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Reel it in!

The Daily Cardinal Editorial Board weighs in on Chancellor Becky Blank’s progress so far. +OPINION, page 6

The Arts Desk previews the must-see flicks of this fall. +ARTS, page 4

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Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Phase II of Union redesign unveiled By Megan Stoebig the daily cardinal

courtney kessler/the daily cardinal

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and Madison Mayor Paul Soglin, along with Fair Wisconsin President and CEO Katie Belanger, introduce an ad campaign promoting Wisconsin marriage equality laws.

Coordinators for the Memorial Union Reinvestment project formally released plans Monday for the second phase of the Union construction and held an open forum to receive input from the public about the potential designs. In 2006, students approved a referendum initiative with the objective of preserving the value of the Memorial Union while upgrading and refurbishing the nearly 80-yearold building, according to the project’s website. Phase I of the reinvestment project is underway and

includes renovations to the west wing and fifth floor of the building that house Hoofers and the Union Theater. At the forum, architects presented preliminary floor plans, site plans and design concepts for the second phase of the project. After the presentation, attendees viewed and commented on four stations, which illustrated designs for the Terrace, first floor dining, including Der Rathskeller, a two-story coffee shop and general floor plans. UW-Madison senior Troy Henkel said he had mixed feelings about the design plans. For

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Mayors bridge state marriage equality gap By Rachel Wanat the daily cardinal

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak teamed up with Madison Mayor Paul Soglin Monday, encouraging same-sex couples denied the right to marry in Wisconsin to venture across state lines to Minnesota to legally tie the knot. This is not the first time Rybak expressed his support of samesex marriage. At midnight on Aug. 1, when Minnesota’s recent legalization of same-sex marriage went into effect, Rybak officiated 46 same-sex weddings in the Minnesota Capitol rotunda over a six-hour period. Rybak said he strongly believes

in the institution of marriage, which by his definition is not exclusive to heterosexual couples.

“We want to marry you in Minneapolis, and someday we want to marry a whole lot of people here in Madison.” R.T. Rybak mayor Minneapolis

“The last time I checked,” Rybak said of the marriages he performed Aug. 1, “not a single thing about that impacted

my marriage … or any of the other marriages in the state of Minnesota, but it made a whole lot of people happy.” Rybak claims the effects of legalizing same-sex marriages extend to the economy, referencing tax-return incentives that are non-existent in Wisconsin that exist for same-sex couples with entrepreneurial businesses in Minnesota. He also mentioned the profits businesses in the wedding industry accrue with an increased number of weddings. “We hope someday that this strategic advantage is taken away

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City to propose new inner-city bus depot By Sarah Olson the daily cardinal

Ground could break on a new inner-city bus depot on the corner of North Bedford Street and West Mifflin Street as early as next year, Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said at a Bassett neighborhood meeting Monday. The proposed bus depot is part of an ongoing city effort to improve the accessibility and connectivity of the South Capitol Planning District, which stretches from Bedford Street to Blair Street and includes the area between Wilson Street and Lake

Monona, to the rest of the city. Verveer said a private developer hopes to build a mixed-use facility in the area that would include apartments and commercial space, and is very open to including a transit hub as part of the development. The bus depot could potentially function as a train station if the city became passenger-rail accessible, according to Verveer. Verveer said because there is a developer that is “ready, willing and able” to move forward, the proposed transit station could reach fruition much sooner than he originally anticipated.

james lanser/the daily cardinal

Attendees at the forum examine the initial design proposals for Phase II of the Memorial Union Reinvestment project.

But Verveer said whether the city could compel the Madison bus companies, including Badger Bus, Greyhound and Megabus, to use the bus depot remains “unsettled.” The University of WisconsinMadison has expressed interest in leasing space in the development for some of its offices, according to Verveer, and it is likely the developer has the means to fund the project on its own. But Verveer said it is too early in the planning process to determine whether or not the developer will seek public assistance for the transit station.

Protesters challenge possible US strikes in Syria near state Capitol Between 80 and 100 people gathered Monday night on the street outside Sen. Tammy Baldwin’s, D-Wis., 30 W. Mifflin St. office as part of a series of simultaneous nationwide MoveOn.org vigils in protest of the U.S.’s potential military intervention in Syria. The vigil began at 7 p.m. and included representatives from MoveOn.org and Veterans for Peace, according to event host Dave Leeper. The event focused on the recent debate playing out nationwide as to how the U.S. will respond to Syrian

President Bashar al-Assad’s alleged use of chemical gas on Syrian citizens. President Barack Obama has come out in favor of intervention to mitigate Syrian chemical weapon capabilities while Congress is currently weighing the decision and is expected to come to a full decision late this week or early next week. Leeper said he hopes Baldwin, who currently remains undecided on the issue, will “give better leadership” and eventually vote

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

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TODAY: sunny

hi 90º / lo 64º

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

An independent student newspaper, serving the University of Wisconsin-Madison community since 1892 Volume 123, Issue 5

In ur yo

News and Editorial

Editor-in-Chief Abigail Becker

Managing Editor Mara Jezior

News Team News Manager Sam Cusick Campus Editor Megan Stoebig College Editor Tamar Myers City Editor Melissa Howison State Editor Jack Casey Enterprise Editor Meghan Chua Associate News Editor Sarah Olson Features Editor Shannon Kelly Opinion Editors Haleigh Amant • Nikki Stout Editorial Board Chair Anna Duffin Arts Editors Cameron Graff • Andy Holsteen Sports Editor Brett Bachman Page Two Editors Rachel Schulze • Alex Tucker Photo Editors Courtney Kessler • Jane Thompson Graphics Editor Haley Henschel Multimedia Editor Grey Satterfield Science Editor Nia Sathiamoorthi Life & Style Editor Elana Charles Special Pages Editor Samy Moskol Copy Chiefs Vince Huth • Maya Miller Kayla Schmidt • Rachel Wanat Copy Editors Kerry Huth • Jake Smasal Social Media Manager Sam Garigliano

Business and Advertising business@dailycardinal.com Business Manager Jacob Sattler Office Manager Emily Rosenbaum Advertising Managers Erin Aubrey • Dan Shanahan Account Executives Karli Bieniek • Lyndsay Bloomfield Tessa Coan • Zachary Hanlon Elissa Hersh • Will Huberty Ally Justinak • Paulina Kovalo Jordan Laeyendecker • Danny Mahlum Eric O’Neil • Ali Syverson Marketing Director Cooper Boland Design Manager Lauren Mather

The Daily Cardinal is a nonprofit organization run by its staff members and elected editors. It receives no funds from the university. Operating revenue is generated from advertising and subscription sales. The Daily Cardinal is published weekdays and distributed at the University of WisconsinMadison and its surrounding community with a circulation of 10,000. Capital Newspapers, Inc. is the Cardinal’s printer. The Daily Cardinal is printed on recycled paper. The Cardinal is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press and the Wisconsin Newspaper Association. All copy, photographs and graphics appearing in The Daily Cardinal are the sole property of the Cardinal and may not be reproduced without written permission of the editor in chief. The Daily Cardinal accepts advertising representing a wide range of views. This acceptance does not imply agreement with the views expressed. The Cardinal reserves the right to reject advertisements judged offensive based on imagery, wording or both. Complaints: News and editorial complaints should be presented to the editor in chief. Business and advertising complaints should be presented to the business manager. Letters Policy: Letters must be word processed and must include contact information. No anonymous letters will be printed. All letters to the editor will be printed at the discretion of The Daily Cardinal. Letters may be sent to opinion@ dailycardinal.com.

Editorial Board Haleigh Amant • Abigail Becker Riley Beggin • Cheyenne Langkamp Anna Duffin • Mara Jezior Tyler Nickerson • Michael Penn Nikki Stout

Board of Directors Herman Baumann, President Abigail Becker • Mara Jezior Emily Rosenbaum • John Surdyk Erin Aubrey • Dan Shanahan Jacob Sattler • Janet Larson Don Miner • Chris Drosner Jason Stein • Nancy Sandy Tina Zavoral © 2013, The Daily Cardinal Media Corporation ISSN 0011-5398

For the record Corrections or clarifications? Call The Daily Cardinal office at 608-262-8000 or send an email to edit@dailycardinal.com.

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DREAMS: Fighting propaganda while asleep

2142 Vilas Communication Hall 821 University Avenue Madison, Wis., 53706-1497 (608) 262-8000 • fax (608) 262-8100

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WEDNESDAY: thunderstorms

KANE KAIMAN dream interpreter Kane Kaiman is a graduate of Cedarburg High School. There, he scored a 5 on his AP Psychology test, which gives him the authority to interpret the dreams of all humans and some of the earth’s more intelligent mammals. He is the author of several New York Times bestselling books, including, “Help! Help! I’m Falling,” “Someone’s Chasing Me” and “The Dolphin Dream Diary.” This week’s dream: “I was living in a seaside village with my friends and other people I knew. One night, I was out on the town with my brother and his friends when a communist takeover began. They instated laws that said we could only be out so late. We went out late one night regardless, and the communists began to shoot at us. I ran and jumped into the sea and discovered I had super powers and could breathe underwater. I swam to a nearby island where I planned my attack on the communists. Eventually, I returned and had a force field and laser vision. I regained my friends and took over a large facility. On the top of the building, I planted an American flag. The communist leader was furious.” —Mikhale Grundtner, Sophomore One-hundred percent accurate interpretation:

I myself have had this dream

many times. Except in mine, I’m the communist leader. I whip the proletariat into a violent frenzy, march on the capitol building and establish a socialist utopia, a true workers’ paradise, only to be thwarted by one capitalist pig. It is my nightmare. Clearly, we don’t see eyeto-eye in the political arena (I assume you’re some sort of misguided Tea Party neo-fascist). Nevertheless, it is my duty to give you an accurate interpretation. Overall, this dream means that you deeply mistrust any form of centralized authority. You believe that the government, which generously provides you with usable roads, sanitizes your water and courageously protects you from second-hand tobacco smoke, is somehow out to get you. You don’t seem to understand that the government knows what’s best for you, Mr. Grundtner. Why else would you be required by law to wear a seat belt? Furthermore, you’re terrified by the prospect of a communistic United States. You’re convinced the country is headed in the wrong direction, and your rightwing paranoia has reached fever pitch with the recent passage of ObamaCare. Let’s go over the details. The seaside village setting has a third-world, Caribbean connection. All your life you’ve been force-fed capitalist propaganda about the Cuban Revolution, and you’ve finally synthesized that information into exactly the type of dream that the industrialist bourgeoisie wants you to have on a nightly basis.

Your super-human abilities symbolize your respect for the might of socialist society. Deep down, you realize that a single individual would need superpowers to overcome a full-fledged communist regime. Communism, a flawless system where every member does his part to feed his brothers and sisters in the factory and field, is the inevitable terminus of every enlightened society, and forcibly sending civilization back to the greedy excesses of capitalism is no easy task. Planting the American flag in classic Iwo Jima fashion embodies your delusions of nationalistic grandeur. You see the United States as a beacon of righteous light in a

dark, wicked world in desperate need of American salvation. My recommendation is that you put “Rocky IV” and “Red Dawn” back on the shelf and crack open Marx’s and Engels’ “The Communist Manifesto.” Maybe then you’ll begin to understand the evils of capitalism and start to have some rational dreams. Who knows? One day, when the working class throws off its chains, you might even find yourself by my side on the front lines, a comradein-arms. Viva la revolución.

Have a dream you want Kane to interpret? Email him at kaiman@ wisc.edu for his absolutely factually accurate advice.

GRAPHIC BY HALEY HENSCHEL

Confessions of a Badger football party pooper SAMY MOSKOL sam yams

ear student body, I have a confession. I, Samantha Eve Moskol, proud Wisconsinite and Badger senior, do not enjoy Badger football games, not the least bit. I’ve been in the closet for three years, but now I have to come clean. It’s true—I would rather spend a football Saturday in my bed, watching “Freaks and Geeks” and 17-year-old Martin Starr over whoever our quarterback is now. I’m sorry. Why did it take me three years to admit this? Because it’s a big fat taboo to say you don’t really like the games. All media referencing our school portrays the Badger-game Saturday as the pinnacle experience that shapes our Badgerhood. I’ve been afraid of what you will think of me. I mean, the inception of this public confession was developed after a conversation in whispers with another fellow apathetic football person, whose identity I will not oust here. Whispers. There are very specific attri-

butes of the Badger football game that contribute to my overall distaste for it. I will dissect four of them here.

But really, Jump Around is TERRIFYING. I am terrified of dying. You know you are too. 1. The 11 a.m. game drinky drink conundrum

I do not want to be sober at a football game, but I do not want to be drunk at 10 a.m. Here lies the cruel catch-22 of the 11 a.m. football game. What’s the answer? Should I just do lines of coke in the Camp Randall bathroom instead? (Kidding, never have I done a line of coke in my life, and I never will, potential future employers that are googling me. Now I’m getting meta. Meta meta.) The fact is, of all the state of beings that exist, (sober, drunk, asleep, other) there are none I

would enjoy at an 11 a.m. game.

2. The Fifth Quarter is the last quarter

I’ll admit the only reason I ever went to a game in the first place was to watch the marching band (“Time Warp”!). But the Fifth Quarter is last, you tease. As it turned out, I befriended the former (stellar) drum major and thus settled for watching him march around his house with baton in hand. Sometimes he would let me hold his hat. That was all I needed.

3. Jump Around

The most exciting part of the student section experience! But really, Jump Around is TERRIFYING. I am terrified of dying. You know you are too. Let’s take all these drunk bodies and let them jump jump jump! Never mind that bleachers are unstable. Never mind that one leaves with cuts and scrapes. Never mind that the song is not actually musical. Let’s play Scrabble instead.

4. Rose Bowl

For three years in a row, we have made it to the Rose Bowl, and for three years, we have failed. Let’s turn our excitement to other things, such as Occupy Wall Street or the Memorial Union reinvest-

ment. (Because “you can’t terrace anywhere else.”)

An epiphany

I have felt conflicted on previous football Saturdays. If I go to the game, I spend the whole time counting down the seconds until I can get my Potbelly’s T-K-Y Skinny. If I don’t go but see the red and hear the yells from afar, am I left out of the fun? America has taught me that football is fascinating… if you are fascinated watching football. So why don’t I just step out of this groupthink for a second and realize I am fascinated by zoning codes, the mysterious sinking of the Titanic and Michael Jackson’s childhood. At the end of the day, I still love Bucky. In fact, I have a BuildA-Bear version of him in my living room. I rub his belly when I need good luck. If he could speak, he would say “Samy, it’s OK you don’t like Badger football games. I still love you for who you are deep down.” I know many of you make up a silent minority (majority?) of which I am a part. Speak and be free of your shame! —Samy

Send all hate mail to Samy at moskol@wisc.edu.

news

Tuesday, September 10, 2013 3

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City commission begins search for police chief The city committee overseeing the selection process of a new Madison Police Department Chief expects community input to exceed that of previous police chief hirings due to recent controversies involving the department. Current Chief Noble Wray announced Aug. 6 he is stepping down after 29 years on the force, nine of which he served as chief. Attorney Scott Herrick, a member of the Police and Fire Commission, said citizen participation is historically part of the process, but the committee expects it will be magnified this time around because Wray’s retirement comes after a year-long dispute over the legality of officer Stephen Heimsness’ actions the night he fatally shot a local musician. The MPD exonerated Heimsness of any criminal wrongdoing in January 2013

after conducting an investigation. During his announcement, Wray said he has been planning his retirement since before the Heimsness case. Wray will vacate his post at the end of September, but his retirement will not go into effect until Jan. 2, granting Assistant Chief Randy Gaber authority to make executive decisions as acting chief until the PFC appoints a new chief. The PFC determined Monday it will survey interest within the department in applying for the job but will also seek outside candidates to ensure the job goes to “the best of the best,” according to Herrick, who said there is a “strong pool” of internal candidates. Herrick said there is no set timeline for the search. The first meeting to collect input from community members will be Oct. 14. —Melissa Howison

GUTS applies for funding eligibility Greater University Tutoring Service applied for funding eligibility for the 2015-’16 fiscal year from the Student Services Finance Committee Thursday, stating the organization offers a direct service to students. GUTS is a volunteer student organization providing free tutoring services to all University of Wisconsin-Madison students. According to the GUTS website, it assists with “academic courses, study skills, conversational English, and intercultural exchange.” GUTS Co-Directors Alice Reznickova and Andrew Mangham said UW-Madison students are the “principle focus” of the programs GUTS offers because both those receiving tutoring and the majority of tutors are UW-Madison students. General Student Services Fund groups must undergo eligibility hearings every two years and demonstrate their ability to provide direct services, which are educational benefits available and customizable to the needs of any UW-Madison students. GUTS provides several programs that pair students with the tutors who most closely fit their requirements. “We are trying to respond to student needs,” Reznickova said. “We are not try-

ing to create hours for employees.” SSFC will vote on GUTS’s eligibility Thursday and will also hear an eligibility proposal for Sex Out Loud. SSFC representatives also discussed the creation of a special committee that would review the GSSF eligibility criteria, which would be instituted in response to criticisms from SSFC members and GSSF groups. According to SSFC Chair David Vines, there has been concern centered around the direct service criteria and also concern the eligibility criteria may not be the “best way to ensure that groups have access to resources they need to properly serve students.” Vines said SSFC has proposed changes to the eligibility criteria the past two years, but no “significant changes” were ever made because the committee did not work on changes until the end of the spring semesters, leaving little time for input. The committee would be open to all SSFC members and would also have one spot per eligible GSSF group. Vines said he hopes the committee will work to collaborate and institute the changes students want to see in eligibility criteria. —Paige Villiard

ON CAMPUS

Can’t stomp us

Kappa Alpha Psi members break it down Monday on East Campus Mall, recruiting potential new members for their co-ed fraternity. + Photo by Courtney Kessler

Responsible Action, Student Regent bills continue to move through legislative bodies This summer, two student leaders discovered firsthand the intricacies of passing legislation when they pushed to pass bills in the state Assembly and Senate. Associated Students of Madison Legislative Affairs Chair Morgan Rae and Vice Chair Kaitlyn Novotny both began spearheading separate legislation, the Responsible Action and Student Regent bills, as ASM internship projects. The Responsible Action bill, which Rae initiated, aims to protect students who contact authorities in emergency situations from consequences such as underage drinking citations. Rae said at a Legislative Affairs meeting Monday that the University of WisconsinMadison Police Department testified against the bill in an August hearing, with the concern that the UWPD might want to issue citations in certain situations. Novotny’s Student Regent bill would allow students to help choose the two student representatives to the UW System Board of

Regents, a decision that does not currently require student input. At an August hearing, Novotny said some senators thought the bill was too vague regarding how students would provide input. Rae said the Senate will likely vote on both bills in the near future, and the Assembly still will vote on Responsible Action and hold a hearing on the Student Regent bill. However, she’s not sure of a definite timetable. The bills are subject to amendments added on by legislators. Both Novotny and Rae said their experiences have taught them passing legislation is a lengthy process. Novotny has been working on the Student Regent bill for a year, and Rae, now a junior, began pushing for the Responsible Action bill the spring of her freshman year. “I legitimately thought I could finish it in a semester, maybe fall semester of sophomore year,” Rae said. “I would not have thought I would be starting my junior year still working on it.” —Tamar Myers

marriage from page 1

president and CEO of Fair Wisconsin, a Wisconsin-based organization dedicated to “ensuring that caring and committed couples, regardless of sexual orientation, have the legal protections necessary to care for each other,” according to its website. “Regardless of where our state Legislature is, the people of Wisconsin know that marriage equality is on the horizon and that we will get there,” Belanger said at the event. Rybak concluded his address to Wisconsinites by saying, “We want to marry you in Minneapolis, and someday we want to marry a whole lot of people here in Madison.”

from Minnesota,” Rybak said. Soglin distinguished college students as a vital part of the movement to achieve marriage equality in Wisconsin. “University of Wisconsin-Madison students and students throughout the state will be the leaders in terms of changing our backward perspective on this … they are more open, they are more tolerant, they are more understanding, they are brighter when it comes to this question,” Soglin said. “That’s why the change is inevitable.” Marriage equality is in Wisconsin’s future, according to Katie Belanger,

courtney kessler/the daily cardinal

Greater University Tutoring Service Co-Directors Alice Reznickova and Andrew Mangham presented at their SSFC eligibility hearing Monday.

protest from page 1 against intervention. He added intervention would constitute a “discretionary war” and would lead to more issues in Syria. “[The U.S. intervention strategy is] purely tying somebody up in a chair and hitting them in the face over and over again until they do what they

want,” Leeper said. “That’s not a good way to get people to cooperate.” He added he would like to see an end game where the U.S. forgoes military intervention in favor of diplomacy cooperation with Russia, Syria’s ally. “We don’t solve civil wars by fighting people,” Leeper said. “They have to be solved diplomatically.” —Jack Casey

union from page 1 the first floor dining area, Henkel said he liked the idea of a direct walkthrough area from Der Rathskeller to the Terrace, but counter lines often get very long during lunch hours, and the area could end up feeling congested. Henkel also said he hopes the MUR will incorporate feedback from the meeting into the plans. “I just think the people who are really making the decisions and doing the architecture aren’t the people who use it day in and day out, so they might not know the little ins and outs of where

issues lie or what things are good and what’s bad,” Henkel said. According to Katie Cary, student project manager for the project, recorders were in place at each station to collect feedback. Cary said she will report the input back to the project’s design committee, which will make adjustments and approve the designs. The final plans will be recommended to Union Council and presented to various other groups for approval. The MUR hopes to reach approval from these entities in early spring 2014, and begin construction for Phase II immediately after Phase I is completed in early summer or fall 2014.

arts l

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

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In anticipation of the fall film season, two of the Cardinal’s film writers—Kailee Andrews and Austin Wellens— compiled a list of the five movies for which they’re each most excited to see over the next few months.

Austin’s Picks 1. Her: Spike Jonze is finally returning to feature filmmaking. For the first time, he’s writing the script as well as directing. It seems that Charlie Kaufman (who wrote the incredible scripts for Jonze’s “Being John Malkovich” and “Adaptation”) has rubbed off on him a bit, as the film, which centers on a man who falls in love with his operating system, seems both appropriately bizarre and thematically rich. However, if Jonze’s adaptation of “Where the Wild Things Are” and early “Her” trailers are anything to go on, he may have a script with far more heart and humanity than is found in most of Kaufman’s work. With a stellar cast featuring Joaquin Phoenix—supported by Amy Adams, Rooney Mara and Scarlett Johansson, as the voice of his computer—and featuring an original score by Arcade Fire, “Her” has the makings of a real masterpiece. 2. 12 Years a Slave: British filmmaker Steve McQueen is one of the most interesting artists working today, and “12 Years a Slave,” based on the true story of a free black man wrongfully forced into slavery, has the potential to be his mainstream breakthrough. Michael Fassbender, who’s starred in McQueen’s previous films “Hunger” and “Shame,” with fantastic results, took on a supporting role, with Chiwetel Ejiofor in the lead as Solomon Northup. The rest of the cast, which includes Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano, Paul Giamatti, Quvenzhané Wallis and Adepero Odyue, is incredibly deep and likely to break up the brutality McQueen can bring so fearlessly. It may not be for the weak of heart, but it’s an important film; and moreover, a film that needs to be seen.

Kailee’s Picks 1. Gravity: Long delayed in development and postproduction, the digital-effects-heavy “Gravity” marks Alfonso Cuarón’s (“Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban”) first directorial effort since 2006’s acclaimed “Children of Men.” “Gravity” follows the tale of two astronauts who become detached from their space shuttle and are left stranded, helpless, in the vacuum of space. Starring George Clooney and Sandra Bullock, “Gravity” promises a potent mixture of masterful digital effects and intimate drama. Taking place predominantly in outer space, “Gravity” will likely rival “Life of Pi” and other CGI-extravaganzas in terms of awe-inspiring visual environments, while the emotionally fraught situation in which the astronauts find themselves will provide plenty of meaty dramatic material for Bullock and Clooney. With such a high caliber cast and crew, “Gravity” looks to be a major awards contender and audience pleaser for the coming season.

Graphic by Haley Henschel

2. Kill Your Darlings: A darling of early critical reviews and one of the buzziest films at 2013’s Sundance Film Festival, “Kill Your Darlings” focuses on the college years of some of the most famous poets of the Beat Generation, including Allen Ginsberg, Lucien Carr, Jack Kerouac and William S. Burroughs. It centers on the relationships between the young writers as well as the 1944 murder that drew them together. Even if you’re not a poetry buff, “Darlings” has a major selling point in its all-star cast, including Daniel Radcliffe, Dane DeHaan, Michael C. Hall and Elizabeth Olsen. “Kill Your Darlings,” with its tale of creative rebellion, young love and murder, set against a backdrop of 1940’s academia, is a coming-of-age film to look out for and a breakthrough for first time director John Krokidas.

3. Ender’s Game: The long-awaited film adaptation of Orson Scott Card’s award-winning 1985 sci-fi 3. Inside Llewyn Davis: Ok, so… the Coen

brothers. Need I say more? How about the Coen Brothers do the ’60s Greenwich Village folk scene? The soundtrack alone, which was recorded live by a cast of artists including Justin Timberlake, Carey Mulligan and Oscar Isaac, and was produced by T-Bone Burnett (the genius behind their “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” soundtrack), will make this one worth seeing. And of course, there’s the nearly endless list of other reasons you should see this film. I mean, it’s the Coen brothers. Really. Just do it.

4. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty:

Normally I’d be hesitant to get this enthusiastic about a Ben Stiller film, but a nearly dialogue free trailer that held my attention more tightly than some full films has left me optimistic. Taking on both directing and starring roles in a very ambitious film might seem like a lot for “the Zoolander guy,” but there seems to be every reason to believe he’ll rise to the occasion. I’m excited.

5. The Wolf of Wall Street: So, after “Hugo,”

which we won’t talk about, Martin Scorsese looks to be getting back on track with his next film by reuniting with longtime collaborator Leo DiCaprio. With a wickedly funny script, supporting roles from Matthew McConaughey and Jonah Hill, and a freakishly hip trailer featuring Kanye’s “Black Skinhead,” “The Wolf of Wall Street” could be Scorsese’s darkest, smartest and most

classic, “Ender’s Game” sends an all-star cast into orbit as we follow the journey of Ender Wiggin as he heads to interstellar Battle School. Ender is a young boy with a prodigious intellect and a talent for battle strategy who is being groomed as a future army leader. In his world, Earth is threatened by an advanced alien race and promising children are sent to the army to be hardened into soldiers. “Ender’s Game” as a book distinguished itself through its political subplots, philosophical underpinnings and an infamous twist that has left readers reeling for decades. If the film version succeeds in capturing these elements, it should be able to maneuver itself into the good graces of both general audiences and critics. Harrison Ford, Viola Davis, Ben Kingsley and Hailee Steinfeld play major roles in the film as some of the friends, mentors and commanders Ender encounters—so yeah, reasons to see it.

4. Catching Fire: Picking up the torch left by mega-hits “Harry Potter” and “Twilight,” the second “Hunger Games” film looks primed to set the box office aflame as devoted fans of the novels, casual moviegoers and people who desperately crave their Jennifer Lawrence fix flock to the theaters for the continuing story of Katniss Everdeen. Thanks to the success of the first film, fans can expect a higher production value, as well as the abandonment of the “shaky-cam” technique that defined much of the first movie. (This has been confirmed by director Francis Lawrence). This, along with a script from veteran screenwriters Simon Beaufoy (“Slumdog Millionaire”) and Michael Arndt (“Toy Story 3”), and the seemingly guaranteed quality that accompanies anything Jennifer Lawrence touches, “Catching Fire” could well be an even stronger entry than its predecessor.

5. The Monuments Men: “The Monuments Men” provides a fresh take on the popular World War II film. It recounts the mission of a group of mostly civilian art historians and museum workers who venture into war zones with the goal of protecting Europe’s cultural treasures. Directed by and starring George Clooney, “The Monuments Men” brings together a distinguished cast to portray rag-tag team of intellectual badasses who devote themselves to defending the collective history and heritage of humanity, which so often becomes collateral damage, or even a strategic target, during war. Besides Clooney, the cast includes Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett, Bill Murray and John Goodman, to name just a few. With its acclaimed cast, period setting and emphasis on art as a human accomplishment worth saving, “The Monuments Men” should be a major player come Oscar season.

arts

‘Riddick’ a fine film for the horror genre By Caleb Nesser The Daily Cardinal

The “Riddick” series is a curious anomaly. As a franchise, it has always seemed to stay at the periphery of general knowledge, just inside the circle of “cult classic” (a term that I find somewhat silly, as it sounds like a euphemism for the Necronomicon). I don’t know of many people that have actually seen the first two films, which is a real shame. “Pitch Black,” the series’ kickoff title, is still one of David Twohy’s best movies, and probably the establishing point in his career. The guy knows exactly how to blend brutal horror with exciting, visceral fisticuffs. “Riddick” is one of those movies that has its own gleeful formula, and pulls it off with remarkable grace and intelligence. “Riddick,” first and foremost after the rather clumsy second installment in the franchise, is a true return to form. Anybody who has seen “Pitch Black” can take a guess as to how “Riddick” will play out, but they may yet be pleasantly surprised. The film has a lean, meaty screenplay that is cutthroat and bitingly clever; it assumes that its audience has seen the previous films in the series and plays with expectations well without forgoing any sense of continuity or foreshadowing. I especially appreciate that it ties itself, loosely but nonetheless inextricably, to the previous film in the series, “The Chronicles of Riddick.” As odd and awkward as the film was, “Chronicles” is still a large part of the series’ universe, and it’s heartening to see a writer/director standing by his worldbuilding decisions. Basically, the first half of the

The Skinny Who: Volcano Choir Where: Orpheum Theater 216 State St. When: Sept. 27, door at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. Cost: $22 advance, $25 day-of Why you should care: These uber-talented Wisconsin natives will blow your mind with their musicianship.

Check this out before you go: Volcano Choir’s 2009 release Unmap featured an array of stellar tunes. From the album’s moreor-less main track “Island, IS” to the reimagining of Justin Vernon’s (Bon Iver) haunting song “Woods,” the recording itself is an adventure—taking listeners deep into a state of solitude. Unmap remains one of the most innovative albums of the past five years.

Tuesday, September 10, 2013 5

film is a set up for a second half, which retreads the grounds walked by “Pitch Black,” but in a fun and interesting way. Our anti-hero, Riddick (played by Vin Diesel), is betrayed— dumped on a disproportionately hostile planet—and decides to trick some hapless bounty hunters into putting down to cash in on his corpse (an average Tuesday for Riddick). But where the movie excels is in the fine details. It amazes me how Twohy is able to capture such rich development while keeping dialogue at a bare-bones, fastpaced minimum, and “Riddick” is definitely no exception.

The actors have great chemistry, absolutely nailing their roles and elevating their characters into relatable human beings the audience grows attached to—even if we are ultimately rooting for Riddick. See, the actual plot of the film takes a little while to get going; “But,” the movie says, “since you’re here, why not have some interesting character moments and significant development of the main character?” Riddick befriends a dog-like creature, raising it from a pup and protecting it as he makes his way across the planet’s desiccated surface. The scenes between Riddick and the dog are never mawkish or disgustingly noble, but are rather quite organic and touching. This is a man who is himself part animal, and it’s fascinating to see somebody so brutal able to care about another creature. This is another thing that makes “Riddick” an absolute joy to watch. The characters, with a few minor exceptions, each have distinct voices and distinct dialogue that is simultaneously sparse and threedimensional. The actors have great chemistry, absolutely nailing their roles and elevating their characters into relatable human beings the audience grows attached to—even if we are ultimately rooting for Riddick. What the film really gets is that horror and suspense don’t work unless we’re connected to the characters, and it spends a lot of time giving the actors room to let us either learn to love their characters or learn to hate them. Make no mistake, “Riddick” is a film with effects rooted in the spectacularly gory ’80s action flick. By the time of the third act, the movie knuckles down and starts giving the audience what they wanted to see in the first place, and the characters start to go one-byone. The film pulls no punches here. The final act is a gruesome, grisly, high-strung gore fest that builds on its engaging character arcs to a satisfying

conclusion. If you’re the kind of person who isn’t much for blood, “Riddick” probably isn’t going to do you any favors.

See, the actual plot of the film takes a while to get going; “But,” the movie says, “since you’re here, why not have some interesting character development of the main character?”. The film has its share of problems. The ending is a little bit unclear as far as the main characters’ motivations are concerned. Some clarification would’ve made certain actions much more significant. Also, there’s a fairly exploitative dynamic between Diesel and Katee Sackhoff as a lesbian mercenary Riddick is able to seduce with very little set-up or interaction. Seeing an otherwise interesting female character flirting with Riddick at the end of the film is extremely hard to swallow. Entire dialogues between them are rendered vestigial and pointless. In spite of that, however, “Riddick” is a great horror/ action hybrid with a lot to offer and a lot to love. It’s definitely a movie to check out, by fans of the series and fans of dark sci-fi films in general.

dailycardinal.com

The Record Routine

The Electric Lady Janelle Monáe By Mara Jezior The Daily Cardinal

“Lady” is a worthy title for Janelle Monáe. After awing the music world with her debut album, The ArchAndroid, Monáe has proven that she is immune to the sophomore slump. Her second album, The Electric Lady, continues the story of Cindi Mayweather—Monáe’s self-proclaimed alter-ego— an android living in a utopian future whose life turns upside down when she falls in love with a human. A conceptual series of five suites so far, The Electric Lady (Suites IV and V) picks up where The ArchAndroid (Suites II and III) and Metropolis (Suite I) left off. And while The ArchAndroid is an album about newfound freedom and adventure, The Electric Lady explores maturity and empowerment. The first half is infectiously danceable, seamlessly blending disco, rock ’n’ roll and something that sounds like the theme from James Bond into a rich orchestration of funk. When Monáe sings for the first time on “Givin Em What They Love,” her voice hits like an electric shock. Along with an appearance from Prince,

“Givin Em What They Love” is mysterious, psychedelic and sexy. It’s one of the most impressive tracks on the album. Not only does Monáe prove herself as an innovative producer, but also a dynamic vocalist. She raps, she croons, she screams— all with raw, effortless grace. The Electric Lady features performances from both her influences and her peers—from Prince and Erykah Badu, to Solange and Esperanza Spalding. Additionally, her duet with Miguel on “PrimeTime” is both sweet and painful. While every song on the album offers something new, The Electric Lady follows a very similar progression as The ArchAndroid. The first suite builds up the energy and an uncontrollable need to dance while the second takes a reflective tone as the music slows and her lyrics become more revealing, most notably on “Victory.” Still, at just over an hour long, The Electric Lady can be a lot to take in in one sitting. Despite the album’s length, Monáe proves herself as the spirited child of some of the best artists of the past few decades. She looks to her roots on The Electric Lady, the same way Cindi Mayweather can never truly escape her past, and learns how to grow from it. Although the feeling of listening to Monáe on The ArchAndroid for the first time cannot be topped, The Electric Lady offers a mature, sparkling continuation of Cindi Mayweather’s story. I can’t wait to hear what happens next.

Rating: A-

opinion 6

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

view Cardinal View editorials represent The Daily Cardinal’s organizational opinion. Each editorial is crafted independent of news coverage.

Chancellor Blank remains positive choice For the most part, last year’s editorial board was pleased with the decision to appoint Rebecca Blank as our university’s next chancellor. While impressed by her financial and academic experiences in previous positions, the board urged Blank to embrace the opportunities being a Badger would present to her, such as getting to know a diverse student body and engaging with the unique governance structure on which our university prides itself. A few months and a few new members later, we find ourselves taking the same position. Following her appointment last spring, members of campus leadership, including our editorial board, expressed concern over her ability to make connections with campus. We are

happy to say we have been impressed with Blank’s efforts thus far to get out of Bascom Hall and into the campus community. She has already introduced herself to incoming freshmen on move-in day, hosted a tailgate party and embraced her new identity as @BeckyBlank on Twitter. We don’t think many students can picture previous Chancellor David Ward lifting a futon through the halls of a campus dormitory, so we consider these efforts an improvement on his often-criticized approach to student relations. However, this board firmly believes her engagement with students must not end with Welcome Week. Blank has a responsibility to students that goes beyond knowing a few

Grey Satterfield/cardinal file photo names

names out of 40,000. In recent years, the administration has been at odds with students over many issues that have truly been of large-scale importance to students—think increasing the ever-growing tuition we all pay, funding the student organizations of which many of us are a part of or impinging on the shared governance rights of our elected student government. Shared governance creates an environment in which students can have a voice in how our university is run through the Associated Students of Madison student government. In recent years, this body has often been ignored or discounted by administrators. As a board we hope this year’s ASM representatives will fight against this should it happen again. Chancellor Blank should be prepared to be at odds with students, which she herself admitted in an interview with both campus newspapers. But

dailycardinal.com this requires her to be familiar with how her office relates to students on an administrative level, and what this board finds discouraging is that Blank does not yet seem familiar with how it works. In her campus press interview, she was asked multiple questions about the intersection of her office and student shared governance and on all accounts Blank had not been briefed on the matter. While we certainly don’t expect Blank to know the ins and outs of shared governance immediately, we would have appreciated an effort to understand issues that are quite likely to come up, such as student segregated fee funding. However, we found it encouraging that Blank seemed very willing to keep communications open with students. We all would appreciate a chance to tailgate with Chancellor Blank, but at the end of the day, we would appreciate her commitment to be present at the negotiation table this year much more. That’s not to say this board did not also find the good in our first impression of Blank. In her interview, she also stressed her commitment to finding new funding streams for our university, a consistent point of contention in recent years. As state support continues to decline while costs continue to rise, it is about time someone looks elsewhere and we are fully supportive of Blank’s

proposed efforts to increase donor dollars. In addition to providing financial flexibility, a fundraising campaign is a great avenue by which we can show the rest of the state how important our university is to its economy and community. It’s very evident that Blank’s background in economics is already being put to good use in her new role, and we are hopeful this approach to our university’s budget will lead to increased financial stability during her time here. We also feel encouraged that Blank’s financial expertise and experience working in government will impress state lawmakers, who have had clearly less than stellar opinions of university officials in recent years. She expressed a desire to keep lines of communication open with representatives at the Capitol and we encourage her to continue Ward’s work rebuilding any broken relationships from the past few years. Overall, we are optimistic about Blank’s future plans for our university, but it seems like she may be playing it a bit safe so far. Do we respect her for taking a step back on some questions and admitting she was not yet very familiar with their context? Sure. Are we discouraged that most of those questions were ones involving student shared governance? Most definitely. Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.

Hey, everyone! We’re having a recruitment meeting... And you’re invited!

Join us in 2195 Vilas on Friday, September 13 at 4 p.m. for an all-inclusive info sesh! Can’t make it? We’re having another! Friday, September 27, same time, same place!

Get out your smartphones, folks, it’s time to go mobile! Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for the latest in all things news, sports, photo, opinion and more!

comics

To each his own, I guess. Eproctophilia is the scientific term for being sexually aroused by others farting. Only one case has ever been studied.

dailycardinal.com

1 5 4 9 7 3

College or Bust

Extra guacamole

Today’s Sudoku

5 2 8 4

Tuesday, September 10, 2013 • 7

1 5 9 3 6

4 6 1 3

3 9 6

6 8

5 8

Caved In

1 8 4 5

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

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.sudoku.com

7 6 DOWN 8 1 French wines 2 “Dilbert” character 1 3 Delhi dress 5 4 Abbr. after an institution’s name 4 5 React to a 2 computer crash 6 Old word meaning 9 “before” 3 7 Err morally

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Danson and Lange Shirt arms Grand instruments “Go 90 degrees!” Compass dir. ___ segno (musical direction) 18 Sends invitations for 22 Sideshow employee

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# 26

9 5 2 8 8 6 9 7 4 7 2 4 5 1 4 8 2 Haley Henschel 3 henschel2@wisc.edu You look tired today. By 3 7 1 2 5 3 7 9 8 9 5 8 6 2 6 1 5 EASY

Answer key available at www.dailycardinal.com

Across 1 Florist’s accessory 5 Musical symbol 9 Words per minute, e.g. 14 “That ___ it should be” 15 Pennsylvania lake 16 Tropical forest vine 17 Wrong place in 2 Indiana? 8 1 9 7 4 3 19 Whiteboard stand 1 2 3 7 5 9 6 20 Snowmobile name 271 A5dog 6 may 4 pick 8 one 2 1 up 9 8with 6 “bread” 2 5 7 243 Word 8 or4 “water” 5 2 1 3 9 26 Admitted 299 Extremely 3 7 1 excited 6 8 4 33 Flipper’s feat 5 6 4 3 34 Nourishes 9 7 2 365 Sources of fiber 7 2 5 3 1 8 37 “Yo ho ho and a 3 bottle 1 9 of8___”4 6 5 38 Parker of old TV 39 Devoutness 40 Corm of the taro 41 Giants Hall-ofFamer Mel 42 Post-alpha bits? 43 Hardly hale-looking 44 Colossus of ___ (one of the Seven Wonders)

By Steve Wishau wishau@wisc.edu

# 27 46 They have lots to offer 48 Get the better of 49 Kind of brush? 50 Show runner 52 Equal-share word 57 Part of DVD 59 Polaris’ opposite? 62 Source of breakers 63 Without a doubt 64 Sojourners’ spots 65 Redgrave and Swann # 26 66 Some sea birds 67 Overfeed

2 5 1 3

EASY I miss Hannah Montana

Hope to see you at the Daily Cardinal recruitment meeting this Friday, Sept. 13! 4 p.m. in 2195 Vilas

EASY

Hey, girl.

Today’s Crossword Puzzle

8 3 4 9 3By Nick Kryshak nkryshak@wisc.edu 5 4 6 2 1 5 1 6 7

EASY Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and# 25 every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9.

By Ravi Pathare ravpath@gmail.com

24 Bookkeeper’s entry 25 Behind on the rent, say 27 Dodger, essentially 28 Underworld denizens 29 Manage the cost of 30 Acquire bicuspids 31 This is NOT a Steinbeck classic 32 Cards with photos 36 On the ocean or in a fog 9 ___” 4 (Albert 3 8 2 319 “La Camus novel) 2 5 7 9 1 3 40 Suffix with “tall” or 3 “short” 4 6 2 5 7 42 Guidance signals 2 5letter 8 of7the4 463 First 8 Hebrew 3 9 alphabet 6 4 1 45 Belittle 7 3 1relatives 2 8 497 Cat’s-eye 51 ___ quam videri 7 (North 8 1 Carolina 5 9 6 4 state 6 2motto) 7 3 5 53 Egyptian goddess 5 of1 fertility 8 4 6 9 54 Italian volcano 55 Isn’t capable of 56 Hebrides dialect 57 Encyclopedia bk. 58 More than merely refrigerated 60 Yours and mine 61 Party server

# 28

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By Andy Holsteen aholsteen@wisc.edu

6 8 9 3 7 Two 5 4 1 2

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24 Jul 05

Sports

tuesday september 10, 2013 DailyCardinal.com

Press Conference

Football, volleyball teams open strong By Jack Baer The Daily Cardinal

Football

Fresh off a dominating shutout against Tennessee Tech, the Wisconsin football team (2-0) will head to Tempe, Arizona to face the Arizona State Sun Devils Saturday. Head coach Gary Andersen previewed the matchup, noting the Sun Devils’ unorthodox spread offense. “It’s not just the triple option attack with a very athletic quarterback. It’s not so much just the throw back, the four wide throw and the zone read scheme. It’s a combination of all.” Moving onto the defense, Andersen gave credit to the front seven, mentioning their emotional play. Andersen also noted their potential to be great players at the professional level. ASU senior defensive tackle Will Sutton was specified as a significant threat due to his natural use of his hands and ability to be “sudden.” “We’re playing a really good Arizona State football team, and we believe we have a chance to beat a good football team,” Andersen said. “The adversity that comes our way ... will be a nonfactor if we win or lose the game. We’ll be prepared.” Looking back at the Tennessee Tech game, Andersen praised sophomore quarterback Joel Stave as a passer, particularly in the two-minute drill to finish out the first half. “I just felt like he was cool, he was poised, he was into the moment, he was getting rid of the ball on time, which was impressive to see.” Freshman running back Corey Clement’s playing time and his impact on recruiting

was also noted. “The number of quality backs that we used, we use that in recruiting, absolutely. We use that at a lot of positions.” Andersen later mentioned sophomore fullback Derek Watt was probable for the game after missing Tennessee Tech with a hamstring injury and that the kicking game is still a competition between junior Kyle French and sophomore Jack Russell.

“They’ve spent enough time watching Arizona State ... they understand the level of competition is stepping up.” Gary Andersen head coach Wisconsin football

Despite the new level of difficulty of their opponent, Andersen made it clear the Badgers would not be blindsided. “They’ve spent enough time watching Arizona State, and trust me, they understand the level of competition is stepping up. I think they’ve waited for this moment. They’re excited about the moment.”

Volleyball

The volleyball team (6-0) started their season undefeated, most recently scoring an impressive 3-0 win over Louisville Saturday. The Badgers will host Kansas Friday, along with Milwaukee and Bowling Green Saturday at the UW Field House. Head coach Kelly Sheffield expressed excitement for his team’s surprising start, particularly for last Saturday’s win

Grey Satterfield/the daily cardinal

True freshman running back Corey Clement rushed for a team-best 151 yards and two touchdowns Saturday, including a 75-yard run for a score in the fourth quarter. over Louisville. “We didn’t let our foot off the gas, and we kept going and kept going. Those were things that we talked about, that toughness. Are you able to come back from 0‑2? Are you able, when you jump onto somebody, to keep the pressure on? I thought it was a really good weekend for us.” Expanding on the importance of mental toughness, Sheffield said “We’ve been so beaten up, so many players that have been out, is that sometimes that forces you to maybe be tougher. It certainly has in our case. We’ve talked about, since the first day we got here, is that great teams are teams that embrace adversity, and they don’t run from

it. I think our players are believing more Badger and more every volleyball’s time that we record go out and we through take the court, preseason so far. that we can be a really good team this year,” Sheffield said. Kill percentage in match “I think against half the battle Louisville in athletics is Saturday. trying to get your team to believe that they can accomplish things.” Looking ahead to the team’s opponents this weekend,

6-0

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Sheffield noted that all three had their dangerous qualities. “Coming up, we’ve got a heck of a test. Kansas... that’s a team that returns everybody but one starter from a top ten RPI team.” Milwaukee and Bowling Green also had good showings against good teams, specifically Creighton and BYU, respectively. Sheffield later expressed hope that his team’s unanticipated start would lead to stronger home support. “I want it to be the best in the country. I want the Field House rocking. I want it to be a place that’s family friendly and get the students back here and get them rocking that place.”

X Games tour removes unifying event from action sports Brett Bachman Ready, Brett, Go

odern action sports, as a whole, are a money-centric operation. This is a natural by-product of their social evolution. Action sports and punk subculture are tied together in a knot born of marginalization. Mainstream culture relegated the duo from their inception, even going so far as to outlaw action sports (re: skateboarding) in many public places. This is still the case in some municipalities. With the sport’s contemporary following, it is easy to forget that Tony Hawk, the bonafide godfather of action sports, was not a popular figure until the latter part of his career. Whenever a phenomenon experiences as dramatic a rise as from illegal activity to widespread popularity, it is usually the case that those involved will revel in its success. For example, action sports athletes recently began making exorbitant amounts of sponsor-

ship money by simply pointing to a sticker on their equipment after winning an event. Only a select few other sports I can think of even permit advertising on uniforms. As with all businesses, sports must decide when too much is too much. Unfortunately, it is the fans who must suffer through the current adolescent stages of action sports.

“Essentially, it’s as if the NFL decided to forgo the playoffs and determine the Super Bowl champion simply by looking at who has the best record.” ESPN’s first “Extreme Games,” later shortened simply to “X Games,” were held in 1995 after the sport had grown too large to ignore. Overall, the event was quite a success, though the games’ main problem was their failure to popularize across demographic lines, particularly generational ones. ESPN2, for the most part, tapped into a previously unmet market of Generation X-ers with the Extreme Games, while their parents stood by

in a state of confusion. There was a particularly sarcastic USA today column stating: “Apparently — and it’s possible I’m misinterpreting a cultural trend here—If you strap your best friend to the hood of a ’72 Ford Falcon, drive it over a cliff, juggle three babies and a chain saw on the way down and land safely while performing a handstand, they’ll tape it, show it and call it a new sport.” Misinterpreting a cultural trend is an understatement—the games immediately were rescheduled the following year and, with some ingenious marketing, grew into the cultural phenomenon we know them as today. Since their inception, the X Games have been the hallmark event for action sports. When you win a gold medal at the X Games, you are considered the best in the world at your respective event. The “Dew Tour,” sponsored by Mountain Dew, evolved around the X Games, and was popularized in 2008 when NBC sold its rights over the tour to MTV Networks. This became the circuit athletes used to ready themselves for the X Games. The “regular season,”

if you will.

“Since their inception, the X Games have been the hallmark event for action sports.” According to the Sports Business Bureau, the Dew Tour made $40-60 million and had record setting attendance in 2012. Alli Sports, the company that manages the Dew Tour, also announced a fouryear extension through 2016. That’s a huge chunk of the market share that the X Games wasn’t making. ESPN, with the knowledge that the X Games are the premier name in action sports, announced this year that the games are expanding to a global tour format. Soon afterwords, Alli Sports dropped three of the Dew Tour’s six dates, effectively signaling the end of the Dew Tour as we know it. X Games Los Angeles, formerly the world’s feature action sports event every year, is now just one stop on a larger tour. Being an X Games champion means that one

must accrue points over the course of months instead of winning a sole event. Of course, they’re still marketing X GamesLos Angeles as the X Games, but those who follow the sport don’t see it that way anymore. Essentially, it’s as if the NFL decided to forgo the playoffs and determine the Super Bowl champion simply by looking at who has the best record. Action sports are still what I would call a fringe sport. They have a moderately large and dedicated following, but the general population still doesn’t keep tabs on developments in the sport. The X Games, televised on ESPN in primetime twice a year (for the winter and summer games) were a great way for people to stumble upon action sports. The fact that this was a one-stop, winner-take-all event made it compelling. With college football switching to a playoff next year, it is apparent that the United States values this sort of format. In the long run a worldwide X Games tour is going to expand the number of fans exposed to action sports but ultimately hurt the atmosphere of competition.