NEWS EDITORS: Emily Albrent and Katie Bast
THE SPECTATOR
THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN - EAU CLAIRE STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1923
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Thursday, March 13
Go with the flow
Less high school graduates force university to plan ahead Courtney Kueppers COPY EDITOR
A decline in high school graduates means universities and colleges across the country have to figure out what the future will look like. UWEau Claire is no exception, Interim Director of admissions Heather Kretz said. In the fall of 2011, Eau Claire admitted 77 percent of applicants; but in 2003 Eau Claire admitted 80 percent of applicants, according to the university Factbook compiled annually by the
office of Institutional Research. The spike in acceptance rates is not sacrificing the type of student admitted to Eau Claire Kretz said. The change is due to the national trend of fewer high school graduates, she said. “We aren’t seeing that big of a jump in our profile of students admitted, so our average ACT and class rank of the student that is coming here is typically the same,” Kretz said. The university must accept more students, currently at an 80 percent rate, so enough say yes to Eau Claire to fill the freshmen class.
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Projections for public high school graduation rates show the decline isn’t going to spike back up any time soon. Throughout the Midwest in 2007, 1,123,261 students graduated high school. By last spring, that number had declined by more than 46,000 students, according to documentation from the task force. The number of students applying to Eau Claire has been on a gradual decline since 2008 except for a spike in 2012. Kretz said it is a concern for the university, but they are being proactive. “We have been lucky to maintain the same quality of student that we are looking for,” Kretz said. “Some campuses’ profiles have dipped or they have had to decide to shrink their freshmen class, so that’s something that all campuses have to consider as state funds also decline and tuition dollars become more important.” Chancellor James Schmidt called for the development of an Enrollment Management Task Force in January to tackle the problem. Head of the committee, Alex Smith and also the math department chair, said the task force will establish a plan for under-represented students. The findings of the Enrollment Task Force will provide a starting point for a new administration position, Associate Vice Chancellor for Strategic Enrollment. The university posted the position and plans to fill it by July 1. Senior Emy Marier, student task force member, said students remain top priority.
>> ADMISSIONS page 4
GRAPHIC BY KATIE BAST/ The Spectator
SENATE/ If solar panel bill passed, university can start bidding on contractors David Rodgers, a sophomore died after falling off the Haas footbridge into the Chippewa River last April. Ricky Gonzalez, an Eau Claire history major and Blugold wrestler, drowned in the river in 2011. Gonzales had a blood-alcohol level of .19. Dobson said one or two student patrollers typically walk areas near the river, check locks on campus buildings and report problems in parking lots on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. “We don’t have a crystal ball,” Dobson said. “Is it possible our contacts prevented a death? We don’t know that … Our student patrols have generated lots of contacts for us. They’ve been very effective.” It’s a bird, it’s a plane Look up at the south side of McIntyre Library next spring and you might see solar panels jutting from the roof. Senate introduced a bill Monday to spend about $160,000 in student fees to mount solar panels on the sunniest side of McIntyre. Student Office of Sustainability director Emy Marier said it will take 69 years for energy savings generated by the panels to equal the up-front cost of the project. “Really it’s that piece of the symbolic na-
ture of the panels and pursuing sustainable development,” Marier said. “More so, this project focuses on the environmental … and cultural aspect of having the solar panels visible.” A similar Senate-approved solar panel plan passed last spring, but fell through because the project didn’t follow state-mandated procedures.
“ Our student patrols have generated lots of contacts for us. They’ve been very effective. ” JAY DOBSON Sergeant
Senate planned to install a string of solar panels along the “skirt” and “ballasted” on the roof of McIntyre after a solar energy audit last year laid out spaces on campus that could sup-
port renewable energy generators, Marier said. State law requires Wisconsin State Department of Administration’s Division of Facilities Development, or DFD, approval before construction or additions to state-owned buildings like McIntyre Library. Mike Traynor, director of Facilities Management on campus, said a state consultant squashed the plan to put panels on McIntyre’s ballasted, which means Senate won’t be able to install as many panels as it planned to last year. He said energy generated by the panels will be pumped back into Eau Claire’s electric grid and will offset energy costs. Senate has to hire a state architect, consultant and pay DFD management fees for the project to continue, which adds about $30,000 to the total cost of the project. “Once Senate approves (the bill), we send it to the DFD and they’ll likely approve the project,” he said. Traynor said if Senate passes the bill next week and the DFD signs off, the university could begin bidding on contractors by next winter, and construction could be completed sometime next spring. Beck can be reached at becknc@uwec.edu or @NateBeck9.
NEWS EDITORS: Emily Albrent and Katie Bast
NEWS 3
Thursday, March 13
Restructured first-year writing class crafted to be ‘cutting-edge’
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Blugold Seminar receives national recognition
NOTABLE EVENTS HAPPENING BOTH ON AND OFF CAMPUS
Jessie Tremmel STAFF WRITER
Shevaun Watson can greet each of her 15 freshman writing students by name. That’s thanks in part to a newly restructured first-year composition class at UW-Eau Claire. Watson is an English professor and the director of composition. She said she saw the hard work she has put in the last five years pay off this academic year. She worked with the English department chair and Blugold Commitment to create the new Blugold Seminar in Critical Reading and Writing to replace an outdated course model. “We have a cutting-edge writing program that is completely updated, is intellectually more robust and rigorous and now it’s standardized,” Watson said. “Everyone was rowing a boat in a different direction, which doesn’t mean that what individual faculty members were doing in those courses wasn’t good, it’s that it wasn’t collectively adding up to something that was really recognizable and accessible.” The Blugold Seminar in Reading and Writing won the Writing Program Certificate of Excellence from the national Conference on College Composition and Communication organization. Their March meeting will honor the new course. Students coming in with no prior college-level English credit will take either WRIT 114 or WRIT 116, equivalent to ENGL 110 or ENGL 112, under the new course array. The course array requires students who have Advanced Placement exam credits to take WRIT 118. Transfer students coming in with fewer than four college-level English credits take WRIT 120. Students can submit a portfolio if they
Department: American Sign Language
Jessie Tremmel STAFF WRITER
Jessie Tremmel: How did you find your way to teaching? Nicole Jones: I actually started teaching at a high school, back at Champlain Park in Minnesota. They needed a teacher to teach sign language at the high school and I had done some community teaching things, and they needed a teacher and I thought, “You know what, let me try it,” and I did and I really loved it. I
• •
THURSDAY, MARCH 13 4-7 p.m. — Ladies Night, Cottage Winery & Vineyard 7 p.m. — A Conversation with Mike Manning, Schofield Auditorium
FRIDAY, MARCH 14 7 p.m. — Hounds Before Lions Tape Release, Volume One Gallery 7 p.m. — Amp Quiz Trivia, Hilltop Center 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. — The Foreigner, The Grand Theatre
• • •
SATURDAY, MARCH 15 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. — 3rd Annual Irish Heritage Day, Chippewa Valley Museum 8 - 9 p.m. — Hobbs Observatory Astronomical Series, Hobbs Observatory
• •
SUNDAY, MARCH 16 2:15 - 3:15 p.m. — St. Patty’s Day with The Shillelagh Lads, Acoustic Cafe 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. — Open Skating, Hobbs Ice Center
• JESSIE TREMMEL / The Spectator
HITTING THE BOOKS: Kidist Wessel brainstorms ideas for an upcoming research project.
think they have skills that better match a higher-level course. While the course names are different, the content is the same in WRIT 114, WRIT 116, WRIT 118 and WRIT 120, Watson said. WRIT 114 and WRIT 116 are five-credit courses so classes can spend more time on coursework. The other two courses are fastpaced two credit classes. Each section has a different theme, which reflects what the students will read and write about in the course, Watson said. Sophomore Karissa Mueller took ENGL 110 last spring with Watson. The program
really, really love teaching sign language. I originally went to the University of Minnesota to be a veterinarian, and then changed my major into ASL, or Deaf Education, if you will, so I had just sort of been looking for an actual teaching job and had done just community stuff, working with kids, being a camp counselor, mentoring deaf kids and working with kids that way. I got the teaching job at the high school, was there for three years, then moved here and I have been here ever since. JT: What brought you to Eau Claire? NJ: We were moving to the area anyway, but at the time I had contacted the universities in the area, like Eau Claire, River Falls, Stout. Stout already had a teacher, Eau Claire here al-
was in its pilot phase, so the university listed the class as ENGL 110, but taught it as Blugold Seminar. “I think it’s a great idea for there to be a set English writing class for incoming students to take,” Mueller said. “I know it is often stressed in high school, but not everybody comes from the same rigorous high school setting.” Mueller said, as a broad field social studies education major she plans to use the skills she learned in the Blugold Seminar
>> SEMINAR page 4
ready had a teacher as well, but what happened was they had an overload, they had a bunch of freshman who wanted to take the class. They needed another instructor, so I was only teaching one course here when I first started, and then I was teaching one course at River Falls, so I would drive back and forth. Then it expanded at River Falls, and I was teaching two. All of a sudden we realized there was such a need here, so then I got to be full-time. I had to drop River Falls. I am full-time plus here now, I teach six sections. JT: So the ASL Program here has grown? NJ: It has expanded. I think the more high schools offer it, the more colleges accept it, as well as offer it themselves. It is the third most used foreign language, En-
glish, Spanish, ASL, so there is such a need for it in every profession. I think that that helps too, the students want it. JT: If you weren’t teaching, what would you be doing? NJ: Good question! I don’t know, probably something within the deaf community. I worked for an interpreter referral agency before, placing interpreters with companies that needed their services. Something I think related or working with deaf kids. I don’t know, it is wild to think, I can’t imagine not being a teacher now.
To read the full interview go to spectatornews.com Tremmel can be reached at tremmejr@uwec.edu or @jessietremmel.
•
• •
MONDAY, MARCH 17 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. — Lunch Break Open Skate , Hobbs Ice Center 4 - 8 p.m. — St. Patty’s Irish Food, Houligans Steak & Seafood Pub
TUESDAY, MARCH 18 • •
7 p.m. — Owl Prowl, Beaver Creek Reserve 8 p.m. — Artisan Evening Open Mic, The Plus
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19 • •
7 p.m. — Ask a Scientist- Knot Theory, Acoustic Cafe 8 p.m. — Ladies Night/ Karaoke Night, The Plus
Have a fun and safe spring break Blugolds!
NEWS
NEWS EDITORS: Emily Albrent and Katie Bast
Timely graduation rates possible Preparation and planning key to finishing in desired time Nick Erickson MANAGING EDITOR
Less than 30 percent of UW-Eau Claire students who stay from freshmen year until commencement graduate in four years, yet the institution as a whole has the third highest four-year graduation rate in the UW System, ranking behind UW-Madison and UW-La Crosse. Despite being in the top quarter of four-year graduation rates among other Wisconsin public universities, Director of Advising Debbie Gough said the 29.1 percent Eau Claire boasts could be even higher through effective planning with advisers. “It could definitely be improved upon,” Gough said. “I would like to see every student sit down with an adviser and go through the degree audit line by line to make certain they understand everything in it.” Something different about Eau Claire as opposed to La Crosse, Madison and other schools is Eau Claire does not have a professional advising department like they do. However, Gough doesn’t see that as a bad thing, and she said the university has never really looked into obtaining a full-time advising department because she likes the fact that students can develop a professional relationship with the person who sees them in the classroom. “Entirely professional advising system, I think, it leads to large advising loads per adviser, and it is also a disconnect between the student and the major, and I think that’s important,” Gough said. Senior Jy Corbett is one student who falls in the minority of students who will graduate in four years. After two years, the marketing major switched his adviser to someone in the college of business, Abbie Windsor, and said he has become more comfortable going to her. “She’s been super helpful,” Corbett said of Windsor. “Whether she has time or not, I know I can always walk in there and ask her a quick question or a few things, and she’s always pointed me in the right direction.” However, Gough said there are plenty of challenges to increasing the institution’s four-year rate. She said some of the Blugold Commitment money, a $900 charge on top of student tuition, is dedicated to fund advising in each of the colleges, where certain staff members would be devoted to focus more on student advising than others. However, the last stage of staggered Blugold Commitment money was put on hold along with a tuition freeze passed in the state budget last summer. Also, Gough said the university and students miscommunicate when balancing the study abroad option and gradu-
ating on time. But the biggest concern students have, she said, is not being able to get into classes they need, which pushes graduation back. To avoid that, the university and students need to connect better, she said. “If a class is closed, students really need to be persistent,” Gough said. “They need to go to the chair of the department, if necessary, even up the ladder. A student should always be able to get the classes they need to graduate. And that has happened, and in almost all cases I know, is if you’re persistent enough, they’ll get you in the class.” Corbett said while it is nice to have help from administrators within the system, it all boils down to the profile of the student and being able to take care of business. He said if you do that and
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Thursday, March 13
make sacrifices here and there, students should be able to finish when they want, no matter how busy they might be outside the classroom. “You just have to set apart a time of day to get your homework done,” Corbett said. “And when your friends go out to party, wherever they may be, doing fun stuff, you’ve just got to sit down and get your homework done.” The bottom line, Gough said, is it should be up to the student when they want to graduate. If students want to stay longer, graduate in four years or earlier, there should be no external conflicts holding them back as long as they prepare and communicate.
Erickson can be reached at ericksna@ uwec.edu or @NickErickson8.
ADMISSIONS/
University task force to focus on recruiting more freshmen “Since demographics are changing, the university is changing, but student experience is always the number one concern,” Marier said. Diversity growing Eau Claire has been a traditional-looking university for a long time, Marier said. She said she noticed Eau Claire is a difficult place to change quickly.
“ Since demographics are changing, the university is changing but student experience is always the number one concern.” EMY MARIER SENIOR
In 2013, 90 percent of Eau Claire students were white, the unversity’s Factbook reported. And two years before that, 93 percent of Eau Claire students were white. Heather Kretz said she sees this increased diversity as a success. “Our applications have increased from multicultural students and our acceptances have increased, but we still aren’t where we want to be as a campus for multicultural students,” Kretz said. Kretz said things are changKRETZ ing nation-wide and will continue to, but the university is working hard to “be proactive and plan for those things that are coming down the pipeline.” “I think there are some really key things happening on campus right now with an enrollment task force, a new chancellor who is interested in having this conversation and an associate vice chancellor of strategic enrollment,” Kretz said. “All of those things are falling into place and all of that is to maintain this great place.”
GRAPHIC BY KARL ENGHOFER/ The Spectator
Kueppers can be reached at kueppecm@uwec.edu or @cmkueppers.
FORUM/ Roe says this is something she never dreamed would happen
About 100 students from the university will go on the Civil Rights Pilgrimage to see the forum on Saturday. For Roe, this is something she said she never dreamed would happen. She said she is excited to see the two men meet and talk this weekend, and it has been an incredible opportunity for her. “This all stemmed from a conversation I had with a stranger in a Montgomery lunch diner,” Roe said. “I never thought it would come full-circle like this and that we would get to talk to all these historical figures, let alone have them have the opportunity to talk to each other.”
Check out the audio story at spectatornews.com Roszak can be reached at roszakcm@ uwec.edu or @CRoszak22.
ENGLISH/Use what is learned in other classes
stressed in high school, but not everybody comes from the same rigorous high school setting.” Mueller said as a broad field social studies education major, she plans to use the skills she learned in the Blugold Seminar — such as using citations of sources to find more sources and writing for your audience — in her other classes. Her history capstone requires Mueller to write an annotated bibliography, a skill she learned in the Blugold Seminar. “With my major, it definitely applied a lot,” Mueller said. “Because I do a lot of writing through my classes, or later on, being a teacher, I will have to write lesson plans and other things like that.” Mueller said the Blugold Seminar introduces students to new skills and makes them evaluate learned skills. Freshman actuarial science major Kateland Northcott is currently enrolled in Watson’s WRIT 114. “I relearned how to read,” Northcott said. “I learned how to take notes and certain things will stick out now, which is so helpful.” Northcott said the Blugold Seminar has introduced her to a new way of writing, one that isn’t as rigid as what she learned in high school. Tremmel can be reached at tremmejr@ uwec.edu or @jessietremmel.
NEWS EDITORS: Emily Albrent and Katie Bast
COMMUNITY NEWS
Fanny Hill takes its final bow
Long-time dinner theatre closed for good; venue remains open as restaurant Courtney Kueppers COPY EDITOR
After Elvis left the building, the curtain closed on the dinner theatre at Fanny Hill indefinitely. On March 2, Elvis impersonator George Thomas was the final act to entertain crowds at Fanny Hill’s dinner theatre. Fanny Hill owner Dennis Heyde said he would suspend dinner theatre at Fanny Hill in 2009. After backlash, he changed his mind. But due to high losses, this time the decision must stick, he said. “We have been supporting (it) because we believe the arts are needed in the Chippewa Valley, but in this economy we are just not able
to do it any longer,” Heyde said. Fanny Hill, which is located one mile south of Eau Claire, has been in the entertainment business for almost 40 years. The venue’s live dinner theatre continued for more than 35 years. Long-time theatre Director, Don Hodgins said if he would have had it his way, Fanny Hill would have closed the dinner theatre with one of their own shows produced in-house. Since the timing did not work out for that, he said he was glad it was Thomas playing The King. Hodgins has been working at Fanny Hill since 1980 alongside his wife, Lois Hodgins, who handled group sales. He said the future without the dinner theatre won’t be the
same, but he said he is happy with the time he has had at the theatre. “It’s going to be difficult. … This is going to be a major change for Fanny Hill and also for my wife and I,” Hodgins said. While the dinner theatre is closing, the venue remains open as a bed and breakfast and banquet hall, a shift Hodgins is not so sure about, he said. “Fanny Hill has been so identified with the dinner theater it is going to be difficult for them to change the concept and to convince people that this place is totally different,” Hodgins said. Fanny Hill had life before dinner theatre. At its onset it was a beer bar targeting college students
COURTNEY KUEPPERS/ The Spectator
THE FINAL CURTAIN: Located one mile south of Eau Claire, Fanny Hill was recently forced to close its doors on a 35-year dinner theatre tradition.
Online this week: — E-Cig trend in Eau Claire gains traction as a way to quit. — Read the Op/Ed on page 15 for more on this trend.
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Thursday, March 13
and then evolved into a disco space. Fanny Hill will continue to change and progress after theatre, Heyde said. “Over the years, Fanny Hill hasn’t stood still. It has made several operational changes to stay with what the customers are looking for nowadays,” Heyde said. Sophomore nursing major Allie Miller went to Fanny Hill for the first time in December to see “A Christmas Carol.” She said she was very pleased with her experience. “I thought it was a really nice place,” Miller said. “Small and quaint, but nice.” Miller said the dinner was good and not over-priced and she would have liked to return to a show at some point. “I think it’s sad, it was a fun part of the community that will be missing now,” Miller said. Since Fanny Hill produced its own shows with paid actors and ac-
tresses, the shows had to run six to eight weeks just to cover the cost of building the set, Heyde said. “There is just not enough support to sustain an operation like that,” he said. Hodgins said he was in charge of everything that happened on stage. He said he designed sets, directed 99 percent of the shows, acted in a lot of them and wrote nine of them. He said one of the most gratifying parts of his time at Fanny Hill was the night his first play opened. Hodgins will begin looking for new work in theatre once he finishes tying up loose ends at the theatre has called home for more than 30 years, he said. “It’s been a great run,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed every minute of it, but everything ends and this was the time so it’s time to move on.” Kueppers can be reached at kueppcm@ uwec.edu or @cmkueppers.
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SPORTS EDITOR: Steve Fruehauf
Thursday, March 13
Now among the conference’s best UW-Eau Claire student-athletes have been recognized by WIAC Ellis Williams STAFF WRITER
At the beginning of every sports season, athletic teams across the world set one common goal for themselves: to win a national championship. Only one team earns the right to call themselves a champion. That’s the beauty of sports. In the NCAA, student-athletes who fall short of a national crown are able to find comfort in individual honors awarded to them from their respective athletic conferences. With the winter season coming to an end, the WIAC recognized a slew of Blugold athletes for their outstanding athletic achievement. Head softball coach and assistant director of athletics Leslie Huntington said in years when teams fall short of their ultimate goal, all-conference and all-conference honorable mention honors are significant. “There is a lot of merit to the all-conference honors stuTURNER dent-athletes receive,” Hun-
tington said. “It speaks to the overall quality of an athletic program.” The process of receiving all-conference honors differs from sport to sport. In team sports, WIAC office officials and head coaches of each team decide which players receive all-conference and honorable mention recognition.
“There is a lot of merit to the all-conference honors student-athletes receive. It speaks to the overall quality of an athletic program.” LESLIE HUNTINGTON assistant director of athletics
Once the two groups make a decision, an all-conference first team is formed, followed
by a group of honorable mention athletes. Depending on the sport, there could be as many as three all-conference teams. In individual sports like swimming and diving and track and field, athletes compete at the WIAC conference meet in races and events for honors. Regardless of the sport, receiving honors from the WIAC is an achievement Blugold athletes strive for. Paige Turner, a sophomore goalie on the women’s hockey team, earned an honorable mention on the All-WIAC team. “I actually started crying,” Turner said. “It was truly a blessing and a great feeling.” The tears of joy overcame her because she came back from hip surgery and before the season, it was unknown whether she would be able to start on time, she said. Turner said she worked hard to return to the ice, and HJELTER once she was back, her work ethic did not change. She lead the WIAC in saves with 734. She said the fact her hard work was recognized is what makes her the most proud. A consistent work ethic is a constant theme among all-conference student-athletes. The honor highlights the hard work, passion and love of the game they exhibited throughout their respective seasons. “To be recognized by the WIAC as one of the better players in the conference is definitely something I take pride in, and it’s pretty humbling,” men’s basketball sophomore guard Adam Hjelter said. Hjelter led the Blugolds in scoring with 15.5 points per game, and had the 15th best free throw percentage in the nation at 89.3
SPORTS 7
percent. He said it has taken him a lot of hard work to get to this point. Like Turner, Hjelter battled an injury before the season, and he said his honor from the WIAC is a result of his drive to prove himself to his opponents on the court. “Night in and night out you have to show up to games with consistent ef- HUNTINGTON fort,” Hjelter said. “I am not taking days off or anything for granted, and I think that is a big part of it.” WIAC recognition comes with a set of expectations. The community, coaches and teammates set these expectations, Huntington said. Ultimately, the recognized athletes are held to a higher standard. Hjelter said because of the honor, the way he carries himself and how he represents his program are magnified. “It is a humbling honor, but at the same time it forces me to hold myself to a higher standard and to be accountable to my teammates, coaches and the program,” Hjelter said. Despite the fact being recognized by the WIAC is an individual honor, both Hjelter and Turner said their honors would not have been possible without the help of their teammates. Huntington said earning WIAC recognition brings on a leadership role because they are among the most talented athletes on their team. “Individual awards go along with team success,” she said. “The more successful our teams can be, the better chance we have of getting our student-athletes individual honors.” Williams can be reached at williaml@uwec.edu or @BookofEllis.
SPORTS SPORTS EDITOR: Steve Fruehauf
WIAC champions two years running Despite winning conference title, UW-Eau Claire did not receive berth into NCAA Division III championship Austin Mai STAFF WRITER
Saturday night, UW-Eau Claire men’s hockey defeated rival UW-Superior 3-0 at Hobbs Ice Center to win their second straight WIAC championship. The third-seed Blugolds hosted the championship game after defeating second-seed UW-Stevens Point in game two and the following mini game in the semifinals. The fourth-seed Yellowjackets defeated first-seed UW-River Falls 2-0 to move on to the championship game. From the beginning, this game featured lots of hits and physical play. Halfway through the first period, freshman forward Patrick Moore scored seconds after missing an opportunity for an open net shot. Senior forward Niko Kapetanovic made a pass from behind the net to get Moore the puck to put it away against Superior’s Dayn Belfour, the son of NHL Hall-of -Fame goalie Ed Belfour. Sophomore defenLOEN
8
Thursday, March 13 Loen said. “We’re all proud to win the championship for the university.” Despite the championship win and an updated overall record of 19-8-1, the NCAA selection committee did not include Eau Claire in this year’s bid distriDEO bution for the national championship. Considering the defending national champions just won their conference again, being left out of the national championship tournament left some Blugolds feeling wronged. “It’s unfair,” Thauwald said. “We had 19 wins and won our conference tournament. We are ranked 7th in the nation and didn’t get a tournament bid … This doesn’t make sense to me.” Whether it’s fair or unfair, the season is over. It’s time for Loen and his staff to look at recruits and prepare for next season. It’s time for the seniors to look back and appreciate their elite body of work over the last few years. And it’s time for the underclassmen players to learn from this season, and get excited for the future. “I think we have a really solid group of guys coming back,” Thauwald said. “With hard work and a few big recruits, we will have a shot at winning a national championship again.”
seman Jeff Pauluk and Kapetanovic got the assists. A few minutes later at 12:32, the Blugolds extended their lead as junior forward Ross Andersen and Moore went down the ice, making a 2-on-1 situation. Andersen handled Moore’s pass and rocketed a shot over the goalie’s glove. Moore and Kapetanovic were credited with the assists. The second period began and the Blugolds pushed the puck and extended their lead to 3-0. At 8:41, Pauluk took a shot and missed. Junior forward Joe Krause recovered and snuck a shot through Belfour. Pauluk and senior defenseman David Donnellan assisted on the play. Krause’s score marked the end of Blugold scoring for the day, but not even a first period bloody nose could stop Eau Claire’s goalie from blocking every shot Saturday. Freshman Jay Deo had a career day as he blocked 42 shots on the way to the 3-0 victory, his fifth shutout of the year. Head coach Matt Loen lived this experience last season, but still understands the importance of making it this far. “Winning our conference was one of Mai can be reached at maiat@uwec.edu or our goals set at the start of the season,” @austinisfresh.
Final meet turns second place finishes UW-Stevens Point’s Last Chance Meet good precursor for national competition Cori Picard STAFF WRITER
Blugold men’s and women’s indoor track and field team notched only one first place finish at the UW-Stevens Point Last Chance Meet Saturday. Junior Cody Prince took home the win in the 400-meter dash with a time of 48.97 seconds, just squeezing past teammate Thurgood Dennis, who had a time of 49.03 seconds. “It felt good, not that I was able to barely beat (Dennis), but that I ran a solid time because I haven’t been running the best for most of this indoor season,” Prince said. Dennis said watching his teammate and friend cross the finish line with a great time was awesome. “To see him run up there, he wears this headband with his flow, it’s outstanding,” Dennis said. “I can’t get over watching him run, he
FEHLER
looks so smooth.” Even though Prince’s time was the only first-place finish, a lot of Blugolds took home second-place spots. Junior Roger Steen took second in the shot put with a throw of 17.38 meters, and junior Carly Fehler snagged second in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.86 seconds. Fehler said the highlight of the meet came from her
teammates. “Our women’s 4x4 qualified for nationals, we were right on the bubble sitting at 15, and the top 12 go to nationals,” Fehler said. “They ended up almost breaking the school record, and now they’re sitting fourth for nationals.” The 4x400-meter relay team was made up by juniors Brooke Patterson, Steph Rouse, Me-
ELIZABETH JACKSON / The Spectator
LOOKING FOR SPACE: Senior forward Mark Pustin carries the puck up the ice during the Blugolds’ 3-0 title victory over UW-Superior Saturday.
gan Mulligan and sophomore Jessica Rupnow. They turned in a third-place finish with a season-best time of 3:53:04. The team left for nationals at 5 p.m. Wednesday and Fehler said they are preparing for competition like they would any other week. “Our training is light, we’re focused on making sure our bodies are fresh for this weekend,” Fehler said. The sprinter and jumper also said at the end of the day, it’s about having fun. “We’re going out to Nebraska, and it’s a business trip, but at the same time, our team is focused on remembering that we love doing this and we love being a team,” she said. Today will consist of practice for the Blugolds in preparation for competition at 10 a.m. Friday. “The team is very excited to compete at nationals and everyone seems to be focused,” Prince said. “We just need to take care of business.” Picard can be reached at picardcf@uwec.edu or @CoriFPicard.
Blugold National Qualifiers: Thurgood Dennis Cody Prince Adam Moline Matt Scott Will LaJeunesse Jimmy Paske Roger Steen Alex Mess Brandon Zarnoth Greg Peterson Carly Fehler Megan Mulligan Monica Emerson Brooke Patterson Steph Rouse Jessica Rupnow Kelsey Weigel
SPORTS EDITOR: Steve Fruehauf
Thursday, March 13
SPORTS 9
Tennis drops two matches in tough outing Young team still finds positives against two tough teams this weekend
Amanda Fischer Outfielder/Catcher Softball
Trent Tetzlaff
However, the Blugolds struggled in singles play. Freshman Will The UW-Eau Claire men's tenWeyenberg was the nis team fell in two competitions lone Blugold to win this weekend to end their foura match in singles match winning streak. over the weekend, At the Racine Racquet and Fitpicking up a 6-1, ness Club Friday, Eau Claire fell 6-4 victory at No. to Elmhurst College (Ill.) 7-2 and 6 singles against later lost their next match to CarGILLMAN Carthage. Weythage College 6-3 on Saturday. enberg has won six “We had a lot of three-set straight matches and sits at 6-2 on matches this weekend,” senior capthe season for the Blugolds. tain Joe Meier said. “But I think Vande Linde said he thinks his our team competed really well for team performed well this weekend being as young as we are.” and were extremely close in many The only Blugolds to win both matches, but what brought the of their matches were Meier and team down were the struggles in other senior captain Ryan Vande individual play. Linde at No. 1 dou“I think the big bles. They won 9-8 thing that we can against Elmhurst improve upon is Friday, and Saturour singles play,” day backed that up Vande Linde said. with an 8-4 victory “We have really against Carthage. come out and domiThe duo now is 8-2 nated most matches on the season and in doubles but have have won eight struggled individumatches in a row. ally in our losses.” Head coach The 14-man Tom Gillman said roster is comprised this weekend’s of nine freshmen, matches were three sophomores against some qualand only two seity opponents, and RYAN VANDE LINDE niors. the team should be “People forget Senior captain happy about how how young we rethey performed deally are, but also spite the results. within that youth how successful “This weekend was a growth we are,” Vande Linde said. “These weekend for us,” Gillman said. “We freshmen and sophomores have had some extremely tough matchsuch great attitudes, and mentally es, and I believe we can walk away you can’t tell they are as young as feeling confident and like we bethey really are.” longed on the court with our oppoThe Blugolds now sit at 5-5 on nents.” the season after the pair of losses On Friday, sophomore Kyle over the weekend and will compete Hoffmann and freshman Josh Chuin Hilton Head Island, S.C., during ba took home an spring break, playing six oppo8-6 victory over Elnents March 16-20. mhurst in doubles. Meanwhile Saturday, sophomore Nathan Tretsven and freshman Luke Zwiener beat their opponents from Carthage College in a close 9-8 Tetzlaff can be reached at tetzlata@ uwec.edu or @ttetz5. VANDE LINDE doubles match.
STAFF WRITER
“People forget how young we really are but also within that youth how successful we are.”
GRAPHIC BY KARL ENGHOFER / The Spectator
Fischer started all four games on the mound the weekend of Feb. 28-March 1, and led the team in hitting, with a .538 batting average and a .923 on-base percentage. She also helped the Blugolds defeat St. Norbert in extra innings, hitting a home run. This helped UW-Eau Claire start the season out with a 3-1 record.
Getting to know Fischer: Favorite vacation: Going to Prague to play softball for 10 days Favorite restaurant in Eau Claire: Milwaukee Burger Company Favorite sport (besides softball): Volleyball
Junior Wausau Wausau West High School
Dream job: To work with wild animals or marine animals Favorite movie: “Up”
CURRENTS CURRENTS EDITOR: Zack Katz
10
Thursday, March 13
Searching for the pot of gold St. Patrick’s Day parade to raise money for downtown radio station Ellis Williams STAFF WRITER
Guinness beer, kilts and loud music — it’s that time of year again. Whether you are Irish or not, celebrations are in order. This Sunday, the Acoustic Cafe is hosting WHYS 96.3 FM 8th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Fundraiser. The afternoon-long celebration includes a parade, live Irish music, traditional Irish food and drink and a silent auction. Ben Johnson, a member of the board of directors at WHYS radio, said people come to the event rain or shine and they get to be outside while marching in a parade before going into the cafe to enjoy the Irish atmosphere. “In our parade we have musicians, accordion players, drummers and people in kilts,” Johnson said. “We have babies in strollers, college students to the elderly who walk.” The parade starts at noon in the radio station parking lot at 405 S. Farewell St. and ends at the Acoustic Cafe on 505 S. Barstow St. The twoand-a-half block march lasts about 20 minutes, hence the title Shortest Sidewalk Parade. The cafe played host to the event for all eight years, and the downtown business is honored to once again support WHYS radio, a manager at the Acoustic Cafe, Cathy Tepaske said. “WHYS is right down the road from us so us hosting seems like a natural fit,” she said. “It is our privilege and pleasure to be able to host such
an event.” Once the marchers are inside the cafe they are surrounded by traditional Irish culture. Johnson said the booths are turned around to form a u-shape in order to create a pub like atmosphere. The menu includes unique Irish desserts and Guinness is available to anyone over 21. Apart from the packed dance floors and dining rooms, there is another element to the celebration, which the people at WHYS are equally excited about. Lori Chilefone is the artistic director on the board at WHYS and said she has gathered about 28 works of art for the silent auction. Chilefone said the silent auction will feature regional artwork, which includes a few original paintings, several photographs, high quality prints made from originals and some pottery. WHYS is a non-profit, community-funded station ran by volunteers. Johnson said the Shortest Sidewalk Parade was created because the station needed to come up with an event that would be fun and also be a fundraiser. Forty percent of the money generated from each piece of art sold will benefit the artist, while 60 percent will go to WHYS radio. In addition to the regional artwork, Johnson said WHYS counts on item donations from other downtown businesses to be put into the silent auction. “All of this is put on by local volunteers, no one makes a dime,” Johnson said. “All the money earned at the parade goes right back into the station.”
The money raised at the event accounts for 25 percent of the radio’s operating budget, Johnson said. WHYS radio has been a part of the Eau Claire community for 10 years and they offer a variety of music ranging from children’s music to Latin, punk and reggae. They also offer comedy shows and news programs. Chilefone said working to locate art for the silent auction is her way of giving back to WHYS radio. She said community radio is a valuable platform for people who live here, and she would love to see the station continue for another 10 or more years. “I value community radio and I support WHYS radio because I care about it,” Chilefone said. Acoustic Cafe employees have noticed WHYS has a very loyal listening group. Tepaske said the celebration is the perfect combination because there aren’t a lot of spring- time celebrations. St. Patrick’s day is an opportunity to get out and celebrate. “It is a fun, family-friendly afternoon,” Tepaske said. “There is art all around to be shown, the Guinness is flowing and there is all sorts of Irish music.”
Ellis can be reached at williaml@ uwec.edu or @BookofEllis.
GRAPHIC BY KARL ENGHOFER/ The Spectator
Mount Simon
Courtney Kueppers COPY EDITOR
You can’t go very far in Eau Claire without going up a hill or over a bridge. On campus alone, we are accustomed to freezing walks over the bridge and hikes up the hill. One hill worth the trek is Mount Simon. Squeezed in an old part of town by Dells Pond, a little off the beaten path, Mount Simon offers a vantage point second to none in Eau Claire. In the summer, Mount Simon park offers a disc golf course, sand volleyball courts, swimming, baseball fields and of course cliff jumping but this time of year it’s just a nice opportunity for a scenic hike. Sunday afternoon I made my first move up Mount Simon. The clear day offered me a view that made me want to exclaim, “I’m queen of the world!” OK, I might have done that. Since the world is frozen and the trees are bare this time of year, it allows
you to see for what feels like miles and miles — a view that I’m guessing could be beat only by Mount Simon in the fall when the leaves are changing. I am definitely putting visit Mount Simon during each season on my Eau Claire bucket list. Sticking to the common theme in my life that I rarely wear the right footwear for any given occasion, I highly recommend shoes that have some traction if you head out to the park. It seems pretty obvious for a trek uphill in patted down snow that is melting, but somehow I managed to wear horrible footwear, good only for sliding downhill when returning to the bottom. Which turned out to be pretty entertaining anyway. It’s not a hard climb meant to be exclusive for experienced hikers, so it’s worth checking out. At a leisurely pace it only takes about 10 minutes to reach the summit. On a lazy, sunny Sunday afternoon Mount Simon was the perfect mini-adventure. It’s an opportunity to get out and do something cool without leaving Eau Claire. As a firm believer that some time in the woods is good for you, it was refreshing to get away for a bit. At the top it’s you, nature and the assortment of empty beer cans left behind by other visitors. As the season changes, and temperatures rise, I encourage you to grab some pals and head to this local hidden gem, whether it is for few minutes or for an afternoon of adventuring. Kueppers can be reached at kueppercm@uwec.edu or @CourtneyKueppers.
COURTNEY KUEPPERS / The Spectator
SUBMITTED
STRUTTING WITH CHARM: WHYS radio’s St. Patrick’s day parade, hosted by Acoustic Cafe, draws enthusiasts of Irish culture of all ages.
FRESH AIR: Scenic Mount Simon is nestled in an area of Eau Claire that’s easy for students to overlook. For that reason, the park can be a nice escape from campus life.
CURRENTS EDITOR: Zack Katz GRAPHIC BY TYLER TRONSON
Thursday, March 13
CURRENTS 11
Shredding electric at Acoustic Jazz group Quasimofo welcomed by local cafe crowd on Friday night
Mainstream advertising embraces realistic society Martha Landry EDITOR IN CHIEF
On Monday, Honey Maid launched a new commercial with a “This is Wholesome” tagline. The ad featured modern, real life couples — a gay couple, an interracial couple and a straight couple with tattoos and a “rougher” look to them. The families are holding hands, kissing babies, loving life and having fun. It is lighthearted and wholesome; just as making s’mores and eating Teddy Grahams is. (Unless you were one of the kids who bit the head of the teddy off first to be brutal.) The modern advertising isn’t completely new, but it was still a breath of fresh air. I want to applaud the societal (and advertising) shift that is openly accepting what the U.S. actually looks like. An article on Advertising Age stated, “according to U.S. Census data from 2010, one in 10 -— or 5.4 million — opposite-sex couples are interracial, a 28 percent rise since 2000. According to the data, the number of samesex-couple households in the U.S. was 646,000, up 9 percent from 2000.” Companies have been displaying single parents, interracial couples and modern families for the past few years, but I continuously hear ... not complaints but commentary about what it ‘means.’ Philadelphia Cream Cheese had released a commercial for a pasta sauce additive featuring a single mother and it was a topic for conversation. A few weeks ago, Buzzfeed posted an article about updating stock photos of women and it was shared everywhere on social media. I found it beautiful to see women of all races, all body types, with babies on their hips or baseball bats in their hands featured in mainstream media advertising. They represented the society we actually live in. Sometimes I forget that I am swaddled and snuggly in my UW-Eau Claire Gen-Y bubble. The rest of the world might not be as do-whatever-makesyou-happy as some of my peers and myself, but I think we can all agree that someday our actual society will be accurately represented in the media. I appreciate any step forward. Cheers to anyone who is involved with the progress towards acceptance of all in this world we all share.
Landry can be reached at landrymm@ uwec.edu or @MarthaLandryy.
Austin Mai STAFF WRITER
Smooth bass lines, impeccable drumming and spirited piano play set the tone Friday night for Quasimofo’s performance at the Acoustic Cafe. The concert, open to the public, started off with a bluesy original song called Meatball Magic. And as the magic began, the group’s musical identity started to show itself. Quasimofo is an original jazz trio based out of Hudson, but don’t let the jazz title fool you. This group of musicians spent the evening playing many genres of music. Quasimofo’s bluesy sound was natural, but the band played Latin, swing and even ballads. At the forefront of the stage was the trio’s leader, Chris Ashwood on the electric piano. Ashwood, a UW-Eau Claire alumnus, said he was happy to return and play in Eau Claire. “It’s always nice to come back, and the Acoustic usually has a nice crowd,” Ashwood said. “It’s not so easy to find a crowd to listen to an energetic jazz trio.” Halfway through Meatball Magic, Chris Ashwood was already up from his stool and bobbing his head while he slammed out a solo. The music flowed well, and Ashwood’s soulful solos entertained the crowd, but not without the help of bassist Joseph Kreye and drummer Paul Ashwood. Yes, they could’ve dubbed this group the Ashwood Family Band
but it wouldn’t do. “We’ve joked about it but there’ll be no name change,” Kreye said. “Our music matches our name well.” Ashwood’s father, Paul and fellow band member Kreye held down the rhythm all night, which was essential for soloing opportunities. Blayne Powell, manager at the Acoustic Cafe, said that he had heard Quasimofo before and wanted them to play at his venue. “Aren’t they great? Chris’s solos
just blow me away,” Powell said. “I think the band’s a great fit for the customers we have here.” When he’s not ripping piano solos, Chris is the head producer at Legacy Productions in Hudson. “I’m in the studio a lot for my job,” Chris said. “It’s nice to leave the city for gigs during the weekends.” Chris said the group enjoys the traveling that comes with gigging.
“Through traveling, our relationship as a band has become closer,” Chris said. “We’re going to Minneapolis for a gig at the Acadia Cafe next weekend.”
Mai can be reached at maiat@uwec. edu or @Austinisfresh.
SUBMITTED
CHANNEL YOUR INNER DAVIS: Hudson-based jazz trio Quasimofo pack plenty of energy and piano solos in their live performances.
CURRENTS CURRENTS EDITOR: Zack Katz
Sammy’s Pizza Pizza chain made local and personal
Katie Bast NEWS EDITOR
You might think having pizza-patterned carpet would be a little much for a pizza place, but Sammy’s Pizza makes it work. The retro-style tables and colorful, vinyl chairs and hand-painted murals on the wall set the Eau Claire Sammy’s apart from the other locations. The restaurant was started over 50 years ago by Sam Perrella in Hibbing, Minn., but the location at 2812 London Rd. has only been open for about six years, co-owner Tammy Jerulle said. According to their website, Perrella developed an interest in pizza after hearing stories of the food his friends ate while serving in Italy during WWII. After spending some time in Chicago and tweaking family recipes, Perrella and his wife Louise opened the first location. “We make most of it from scratch. The dough, we grind our own sausage, beef, kosher, shred most our veggies fresh. We roll it out, cut it to size, crimp it, sauce it and top it to order,” General Manager Adam Skillen said. “I’ve heard we have the best pizza more times than I can count,” Skillen said. Even though Sammy’s is a chain with 16 locations in Wisconsin, Minnesota and North Dakota, the London Road location is uniquely Eau Claire. No where else will you find “The Mouse Special,” a pizza topped with kosher salami and pepperoni, very well done and cut into small, square pieces. It was named in honor of Greg “Mouse” Bement, the original owner of The Mousetrap on Barstow Street. Jerulle said the atmosphere is “friendly and family-oriented” and their clientele ranges from 20-something college students to people in their 60s and 70s. The place also has a lot of regulars.
Skillen said he knows a lot of the regulars by name, making Sammy’s a more personal experience than most chain restaurants. Their website describes the regulars as “an almost cult-like following.” If the other regulars are anything like my dad, who makes special trips from Madison to “see me” and get pizza and who salivates for days in anticipation, then cult-like isn’t too far off. There’s something about Sammy’s that makes you feel like a regular even if you aren’t. I didn’t grow up near a Sammy’s Pizza, but I feel like I was raised on it anyway. The thin crust manages hold the sweet sauce, cheese and fresh toppings without cracking under the pressure. Pizzas on the menu range from traditional — pepperoni, sausage, Canadian bacon, peppers, onions, olives — to more specialized like chicken cordon bleu (topped with chicken, Canadian bacon and served with bleu cheese dressing) chicken alfredo and barbeque and buffalo chicken. The restaurant serves more than just pizza, though I’ve never had anything else off the menu. I mean, if you’re going to go to Sammy’s, why wouldn’t you get pizza? While the prices are a bit much for me to splurge on too often, sometimes I just really need a decent slice (or in Sammy’s Pizza’s case, square) of pizza. Sammy’s does offer a buy on get on half off special every Wednesday on pizza and wings that college kids should definitely be taking advantage of. While Skillen said he’s never been to any other location, each is individually owned, promising a unique experience at each.
Bast can be reached at bastkv@uwec.edu or @Katie_Bast.
SUBMITTED
PUT IT ON THE PIZZA: Sammy’s Pizza on London Road is one of several locations. General Manager of the Eau Claire location Adam Skillen said each one is individually owned and personal.
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Thursday, March 13
Putting on a play the local way Community theatre group puts on production of Larry Shue’s “The Foreigner” Rebecca Sloane FREELANCER
Concert goers shared suspense, romance and laughs at the Saturday night opening of the “The Foreigner.” “The Foreigner” was held in The Grand Little Theatre. Executive Director Ann Sessions said that 120 community members were in attendance at the Saturday showing. The space was crammed, but people were eager to watch the performance. “The Foreigner” is a quirky story written by Larry Shue, an American playwright and actor. Shue’s story is of shy Englishman known as Charlie Baker. While on vacation Charlie unexpectedly finds his personality deep in the woods of Georgia, but not without some trouble. Sessions said play members volunteer their time for two months to put on a great show. This of course couldn’t be done without the persistence of a director. Bob Carr, a founder of the theatre guild, who directed “The Foreigner”. Sessions said he sticks to the original script, as he’s supposed to. “Bob ultimately focuses on the characters and their performance
which is what it’s all about.” Said Sessions. Actors and actresses in the play come from all backgrounds said Sessions. Among the cast were a legal assistant, a librarian and even a professor. UW-Eau Claire chemistry professor Kurt Wiegel plays the lead character, Charlie. Wiegel’s role allowed for him to dip into a new field and learn a new language. “I am exploring communication through gibberish. It’s not unlike raising children.” Wiegel said.
“I am exploring communication through gibberish. It’s not unlike raising children.” Kurt Wiegel
Chemistry Professor, Actor
Jenna Quinn, one Claire students, said members roared with his newfound ability.
of the Eau community laughter at Quinn said
she was surprised when she found out Wiegel was a professor; she assumed acting was his forte. “When students see professors on stage it really speaks to what community theatre is, you get to see a completely different side of someone compared to their daily jobs,” Sessions said. The Chippewa Valley Theatre Guild has been host to close to 200 plays since first opening in 1981. Classics like “Oklahoma” and new scripts such as “The Hobbit” have been crowd favorites. Sessions said different age groups attend depending on the story being told. “It is usually a mix of different generations but I would love to see more students involved,” Sessions said. “For those on campus it’s almost like walking to McPhee” Doors open at 7:30 p.m. March 13-14 for performances of “The Foreigner” as well as at 1:30 p.m. March 16. Cost is $20 for adults, $18 for seniors, $8 for kids under 18 and only $10 for students.
OPINION / EDITORIAL Thursday, March 13
OP/ED EDITOR: Alex Zank
Ethical uncertainty comes with animal de-extinction Bringing back extinct animals has potential to lead to animal cruelty
Courtney Roszak STAFF WRITER
When I was 13 I watched Hannah Montana and listened to Plain White T’s. I didn’t know what I planned to do with my life and that was okay with me. When Ben Novak was 13 he vowed to devote his life to resurrecting extinct animals. At 16 I got my first car, a green 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix, which had a nice big dent in the front from when I hit the garage. When Novak was 16 he saw his first passenger pigeon stuffed in the Science Museum of Minnesota. The bird has been extinct since Sept. 1, 1914. Now 27, Novak has spent the last decade visiting 339 stuffed passenger pigeon exhibits in museums across the country. Today he, along with multiple other scientists, is working to resurrect extinct animals, including the passenger pigeon. If de-extinction is successful, the passenger pigeon would technically be a form of mutation, not the original. The genes would be mixed with a close genetic relative, the band-tailed pigeon. The mixing of the two genes would form a “chimera” which means the bird would be a band-tailed pigeon on the outside, but passenger pigeon on the inside. If everything goes according to plan, we could potentially see passenger pigeons flying around in 2060. Scientists first plan to keep the pigeons inside for several years. The birds will be under surveillance so scientists can study how the birds are affected by the environment and vice versa. Once they are released into the wild they can be tracked by a GPS chip. The Mammoth Cometh, an article by Nathaniel Rich and in the New York Times, cited many experts on the topic involved in the resurrection, including Novak.
“People grow up with this idea that the nature they see is natural, but there’s been no real ‘natural’ element to the earth the entire time humans have been around,” Novak said to Rich. De-extinction can pose a threat to conservation biologists, the specter of extinction has recently been one of the conservation movement’s most powerful arguments. Some view it as a major temporary inconvenience. “We get asked these big questions, but no one is asking people who work on elephants why they’re not working on giraffes, when giraffes need a lot more conservation work than elephants,” Novak said. This is not the first time resurrection of an extinct animal has occurred. More than ten years ago a team resurrected a burcardo, which is a subspecies of a mountain goat. The burcardos became extinct in 2000. The team successfully cloned the animal in 2003, but it did not live long. The animal struggled to breathe for several minutes before the burcardo choked to death. This is where the topic of animal cruelty comes into play. Is it really worth it to bring back an extinct animal if animals are being inflicted with a great amount of pain to get there? I won’t deny that it would be cool to see a Wooly Mammoth at the zoo, but it wouldn’t be so cool to see him knowing how much pain he or other mammoths may have had to go through to get there. I am all for saving the animals and de-extincting those who have been extinct, but I draw the line when an animal is getting hurt. It is no hidden secret Novak loves passenger pigeons and has truly dedicated his life and work in the hopes of resurrecting animals since he was 13. It makes me really think maybe I should have done something better at 13 than just listen to Plain White T’s, especially since the band basically fell off the pop culture spectrum after “Hey There Delilah.” Roszak is a freshman journalism major and Staff Writer for The Spectator. She can be reached at roszakcm@ uwec.edu or @CRoszak22.
14
Governance on all levels deserve scrutiny GRAPHIC BY KARL ENGHOFER/ The Spectator
Alex Zank
OP/ED EDITOR Nearly everyone knows the name of the president. He is the man who got another stimulus package through shortly after his first term, pushed for (and got) a major healthcare bill and signed many executive orders dealing with issues Congress has not, including gun control and a minimum wage increase. What I’m willing to bet is a sadly tiny number of people attending UWEau Claire know the name of the president of the Eau Claire City Council or even the president of our own Student Senate. This just doesn’t make sense. If you think about it, isn’t it weird that we’d know more about the ongoings of government at the federal level but not the state or local governments that have a more direct impact on our daily lives? I’m not about to argue what’s done on the federal level is no less important. It still definitely affects us. But consider this: the federal government may spend weeks arguing an immigration bill, and we do have a portion of the population in western Wisconsin with an immediate interest in the subject because they could in some way be affected. The president could also be pushing an agenda of tax credits for businesses that invest in green energy, and we may have some businesses in Eau Claire benefit from these in some way. But how about enforcing sidewalk shoveling laws or funding the construction of new buildings that would effectively raise property taxes in an area? President Barack Obama would probably like us to clean our sidewalks regularly, but he is not ever going to send out an enforcement team to ensure we’re doing so. This is what local governments do, along with so much more that impacts virtually every single person in the area. With the spring elections approaching in a few weeks, voters have some important choices to make.
There’s a contested race for the City Council presidency, and the two candidates — incumbent Kerry Kincaid and challenger Monica Lewis — have drastically different platforms. We also will have a say of what we think about the Confluence Project at the polls. The university has a huge interest (as do we students, whether we know it or not) in its construction to improve the university’s competitiveness and appeal, and with a spike in educational quality is also the lasting impact it would have on our degrees’ reputations. Let’s not forget about Student Senate, either. Managing Editor Nick Erickson mentioned in his Op/Ed last week we’re paying $426 per student in segregated fees (we’re set to pay more next year), which Senate controls. These members are elected every spring semester with a mandate of nil. The voter turnout for these elections are dastardly low: 934 students voted in last spring’s election, while the year before boasted a turnout of about 470. I covered Student Senate for two semesters, and the most frustration I had with the beat was talking to students who didn’t know what issues Senate was tackling, yet when they talked with me, most seemed to realize they had a vested interest in the governing body. So what happens when you have an entire body of elected officials governs a population that pays such little attention to what the body is doing? From my experiences, these officials tend to get their mandates from other places rather than serve a population that largely ignores them. I’ve seen this happen in several instances throughout my academic career here. I’ve witnessed Senate vote against popular student opinion on the Blugold Commitment and overturn a previous campus-wide referendum. Of course, Senate largely does good work. I’m not writing this column to deny that. I’m simply using these examples as a warning of what can happen when an electorate doesn’t pay
“... isn’t it weird that we know more about the ongoings of government at the federal level but not the state or local governments that have a direct impact on our daily lives?”
attention to a governing body. Going forward, I hope students consider the importance of all levels of government. If we know what’s going on at the federal level, that’s great But if we take the time to be informed at the local level, we’d be even better off. Zank is a senior journalism and political science double major and Op/ Ed Editor of The Spectator. He can be reached at zankam@uwec.edu or @AlexZank.
SUBMITTED PHOTOS
MEET THE CANDIDATES: Current Eau Claire City Council president Kerry Kincaid, top, and challenger and freshman Councilwoman Monica Lewis are the two running to be the next president of City Council. Voters will cast their vote for City Council president on April 1 along with other topics, including a vote concerning the Confluence Project.
OP / ED EDITOR: Alex Zank
OPINION / EDITORIAL
15
Thursday, March 13
Giving movie remakes a chance Smoking e-cigs in public New versions of classic cinema dominate the screen for good reason Rachel Streich STAFF WRITER
Film classics never get old. They reappear on our TV screens over and over. But when Hollywood decides to make new versions of these timeless movies, audiences fear the originals will lose a part of their fame. Despite negative reactions, movie remakes continue to pop up in theaters around the nation. Five of the top 20 highest-grossing movies in the 2014 box office are remakes or spinoffs of old films. Remakes are popular in the movie business because they have value. They’re worth making because they allow viewers to look back on fond memories and to look forward to something new. Recreations of old films give audiences a sense of nostalgia. Movie watchers can find meaning in them because they bring back storylines and scenes of the past. In a 2011 interview,
film critic Roger Ebert said, “For some (audience members), they fear the new. They fear taking a chance … They remember a good movie experience and desire to repeat it.” This was an element of the success with The “Sound of Music’s” live television special in November. Millions of people tuned in to watch the beloved story come to life again. Because “The Sound of Music” is such a popular family musical, audiences knew what to expect with the key plot elements, and they wanted to see it again. At the same time, new aspects of movie remakes give audiences the chance to experience something different. The trailer of the upcoming remake of “Annie” reveals a modern twist on the original movie and a cast with black performers. “Annie” is one of many popular movie remakes pending release in 2014, according to the Internet Movie Database. Modernization is an-
other positive aspect of remakes. New technology can give the movies of the past more special effects and enhanced visuals. “The Great Gatsby,” remade in 2013, won two Academy Awards for best production design and best costume design. This movie has been remade several times, but the newest version is a key example of the creativity and nuance movie remakes can bring to old motion pictures. Tim Burton’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” is also a good illustration of technological innovations in film impacting remakes. With 30 years in between the two films, the 2005 movie brought a new magical quality with animation and set design to the classic plot. I would be remiss to say all movie remakes are good. Some have gone wrong and some movies may be unnecessary to make again. However, remakes of films can give new generations of movie watchers
opportunities to see old movies in current forms as well. They can attract new audiences who haven’t seen the originals. Keeping this in mind, it is important to remember movie remakes are nothing new in Hollywood. They have been present in film soon after the beginning of cinema itself. Yet directors keep making these movies because our culture is fascinated with recycled versions of films and sequels. American society doesn’t mind the familiar. The remakes of 2014 are popular because this aspect of pop culture remains relevant. If remakes no longer existed, audiences would miss an important aspect of the movie-watching experience: seeing the old made new.
Streich is a junior journalism major and Staff Writer of The Spectator. She can be reached at streicrn@ uwec.edu or @RachelStreich17.
SUBMITTED
THE JOY OF THE REMAKE: The “Sound of Music’s” recent live TV remake, with a bit of a modernized plot, allows audiences to enjoy a twist on a classic favorite.
places burns bystanders
Indoor smoking in common areas a step backward for public health, decency Courtney Kueppers COPY EDITOR
Sitting in a movie theater over winter break I was in shock. Not because of the featured flick, but because the guy sitting in front of me was smoking. There was no odor, just puffs of vapor leaving his electronic cigarette floating into the air. I barely remember smoking being a norm in public. It has been seven years since my home state, Minnesota, banned smoking in public places, and even before that it was restricted. I admit that I knew very little about e-cigarettes but if it was something that was going to permitted in places like movie theaters I figured I ought to know a bit about them. What I found did very little to make me feel comfortable with these booming cigarette alternatives. There is very little reason to believe they are safe and I think we ought to learn from history before we repeat it.
“We have to learn from the first time around to advocate against these products early. Why wait until we know the long-term effects to ban them from public spaces?” Right now there is very little conclusive research on the vapors that the e-cigarettes contain. Yet the industry is booming since e-cigarettes do not contain tobacco and can be purchased without proof of age. The number of teens and tweens using these products doubled between 2011 and 2012 according to a study authored by the Center for Tobacco Research and Education released earlier this month. The study states e-cigarettes are marketed the same way conventional cigarettes were marketed in the 1950s and 1960s, using television and radio ads. This type of marketing for conventional cigarettes has been banned for more than 40 years.
While it can be concluded that e-cigarettes are safer than normal cigarettes since the nicotine isn’t burned, the long-term effects are unknown. It all sounds a bit too familiar to me. When conventional cigarettes first became popular there was very little known about the longterm effects. People smoked everywhere with very little conKUEPPERS cern. It wasn’t until the 1960s that the Surgeon General’s report “Smoking and Health” was released and strongly advised the country against using cigarettes. For our generation it seems obvious: smoking poses serious concerns to our health. It seems inevitable to me that e-cigarettes are just too good to be true. I think we have to learn from the first time around to advocate against these products early. Why wait until we know the long-term effects to ban them from public places and put restrictions on who can buy them? Just last week I was enjoying lunch in Davies when the guy at the next table took out his e-cigarette. It seems like a huge step backwards to me. We know how nicotine affects the body, so why bother? The only positive I see with this product is for people who are trying to wean themselves off nicotine and the e-cigarette allows them to do that. But middle- and high-school-aged children? For them e-cigarettes are just a stepping-stone to more conventional tobacco products, according to the study done by the Center for Tobacco Research and Education. Currently in the Wisconsin legislature there is proposal to allow e-cigarettes to be used indoors despite the smoking ban, which has been in effect since 2010. Everyone has vices. It is human nature. I’m just saying that we ought to keep making progress instead of moving in reverse. All the restrictions placed on traditional cigarettes should also apply to e-cigarettes now, not when we know the long-term effects. Kueppers is a sophomore journalism and political science double major and Copy Editor of The Spectator. She can be reached at kueppecm@uwec.edu or @cmkueppers.
STUDENT LIFE
STUDENT LIFE EDITOR: Alex Zank
16
Thursday, March 13
Coming out, paving future at Eau Claire
UW-Eau Claire senior’s journey from uncertain freshman to stand-out leader taught him to celebrate his identity along the way Alex Zank
OP/ED EDITOR A lot of people go through a stage of finding themselves in college. Senior Josh Zmarzly was no different. “I’d say I was pretty shy and nervous coming here as a freshman,” he said. As he got more involved in organizations, Zmarzly started feeling comfortable in his own skin, and he was comfortable enough to proclaim something he said he’d been hiding for some time. “I was very in the closet when I came to the university,” he said. “There were things here for the LGBT community that I didn’t even think of participating in or going to because I was so detached from this part of my identity and it wasn’t something I didn’t want to deal with.” Then a friend of his convinced him to attend Spectrum meetings — the LGBTQ group that preceded PRIDE. He became more involved in the group, which helped him progress from a shy, closeted freshman to a self-actualized leader in the LGBT community. “Having to take that leadership role, it obviously puts you out there in the public, and it’s something that has forced me to be more open about myself and to, in a way, be in a sense a public face for LGBT students.” Since then, Zmarzly’s involvement and leadership have done nothing but grown. He has served (and still currently serving) as president of both PRIDE and German Club. This spring marked his fifth performance in UW-Eau Claire Players’ 24-Hour Project. And he has a full academic course load with a double major in German and history. Josh Brown, a professor of German and women’s studies, had Zmarzly in both a German translation class and a women’s studies class focusing on LGBT studies. He also knows Josh through his involvement in German Club. The club’s biggest event is its participation in Eau Claire’s annu-
al folk fair. Brown said this event is important because it’s where the club does most of its fundraising. “One of Josh’s strengths in German Club is organizing (for) the folk fair and making sure it does go on as smoothly as possible,” he said. Senior Stephanie Gottschalk met Zmarzly when the two were freshmen. They had the same German class, but the thing that really brought them together “was one of those things where you just run into each other all the time,” she said. “We were always eating in the caf at the same time. We just kind of sat down together and starting talking.” Now she considers him her best friend. She’s involved with Zmarzly in German Club and PRIDE and said through his work with these organizations shows his nurturing qualities. “That’s part of why he wants PRIDE to be successful,” she said. “He wants there to be this safe space on campus people can go and find what he and I found in the group, (a space) that helped us learn to be ourselves and comfortable with who we are.” As far as providing that safe space on campus, Chris Jorgenson, director of the Women’s and LGBTQ Resource Center, has the unique experience of the university at two very different eras of tolerance. Before being hired on as director, he attended Eau Claire as a student from 1994-1999. “The experience of being gay on campus was incredibly different,” he said. “I came out when I was 19 living in Towers South, and there was nothing on this campus, at least nothing visible that I could ever see, that not only just reached out to people like me, but celebrated what it means to be … who you are.” On National Coming Out Day, Jorgenson said the walking bridge used to always be filled with chalk that said things like ‘Silly faggots, dicks are for chicks.’ When he returned to Eau Claire in 2008 after living a stint in Califor-
nia, he was surprised to see the culture was more accepting of the LGBT community. Jorgenson was hired on as director with an agenda to create events that “are unapologetic, highly visible, and will get backlash because of it.” “I wanted to create events that you couldn’t miss, you couldn’t avoid even if you wanted to,” he said. Zmarzly and Jorgenson had echoing sentiments that events such as The Fire Ball and campus entities like PRIDE help create an environment in which LGBT students are comfortable being. “People come to this university with all sorts of lived experiences. It may be the first time they’ve been out publicly, it may be the place that they actually do come out, it may be the first time they figure out how they’re going to navigate what it means to
LGBTQ,” Jorgenson said. Zmarzly’s case is an example of this, and Jorgenson said he’s seen this happen with many students finally learning who they are as people. “People can be incredibly different from the very first year they get here to the year they leave,” Jorgenson said, adding comfort level develops that allows people to act in a way to honor, rather than hide, who they are. Of course, there is still room for improvement, Jorgenson and Zmarzly both said. “I’d like to JORGENSON see more financial support for programs on campus that deal with LGBT students,” Zmarzly said. The Eau Queer Film Festival, for example, has had a history of struggling for adequate funding, he said.
The financial support is continuing to grow. The Women’s and LGTBQ Resource Center had one of the largest percentage funding increases from next year’s Organized Activities budget. It received a 72.7 percent increase. After five years of personal and public development, Zmarzly said he wouldn’t trade his experience at Eau Claire for anything. “I’m really happy about the time I’ve spent at UW-Eau Claire,” he said. “I’m really grateful for the opportunities and experiences that have been provided to me on campus. “I’m always going to look back at my experiences, especially working with the LGBT community on campus, look back on them fondly. I just hope in my small way that I’ve tried to make things better.” And Zmarzly would know a thing or two about change for the better. Zank can be reached at zankam@ uwec.edu or @AlexZank.
SUBMITTED
SHOWING YOUR PRIDE: Posing with film director Anna Albelo, third from left, PRIDE students Stephanie Gottschalk, Joshua Zmarzly, Neil Robmann, Austin Shimko and Dylan Vorass attended the Eau Queer Film Festival in October.