Thursday, February 21, 2013 - The Daily Cardinal

The Governor’s 2013-’15 State Budget Proposal

By the numbers University of Wisconsin-Madison

+NEWS, page 4

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Thursday, February 21, 2013

Walker announces 2013-’15 budget

By Jack Casey The Daily Cardinal

Abigail waldo/the daily cardinal

Gov. Scott Walker outlines initiatives in the second biennial budget address of his first gubernatorial term, including education and economic development.

Gov. Scott Walker announced the second biennial budget of his governorship in an official address Wednesday in which he highlighted initiatives ranging from education development to statewide economic and health-care reforms.

The address, which comes after opponents heavily criticized his 2011-’13 budget for the severe cuts it forced on various state institutions, was in many ways a chance for Walker to release proposals that he said could continue to put the state back on track.

Early in his budget speech, Walker compared the state’s economic situation two years ago with its current situation, saying the state is in a better place now because of his last budget’s emphasis on “moderation” and “frugality.”

Wisconsin had a $3.6 billion budget deficit and an unemployment rate of 7.8 percent

at the time Walker proposed his last budget. The state now has a budget surplus and the unemployment rate has decreased to 6.6 percent in the two years since the Legislature passed his budget, Walker said.

“It wasn’t easy,” Walker said, “But we’re turning Wisconsin around.”

The governor added the state’s improved situation allowed renewed investments in important state issues, such as education and workforce development, which received limited funding in the last biennial budget.

“This allows us to invest in our priorities,” Walker said. “Creating jobs, developing the workforce, transforming education, reforming government and investing in our infrastructure.”

But Democrats say Walker’s initiatives fall short of supporting the middle class, contrary

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Fourth college-age victim robbed near campus, suspects still at large A 20-year-old woman was robbed on the south side of campus Tuesday, bringing the total number of thefts in a recent string of muggings to four, according to police reports.

Madison Police Department spokesperson Joel DeSpain said each victim provided police with a similar description of the suspects and attacks, leading police to believe the incidents are connected.

According to DeSpain, the victims were attacked while walking alone at night by two men who exited a dark vehicle that had pulled up next to the them.

The first three incidents occurred Monday night, and the

victims included a 20-year-old female, a 20-year-old male and a 20-year-old male University of Wisconsin-Madison student.

DeSpain said there is a possibility the other victims are also students.

“These were random, these people were targeted because they were walking alone,” DeSpain said.

However, UW-Madison sophomore Michael Berberet said although certain parts of Madison do not feel secure, “campus feels relatively safe.”

“On campus I’m usually fine, if I get off, more on the bus routes toward some of the transfer points maybe it gets a little hairy,” he said.

Similarly, UW-Madison senior Monique Hughes said she does not feel any less safe now than before.

“You just don’t think it’s going to happen to you, I think I have that mindset,” she said.

“And I’m usually pretty aware of my surroundings.”

DeSpain said Tuesday the victims handled the situation correctly by complying with their attackers.

“These victims did the right thing by giving up their property and not putting themselves in a situation where they might be injured,” he said.

—Melissa Howison

UW outlines plan to create free online public courses The University of WisconsinMadison announced plans Wednesday to offer free online courses to the public, beginning with four pilot courses the university plans to roll out in the next year.

UW-Madison will be one of 28 universities to partner with Coursera, an online learning company, to offer new Massive Online Open Courses, according to Dean of the Division of Continuing Studies Jeff Russell.

Russell said the university plans to offer four MOOCs beginning next fall with one course in education through video games and another on business mar-

kets. A course in geography and another in human evolution will follow in later semesters. None of the courses will be offered for credit at this time, he added.

According to a statement from the university, the majority of funding for the project will come from private sources.

Russell said the university is not currently intending to monetize the courses, but rather use them as a learning experience.

According to Russell, the MOOCs are an “experiment” in the campus’ Educational Innovation strategy, an effort to create sustainable education while better using capacities and

generating new revenue sources. This has been spearheaded

by Interim Chancellor David Ward and Provost Paul DeLuca. “[MOOCs] also tie in with the Wisconsin Idea by making what we do accessible outside the walls of the university,” Russell said.

Russell said he hopes the university will eventually take lessons learned about new teaching technologies and integrate them into courses taught on campus.

“These are exciting times,” Russell said. “And we’re looking forward to taking the first baby step.”

—Cheyenne Langkamp

on Campus

A friendly dinner The Muslim-Jewish Volunteer Initiative hosted a dinner Wednesday night to bring students from different backgrounds together in a supportive environment. + Photo by Jane Thompson

‘127 Hours’ inspiration speaks at UW-Madison

By Shannon Kelly The Daily Cardinal

Aron Ralston, the outdoorsman who famously amputated his own arm after being trapped beneath a boulder, spoke at Union South Wednesday as part of the Wisconsin Union Directorate Distinguished Lecture Series to discuss his accident and the effect it has had on his life.

Ralston told the emotional story of his accident, which is the subject of his bestselling book “Between a Rock and a Hard Place” and the acclaimed 2010 film “127 Hours” starring James Franco.

While canyoneering in southern Utah in 2003, Ralston became trapped in a narrow

ralston page 3

“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”

page two Have some fun and burn a TV today: mostly cloudy hi 26º / lo 21º

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friday chance o’ snow hi 32º / lo 23º

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An independent student newspaper, serving the University of Wisconsin-Madison community since 1892 Volume 122, Issue 89

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andy holsteen a hol lot to say

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re you tired of that pesky TV in your living room, taking up space, constantly showing you the same ol’ reruns of “Family Feud” and Patrick Swayze movies? Think it’s about time to ditch it in order to make room for more activities?

Well, friends, you’re not alone!

This is why I’m trying to organize the Madison area’s first annual television-burning day.

Isn’t this a brilliant idea?

So far, I don’t have any definitive plans for a specific date, but I’m thinking some time in late April. And what could be a better way to kick off the coming of Wisconsin spring—the longawaited season of blooming foliage, flip-flop wearing and all around gaiety—than by igniting a massive heap of electronics?

First of all, this is going to look freaking badass. Just think about a pile of about 10,000 tubes of all makes, models and sizes, smashed to despair, ablaze in a firewall that will likely be referred to as Toshiba’s Inferno in future folklore. You can be there for it.

You can help make history.

This event isn’t going to be just about fulfilling a primal urge to destroy inanimate (well, maybe those images on the screen have feelings too, I don’t know) objects.

I want this to be a day for all— kids, parents, students, grandma—the whole shebang.

So in order to make this thing a family affair, not merely a large and likely dangerous pit of smoldering motherboards, I want the event to have a pseudo-carnival feel.

Right now, I can guarantee there will be free elephant rides, 101 clowns fighting to the death in the world’s smallest hot-air balloon, face painting, Cirque du Soleil, a chupacabra, Gary Busey, live Pokemon, an eight-story-tall merry-go-round and so much more insanely fun stuff to do. I can’t even put into words how excited you need to be about annihilating your TV! There are a few possible locations being tossed around at the moment. The top three contenders are Bascom Hill, Vilas Park (both obvious choices) and the intersection of State and Johnson Streets— like, in the street. I personally like the third option because although it might cause a bit of traffic congestion, everyone driving by would get to see the most incredible pile of smoldering plastic ever conceived

by Madisonians.

I’ve already received lots of support from some pretty bigname celebrities, including former vice president and star of “An Inconvenient Truth,” Al Gore. Check out what he sent me in an email: “At first I was skeptical of this whole TV-burning thing, as it seemed like it could seriously endanger our already fragile environment by releasing all kinds of

graphic by angel lee

nasty chemicals into the atmosphere. But when I read that it was for a good cause and actually imagined what 10,000 flaming TVs doused in gasoline and littered with fireworks might actually look like… Well, let’s just say that I fully support this endeavor.”

Even Al Gore can appreciate that although this might not be the best thing for the ozone, it’s totally necessary. Plus, I’ve done a few calculations on my own and my initial findings tell me that the net outcome of the TV burn will actually benefit the environment. If we just obliterate all of our TVs at once, sure, it won’t help reduce our carbon footprint immediately. But if you consider all of the people who over the course of the next few years won’t be eating Pringles and passing gas on their couch because they no longer have

a television set, it becomes clear that this is, in fact, all around the best possible scenario.

Of course, to pull off this event, we need money—lots of it. A few of the anonymous aforementioned celebrities have pledged to donate to the cause, but we’re still well short of the amount necessary to make this all happen. So, if anyone else wants this to go down as much as I do, either write me a check (cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express and PayPal are also accepted) or volunteer your time to the fundraising and planning effort.

Also, “like” the Facebook page “1st Annual Madison TV Burn,” to help spread the word.

Looking for some casual destruction this spring? Help Andy organize the TV burn! Email him at holsteen@dailycardinal.com.

Brew basics: a guide to drinking craft beer and

Oatmeal Stout, Samuel Smith Taddy Porter

Expedition Stout, Southern Tier Choklat

Wheat Beer: Wheat beers often refer to the German-style HefeWeizens, which feature lots of fluffy bread, banana and clove.

However, many different takes on the style, like the peppery Belgian Witbier and more hop-forward American Wheat beers are also pretty common.

Recommendations: Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier, Furthermore Fatty Boombalatty

More Advanced: Double IPA: The only differ-

Golden Belgian Ale: Incredibly drinkable for the high (sometimes double-digit) alcohol content, golden Belgian Ales tend to be very bubbly and refreshing. Subcategories include Saisons, Belgian Tripels and the more vaguely named Belgian Blonde ales.

Recommendations: Westmalle Tripel, Goose Island Sofie

American Lager: There’s not much to say here. The style ranges from poorly executed corn water macrobrews to the warmer, maltier, German inspired-offerings.

Recommendations: New Glarus Totally Naked

Bock: The bock and its stron-

Floyds Alpha Zombie Dust

niko ivanovic beer columnist

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ne of the best—and admittedly most confusing—elements of craft beer is the seemingly endless list of styles that brewers toss around.

For the adventurous, such limitless variety creates an optimism in tasting new brews, as even the most experienced beer drinkers are bound to stumble upon something new eventually. But for everyone else, the giant range of flavors can be intimidating, too often forcing you to take a shot in the dark when ordering something new. Though I can’t touch upon nearly every beer style out there, I’ll do my best to help.

The Basics: Amber Ale: Really mild and

drinkable, the toasty grain malts usually dominate over more intense hop flavors, resulting in a good gateway or session beer.

Recommendation: Ale Asylum Ambergeddon

Pale Ale: All about balance,

the best pale ales provide lots of hop and malt flavor while remaining drinkable by avoiding excessive bitterness or booziness. Expect some bright citrus as well as toasty bread notes.

Recommendations: New Glarus Moon Man, Three

King

IPA: If there is one beer style leading the craft beer revolution it is the India Pale Ale. Hoppy, bitter and crisp, expect lots of grapefruit and some sweet honey malts.

Recommendations: Bell’s Two Hearted, Tyranena Hop Whore Porter and Oatmeal Stouts:

Even though they look thick, intimidating and “like a million calories,” oatmeal stouts and porters can actually be pretty mild­ —and don’t worry, the color of a beer has nothing to do with its calorie count. Sweet grains and milk-chocolate flavors come forward, with a bit of roasted coffee and toast.

Recommendations: Vintage

ence here is a lot more hops and higher alcohol. Ranging up to 10 percent ABV (alcohol by volume) and over 100 IBUs (international bitterness units), the style caters to the experienced hop heads.

Recommendations: Bell’s Hopslam, Founders Double Trouble

ger cousin, the doppelbock, are German-style strong lagers. Tons of malt contribute to a rich, boozy, dark fruit flavor profile (think plums, fig, pomegranate, etc).

Recommendations: New Glarus Back 40 Bock, Schneider Aventinus

Dark Belgian Ale: Many of these consistently rank near the top of the best beers in the world lists, with an astoundingly complex balance of dark fruits, yeast, candied sugars and bread notes. Once again, several subcategories, such as Dubbels and Quadruppels exist.

Recommendations: Rochefort 10, St. Bernardus Abt 12

Scotch Ale: This style is all

Sour Ales: These ales are an

about creamy, toasty, sugary sweet malt in all of its glory.

It’s lower in alcohol, leading to a sessionable ale perfect for a fall night.

Recommendations: Great Dane Blackwatch Scotch Ale, Three Floyd’s Robert the Bruce

Imperial Stout: Easily the most

intimidating style, Imperial Stouts are bold, boozy, thick and dark as oil, and absolutely delicious. Many brewers infuse these high-alcohol beers with coffee or cacao nibs to achieve a decadent dessert beer.

Recommendations: Bell’s

entirely different kind of Belgian ale. Sours (such as lambics and krieks) are intense, unique and expensive. Don’t be surprised if you pucker your mouth in disgust the first time you try one, since there’s a steep learning curve when it comes to drinking sours. But stick with the style, and you’ll eventually realize why beer geeks obsess over this stuff.

Recommendations: Jolly Pumpkin La Roja, New Glarus Enigma

Niko’s beer column runs every other Thursday. Send questions and comments to ivanovic@wisc.edu.

dailycardinal.com

ASM makes changes to funding bylaws

By Paige Villiard The Daily Cardinal

The Associated Students of Madison Student Council passed an amendment to its bylaws Wednesday to clarify the definition of Viewpoint Neutrality, which is used in all of the organization’s funding decisions.

The ASM bylaws state all funding decisions must be made in a viewpoint neutral manner, meaning student representatives may not take the mission of the group under consideration for funding into account when voting on budgets or grants.

Previously, the bylaw included a clause that states a violation of procedure is considered a viewpoint neutrality violation. However, this was not part of the original definition as set in University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents v. Southworth, a 2000 court case over the use of student segregated fees to fund political or ideological campus organizations.

According to SSFC Chair Ellie Bruecker, University of WisconsinMadison Chancellor David Ward mandated the bylaw change in an April statement regarding the alleged viewpoint neutrality violation by SSFC last year.

“I’m happy that the change puts us in compliance with legal precedent, and I think that’s where we should always be,” Bruecker said.

Representatives of the Event Alcohol Sales and Service Task Force also spoke in front of council Wednesday concerning recommended changes to alcoholrelated policies at campus events.

The task force was formed in response to the sexual assault controversy during the 2012 Rose Bowl, when John Chadima, former associate athletic director, allegedly put his hands down a male student employee’s pants against the student’s will, according to the victim.

The task force consists of faculty, staff and students, including Dean of Students Lori Berquam, Director of University Health Services Sarah Van Orman and ASM Vice Chair Maria Giannopolous, who reported the committee’s proposed recommendations to council.

The recommendations included setting a threshold of two-thirds of attendees at an event being 21 or older in order for alcohol to be permitted, as well as the strengthening of the alcohol beverage service permit process. The committee also made recommendations to ensure more strict enforcement of the minimum legal drinking age at events.

The task force will give its recommendations to university administration in the coming months for approval and implementation.

Gilman Street resident held at gunpoint during burglary Madison Police reported a Langdon neighborhood house was burglarized Wednesday, adding to the recent string of breakins on campus this semester.

According to a police report, a 20-year-old Madison resident told police a tall, stocky AfricanAmerican man entered his apartment and ordered the victim to the ground at gunpoint.

A second male suspect then stole an unknown amount of money and electronic equipment from the home while the first

suspect restrained the victim, according to the report.

Madison Police Department spokesperson Joel DeSpain said the victim “buzzed” the perpetrators into the building and they gained access into his apartment through an unlocked door, but he is unsure if the victim knew the suspects.

“When we see home invasions with a weapon, usually the people who are the criminals involved are looking for drugs or drug money and they’re very targeted crimes,” DeSpain said.

ralston from page 1

ering the consequences of their decisions and valuing the important things in life, the people.

“It really put a lot of things in perspective … when you assess what’s going on in your life as a college student,” said University of WisconsinMadison sophomore Jesse Pollans. “The speech really made me really thankful for the stuff that I do have, whether it’s family or friends or really anything. It was really uplifting.”

Despite his challenges, Ralston’s love for climbing and outdoor activities remains strong, and his experience has inspired him to become an advocate for wilderness protection and a volunteer with search-and-rescue crews.

“As much as it is a pleasure to enrich our lives, I have also learned that it’s not enough,” he said. “We have to do the work to enrich the lives of those around us.”

slot canyon when a falling boulder crushed his hand. He remained there for almost six days before cutting his arm off with a dull pocketknife and hiking and repelling another five hours to reach rescuers.

His speech was punctuated with humor self-deprecation— he apologized for being less handsome than James Franco and described himself as “socially awkward” and “a bit of a geek” after making several “Lord of the Rings” references— but his core message was clear.

“I hope that whatever is going on in your life, whatever your boulder is, that my story might do something for you and might be there if you’re encountering adversity in whatever shape and form it comes,” Ralston said.

Ralston said he hopes his story will teach people about consid-

walker from page 1 to what the governor promised.

In a joint response prior to the governor’s address Wednesday, Democrats addressed what they perceive as shortcomings of Walker’s budget, specifically his performance-based education funding and private school voucher system, as well as his impending

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healthcare coverage changes.

“A true middle class budget would not throw millions of dollars to an unproven, unaccountable voucher experiments on our state’s children,” state Senate Minority Leader Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee, said.

Of his priorities, Walker said improving the economy tops his list. He laid out a

multi-faceted plan to push economic development, ranging from education initiatives focused on skills development and school flexibility to cutting income taxes to give citizens more money to spend.

“These reforms will help transition people from government dependence to true independence,” Walker said.

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Thursday, February 21, 2013

dailycardinal.com

State Budget

Expenditures 2014-’15 fiscal year

Scott Walker outlined his proposed state biennial budget for 2013-’15 Wednesday night at the state Capitol UW System and higher education Gov. Scott Walker proposed a $181.35 million increase in General Purpose Revenue to the University of Wisconsin System over the next biennium.

While the proposal does not bring system funding back to 2009 budget levels, it is an increase from the $250 million in budget cuts from the 2011-13 budget.

Walker proposed to spend $89.4 million to “preserve and expand access and quality in the UW System” through the use of “block grants,” which are grants given to institutions that have limited restrictions on their use, according to a UW System statement.

The budget proposal also included $2 million in startup funding to launch the UW Flexible Option degree program, which allows students to customize their learning to earn a degree, including lecture classes, online classes and other sources.

“We give more resources to the University of Wisconsin and we give them the flexibility to use those resources wisely,” Walker said.

“While the university will have to confront many challenges, that task becomes much more manageable when we are not heading into the future with a ready-made deficit,” UW-Madison Interim Chancellor David Ward said in a statement. “I applaud

• •

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Includes revenues from such sources as the motor fuel tax, hunting and fishing license fees and lottery ticket sales Segregated revenues can only be used for specific purposes and are not general revenues of the state

the governor for recognizing the need to re-establish the state’s partnership in funding quality higher education in Wisconsin.”

Education Walker announced his plans to reform public K-12 education by tying funding to school performance and expanding the state’s private voucher system in his budget address Wednesday.

The governor’s focus on performancebased grants means higher performing state schools stand to receive the most funding from the budget.

Walker also proposed expanding the state voucher system, which would allow children currently attending underperforming schools to use voucher money to enroll in higher performing private schools.

Walker said the reforms aim to help ensure every child gets a strong education, but Democratic opponents say the proposals will take funding from already cashstrapped schools.

“In the end, our goal is simple: ensure every child—regardless of where they are from or what their family income is—has access to a great education,” Walker said.

“Our top priority should be returning funding to our schools to make up for the largest cut to funding in state history that we saw last session,” state Sen. Jennifer Shilling, D-La Crosse, said.

Revenue

2014-’15 fiscal year

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Includes: individual income tax, state sales tax, corporate income tax, public utility, excise

The governor proposed to significantly cut income taxes in an attempt to grow the economy, totaling $343 million over the 201315 biennium, which he said is the largest income tax cut since the 1999-2001 biennium.

Over the next decade, this cut should lower income taxes by $1.7 billion, Walker said.

The budget also provides an additional $75 million in economic development tax credits, as well as $25 million to help startup businesses take off by creating a capital investment program.

“One of the best ways to grow our economy is to put more money back into the hands of the people and small businesses of the state,” Walker said.

“We cannot accept a tax cut that will be benefiting those making $200,000 or more as getting the biggest at a time when the middle class continues to suffer,” State Senate Minority Leader Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee, said.

Law enforcement Walker allotted a portion of his budget to improve law enforcement through increasing the number of DNA samples the state can obtain to solve and prevent crime.

Additionally, Walker’s budget aims to improve GPS monitoring for victims of domestic violence who have restraining orders against their perpetrators.

In his speech, Walker thanked the parents of Brittany Zimmerman, a 20-year-old University of Wisconsin-Madison student murdered in her Doty Street apartment in April 2008, for attending the speech and for keeping up their fight to find her killer as well as to increase the use of DNA samples.

Workforce development

Graphic by angel lee

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Income tax cuts

“Their hard work will not only help families like theirs, but will ultimately help prevent other families from having to go through what they went trough,” Walker said.

Second largest source of funds in the state budget

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Graphic by angel lee

Received from user fees that finance specific activities such as public utility regulation, agricultural commodity inspections and State Fair Park admissions These funds are generally budgeted to reflect the anticipated demand for these activities.

Walker’s budget proposal included major allocations to reinvigorate and expand Wisconsin’s workforce, with $100 million allocated toward programs to provide workers with the skills needed to find jobs.

The programs include the development of a labor market information sys-

tem, which would connect workers with potential jobs and colleges with prospective students. Higher investments in job development programs and support for the Medical College of Wisconsin’s Community Medical Education Program, would also be made priorities.

The budget also included provisions to increase the number of job searches before workers are eligible for unemployment benefits.

Additionally, over the next two years, Walker proposed to increase the number of physician and dentist graduates and create opportunities for those graduates to train in rural areas in Wisconsin.

“Overall, our budget improves the prosperity of our citizens by helping employers create jobs, developing our workforce and investing in our infrastructure,” Walker said.

“Job creation and workforce development are top priorities for everyone, including the UW System.

We look forward to working with all Legislators from both parties to advance this budget,” said UW System President Kevin P. Reilly in a statement.

Healthcare Walker officially announced his plan to decline federal health-care funding and transform Wisconsin’s Medicaid system in his Wednesday budget address.

The new healthcare plan would remove about 87,000 citizens with incomes above the federal poverty level from Medicaid and require them to purchase health-care through federally run exchanges.

Additionally, he would provide Medicaid coverage to about 82,000 citizens currently making less than the poverty level, some of whom currently do not have coverage.

Additionally, Walker plans to vastly expand mental health services within the state. He said the focus on mental health is necessary because only half of state adults suffering serious psychological distress are currently treated.

“This investment in communitybased services will increase the independence of people living with mental health needs and maximize their ability to be contributing members of our state,” Walker said.

“Healthcare is going to become a lot more expensive and it may become unattainable,” state Rep. Jon Richards, D-Milwaukee, said.

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Macklemore sells out in NBA promo

By Mara Jezior Guest columnist

I can’t lie, when I first listened to Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ album The Heist, I was temporarily convinced that for some artists, maybe the message could outweigh the money. Songs like “Same Love” and “Make the Money” assured me that Macklemore had a different set of priorities, notably staying true to himself amid the “the fame, fortune and the mansion.” For a moment I believed that maybe an artist could be successful and still enlighten his listeners.

Welp, I was wrong.

After watching Macklemore and Lewis’ three-minute promo for NBA All-Star Weekend, featuring their song “Wing$,” all I can think about is the amount of money the NBA must have offered the duo to completely strip their song of its meaning and make it into a glitzy advertisement.

For anyone who watches this video without seeing the original, it will come off as undeniably fresh. It features a montage of cool basketball players, a cute children’s choir and Macklemore rapping atop a basketball hoop, looking like he’s having a ball (heh heh, get it?).

However, “Wing$,” which originally denounced the sneaker industry—and more broadly, materialism and brand names—now seems to promote the idea Macklemore was originally criticizing.

The original song delves into the rapper’s personal experiences as an adolescent, spending hundreds of dollars on shiny new sneakers. His lyrics hint at the consequence of wearing such coveted shoes, including his friend’s brother being murdered for his Air Jordan Fours.

The topic of basketball permeates through the song, which could explain

why the NBA thought it would be appropriate for their advertisement.

However, in the promo video, more than two minutes of the song was scrapped, most of which contained Macklemore’s most emotional verses. Additionally, the original music video (which, ironically, was funded by a Kickstarter campaign), presented a somber lesson to young kids about the cost of fitting in.

In it, Macklemore is seen rapping to a group of young kids, storybook in hand, saying, “These Nikes helped define me/ but I’m trying to take them off.”

For these reasons, the entire song is not suitable for any kind of advertisement, mostly because it criticizes the very work of branding and advertisements. Further, brands like Nike and Adidas are some of the NBA’s biggest sponsors. What kind of message is Macklemore sending now?

For me, there is much more to selling out than seeing one of my favorite indie artists gain commercial success. Heck, I was flipping excited when Macklemore’s single “Thrift Shop” became popular.

But his decision to make this video simply shows that Macklemore is completely ditching the lesson of his song… for a new pair of sneakers. To me, that’s what selling out truly is.

Maybe I’m making too big of a deal about this. Actually, I probably am. But if you compare the two videos side by side, you too may feel the same emptiness I feel for the song, which is turned inside out.

Macklemore let me down. Even so, I will still dance to “Thrift Shop” the next time it plays at a party. Does that mean I’m a sellout too? I just can’t deny a catchy dance song, and it’s true, few people can deny a fat paycheck.

Photo courtesy of youtube

Macklemore took a much different approach to materialism in his promo video for the NBA All-Star Game than in his orignial version of the song “Wing$.”

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Despite his less-than-stellar roles in recent films, Nicolas Cage has been in well-respected films such as the Coen brothers’ classic “Raising Arizona.”

Nicolas Cage: Is he a bad actor or just money hungry?

Austin Wellens all’s Well-ens well

N

icolas Cage. Yes, that Nicolas Cage. We all know him, or of him, though to some he’s more of a living meme than an actual person or actor.

And frankly, he deserves many of the internet-based thrashings he’s received.

He’s been in some objectively awful movies, with his roles being enjoyable only in an ironic, meta “Oh my god look at Nic Cage try to act” sort of way.

But, if we may pretend, for one second, that Nic Cage deserves at least a fair trial before a jury of his peers, and if I may for one second play devil’s advocate, I’d like to argue that Nicolas Cage’s greatest failings are not as a thespian, but as a homo sapiens.

Let me stand before you today, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, and assert that while Nicolas Horatio Cage (probably not his middle name) may not make the best life decisions, or even good life decisions, he can, in the right situations, with the right people and right direction, be a great actor.

Yes, he’s done the “National Treasure” and “Ghost Rider” movies (dear lord, they both got sequels?), and the legacy of “The Wicker Man” and “Face/Off” will haunt him always, and yes, he deserves ridicule for that.

But what I’m asking you to do now is to look a little deeper.

What I’m asking you to do now is to ignore these obvious transgressions against the cinematic world, grievous as they may be, and let me put forth a word in the defense of this poor, maligned, Gollum-like creature.

I want you to look at the man behind the very, very entertaining monster, and realize that Nicolas Cage is, quite possibly, clinically insane. He could not hold his life together if he was waiting for the glue to dry.

The man should not be trusted with money. He just shouldn’t. And, unfortunately, actors tend to be given a lot of money. This is a bad, bad combination that will lead to an actor desperate to take whatever he can get in the way of work.

Remember that—it’ll be important later.

I want you to also look at the movies he made before he was so publicly insane. Go on a journey with me, if you will, to a strange land where Nicolas Cage’s name was not a punchline, but a reason to see a movie.

Let’s look at a movie called “Raising Arizona,” directed by the Coen Brothers, in which Nic Cage has the leading role as an ex-con trailer trash baby-napper. And he’s great. He’s extremely sympathetic, relatable even, and even though this owes as much to the Coens’ writing as it does to his acting, he regardless turns in a superb performance.

Let’s look too at his most interesting role(s), that/those of both Charlie and Donald Kaufman in the Charlie Kaufman written, Spike Jonze directed “Adaptation.”

He plays both the writer of the screenplay and his (imaginary) twin brother as one struggles to adapt a book about orchids and the other works on what is, according to the pair’s mother, a “psychologically tense thriller.”

It’s exactly as insane as it sounds.

Charlie and his (imaginary) brother Donald are as different as can be, but both are brilliantly portrayed by Cage.

He clearly knows what he’s doing—to the point of earning an Oscar nomination for it/them.

Oh, you didn’t know Nic Cage was nominated for an Oscar? Did you know that he’s won one?

Yeah, he sorta won for “Leaving Las Vegas,” a film in which he suitably earned his award. And do you know why? Because Nicolas Cage can act… well.

Remember that whole “horrible at life” thing from earlier? Yeah, he can’t hold onto money, so he has to take bad roles to cover the bills, you know, but why does that make him any different from most crappy actors who only appear in crap movies?

The difference is he actually is a good actor. His early movies can prove it. His later movies just prove that he’s bad at being an adult. But he’s a good actor.

That’s the reason why his failures are always so high-profile and so spectacular. Because he’s a talented, committed actor who happens to appear in movies like “Bad Lieutenant” and “Drive Angry” in order to pay the bills.

And, because he’s such a talented actor, he fully commits to every role, which is why things like “The Wicker Man” seem so ridiculous—because really, they are. They’re entertaining.

They’re magnificent. They’re ridiculous.

But they’re also sort of sad.

Just like Nic Cage.

Are you one of the people who ironically enjoyed “Ghost Rider 2?” Or do you agree that Nicholas Cage is actually a good actor who takes on too many bad roles? Email Austin at wellens@wisc.edu.

opinion Threat of terrorism an exaggeration 6

l

dailycardinal.com

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Jon Vrunwink opinion columnist

J

oseph Goebbels, the Nazi Minister of Propaganda, professed that “if you repeat a lie often enough, it becomes the truth.” Our elected representatives, Democrat and Republican alike, have spent the past dozen years verifying the potency of this observation in relation to the supposed existential threat posed by terrorists around the globe. One can, on a daily basis, pick up a newspaper or turn on the television to find solemn intonations from congressmen on the menace of so-called “Islamic terrorism,” and the consequent increases in government power needed to stem this threatening tide. While such assertions dominate our public discourse, rarely do you hear any evidence to substantiate such claims.

Once a belief becomes orthodoxy among our two major political parties, the usual need to provide evidentiary support goes out the window.

With our government locked into a permanent state of fear mongering, it becomes incumbent upon us, the citizenry, to dispassionately analyze the true nature of the dangers we face. For a contrarian, and more robustly supported, take on this issue, we can turn to John Mueller, professor of political science at Ohio State University, who has researched in depth the threat of terrorism and considers the U.S. response dangerously overwrought.

Mueller uncovered all instances of terrorism in the U.S. dating back to the 1960s and found that an American has a one in 3.5 million chance of dying in a terrorist attack, compared to a 1 in 500 chance of dying from cancer, 1 in 8,000 chance of dying in an automobile accident, and 1 in 22,000 chance of dying in a homicide. Indeed, roughly the same number of Americans have died from terrorism since 1960 as those who have died from “accident-causing deer.”

This obviously seems counter-

intuitive when juxtaposed with the panicked statements of public officials, but the data reveals the hollowness of their proclamations. According to the State Department, an average of 252 Americans have died from terrorism each year since 2000. In comparison, more than 30,000 Americans die each year from handgun violence, an issue that only recently became a subject of mass debate after the Sandy Hook shootings, while the alleged terrorist menace has received nonstop coverage and trillions of dollars worth of appropriations.

Speaking of expenditures, the U.S. intelligence budget now numbers $75 billion per year, while total spending on domestic homeland security has increased by more than $1 trillion since 9/11, a number that does not even include the decade-long wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In other words, the same legislators who pontificate on the need for budget austerity and putting the social safety net at risk in a time of economic hardship also

stridently protect the grossly inflated defense, intelligence and homeland security budgets in response to the overblown threat of terrorism.

One other fact must not

With our government locked into a permanent state of fear mongering, it becomes it becomes incumbent upon us, the citizenry, to dispassionately analyze the true nature of the dangers we face. escape our notice. After 9/11, the word terrorism became associated in the public mind with the stereotypical image of angry Muslims donning turbans, hell-bent on bringing death and destruction to America. Once again, a look at the data quickly dispels this hyperbolic notion.

So-called Muslim extremists have accounted for one-fiftieth of one percent of all homicides in the U.S. since 9/11.

Yet, needless to say, Muslims at home and abroad have born the brunt of the erosion of civil liberties and heightened militarism perpetrated by the U.S. government. The time has come for a serious reckoning with the facts, instead of relying on the same old caricatures and empty threats.

Our public officials have spent the last 12 years relentlessly beating into our heads the idea that terrorism threatens to destroy us, and most of us, due to sheer force of repetition, have believed them.

We, the people, must adopt a renewed skepticism, keeping in mind the legendary journalist I.F. Stone’s bedrock principle: “All governments lie.”

Jon is a senior majoring in history and international studies. Do you feel that the government has had a fear mongering agenda over the last 12 years? Do these statistics surprise you? Tell us your thoughts! Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com, and visit our website dailycardinal.com for more!

Twitter feeds becoming more offensive and divisive Lanni Solochek opinion columnist

I

t’s a rare occasion that I support spamming a tag on Twitter. It gets annoying when looking for something spe-

cific (ie: Hillary Clinton’s confirmation of her candidacy in 2016) and all you see are people clogging up the tag with useless conversation and their opinions, which most of the time nobody actually cares about. However,

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there are certain occasions when trolling a tag is completely appropriate. As a good example, let’s discuss my personal favorite Twitter hashtag ever: #INeedMasculismBecause.

A man’s masculinity would not be “threatened” if femininity wasn’t already seen as inferior.

For those who don’t know what this means, think back to the late 1800’s when the term ‘feminism’ was coined in France and The Netherlands. From there, the concept spread and evolved, finally being accepted into American society in the early 20th century. While the idea was considered absurd in those times, it has exploded in our society to ensure the safety, freedom and equality of women.

In response, many men felt belittled due to their lack of rights in our society. They felt oppressed by feminism and decided that they needed to fight back. With their new word “masculism” and a passion for picking a fight, the wonderful world of the Men’s Rights Association came to be.

On its website, the MRA lays out its principles—most of which are pretty ridiculous from any point of view. To heighten awareness of its fight for men’s rights, the MRA started a hashtag on Twitter called #INeedMasculismBecause

in response to #INeedFeminismBecause, which has had great success in outlining the major reasons why sexism is still an issue today. Some tweets found in the real tag were very serious about the topic including: “#INeedMasculismBecause many women want 20 orgasms a night like the ‘Sex and the City’ females”—@helplines “#INeedMasculismBecause Men shouldn’t be subject to women’s conflicting signals of attraction. Honesty would suffice”—@ Man4Average Thankfully, their plan backfired quickly. Within a day or so, the #INeedMasculismBecause tag became a playground for both male and female feminists.

Sarcastic tweets exploded about the need for stronger feminism and women’s rights. Some comments hit harder than others, but all gave off the same message: MRA, your movement is ridiculous. One of my biggest problems with this whole situation centers around the fact that it should be nearly impossible to oppress a majority. For instance, it is nearly unheard of to say that white students on our campus are at a disadvantage because of their race. However, the current ratio of women to men actually tips ever so slightly in the direction of women, therefore making power distribution and every day rights the real controversies here.

Some of my personal favorite tweets from the hashtag are also the most blunt in pointing out the flaws in our society. To quote a few: “#INeedMasculismBecause we have had way too many

female Presidents of the United States”—@soulkhan “#INeedMasculismBecause I feel that my freedom to systematically dehumanize women with gendered slurs and broad generalizations is threatened”—@ponchopeligroso and my personal favorite: “#INeedMasculismBecause it’s easier to pronounce than misogynist”—@LordOfTheLosers I want to assure you all that my goal here is not to say that men are not SOMETIMES oppressed, but much of their oppression stems from existing systems that oppress women. A man’s masculinity would not be “threatened” if femininity wasn’t already seen as inferior. My point is, despite how far our society has progressed, we are still not equal. The MRA needs to stop fighting for rights that they already have and recognize that they are not in danger of oppression. Instead, they are supporting sexism by stereotyping feminism as a concept purely based on sex and pleasing men. As someone who has been a self-proclaimed feminist since the age of 12, I’d like to clarify that the women’s rights movement is not all about sex. I want to work with men and not be judged beforehand based on my gender. I want to the opportunity to stand up for myself and for other women without being stereotyped as a “man-hating feminist.” I want my freedom as much as the MRA wants theirs. The difference is that they don’t have to fight for it and I do.

How do you feel about the use of Twitter? Do you think a masculinity movement is unnecessary?

Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.

comics dailycardinal.com

Today’s Sudoku

That is why so many people are afraid of them... According to Albert Einstein, humans would be dead in 4 years if honey bees were to disappear from earth.

Thursday, February 21, 2013 • 7

Spam mails just keep coming

Eatin’ Cake

Classic

By Dylan Moriarty www.EatinCake.com

© Puzzles by Pappocom

By Melanie Shibley shibley@wisc.edu

Solution, tips and computer program available at www.sudoku.com.

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9.

First In Twenty By Angel Lee alee23@wisc.edu

Today’s Crossword Puzzle

Caved In

By Nick Kryshak nkryshak@wisc.edu

By Steven Wishau wishau@wisc.edu

Answer key available at www.dailycardinal.com

I SWEAR ACROSS 1 Huge water source 4 Bumped, as the bid 9 Bread morsel 14 Mess up 15 Talia of “Rocky” 16 “Come on!”

17 Getting tough on crime, for one 20 Home of the Nobel Peace Prize 21 “And others,” in a bibliography 22 Stephen King title word with “Things” 26 Alphorn player’s perch 31 Banned insecticide (Abbr.)

32 From scratch 34 Metcalf or Anderson 35 Reach, as a goal 37 Aerated beverage 38 What nuns take 42 Aviation-related prefix 43 Beyond merely forgetful 44 Signal to come 47 Authentic 48 Midori of figure skating 51 Large supply of anything 53 Prison, in slang 55 State flower of

Tennessee 57 Powerful energy cartel 58 It’s taken by doctors 65 Bedeck 66 A bouquet has one 67 Greek X 68 Angels’ headpieces 69 Overly sentimental 70 Jane’s former hubby

9 2 30 33 35 36 38 39

DOWN 1 Aide in a duel 2 Used the backspace key 3 Band around a sleeve 4 Olympics monogram 5 Sorority letter 6 Pot-bellied pet 7 Coastal flier 8 Perception factor 9 Cactus garden option 10 Virgin Islands export 11 Self-proclaimed psychic Geller 12 “And here’s to you, ___ Robinson ...”

13 “Bon voyage!”

18 “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” container 19 Racetrack fence 23 Famed pool shark’s nickname 24 “Do ___ others as ...”

25 Toronto Maple ___ (hockey team) 27 Filthy ___ (illicit gain) 28 Bumpy, brisk gait

41

40

2 4 45 46 48 9 4 50 52 54 56 58 9 5 60 61 62 63 64

Like a dipstick Shade of green Blade holder Exited dreamland Canonical hour Avoid a collision “The Lord of the Rings” army members Blood sample container First name among jazz legends Lawyer’s org.

Cheesesteak toppers Cop after dealers Part of an auto accident Cut canines Greenhouse plant Old Italian currency Bellow from Bossy Sister in an Eastwood film “Don’t make me laugh!”

First lady McKinley Pork-barreler ___ forma Word with “seed” or “banana” Baby-sitter’s nightmare Archipelago part

Evil Bird Classic

By Caitlin Kirihara graphics@dailycardinal.com

Sports

thursday february 21, 2013 DailyCardinal.com

Men’s Basketball

Wisconsin rolls on road

By Max Sternberg the daily cardinal

EVANSTON, Ill.—Though you wouldn’t have known looking at the sea of red in the stands Wednesday night at Welsh-Ryan Arena, the Badgers did indeed pick up a road win in Evanston, defeating the Wildcats (4-10 Big Ten, 13-14 overall) by a final of 69-41. Running out to a 9-0 lead before the first media break, Wisconsin (10-4, 19-8) never looked back, increasing its lead to 28-12 at the half and cruising home to a comfortable victory.

“I said it in the huddle, ‘We’ve got to make sure we step on their throats early and not let them hang around,’” senior forward Mike Bruesewitz said. “If you let teams hang around, that’s when upsets happen.”

While fouls and the score left redshirt senior forward Jared Berggren with limited playing time in the second half, he made his presence known from the opening tip. The Princeton, Minn., native picked up 8 points and 6 rebounds in the first half, finishing with 12 points and 8 rebounds on 5-of-10 shooting for the evening.

Meanwhile, the injury-riddled Wildcats were never able to find a rhythm on either end of the floor.

After finally getting on the scoreboard a full 5:29 into the game, Northwestern managed just three more field goals in a first half that left it with just 12 points, 7 below Wisconsin’s previous season-low for points allowed (19 at Nebraska).

Though the Cats eventually upped their field goal efficiency to 29 percent in a 29-point second half, they never made a run big enough to put a scare in the visiting Badgers.

“They’ve got some guys missing. But when you prepare, you prepare for a system,” UW head coach Bo Ryan said. “We just made them work hard to get good looks, and that’s what you have to do against Northwestern to have a chance.”

Given Northwestern’s lack of size and depth, it was no surprise that Wisconsin dominated the interior game. The Badgers out-

Professional athletes’ financial woes not an issue to be taken lightly rex sheild rex’s higher education

I

abigail waldo/cardinal file photo

Senior forward Mike Bruesewitz chipped in 6 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists in a balanced UW attack Wednesday in Evanston. rebounded Northwestern 47-22 for the night and finished with 28 points in the paint, a full 22 more than their opponent.

“We didn’t knock down shots right away,” Bruesewitz said. “But we were persistent on the glass and they had trouble rebounding out of their zone.”

Junior guard Ben Brust, a native of suburban Chicago, erased a slow start in front of the hometown crowd en route to another strong game (12 points, 8 rebounds). Sophomore guard Traevon Jackson also had a solid effort, taking the Badgers into the locker room with a 15-footer at the halftime buzzer for two of his 8 points. Jackson also finished with 7 rebounds as the Badger guards took advantage of Northwestern’s lacking size.

Freshman forward Sam Dekker finished in double digits for a fourth-straight game, picking

up 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting in 18 minutes off the bench. In all, six different Badgers finished with multiple field goals, allowing UW to command a 27-9 advantage in points off the bench.

Wisconsin now has six days off before its next game, a home date with Nebraska Feb. 26. After a stretch of hard-fought battles and road tests, the Badgers will no doubt benefit from a bit of time away from the grind. With the final two home dates coming in the week ahead, UW will have plenty of time to prepare to take care of business as it welcomes two relatively weak opponents in Nebraska and Purdue. Still, if the Badgers are to contend for a Big Ten title, they will have to take care of business.

“We approach every game the same,” Berggren said.

“Regardless of who we are playing, it’s another chance to play.”

The Daily Cardinal Sports section’s top tweets: 2/14-2/20

We spend an inordinate amount of time on Twitter, so we’ve decided to justify that wasted time by compiling the week’s top tweets. They might be funny, they might be motivational and they might be none of the above, but as long as the tweets come from a past or current Badger player or coach, they pass the only prerequisite to make our list.

What do you think of this week’s top tweets? Is there another 140-character dispatch of goodness that should replace one of the tweets on this list? Tweet at us @Cardinal_Sports with your favorite tweets!

to invest in a restaurant, a new clothing line or a “new project.”

As a result, they are promised big dividends for their investment, making it seem like a home run. However, according to under30ceo.com, it’s estimated that less than one in two dozen private investments actually pan out as they’re advertised.

Take, for instance, MLB center fielder Torri Hunter. In a piece that appeared in Sports Illustrated, Hunter went in on a project, which included a new inflatable raft invention that you could place under your furniture, where in the case of a flood, everything floats. The project eventually sank, and Hunter’s $70,000 investment was gone.

Even more stunning is the fact he was almost swindled in another investment of $500,000 before he eventually sought out additional financial advice and was steered away. But sure, let us continue to blame these professional athletes.

t would be the ultimate dream of a sports fan to become a professional athlete and make an absurd amount of money. Fancy cars.

Big house. Life could not get any better, right? Well, as Lee Corso famously says, not so fast, my friend.

You constantly hear in the sports world of professional athletes facing difficult personal economic strains after their playing days are complete—but how? How do these athletes who make millions on top of millions, year after year, go broke and lose everything they have worked so hard for?

Unfortunately, there is not an individual aspect that can be highlighted to explain this phenomenon.

Sports Illustrated estimated in 2009 that 78 percent of NFL players are bankrupt or facing “People have no problem serious financial stress within bringing to light the finantwo years of ending their playing careers. Moreover, 60 per- cial struggles of any professional athlete across any cent of NBA players are broke sport.” within five years of retiring.

While these numbers are staggering, a deeper explanation will hopefully clear up your While the spending problem possible utter confusion. among professional athletes First and foremost, it is an has grown out of control to a extremely difficult transition certain extent—especially in being an 18-to-22-year old col- the National Football League— lege kid with little-to-no money, Commissioner Roger Goddell then making the jump to the has taken the appropriate steps professional athlete waters to help the players sustain with more money than any financial stability. At the 2012 normal college student could NFL Rookie Symposium, Adam imagine. Put yourself in the “Pacman” Jones shed light on aforementioned situation and his quick trigger with his cash, you would not hesitate to live including one weekend where life large in terms of expenses. he spent $1 million, allowing Moreover, most professional the future superstars to have athletes have not seen this type a perspective of how money of money before they come to can be gone in a blink of an their respective leagues, and eye. Also, companies like Pro they might not have received Athlete Business Group, whose proper money management goal is to “empower athletes advise during their colto create successful lege playing days. business opportuniPeople have no probties after their pro lem bringing to light the career,” have played financial struggles of a stake in controlling Percent of any professional athlete this problem.

NBA players across any sport. You Whether you diswho are almost cannot go a day in like a professional broke within a slow sports week withathlete because he is five years of retiring.* out hearing the current on your rival team, dire financial situations it is still a sad realof names like Latrell ity. These athletes are *According to Sports Sprewell, Vince Young, some of the most athIllustrated Michael Vick or Warren letically gifted, hardSapp, to name a few. working and driven Additionally, we hold people in the world these athletes to such an yet, at the end of the elite status—as we should due day, they find themselves more to their athletic ability and high often than not and for whatever income—which makes it easier reason in a financial situation for people to dissect their every they cannot get out of. financial move. It really is not But don’t be so quick to fair for people to do that and blame them. here is why: What do you think is the most Professional athletes want prominent cause for professional to suck up their athletic noto- athletes’ financial troubles? Should riety for all it is worth during there be precautions implemented their playing days. Who is to in college to prevent irresponsible blame them? Due to their noto- spending? Let Rex know what you riety, agents and “sales people” think by sending him an email at come knocking, wanting them sports@dailycardinal.com.

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