Weekend, February 22-24, 2008 - The Daily Cardinal

CARDINAL CRITICS DEBATE YEAR’S BEST Can’t wait until Sunday? The DC Academy announces its Oscar verdicts today. ARTS University of Wisconsin-Madison

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By Abby Sears THE DAILY CARDINAL

CHRISTOPHER GUESS THE DAILY CARDINAL

Flu season hits later than expected An inﬂuenza outbreak has sent several UW-Madison students to University Health Services and Meriter Hospital. UHS has administered more than 7,300 free ﬂu shots to students this season, according to Mary Makarushka, communications manager of University Health Services.

Weekend, February 22-24, 2008

UW offers to fund downtown ID scanners

The University of WisconsinMadison Army ROTC Color Guard honors the victims of the Northern Illinois University shooting in front of the Edward Sewell Social Science building on the Madison campus at noon Thursday.

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Remembering NIU

By Diana Savage

UW-Madison escapes Recording Industry’s latest hitlist DAILYCARDINAL.COM/NEWS8

Hospitals have diagnosed three different strains of inﬂuenza this year. Unfortunately, the vaccine only protects against one of them, according to Sarah Van Orman, director of clinical services of UHS. “In the past week we saw 40 patients during the week, which is about 7 percent of our visits,” Orman said. The ﬂu outbreak happened later

this year than in the past, Orman said. The outbreak would have typically occurred in early January. “That’s significant for students because we know that the flu spreads based on how close people are working together,” Orman said. Now, more students are back on campus in the midst of flu season. influenza page 2

Beginning in March, UWMadison will offer electronic ID scanners and free training to select downtown bars and liquor stores in an effort to crack down on underage drinking and the use of fake IDs. The PACE Project’s Partnership Council, a coalition of campus and city members aimed at curbing high-risk drinking among students, initiated the ID scanner program through the campus Alcohol Policy Group. “This is the university saying we are concerned about underage drinking,” said Dawn Crim, special assistant to Chancellor John Wiley. “The ID scanner is a tool to assist the bars in the density area with proper carding and proper responsible beverage service.” Crim said the university began thinking of ways to

improve identification checks at downtown establishments after the recent success of ID scanners at Memorial Union, the only licensed alcohol vendor on campus. The city does not mandate bars and liquor stores to use ID scanners, mainly because of cost issues, according to Katherine Plominski, Madison’s alcohol policy coordinator. The price of one scanner is roughly $700, which can be a pricey purchase for smaller establishments, she said. According to Crim, funding for the ID scanners will come from the budgets of various campus directors in the Alcohol Policy Group. She said each director has financial resources set aside for alcohol initiatives. The ID scanners will only be offered to establishments in the Alcohol License Density Plan scanners page 2

Public forum allows input on Charter Street Heating Plant

Doyle admits response to Feb. 6 snowstorm mediocre

By Christian Von Preysing-Barry

By Megan Orear

THE DAILY CARDINAL

UW-Madison and the Wisconsin Department of Administration hosted a town hall meeting Thursday evening at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ office to address future upgrades to four of Madison’s power plants. “We are looking forward to making a significant investment, not only at Charter Street plant, but a thoughtful investment in our heating plant system for the university and for the state,” said Alan Fish, UWMadison’s associate vice chancellor for facility planning and management. In November, a federal judge ruled that the Charter Street power plant violated the Clean Air Act. The meeting was part of post-lawsuit negotiations between the state and the Sierra Club, who brought the suit. Form topics included changing fuel types for the plants, heat transportation methods and minimizing pollution in future upgrades. “The coal plants we have now are killing and maiming people every minute,” Rev. Dave Steffenson said at the meeting. “Legal is not synonymous with what is moral or wise or even prudent.” Former Dane County Executive Jonathan Barry advocated biomass facilities that would be powered in part by local grasses, turning them into cash crops. “We have an opportunity here to help create a market that will revive rural economies in Dane County,” he said. Jennifer Feyenherm from Madison’s Sierra Club said coal burning has contaminated Dane County’s water supplies with unhealthy amounts of mercury. “Dane County is in violation of national ambient air quality standards of fine particulate matter,” she said. A study due in July will determine the nature of renovation contracts to be issued in November. A similar public forum could be held as early as May to finalize the report’s decisions regarding the Charter Street plant and Madison’s three other power plants.

Gov. Jim Doyle apologized Thursday for the poor response to the traffic backup of Interstate 39/90 during the heavy snowfall on Feb. 6 and 7. Doyle, who didn’t learn of the situation until 7 p.m. and did not declare a State of Emergency until 9:15 p.m., apologized to drivers for the poor decisions made by government officials. “It’s very clear that this could have been handled much better and people’s lives could have been much less inconvenienced,” Doyle said. “Many people, through just some bad decisions, ended up out on that road who didn’t have to.” During the severe winter storm, 2,000 vehicles were stranded for more than 12 hours on Interstate 39/90, and traffic was backed up for more than 20 miles, according to a report from Donald Dunbar, National Guard adjutant general of Wisconsin. The National Guard was used during the backup because of the severity of the storm. Doyle said he was grateful for the efforts of state workers during the situation, but admitted the response was inadequate. “The report demonstrates very clearly that, despite all those

efforts that were being made out on the road by really hardworking people, that at the higher levels, some very significant mistakes were made,” Doyle said. Dunbar’s report placed much of the blame on the State Patrol, the agency in charge of traffic response, and claimed poor communication and a failure to recognize the incident as significant made the situation more severe.

“This delay of recognition caused the loss of precious hours that could have allowed alternative courses of action to be considered which might have mitigated the depth and breadth of this emergency,” Dunbar said. According to the report, other agencies such as the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and the state Emergency Operations Center share the blame for failing to respond

properly. The best course of action would have been to close the highway to prevent more vehicles from being stranded, the report said. The report recommends reviewing state EOC procedures, establishing new forms of communication to alert drivers of such situations and, more importantly, getting rid of the mindset that “Wisconsin does not close highways.”

AMANDA SALM/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Gov. Jim Doyle apologizes to motorists who were stuck on Interstate 39/90 during the severe winter snow storm on Feb. 6 and 7 as a result of poor government response.

“…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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Weekend, February 22-24, 2008

An independent student newspaper, serving the University of Wisconsin-Madison community since 1892

Loss of hearing leads to tuna acceptance

Volume 117, Issue 94

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News and Editorial edit@dailycardinal.com Editor in Chief Jill Klosterman Managing Editor Jamie McMahon News Editor Jillian Levy Campus Editor Amanda Hoffstrom Abby Sears City Editor State Editor Charles Brace Opinion Editors Rachel Sherman Mark Thompson Arts Editors Emma Condon Ryan Hebel Sports Editors Nate Carey Ryan Reszel Features Editor Sarah Nance Food Editor Marly Schuman Science Editor Jennifer Evans Photo Editors Jacob Ela Amanda Salm Graphics Editors Meg Anderson Matt Riley Copy Chiefs Andrew Dambeck Al Morrell Gabe Ubatuba Copy Editors Caitlin Gath Mario Puig, Ryan Seib

Business and Advertising business@dailycardinal.com Business Manager Babu Gounder Billing Manager Alex Kusters Advertising Manager Marissa Gallus Christopher Guess Web Director Account Executives Natalie Kemp Sarah Resimius, Tom Shield Sheila Phillips Marketing Director Assistant Marketing Director Jeff Grimyser Creative Designer Joe Farrell Accounts Receivable Manager Jonathan Prod Archivist Erin Schmidtke The Daily Cardinal is published weekdays and distributed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and its surrounding community with a circulation of 10,000. 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. 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 typewritten, double-spaced and no longer than 200 words, including contact information. Letters may be sent to letters@dailycardinal.com.

Editorial Board Kyle Dropp Dave Heller Jill Klosterman John Leppanen Jamie McMahon Rachel Sherman Mark Thompson l

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KIERA WIATRAK taking kiera business

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t all started because my boyfriend thought I was going deaf. About a month ago, he noticed I had the volume on my TV much louder than before. He also mentioned I shouted into my cell phone—not just when I was talking to my parents—and my roommates were making references to things they weren’t supposed to hear. Then, communication became an issue. “There’s some two shelves down,” my boyfriend Jeff told me when I was looking for ﬂour to make a batch of cookies. “I will not have a threesome with a foolish clown!” I said. And then, a week later: “Does this dress make me look fat?” “No, but the color sort of washes

out your complexion,” he said. “You’re lost in my perfection? That’s so sweet!” And ﬁnally: “Do you want to eat out or make something here?” he asked. “Thanks, I’ve always thought my hair swings with the grace of a ballerina swan too.” “Kiera, that doesn’t even rhyme with what I said.” “I was hoping you wouldn’t notice.” Eventually, when Jeff tired of his unintentional compliments, I gave into his coaxing and decided to see a doctor. I called my dad to tell him. “So how long have you and Jeff been together?” my dad asked over the phone after I explained my predicament. “Umm, about 10 months. Why?” “Well, a few years ago, your mom thought I was losing my hearing too,” he said. “But it turned out my hearing was perfect. I was just ignoring her.” “Hmmm.”

“You and Jeff have been dating for a while now, so I’d deﬁnitely consider that possibility,” he encouraged. I was able to secure an appointment for the following week. First the doctors wanted to test my hearing to assess the magnitude of the problem. But as soon as she stuck that pointy ﬂashlight thing in my ear, she recoiled in horror. “I think I see the problem already,” she told me. “Your earwax has built up to unprecedented proportions, to the point where it’s negatively impacting your hearing.” After a few excruciating hours of doctors poking and scraping my ear to extract the wax, they sent me home, explaining that wax was basically taking over my ears and they hadn’t managed to get all of it out. How embarrassing. As the clock struck midnight on that evening last week, couples across the country kissed, wishing each other “Happy Valentine’s Day.” I, on the other hand, refused to stop screaming. “I feel like I’m giving birth through

my ear!” I yelled at Jeff. “How would you know what it feels like to give birth?” he asked, suspiciously. I shot him a seething glare and resumed my whining. The next day, I went back to the hospital where I was promised that more cleaning would bring an end to my suffering. This time, I brought Jeff with me since neither of us wanted to spend Valentine’s afternoon alone. “Will you still be attracted to me after this?” I asked him sheepishly. We both watched as the doctor pulled a rather large brownish chunk of wax from my ear. “Wow, this one looks like a raisin,” she said, waving the piece proudly for all of us to see. “It’s too bad earwax doesn’t have street value.” Jeff smiled and reached for my hand. “Of course I will,” he said. “But I never want to hear anything about my tuna and onion sandwiches again.” If you’re craving raisins, please don’t e-mail Kiera at wiatrak@wisc.edu.

Talks on smoking ban stall over compromises By Rebecca Autrey THE DAILY CARDINAL

Negotiations over a proposed statewide smoking ban broke down again Wednesday at the state Capitol. Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker, D-Weston, met with supporters and opponents of the ban, but the groups failed to reach a compromise on how, or if, a ban could be implemented. Decker proposed an immediate smoking ban on all restaurants and work places that do not sell alcohol. Under his proposal, the smoking ban on bars and taverns, however, would

not be in effect until July 1, 2011, under Decker’s proposal. Carrie Lynch, spokesperson for Decker, said the delay would give smaller institutions time to prepare their business for the ban. “A lot of these smaller businesses up north, they have their life savings invested in these places. These are their retirement plans,” Lynch said. A bill without amendments for bars and taverns is unlikely to pass, Lynch said. The state Legislature is in session until the end of March. If a bill does not pass by then, the process will have to start over in the 2009 session.

“This is the fastest way to get there,” she said, referring to possible passage of the bill. Under Decker’s plan all local smoking bans would be grandfathered in. Cities like Madison and Appleton would then still have bans in effect. State Assembly Rep. Steve Wieckert, R-Appleton, is a supporter of the ban and authored an Assembly version of the bill. He said Appleton residents have voted for a local ban three times. Wieckert said over 5,000 people per year die from second-hand smoke. He said he supports an immediate,

universal ban but said some compromise is acceptable if it moves the bill forward in the legislature. “I think what Senator Decker is doing is trying to delay the bill’s consideration by authoring all these amendments,” Wieckert said. Gov. Jim Doyle supports a statewide ban. State Sen. Roger Breske, D-Eland, does not support a smoking ban. He has previously said it is not the Legislature’s responsibility to regulate smoking. He has called the ban “hogwash,” saying it will not solve health problems in the state.

SSFC hears new funding eligibility proposal from RCF-UW

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Board of Directors Marissa Gallus Babu Gounder Nik Hawkins Tim Kelley Jill Klosterman Janet Larson Chris Long Benjamin Sayre Adam Schmidt Terry Shelton Jeff Smoller Jason Stein l

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By Jillian Levy THE DAILY CARDINAL

The Roman Catholic FoundationUW-Madison received a new eligibility hearing with the Associated Students of Madison Student Services Financial Committee Thursday to obtain university funding for the 2008-’10 academic years. RCF-UW members presented new information about services and educational opportunities they will provide to students that incorporate Roman Catholic elements into service projects on and off campus. The group detailed programs they

scanners from page 1

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

Pregnant or know someone who is?

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area, which is located near campus in the core of downtown. Additionally, establishments must fit a certain criteria to qualify for the ID scanners, Crim said. Bars that are new, newly transferred to the Density Plan area or facing disciplinary action from the Alcohol License Policy Committee for underage drinking violations are eligible. Liquor stores in the Density Plan area also qualify. Establishments considered restaurants by the terms of their liquor license cannot receive the ID scanners, but are encouraged to practice responsible ID checking procedures, Crim said. Plominski said establishments can reject the ID scanners if they don’t want to use them.

seek to fund with university fees including events during Wisconsin Welcome Week, fall and winter retreats and educational mini-courses. “What we focus on is how we, as UW-Madison students, can apply the teaching of the [Roman Catholic Church] to our lives,” Craig Grifﬁe, RCF-UW vice chair, said in the presentation. Following a decision in January from the ASM Student Judiciary, RCF-UW provided enough new information in an appeal case to receive a new hearing with SSFC. “We can take into consideration “You can’t make anybody do anything unless you put it as a condition on their license or you pass an ordinance requiring everybody to do it,” she said. Richard Lyshek, owner of Ram Head, said his establishment currently uses a different type of ID scanner that takes pictures of the ID. “I’m willing to try anything, but the problem is that these systems do have a few major flaws to them,” Lyshek said. Worn-out IDs may not scan properly and underage patrons with a valid ID that is not theirs could still enter the establishment, he said. Plominski said the program will also offer free training on how to work the ID scanners so they can be used to enhance current ID checking policies.

the past hearings,” SSFC Vice Chair Katrina Flores, said after the RCFUW’s presentation. “But personally, I’m looking at tonight as their new presentation because the other one was so long ago.” RCF-UW and UW-Madison began a battle over funding in 2006 when the group was denied funding from the university for items related to prayer and worship. SSFC denied funding to the group for the 2008’09 academic year, citing RCF-UW did not meet criteria to receive university funding. In January, U.S. District Court

influenza from page 1 “College campuses are probably one of the most vulnerable places for things to spread,” said Mae Knowles, a spokesperson for Meriter Hospital. The large groups of students living in crowded settings make it easier for the virus to spread. Orman recommended students stay home to prevent the spread of influenza, but said to communicate with professors ahead of time. “Take that time to let your body heal and rest,” Orman said. Half of the patients that reported to Meriter Hospital with flu symptoms this year have had a positive flu test of either strain A or strain B, according to Knowles. Out of those who tested positive for the flu, about a quarter of them had to be hospitalized for a variety of reasons, according to DeAnn Richards, RN

Judge John Shabaz ruled the policy SSFC used to deny the religious group funding unconstitutional. “We weren’t allowed to apply for those things and now we’re able to openly talk about the things we want to do,” Griffie said. SSFC will announce their final decision at their meeting Monday. The ASM Student Activity Center also presented their proposed budget for spring 2009. Their budget for the first six months of operation included technological costs, student hourly wages, worker training costs, office maintenance fees and telephone costs. and infection controls practitioner. “For the younger individuals we’re just seeing the typical flu issues of high fevers, general body aches, difficulties with shortness of breath and a productive cough,” Richards said. To prevent the spread of influenza, Orman advised students to wash their hands and use hand sanitizer. “The big thing we stress is to be very cautious about respiratory hygiene,” Orman said. Richards advised “cold respiratory etiquette,” or covering your cough with a tissue. Health practitioners still encourage students to get a flu vaccine because it will make the influenza case milder, Knowles said. Orman said the flu vaccine is still available at University Health Services, and students can make an appointment for the same day or the next day.

opinion dailycardinal.com/opinion

Weekend, February 22-24 2008

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Editorial Cartoon

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By Meg Anderson opinion@dailycardinal.com

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

id scanners not the right answer

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n January, the Policy, Alternatives, Community and Education Project met to discuss initiatives for the upcoming year. Among the community-based objectives was to conduct rigorous ID checks during the sale of alcohol using electronic ID scanners as a means of curbing underage consumption of alcohol in Madison. Recently, the Alcohol Policy Group—a branch of PACE comprised entirely of campus directors—announced they will offer electronic ID scanners and training free of charge to bars and alcohol retailers in the density area. Funding for these scanners will come from university-appointed funds from the budgets of campus directors on the partnership council. Although use of these scanners will not be mandated by the city, the fact that UW-Madison will be funding this crackdown makes it appear as though they are accepting all the blame for underage consumption and alcohol-related incidents throughout the entire city of Madison. Although it is a common problem, underage consumption is not reserved entirely to UWMadison students, and funding for this project should not come solely from university coffers. Further, the likelihood of these scanners actually preventing underage drinking is questionable. Richard Lyshek, owner of Ram

Head, a bar on North Henry street, stated that “these [scanners] do have a few major ﬂaws to them,” as worn out IDs do not scan correctly. If the ID appears valid, though, many small business owners are still likely to let the patron enter the establishment. A system like this is too flawed to serve its intended purpose. Underage drinkers will find a way to doctor IDs to avoid this measure, which carries a rather hefty price tag when applied to multiple bars in Madison. For what little money UWMadison currently has to allocate toward combating underage drinking, they would be smarter to not only invest in a more adequate method, but one that addresses its internal problems before assisting the entire city in this fight. Underage drinking occurs all over the campus. It happens in house parties, university housing—it is not restricted to bars in the downtown Madison area. Why should UW-Madison have to account for underage drinking from non-UW-Madison residents that frequent these bars? The city of Madison, including Capitol Neighborhoods Inc., and residents of the downtown district should account for a portion of the cost of this measure. Students alone are not responsible for every problem that occurs in city bars near the UWMadison campus.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Leave ban up to private businesses Emily Houtler says she’s not attempting to eradicate smokers’ freedom or rights by calling for a campus-wide smoking ban. Yet her claim that the majority should get what they want because they are the majority is a direct attack on freedom and rights. Rights, properly understood, are a protection against majority rule. The Founders were very aware of this fact, which is why America is a constitutional

republic and not a democracy. Any problems with smokers hanging out in doorways and sidewalks is a direct result of violating their rights and the rights of business owners. The majority has no right to dictate the smoking policies of private businesses. Those who don’t like their policies have the right not to patronize their establishments. —Jim Allard UW-Madison Senior

Voter registration fraud an administrative error By Mitra Jalali THE DAILY CARDINAL

Long before the days of touch screens and state-issued driver’s licenses, incentives were still high for either party to politicize electoral reform in a high-stakes electoral system where 49 percent doesn’t get you into ofﬁce. In the Progressive era, wealthy elites rushed to dismantle rural and immigrant populist voting majorities after the election of 1896. Similarly, in the late 19th century when newly freed black Americans constituted a substantial portion of the electorate, Democrats erected rules in response to alleged “voter fraud” committed by black voters. But it is the voters who ultimately shoulder the cost of the politicization of electoral reform, as lawmakers debate political realities instead of factual ones. Every election, the voter ID and voter fraud debate is resurrected, and lawmakers (exclusively Republicans in Wisconsin) take aim at an electoral practice that has been scape-goated over and over again to make voters the enemy—when in truth, the enemy is human error committed by the administration. When Wisconsin instituted same-day voter registration in 1976, voter turnout jumped significantly. In the 2006 election, states with same-day registration averaged a 48.7 percent turnout, compared with 38.2 percent in

states without same-day registration. As one of only nine states in the country practicing same-day registration, Wisconsin consistently produces more democratic electoral results overall than nonpracticing states. But AB-158, a Republican-sponsored bill in the Assembly right now, proposes to do away with same-day registration altogether, invoking the specter of “voter fraud” in Milwaukee from the past two presidential elections. A two-month investigation by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that 361 ineligible ex-felons voted in the 2001 election. Assuming this ﬁgure is correct, these 361 votes constitute no more than .002 percent of all Wisconsin voters in that election. A joint probe launched by Bush administration’s Department of Justice and Milwaukee District Attorney’s office settled the issue when it produced only seven convictions in the entire state—all attributed to clerical errors. The GOP contends that just because you can’t always prove or prosecute voter fraud doesn’t mean it isn’t rampant. What’s politically easier, though: ﬁling a public request for the IDs of 37,000 Milwaukee voters (most of which are poor, black and vote Democratic) so newspapers can run headlines for two months about unsubstantiated crimes, or legislating electoral reform based on the best research available? AB-158 also seeks to bring Wisconsin into full compliance with the 2002 federal Help America Vote Act and the National Voting Rights Act. With regard to HAVA, this means that unregistered voters can cast a provisional ballot that is retroactively verified. However, the post-election verification process requires the voter to appear in person with proper identification the next day, still creating the same amount of clerical work that same-day registration does without lessening the risk of voter “fraud” due to human error, as the vast majority of voter fraud today has been revealed to be. Further, Wisconsin’s State Voter Registration System, our

self-defense database against faulty addresses, is only updated after every presidential election. In the meantime, Wisconsinites are moving, graduating, sometimes going through multiple changes of address that aren’t being recorded in the voter registration database, leaving us with no defense against potentially fraudulent addresses. The National Voting Rights Act (popularly known as the Motor Voter Act) lets people register to vote when they apply for/renew their driver’s license or visit any public assistance office, something Wisconsin currently doesn’t allow. But 16-year-olds can’t vote, half of Wisconsin’s blacks don’t have driver’s licenses, and discontinuing the practice of same-day registration leaves everyone else to flock to increasingly popular and privately conducted voter registration drives. Traditionally, these drives have even higher rates of clerical error than governmentadministered registration on Election Day. In short, AB-158 appears to be tough on voter fraud and expands the number of opportunities Wisconsinites have to register to vote. In practice, it would do away with one of the most progressive electoral practices Wisconsin maintains to date, do nothing to decrease the risk of voter fraud and act as a textbook example of the politicization of electoral reform to another party’s advantage. It may have been a minor hassle on Tuesday to verify I wasn’t a convicted felon in conspiracy with Milwaukee’s poor and dead to give Al Gore another chance, but ﬁlling out a form and bringing a piece of mail with me were a small price to pay to participate in democracy. The administration of sameday registration could certainly do with vast reform, to be sure. But to do away with it altogether is not the solution to voter fraud. Voters and lawmakers alike should see through the politics to preserve true “electoral integrity.” Mitra Jalali is a senior majoring in political science. Please send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.

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Weekend, February 22-24, 2008

Academy Award debate 2008 Best Documentary: Nominees: “No End in Sight,” “Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience,” “Sicko,” “Taxi to the Dark Side,” “War Dance”

Best Supporting Actor:

Decision Three of the nominees concern the “War on Terror,” and one film separated itself from the many Iraq projects, fictional and non-fictional, to be released this year: political scientist Charles Ferguson’s “No End in Sight.” Relying not on pundits but on those involved in the War— from ground soldiers to Pentagon insiders—”No End in Sight” takes a coldly analytical approach that makes it all the more devastating. It certainly isn’t funnier than populist documentaries like “Sicko,” but it’s probably more necessary.� —Dan Wohl

Nominees: “There Will be Blood,” “No Country for Old Men,” “Atonement,” “Michael Clayton,” “Juno” Majority opinion Paul Thomas Anderson’s late Western “There Will Be Blood” isn’t an epic of cowboys and sprawling vistas. It’s one of a single man, and the meaningfulness and/or meaninglessness of life, a masterful mar-

riage between retro motifs and post-modern themes. From Daniel Day-Lewis’ ferociously unsubtle performance, to the heavy symbolism reflecting the birth of modern America, to the “Citizen Kane”style plot structure to Jonny Greenwood’s mesmerizing score, “There Will Be Blood” stands above all other films this year. —Dan Wohl

Minority opinion I’ve heard complaints that the Coen Brothers made “No Country” without the things that make their films great, like their great music selection and their off-beat humor. I call it diversifying. Joel and Ethan have made an uncompromising, visceral western and a thriller that defies conventions. Though I did love a lot about “There Will Be Blood,” Javier Bardem and Josh Brolin’s performances, along with the Coen Brothers’ great adaptation and

direction of a classic book, push “No Country” over the top. Ultimately, I think we’ll be discussing “No Country” 10 years from now like we discuss “Fargo” now. —Brad Boron

Nominees: Cate Blanchett, Julie Christie, Marion Cotillard, Laura Linney, Ellen Page

Majority In my mind, and most of the panels’, it’s Bardem’s bone-chilling Anton Chigurh and everyone else. Bardem plays pure evil personiﬁed and makes every scene he’s in a tense encounter. He made the bob haircut scary again (I never thought I’d be writing that phrase). In any lesser year, any of the other four nominees would have a chance, but Bardem carried much of “No Country,” and that’s worth something to me. —Brad Boron

Minority Casey Affleck isn’t just Ben’s little bro anymore. After starring in the 2007 gem “Gone Baby Gone,”Affleck’s finest feat this year was outshining Brad Pitt as the backstabbing Robert Ford in “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.” Affleck’s complex transformation from a sympathetic though gutlessmouse into a gun-slinging murderer single-handedly lifted this film from good to superb. Javier Bardem’s disturbing performance as a coin-tossing killer may be remembered as this year’s best, but if Affleck’s character taught us anything, it’s that public perception has a way of distorting the truth. —Ryan Hebel

Best Director: Nominees: “Diving Bell and the Butterfly,” “Juno,” “Michael Clayton,” “No Country for Old Men,” “There Will Be Blood” Majority No director has been hotter in the last decade than Paul Thomas Anderson. This year, “There Will Be Blood” joined his canon of greats— “Boogie Nights,” “Magnolia” and “Punch-Drunk Love”—and seems destined for masterpiece status. The most striking aspect of PTA’s direction is his risk-taking. The first 11 minutes of “Blood” contain no dialogue, allowing Daniel Day-Lewis’ acting and Jonny Greenwood’s score to sparkle. Likewise, “Blood’s” most ambitious scene, involving a fiery oil derrick, was perfectly shot in just one take. PTA’s calculated blend of morality, horror and humor made “Blood” feel... well... like Coen Brothers’ films once did. —Ryan Hebel

Minority: Dan’s Soapbox It is my view that the Best Director category is unconstitutional. Unlike an actor, or a screenwriter or a sound effects editor, there is only one thing directors can be judged on: their films as a whole. Nothing distinguishes “good directing” beyond how good the film is, and any argument to the contrary, as I see it, fails logically. One might claim a director did a great job despite a lackluster script, making the film not as good; my response would be that it was the director’s fault for not firing the screenwriter. Directors should get Oscars, of course, but I believe the category should be tied directly to Best Picture. —Dan Wohl

Best Original Screenplay:

Nominees: Daniel Day-Lewis, Viggo Mortensen, George Clooney, Johnny Depp, Tommy Lee Jones Unanimous decision “Here, if you have a milkshake, and I have a milkshake, and I have a straw. There it is, that’s a straw, you see? You watching? And my straw reaches acroooooooss the room, and starts to drink your milkshake ... I ... drink... your... milkshake!” There’s probably nothing else to say about Day-Lewis’ volatile and imposing portrayal of Daniel Plainview. —Emma Condon

Nominees: “Persepolis,” Ratatouille,” “Surf ’s Up”

Nominees: “Juno,” “Lars and the Real Girl,” “Michael Clayton,” “Ratatouille,” “The Savages” Decision Although some on the committee disagree with this pick, I don’t understand the outright hatred so many people have for “Juno.” I hear claims like “It’s not real enough.” So a man falling in love with a blow-up doll, like fellow nominee “Lars and the Real Girl,” is real enough for you, but a pregnant teenager isn’t? Do you really want to make that argument? For my money, “Juno” is smart, funny and emotionally resonant, if not entirely “realistic.” Whatever the result, there will be some very disappointed people when this winner’s announced. —Brad Boron

Best Actor:

Best Animated Feature:

Nominees: Casey Afﬂeck, Javier Bardem, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Hal Holbrook, Tom Wilkinson

Top 5 Favorites from 2008 Eunice Abraham Brad Boron

Dan Wohl

Emma Condon Ryan Hebel

1. “There Will Be Blood” 2. “Juno” 3. “Once” 4. “Knocked up” 5. “Ratatouille”

1. “There Will be Blood” 2.”The Bourne Ultimatum” 3. “Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead” 4. “Ratatouille” 5. “Sunshine”

1. “There Will Be Blood” 2. “Sweeney Todd” 3. “Knocked Up” 4. “Atonement” 5. “King of Kong”

1. “No Country for Old Men” 2. “There Will Be Blood” 3. “Juno” 4. “Ratatouille” 5. “Sweeney Todd”

1. “There Will Be Blood” 2. “Once” 3. “Lars and the Real Girl” 4. “Eastern Promises” 5. “The Diving Bell and the Butterﬂy”

Memorable quotes and scenes selected by Cardinal Staff Javier Bardem kicks in the door to a hotel room, and before the door even hits the wall the innocent man sitting in bed has buckshot buried in his chest. —from “No Country for Old Men,” submitted by Mark Riechers The ﬁnal scene of Michael Clayton, where George Clooney verbally eviscerates Tilda Swinton. —from “Michael Clayton,” submitted by Samuel Todd Stevens Sweeney Todd: “I can guarantee the closest shave you’ll ever know.” � —from “Sweeney Todd,” submitted by Kevin Slane�

Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova performing “Falling Slowly.” —scene from “Once”, submitted by Samuel Todd Stevens

Saoirse Ronan, the type-writer music and Kiera Knightley’s green dress in the ﬁrst-third of “Atonement.” —submitted by Anna Williams

Anton Chigurh: “What’s the most you ever lost on a coin toss?” —from “No Country for Old Men,” submitted by Brien Barrett

Daniel Plainview: “I drink your milkshake... I DRINK IT UP!” —from “There will be Blood,” submitted by Alex Morrell

Well, I am sure that at some point in “Norbit” Eddie Murphy ran around screaming, ran into Eddie Murphy and screamed some more, and then asked Eddie Murphy for help. Then three useless characters were thrown in failing to advance the plot in anyway. Oscar gold. —submitted by Megan Corbett

Carson Wells: “Do you have any idea how goddamn crazy you are?” Anton Chigurh: “You mean the nature of this conversation?” Carson Wells: “I mean the nature of you.” —from “No Country for Old Men,” submitted by Brien Barrett

Juno: “Oh, and she (her mother) inexplicably mails me a cactus every Valentine’s Day. And I’m like, ‘Thanks a heap coyote ugly. This cactus-gram stings even worse than your abandonment.’” —from “Juno,” submitted by Caissa M. Casarez

Sweeney Todd: “There’s a hole in the world like a great black pit, and it’s ﬁlled with people who are ﬁlled of shit, and the vermin of the world inhabit it, and it goes by the name of ‘London.’” —from “Sweeney Todd,” submitted by Kevin Slane�

Juno: “You should’ve gone to China, you know, ‘cause I hear they give away babies like free iPods. You know, they pretty much just put them in those T-shirt guns and shoot them out at sporting events.” —from “Juno,” submitted by Caissa M. Casarez Seth: “When I was a little kid, I kinda had this problem. And it’s not even that big of a deal, something like 8 percent of kids do it. For some reason, I don’t know why. I would just kinda... sit around all day... and draw pictures of dicks...” —from “Superbad,” submitted by Kevin Slane ��

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Decision Three very good films duke it out in the Best Animated Feature category, but only one can stand on top. “Surf ’s Up” is a fun comedy about penguins, but this isn’t the first time our waddling friends have invaded the big screen. “Persepolis” has a great chance of winning for its social commentary, but “Ratatouille’s” commercial success is not unmerited. CGI is at its finest as the sights and sounds (and even the smells and tastes) of Paris are recreated and experienced from a rat’s point of view. Filled with sharp dialogue, comedy, romance and inspiration, “Ratatouille” looks to solidify its five-star status with an Oscar statuette. —Eunice Abraham

Graphics by Matt Riley “No, this is not a food baby all right? I’ve taken like three pregnancy tests, and I’m forshizz up the spout.” —from “Juno,” submitted by Caissa M. Casarez Juno: “As far as boyfriends go, Paulie Bleeker is totally boss. He is the cheese to my macaroni.” —from “Juno,” submitted by Caissa M. Casarez Carla Jean Moss: “You don’t have to do this.” Anton Chigurh: [smiling] “Everybody says that.” —from “No Country for Old Men,” submitted by Brien Barrett

5

Best Actress:

We put the major contenders through the gauntlet. A panel of Cardinal jurors debate the merits of this year’s best. Best Picture:

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Majority Although some critics pegged Julie Christie to win Best Actress for her role as an Alzheimer’s victim in “Away From Her,” Ellen Page’s performance as a quirky, pregnant teen in “Juno” has all eyes on her. Page conveys Juno’s youthful sassiness and wit through her mannerisms and snappy speech. Page also adds an endearing quality to her performance that allows audience members to fall in love with her character. A win for Page will probably be the Academy’s way of acknowledging the ﬁlm as a whole, since it is highly unlikely “Juno” will capture any more awards. —Eunice Abraham

Minority In one of the worst decisions of recent Oscar history, Blanchett was snubbed nine years ago, having played the same role in “Elizabeth,” in favor of Gwyneth Paltrow in “Shakespeare in Love.” Compare the Best Actor and Actress nominations any year: All five of the actors are always the film, while actresses receive so few major roles that many of them are supporting roles. To pass over the rare larger-than-life historical performance Blanchett gave was a crime then, and it should be rectified now.�� —Dan Wohl

Best Supporting Actress: Nominees: Cate Blanchett, Ruby Dee, Saoirse Ronan, Amy Ryan, Tilda Swinton Majority From Charlize Theron to Hilary Swank, the Academy tends to award actresses who take on less ... “feminine” roles. Cate Blanchett did both in 2007, portraying one of the six Bob Dylans in the ambitious, arthouse biopic, “I’m Not There.” Frankly, it seemed like Blanchett really wasn’t there, morphing into the frizzy haired, sunglass-wearing legend in his most seething and disdainful stage and pulling off a stark realism unmatched by her male counterparts. Although the ﬁlm itself is overrated, boring and pessimistic, Blanchett’s performance alone gives it shelter from the storm. —Ryan Hebel

Best Cinematography: Nominees: “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford,” “Atonement,” “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly,” “No Country for Old Men,” “There Will Be Blood” The scope alone of Robert Elswit’s expansive cinematography in “There Will Be Blood” is worthy of the Academy’s praise. Elswit translates vast expanses into dynamic and powerful frames. Especially in the first 15 minutes of the film that hang without dialogue, Elswit’s careful control of framing and composition focuses the plot and grants every scene the detail it requires. —Emma Condon

Minority Amy Ryan may be overlooked for supporting actress award purely because Blanchett’s role as Bob Dylan was so shocking. While Ryan was cast as Helene McCready, the unsympathetic, neglectful, drugaddicted mother of a missing girl, she stole “Gone Baby Gone.” Ryan’s commitment to her character was stunning and her command of the screen terriﬁc. —Emma Condon