Thursday, February 13, 2020 - The Daily Cardinal

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Thursday, February 13, 2020

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UW contributes to mindfulness research

Evolving Inclusivity: TV representation of the past and present +Arts, page 4

+Science, page 6

Opposition of F-35s in Madison leads forum

By Addison Lathers CITY NEWS EDITOR

Activists and experts speak against a potential base for F-35 jets located in Madison in a public forum, highlighting growing amounts of pollution and environmental injustice.

The event came in preparation for the anticipated mid-February release of the federally mandated final Environmental Impact Study.

The final decision to bring the jets to Truax Field, a military facility located at Dane County Regional Airport six miles northeast of downtown Madison, will be made by the Air Force 30 days after the study.

The forum, sponsored by Safe Skies Clean Water Wisconsin, including Ald. Rebecca Kemble, District 18, Maria Powell of the Midwest Environmental Justice Organization and Brian Benford, the former president of the City of Madison Equal Opportunities Commission.

Panelists focused on the increase of chemicals commonly known as PFAS due to the inevitable pollution of the F-35s, which are classified as nuclear weapons delivery systems.

“There are all kinds of health problems associated with [PFAS].

Cancer, thyroid problems, all kinds

of things,” said Tom Boswell, the community organizer of Safe Skies Clean Water Wisconsin. “It’s in our water. Starkweather Creek is probably one of the most contaminated places in the state.”

It was also noted by panelists that the effects of the noise and military-grade pollution will disproportionately affect neighborhoods closest to Truax Field, mainly populated by low-income residents and people of color.

“We know F-35s are bad. How do we know that? A lot of our information is from the Air Force’s own information,” Ald. Kemble stated. “We learned in August when they released the draft of the first EIS how bad these are for humans to be around.”

Kemble pointed out that the jobs created by the aircraft base will be sourced out or given to contractors instead of going to locals. He added that while the Air Force promises to mitigate noise, in actuality they have no resources to accomplish this, as shown in the draft of the EIS. “There’s a myth that the International Guard is a good neighbor,” Kemble said. “Well, tell that to people who have been

GRAPHIC BY MAGGIE LIU

A public forum was held Sunday to inform residents of the dangers of F-35 fighter jets in Madison. sexually harassed and assaulted.

The guard is now under federal investigation for that.”

Max Prestigiacomo, UW-Madison student and next District 8 Alder, was shocked by the potential effects of an F-35 base in Madison.

“Sitting in the audience at the F-35 forum struck me with immense fear for our community,” Prestigiacomo stated. “I’m fearful for our water that’s cur-

rently being tainted with PFAS and on course to increase if F-35s are placed in Madison. I’m fearful that our country will not stop wasting billions and trillions of taxpayer dollars on war machines that perpetuate the climate crisis.”

Nada Elmikashfi, another UW-Madison student that attended the forum, expressed concern for the vulnerable populations on the East Side that would be most

affected by an F-35 base.

“Wisconsin has a long way to go when it comes to healing the racial disparities that divide our communities,” she said. “However, immoral capitalist-racism has never been more unapologetic than it is with this proposal. This is not what we stand for in Madison.”

If Truax Field is chosen by the Air Force after the release of the EIS, the F-35 jets would arrive in 2024.

Waiting for mental health help, timely treatment’s importance

By Alexa Chatham STAFF WRITER

Whether through flyers posted on library bulletins, a mass email or tabling events around campus, University Health Services makes themselves known to UW-Madison students from the beginning of their college careers.

Being aware services exist can be key to improving the wellbeing and daily lives of college students struggling with mental health, according to Director of the UW-Madison

Counseling Psychology Training Clinic Dr. Stephanie Graham.

“Knowing that there are supports around and building that into your regular routine can really help you complete assignments for your courses, attend classes and get additional wraparound support by talking with other people on campus,” she explained.

While campus services are welladvertised, students have often faced barriers in getting timely help — despite known benefits.

TAYLOR WOLFRAM/THE DAILY CARDINAL

MHS responds to student demands for quicker mental health help.

Subsequently, UHS’ Mental Health Services has been forced to respond to students’ calls for improvement.

When MHS was created, staff hoped counseling sessions would occur within a few days of students contacting the center, according to Mental Health Interim Director Andrea Lawson.

However, due to demand for services and the limited amount of providers, the waiting period has become an average of two weeks. “[The waiting period] is really not what we want, or what we know students need,” said Lawson.

“There is a difference between ideal and actuality right now.”

Delayed action Students often first get in contact with MHS through an access appointment — a 20-minute phone call in which students discuss what services they might need and an MHS professional advises them on next steps.

Lawson explained that in addition to these calls, every weekday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. there are drop-in services with a counselor available.

“If you can’t wait for an access appointment, or you need to be seen sooner, you can come in and do that as well,” she said.

UW-Madison students search-

ing for mental health help have often tolerated MHS’ waiting period, but for some students that time has had a negative impact.

Although UW-Madison junior Elizabeth Taubner has not needed MHS’ services herself, she shared her roommate had a serious emergency with her medication.

Taubner’s roommate repeatedly contacted MHS but struggled to get scheduled for an appointment due to limited resources.

“When she finally got someone on the phone, they were typically extremely unenthused and uninterested in helping her,” Taubner said.

MHS said it would be a month before they could provide assistance.

Protocol requires UHS to take up to 24 hours for medication and 48 hours for other types of treatment, which can inhibit someone’s immediate access to medication.

“We really want to work with students, but we also need students to work with us in terms of how we can prescribe in a way that is ethically grounded in protocols and appropriate care of students,” Lawson stated in response to situations like that of Taubner’s roommate.

Students waiting until the last minute to seek services put pres-

sure on an already-strained system, Graham added. But getting help early also has its own benefits.

“People in our culture wait until they’re really struggling academically to get support, but early intervention has shown to be really effective to get you back on track,” she explained.

Responding to calls for change Lawson emphasized MHS is determined to see as many students as they can within a semester.

In response to student demand, MHS has taken steps to shorten their waiting period: they recently hired two additional counselors which will ideally cut wait time from two weeks to one week at the longest.

For individuals who absolutely cannot wait two weeks for a session, MHS implemented “on-call services,” in which students can call at any time of day to discuss their situation with a trained professional.

“In the context of a semester, if one has to wait 10 weeks for an appointment then you’re at the end of the semester, rather than the beginning,” Lawson said. “Access to care influences your academic abilities and your potential for that semester. Because of

MHS page 2

“…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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Thursday, February 13, 2020

MHS from page 1 An independent student newspaper, serving the University of Wisconsin-Madison community since 1892 Volume 129, Issue 18

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News and Editorial edit@dailycardinal.com Editor-in-Chief Robyn Cawley

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Editorial Board Robyn Cawley • Erin Jordan • Sam Jones • Anupras Mohapatra • Kavitha Babu • Max Homstad • Lauren Souza • Hazel Levy • Sam Nesovanovic Board of Directors Herman Baumann, President Jennifer Sereno • Don Miner • Scott Girard • Josh Klemons • Barbara Arnold • Robyn Cawley • Erin Jordan • Ignatius D. Devkalis • Nick Dotson

that, we really want to be mindful of that responsiveness.”

Students who desire a shorter waiting period may be referred to counseling resources within the Madison community, such as Madison’s Community Counseling Center.

The Community Counseling Center offers free 30-minute sessions. These can be followed up with a one-hour “intake session” in which the therapist and patient will determine how

to best proceed.

MHS tends to recommend these outside services to insured students — as the university cannot provide coverage for off-campus services — so they can find someone who can see them for the entirety of their academic career.

Lawson acknowledged in some circumstances it’s best for students — like Taubner’s roommate who ended up dropping out for the fall semester to participate in an inpatient program — to get more specialized treatment.

“We really want to support students in getting the level of care that they need, so there will be some students who it’s in their very best interest to withdraw from school and to get services at a higher level,” she said.

For some students, like UW-Madison junior Olivia Pralle, once they are able to get in touch with a counselor, they can get back on track.

“During the worst week of my life, my counselor really helped me,” Pralle said.

Pralle first sought help from

a physician who provided direct referral to MHS, which Lawson explained can expedite service.

“One thing that I want students to know is that there’s always some type of support available, whether it be an urgent appointment, a drop-in support group or even a phone call, to get the process rolling in setting up a regular service,” Graham said. “Those are all helpful interventions that can provide someone who’s struggling with a sense of accomplishment that they’re taking the next step toward their health.”

WI assembly passes new free speech bill

By Michael Parsky ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR

To the dismay of many Democrats, the Wisconsin State Assembly passed a bill Tuesday that would impose disciplinary measures against students who violate free speech guidelines on college campuses.

Under the new Campus Free Speech Bill, Wisconsin colleges and universities would be required to suspend students after two instances of “violent or other disorderly conduct that materially and substantially disrupts [the] free speech of others.”

Students will be expelled after a third incident that infringes on or disobeys free speech policy.

The new legislation passed 62-37, following a failed attempt by Republican lawmakers in 2017. Only Rep. Shae Sortwell, R-Two Rivers, voted outside of party lines.

Sortwell told the Cap Times he supported the purpose of the bill, but wanted the Legislature to spend more time deliberating to make the legislation more explicit in its actual implementation.

“I still think there were things that needed to be worked out to make sure this wasn’t abused by colleges and universities to squelch free speech,” Sortwell said.

“Otherwise it’s kind of left up to the discretion of a university official, incident by incident.”

The bill expands on a similar policy adopted by the UW System Board of Regents in October 2019 intended to reinforce the same constitutional protections afforded by the first amendment.

“The UW regents agree[d] with this reasoning and thinking that these are the types of policies we need to have on our college campuses to have the civil debate and dialogue and exchange of ideas,” said Rep. Cody Horlacher, R-Mukwonago.

On the other side of the aisle, however, a chorus of Democrats expressed discontent with the bill.

Rep. Katrina Shankland, D-Stevens Point, called the legislation

a “draconian state statute,” and Rep. Gary Hebl, D-Sun Prairie, described the bill as “a partisan waste of time,” according to the Cap Times.

Shankland agreed with Sortwell that she wished the bill came to the Assembly under more concrete conditions. She also said the Legislature should focus its attention on other priorities related to colleges and universities.

If the legislation passes the state Senate, Gov. Tony Evers will most likely veto the bill. “[This bill] is designed to inflame partisan tensions at a time when we should be focusing on investing in higher education, making it more affordable and giving students every opportunity and chance to succeed,” Shankland said.

A prior assessment by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education — which disputed criticism the group supports conservative values — gave no positive ratings to Wisconsin institutions, the Cap Times reported.

Some contention toward free speech on college campuses draws from a 2016 speech by conservative political speaker Ben Shapiro disrupted by student protesters, who left after 10 minutes and Shapiro continued on with his talk.

While Republicans say instances like the Shapiro speech necessitate more stringent policies to protect free speech, other lawmakers, such as Rep. Chris Taylor, D-Madison, believe college students already possess restraint and can carry out peaceful demonstrations on their own accord.

“Our students actually have, it seems to me, a better depth of understanding of the First Amendment than some in this body,” Taylor said. “If you’re curious to see what’s happening on campus, go to campus. I guarantee you will be listened to, you will be heard, you will have the opportunity to engage in a discussion.”

For the record Correction: Last week’s Life and Style section reported WCER was an available study space for students and non-WCER persons. In fact, the 13th floor of the Educational Sciences building is only open to the WCER community.

Corrections or clarifications? Call The Daily Cardinal office at 608262-8000 or send an email to edit@dailycardinal.com.

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Colleges will now punish students who violate free speech on campus.

PHOTO COURTESY OF USDA

Hmong and politicans in the Midwest spoke out against Trump’s policy.

Federal negotiations to deport Hmong causes local backlash

By Emma Grenzebach STAFF WRITER

Amid reports the Trump administration is in negotiations with Laos regarding the deportation of certain Hmong and Lao residents from the U.S., Hmong communities in Wisconsin are pushing back.

In late January, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with Lao foreign minister Saleumxay Kommasith where administration began negotiating a plan for the deportation of longtime Lao and Hmong residents across the country.

If passed, the repatriation effort would affect more than 4,500 noncitizen Hmong and Lao people who have committed crimes or deportation orders against them.

On Feb. 3, U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum wrote a letter to Pompeo opposing the negotiations, calling the proposal “unconscionable.”

“Any repatriation agreement resulting in the deportation of Hmong-Lao community members will be viewed as a direct attack on my constituents and their family members,” McCollum wrote in the letter.

The Hmong community in Wisconsin and politicians in areas with Hmong populations also spoke out against the recent proposal.

Many Hmong residents first came to the U.S. in the 1970s as refugees from the Vietnam War. Laos was not safe for the Hmong then and, according to Long Vue, executive director of a nationwide coalition of Hmong associations, it is not safe for them now.

“We still have Hmong in Laos still being persecuted today,” Vue told WPR. “Basically they’ll be persecuted, imprisoned or killed.”

According to the U.S. Census, there are about 49,000 Hmong people living in Wisconsin — the majority of whom are U.S. citizens.

Many of the Hmong residents who would be sent back to Laos have no family there and don’t speak the country’s native language.

Bill Harper, Rep. McCollum’s

chief of staff, said the Lao government has resisted any repatriation agreement because it does not want to receive thousands of people, especially those who will have a hard time melding into society.

Zac Vang, a member of the Hmong Madison group, said the lack of family ties, combined with the chance of being deported to a dangerous country their families were forced to flee, is a big reason for concern around the proposal by the Trump administration.

“We came here as refugees, not necessarily immigrants,” Vang said. “[People] could actually be killed or put into camps that are like prisons [in Laos].”

Thomas Nelson, the county executive of Outagamie County, sent a letter to Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin, to try to protect his Hmong constituents. Nelson said the news sent shockwaves through the Hmong community and feels the U.S. must continue their policy of supporting the group, which dates back to the Vietnam Era. The Hmong volunteered to help the U.S. in the Secret War in Vietnam in the 1970s against communist rule in Laos, where many risked their lives both during the fighting and upon attempting to flee the country, the Hmong Club at UW-Platteville said.

The U.S.’ aid in resettling generations of Hmong in America is one reason why Nelson wrote to Johnson urging him to address the proposal.

“We had an obligation then and we have an obligation now to support and protect them,” Nelson wrote.

If the proposal continues, many Hmong leaders are calling for political action.

“The Hmong community will come out and vote in this election if [the proposal] does go through, and they will remember it,” said Yee Leng Xiong, director of the Hmong American Center in Wausau.

sports Badger players gear up for NFL Draft: A look at where top players might land

By Matthew Neschis SPORTS WRITER

As per usual, Wisconsin’s football organization is budding with NFL caliber talent, and with the Super Bowl comeback of Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs now a distant memory, the NFL Draft is on everyone’s mind.

Hoping to replicate the NFL success of past Badgers such as Russel Wilson or JJ Watt, many of Wiscosin’s best players will soon become professionals.

Let’s take a look at where these Wiscosnsin Badgers may land in the NFL draft.

Jonathan Taylor, Running Back Over the past three seasons, Jonathan Taylor has acted as the offensive pillar the Badgers. The star running back has broken several impressive records while at Wisconsin, including the FBS record for most rushing yards through his junior year with 6,174, and the most 200-yard rushing games with 12.

In addition to these impressive feats, JT finished as the number six all time rusher in NCAA history, also finishing within the top ten in Heisman contention in all three of his college seasons.

However, with these accomplishments also come areas of concern. Through his three years at Wisconsin Taylor has had a problem holding on to the ball. When compared with the other top running backs entering the 2020 draft — such as Ohio State’s J.K Dobbins or Georgia’s D’Andre Swift — JT has more than double the fumbles committed over the last three years.

Because Taylor is seen as being careless with the football, he isn’t the top running back of his class.

That being said, JT is still very likely to be picked during one of the earlier rounds.

Some landing spots for Taylor include the Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins and Baltimore Ravens.

The transition for Taylor to the Colts would be perhaps the most seamless, as both the Badgers and Colts are known for their strong offensive lines.

Wisconsin’s offensive line this year was considered one of the best run blocking O-lines in the nation, with stars like Tyler Biadasz and Tyler Beach.

As for the Colts, their O-line was ranked third best in the NFL this past season, with Quenton Nelson leading the charge as the number one runblocking offensive guard over the past two years.

Taylor would likely be available when the Colts pick at 34 or 44 in the 2nd round, and act as a good fit alongside Jacoby Brisset behind that powerful line.

Prediction: Indianapolis Colts, pick 44 Zack Baun, Linebacker Baun was a dominant part of

Wisconsin’s ruthless defense this year, but his success didn’t come easy. A broken foot injury in 2017 cost Baun his entire season and a ton of draft stock.

However, that changed after his remarkable Senior year at Wisconsin. In 12 games playing for the Badgers, Baun recorded 53 solo tackles, a team leading 12.5 sacks from the edge, and one pick six.

These stats should warrant a very early spot in the draft, but due to a stacked defensive class — think Ohio State’s Chase Young and linebackers Isaiah Simmons from Clemson and Oklahoma’s Kenneth Murray — Baun will likely fall to the late 2nd or 3rd round.

A team that may be interested in snagging Baun, the Carolina Panthers.

This offseason the Panthers lost one of the best linebackers in the league in Luke Kuechly, who decided to retire after eight strong seasons with the team.

Looking to replace Kuechly, the Panthers may select Baun due to his similar features and playing style.

Kuechly was listed at 6’3’’ 238 lbs, and Baun is entering the draft at 6’3’’ 235 lbs, nearly identical measurements.

Kuechly was a dominant off-ball linebacker, a play style Baun will likely transition to when he joins the NFL. Although Baun impressed scouts with his ability to blitz off the edge, he truly excelled when dropping back in pass coverage. This skill was demonstrated by Baun’s two interceptions this season, where he showed great zone coverage instincts and impressive handeye coordination.

Prediction: Carolina Panthers, pick 69 Tyler Biadasz, Center Junior Tyler Biadasz will enter the draft as arguably the best center in this year’s class.

Among his many accomplishments, Biadasz was a unanimous All-American selection in 2019 and honored with the Rimington award for most outstanding center, something never before given to a Wisconsin offensive linemen.

His run blocking was also one of the main reasons for running back Jonathan Taylor’s historic three seasons with the Badgers.

Due to his impressive play, Biadasz will likely warrant an early to middle 2nd round draft pick. Some probable suitors for Biadasz include the New York Jets and Los Angeles Rams.

The New York Jets offensive line was truly horrendous in 2019.

Big free agency signings such as center Ryan Kalil and tackle Kelechi Osemele completely backfired for the Jets, as neither player was able to finish the season with the team.

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Jonathan Taylor was a monster for three years at Wisconsin, and will look to produce at that level for a team in the NFL. In addition, due to an injury bug that plagued the Jets, there were nine different o-line player combinations thrown out on the field throughout the season, thus preventing any consistency.

It resulted in newly signed running back Le’veon Bell having his worst statistical season ever, and the Jets finishing dead last in total offense.

If they choose to draft Biadasz with the 48th pick, the Jets will greatly upgrade their dismal o-line and finally replace longtime Jet, and future hall of fame center Nick Mangold.

Prediction: New York Jets, pick 48 Quintez Cephus, Reciever Cephus was a large part of the Badgers offense in 2019, but just like Baun, he too had a rough start to his college career. Cephus’ first substantial playing time came in 2017, in which he caught 30 passes for 501 yards and six touchdowns before a broken leg terminated his season.

To make matters worse, in 2018 Cephus was removed from the football team amid allega-

tions of a sexual assault that took place in April that year.

Cephus was later acquitted during his trial and was reinstated to Wisconsin to carry out his junior year.

Cephus put these issues behind him and didn’t disappoint in 2019, catching 59 passes for 901 yards and seven touchdowns.

Due to this impressive play, Cephus decided to forgo his senior year at the university and enter the NFL draft.

However, as a result of his inconsistent playing time leading up to his dominant Junior year, Cephus is likely to fall to one of the mid/late rounds.

A possible landing spot for Cephus is the New England Patriots, who will likely be looking to fill their desolate wide receiver position this upcoming draft.

The Patriots passing offense struggled last season due to the departure of star tight end Rob Gronkowski, and inconsistent play of wide receivers Mohamad Sanu and N’keal Harry.

The Pat’s have proven time and again their ability to find diamonds in the rough during

later picks of the draft, and Cephus may just as well be the next one they find.

Prediction: New England Patriots, pick 125 Other departing Badgers Some other notable Wisconsin draft prospects include linebacker Chris Orr and tackle David Moorman.

Orr had a very impressive 2019 season after finally being given the starting role in his senior year. In 14 games with the Badgers, Orr erupted for 11.5 sacks, 78 total tackles and two forced fumbles.

However, Orr’s struggles with covering large zones, and his small build in relation to NFL inside linebackers are the main reasons why he will likely go undrafted.

Another Badger who will likely not hear his name called in the draft is Offensive Tackle David Moorman.

Moorman was a true team player for Wisconsin, as he frequently changed positions on the offensive line and even played tight end when needed.

However, his skills are most likely not good enough to transfer to the NFL.

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Evolving Inclusivity: Why so picky, bitches?

And the areas it often tries to — Castle and Beckett’s flirtatious banter, Bones and Booth proving opposites attract and that one room the doctors or interns or residents continuously have sex in — viewers engage with forced external dramatic situations that create internal turmoil and the cycle repeats itself every five to eight episodes within a season.

Why should we invest our time with characters we aren’t able to form true connections with, if that is the intention of the TV program?

Essentially, why should we care?

This is where r e p r e s e nt at i o n suffers because it does not truly exist, and if it does, it’s superficial. Without the ability for viewers to form connections with characters, a queer character that is added after seven seasons feels more like a requirement than a meaningful discussion of their sexuality.

Reminiscing on the past and thinking about our current favorites allows us to develop a feminist framework of shows we’re starting to see — here’s looking at you, “Euphoria” — the ones we have yet to see and the ones we will develop once we’re in the writer’s room.

Viewers have the ability to cri-

love on “One Day at a Time” and teens of color from multiple marginalized identities in “On My Block.”

In order to acknowledge the greatness of these shows, we each grew up watching shows that were great for the time and addicting in their own way. Both of us grew up when USA Network was reaching its prime: “Covert Affairs,” “Suits” and “Graceland” featured snappy dialogue, intriguing narratives and powerful female characters.

On the surface, yes, they are doing well. (And yes, we still watch them).

However, they excel like a classic Sorkinsim.

The characters worked for the time, providing a taste of ‘diversity’ and progressive flair. The problem lies in their representations of toxic masculinity, heteronormative romances and the centralization of whiteness.

And don’t get us wrong, it’s still happening —#OscarsSoWhite — but knowing the shows we grew up had their blatant problems, it allows us to search for wrongdoing in the narratives of the shows we watch now, and the ones we will create in the future.

While these shows strayed from mainstream viewership,

succ e s s is in their attempts to balance a gripping narrative with a new case every week for the audience to tackle.

While it was fun to watch 22 episodes of the same characters meeting n e w

watch them. We are one of many reasons shows have the ability to stay on air, but not the only factor. Production costs, seasoned actors and profitability are what networks are often considering in the process of greenlighting a pilot or canceling a long-running show.

Being inclusive is a tiny part of the puzzle, which can lead to the loss of progressive programming or the persistence of lazy successes, such as “Blue Bloods” or “NCIS.” It’ s no doubt the shows are popular, especially among folx who watch local channels for their nightly news coverage, but they aren’t revolutionizing television.

Networks often settle for tradition over progressive storylines, because there is money in safety. If honest, queer love between people of color is a risk to them, there is less of a chance they are going to take it. Thank you so much FX for your bond with the accredited Ryan Murphy so we can watch Lil Papi and Angel’s romance and Mother Blanca teach us love.

Yet, we want risk — because, like many folx who are watching TV, we are expecting something better.

Why settle for the past when we have the ability to have a hand in creating the future?

Much of television is meant to excite us, teach us, uplift us and provide an escape from our realities — why not live in an intersectional fantasy where hope is high, characters are flawed and love is honest?

Because we hold this power to amplify narratives — or knock them down — audiences are becoming more trusted. We are taking away the nuggets of morality we deem valuable and transferrable, showing fluidity in representation.

Thus, the two of us Arts folx will develop a series of articles exploring the evolution of representation in television.

We are navigating which shows are transformative and presenting accurate de p i c t i o n s of people of color, queer relationships and raw explorations of mental health.

The shift towards more inclusive television has begun in this culture of social justice advocacy, where we are able to distinguish which shows are doing the work and which are ‘appearing’ to.

Look out for the next chapter in our Evolving Inclusivity series coming soon to the Arts section of The Daily Cardinal.

OF V ARIET Y

Much of our friendship is built on long nights of bingewatching, never-ending conversations and the whistling of the tea kettle. In fact, the start of our relationship was in sophomore year of high school with the simple question: Have you ever seen “Sherlock?”

The answer was ‘yes,’ sparking the evolution of our TV viewing to find more inclusive television programs and see characters like ourselves portrayed on the screen.

And while “Sherlock” r e m a i n s a timeless rewatch, it’s a far cry from the programs we’re watching on TV today.

Throughout the years, our interests have shifted towards intersectional feminist creative work that tend to be underrepresented — both onscreen and behind the camera. No, we don’t have a checklist of what makes a TV show great — that’s actually why a lot of programs fail to be inclusive. However, viewers know true representation when they see it.

While fans have become more vocal about what they want to see onscreen, some networks and streaming services introduce stereotypical supporting characters that remain underdeveloped and exoticized, such as a Latinx woman depicted as a maid or the male gay best friend or the smart Asian or the angry Black woman or lighterskinned POC — dare I go on?

But to all those networks and writers that say they are trying we say — no more tokenization or fetishization, how about representation?

So, contrary to popular belief, as viewers, we hold some power. The power to be picky ass bitches, as we would call it.

We have the ability to reframe the traditional criteria of television. The influence of ratings and viewership enables us to push networks and streaming services towards more honest — and more accurate — representations of marginalized intersectional identities.

As we discussed in a previous love letter, our focus has currently shifted toward women and LGBTQIA+ folx to give them the recognition they deserve. We found kindred spirits in “Anne with an E,” chosen families in “Pose,” Latinx life outside of gang culture in “Vida” and female power in “Derry Girls.”

Honorable mentions

broadcast channels taught us what a gripping serial series could look like — special thanks to “Castle,” “Bones” and “Grey’s Anatomy.”

Their

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of the past year have been pure queer love on “Schitt’s Creek,” asexual representation on “Sex Education,” cultural identity and

PH OT OC OU RTE SY O F NE TFLI X

By Lauren Souza and Robyn Cawley

characters, the shows lose out on the ability to show the character development in an effective way.

t i q u e shows on social media, give it a single-star review or just decide not to

life&style What’s possible for you this summer?

8 • Thursday, February 6, 2020

dailycardinal.com

Summer FIND OUT AT THE

Opportunities Fair Feb 18, 2020 | Noon-4pm Varsity Hall

19370-2/20

FREE ICE CREAM for the first 200 students.

Talk with campus partners from the Office of Student Financial Aid, University Housing, Study Abroad, Theater Production, The Writing Center, Wisconsin Intensive Summer Language Institutes, Outdoor UW, and Advising for Summer Initiatives.

SUMMER.WISC.EDU

science

6 • Thursday, February 13, 2020

dailycardinal.com

UW-Madison breathing game contributes to wider understanding of meditation benefits

By Alberto Kanost SCIENCE EDITOR

It’s amazing to consider doing something as simple as focusing on your breath can improve your wellbeing and cognition — it seems like it would be intuitive, yet it is often overlooked.

Breathing, along with functions such as the heartbeat, is regulated by our autonomic nervous system and it’s not something we generally think to consciously exercise — or even that we can.

As outlined by a press release from Wisconsin News, researchers at the Center for Healthy Minds here at UW-Madison, in collaboration with the University of California-Irvine, have designed and tested a game for middle schoolers to practice mindfulness.

The game involves counting breaths and tapping on a screen. A player journeys through tranquil landscapes featuring ancient ruins or outer space, tapping once per breath while counting the first four breaths and tapping twice every fifth breath.

Players advance when they count sequences of breaths accurately.

To test the effectiveness of the game, the researchers conducted an experiment with middle schoolers over the course of two weeks for 30 minutes a day using two groups, one asked to play “Fruit Ninja,” the control group, the other being the treatment group asked to play the mindfulness game, “Tenacity.”

Their results indicated changes in

two parts of the brain that are essential in attention, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the left inferior parietal cortex. Participants who played “Tenacity” performed better on an attention task in the lab after the weeks of play, while those who played “Fruit Ninja” had no change.

The UW-affiliated study involving the mindfulness video game contributes to a growing scientific consensus on the positive results of mindfulness on the brain and body, with an emphasis on using novel ways to teach mindfulness to younger children.

Various possible benefits of meditation have been the subject of inquiry numerous times by different research groups around the globe.

Most of these studies investigating mindfulness use diverse programs that involve yoga or stretching which creates some gray area when determining causality.

A study published in 2018 involving 32 participants split into two groups — one meditating regularly and the other performing muscle relaxation regularly. After a period of eight weeks, each participant was asked to observe moving discs on a computer screen without getting distracted by the other discs. This experiment was conducted a few days before the eight weeks. The accuracy of the meditation group rose about 9 percent — a statistically significant change — while the the muscle relaxation group had no change.

COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS

A video game, designed and tested by UW-Madison and affiliates, facilitates meditation for middle schoolers through breathing and contributes to a larger conversation on the benefits of mindfulness.

They also measured participant brain activity and found that a certain signal in the brain involving visual attention was reduced by 88 percent. Scientists determined the brain networks used in the tracking of the discs became more refined, and participants were able to carry out the same task with less effort and resources.

This means meditation actually made the brain more efficient.

Around the same time this data came out, a Harvard study found meditation was a remedy for people suffering from depression, as well as other mental disorders. As this data becomes more widespread, we can

expect to see a mainstream implementation of meditation for not only folx suffering, but also folx looking to improve their mental adeptness.

The practice of focusing on our breathing is one of the most accessible ways to meditate. And meditation is a way to hone mindfulness.

Mindfulness is described as the process of paying attention to the present moment.

According to Sholto Radford, a researcher at the Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice at Bangor University, one of the biggest misconceptions of being mindful is that the goal of it is to banish thoughts, or to “clear your mind.”

But in reality, we cannot eliminate our thoughts, and trying to would be frustrating and futile.

Instead of trying to eliminate our thoughts, “Through mindfulness we can learn to relate differently to our thoughts, observing them with awareness, not taking them too seriously or feeling them to be always true,” said Radford in a Women’s Health magazine article, outlining misconceptions of mindfulness.

In other words, rather than being immersed in our thoughts, practicing mindfulness seeks to be “outside of their thoughts,” — aware of them, but watching them pass by and not latching on to them.

Comin’ atcha with...

Kombucha: What it is and how to make it

By Ben Brod STAFF WRITER

Kombucha is a type of fermented tea applauded for its probiotic health benefits. This beverage finds itself in the same realm as kimchi and yogurt, which is to say that these are all products of the fermentation mechanism. Live cultures of bacteria are responsible for generating kombucha, meaning that upon ingestion of such a drink, you’re going to experience a repopulation of your gut microbiota. This signifies the introduction of a whole new cast of bacteria

ple conversion of disaccharides to ethanol to acetic acid! Well, when put that way, this process actually seems a bit daunting. But really, it’s only a matter of establishing proper conditions for your friendly bacteria — they’ll be doing the majority of the work for you! The process of making kombucha is an interlinked cycle. As such, to make kombucha you will first need to buy some kombucha — such is the essence of the kombucha cycle.

Store-bought unflavored kombucha is a great place to recruit your micro-fauna, aka your starter cul-

COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS

SCOBY: sybiotic culture of bacteria and yeast, is the mother of Kombucha.

dedicated to promoting digestion and detox. I like to think of these guys as friendly little micro-fauna.

Making kombucha is something you can do at home. It’s only a sim-

ture of bacteria. In the kombucha business, the predominant bacterial culture is termed SCOBY, which is the symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast which will act as the power-

house — or “mother” — of all kombucha creation.

First, combine a cup of the unflavored store-bought kombucha with about seven cups of room-temperature black tea and half a cup of cane sugar. Cover the jar tightly with cloth and place it out of reach from direct sunlight — and potential SCOBY saboteurs — at room temperature for about two to four weeks. A slimy gellike brown pancake will form here is your SCOBY, or as some call it, “kombucha mushrooms.”

When you are ready to brew, place your newly-formed SCOBY into a new jar of all the aforementioned materials. Note that instead of black tea, you may now supplement the SCOBY with other tea types if desired. Also, honey or other flavoring agents may now be used for styling your kombucha. The fermentation process should take six to ten days. Through this process, SCOBY feeds on the sugar to produce ethanol which is then oxidized to acetic acid.

So, it’s worth noting that halting the fermentation process early will yield results higher in alcohol content, while stopping it too late will lead to lower pHs and therefore a more acidic or sour taste. It is important to sample your kombucha throughout brewing to obtain optimal flavoring.

Those performing these fermentations should also note a SCOBY’s metabolism of sugar substrate releases carbon dioxide and will thereby increase the pressure within

the jar. In other words, be wary of exploding kombucha bottles!

Moreover, successive kombucha fermentation allows for more opportunity in the field of flavoring and fine-tuning your product, so be sure to research alternative additives for

flavor and aroma. And remember, following each successful kombucha fermentation, an additional layer will be added to your SCOBY. You may peel off this layer and offer it to a friend, thus continuing the glorious cycle of kombucha.

Want to join the flock?

Come meet us!

Tuesday, Feb. 18 6 - 7 pm 2142 Vilas Hall

opinion F-35s will worsen Madison’s housing crisis, harm communities of color dailycardinal.com

Thursday, February 13, 2020

By Michael Makowski STAFF WRITER

The military-industrial complex has taken aim. This time, Madison is in the crosshairs.

Three years ago, in Washington D.C., the Air Force announced its pick of Madison as home to eighteen new F-35 fighter jets.

Today, the Madison community grapples with the reality of F-35s coming to their city and what consequences they might bring.

The imminent move of the F-35s to Truax Field Air National Guard Base in west Madison has animated Madison’s activist community, who are rightly concerned about the adverse effects of the fighter jets.

The concerns are numerous: noise volume and quality of life, sleep disturbance, hearing loss and environmental damage to water and soil caused by the runoff of carcinogenic chemicals that maintain the jets and runway.

One issue that hasn’t gotten enough attention is how the fighter jets will exacerbate Madison’s housing crisis and hit people of color the hardest.

In Madison, historically low vacancy rates are choking the supply of affordable housing and permitting landlords to charge higher rates and administer tougher screening processes. This pushes people into unstable housing situations, eviction and even homelessness.

Nearly half of renter households in Dane County are considered cost-burdened, meaning they spend more than 50 percent of their income on housing.

These housing-related hardships affect African Americans at disproportionately higher rates than whites.

In Dane County, African Americans experience unaffordable rent, overcrowding, incomplete kitchen facilities and incomplete plumbing at a 12 percent higher rate

PHOTO COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS

Bringing F-35 fighter jets to Madison would be an environmental disaster and crisis for nearby neighborhoods. than white households do.

Gentrification around Madison is increasingly displacing African American renters with white ones.

A report by the City of Madison concluded, “lack of affordable units disproportionately affect Households of Color.”

Putting F-35s at Truax would exacerbate all of these issues, and affect Madison’s residents of color to a higher degree.

The residential area around Truax is lower-income and home to a higher percentage of minorities. The path of F-35s leads directly over this community.

An Environmental Impact Report (EIC) issued by the City of Madison claimed that the installation of the F-35s would bring “significant disproportionate impacts to low-income and minority populations.”

The EIC further stipulates that over 1,000 homes would be “incompatible for residential use,” in Madison if F-35s come to Truax. This will further choke Madison’s housing supply and minority residents of the neighborhood will bear the cost.

Supporters of bringing F-35s to

Madison’s Truax claim that losing the F-35 bid could hurt the economy, dooming Truax to the same fate of General Mitchell Air Reserve Station (GMARS) in Milwaukee.

The GMARS, which was established in 1941, officially closed in February 2008.

According to Truax’s website, the Madison military base employs around 1,400 people and generates over $90 million dollars of statewide economic activity each year. These aren’t the full stories, however.

Today, the old GMARS is home to the MKE Regional Business Park. The City of Milwaukee is now investing to “develop the residential and commercial areas,” around which GMARS used to occupy.

In Madison, no Base Realignment and Closure Commission has recommended the closure of the Truax military base.

At the heart of the F-35 issue is the difficulty of political actors — small and large — to resist the push of the military-industrial complex. The military-industrial complex is strong and it doesn’t care about affordable housing or

people of color.

Despite efforts by Madison activists, a plea from the mayor and pressure from some politicians, the F-35 move to Madison remains a very real possibility.

Wisconsin didn’t ask for the F-35.

But, Sen. Tammy Baldwin and Sen. Ron Johnson voted for them.

Indeed, Sen. Baldwin cheered the decision of the Air Force and in her own words, played a “leading role organizing the Wisconsin Congressional delegation’s support for the Truax effort.”

Even Sen. Bernie Sanders supported bringing F-35s to Vermont, when Burlington faced the situation Madison does now.

Burlington ended up getting the F-35s, against the wishes and to the detriment of many.

The support for F-35s, even from progressives like Sen. Baldwin and Sen. Sanders, is rooted in a misguided economic argument.

F-35s aren’t good for business. But, business is good for Lockheed Martin.

The Pentagon is one of Lockheed Martin’s biggest customers. In October, it announced a $34 billion F-35 contract with Lockheed

•

7

Martin, the largest to date for the company’s fighter program.

A National Defense article claimed that sales of the F-35 are “taking off,” as Lockheed Martin looks to “expand their global footprint even further.” The first country to use the F-35 in combat was Israel.

F-35s are a product of empire. A symptom of the military-industrial complex. Progressive politicians should know better.

It wasn’t a progressive politician who warned Americans about the military-industrial complex. It was an army general and Republican president: Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Eisenhower felt so strongly about the military-industrial complex that he included it in — and indeed centered it to — his farewell address.

He warned, “We must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military industrial complex.”

“Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry,” he continued, “can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense.”

An alert and knowledgeable citizenry advances the Wisconsin idea that students engage the broader Madison and statewide community for good. “We live here — and we should act like it,” writes Sam Jones of The Daily Cardinal.

The F-35s will worsen Madison’s housing crisis and harm Madison’s residents of color. Let’s be alert and knowledgeable about it — and let’s act like it.

Michael is a senior studying Political Science and German, with certificates in African, European, and Middle East Studies.

Are you concerned about the prospect of F-35 fighter jets coming to Truax Field? Do you think public officials need to step up and address the environmental concerns? Send all comments to opinion@dailycardinal.com.

Student orientation, SOAR, unfair to international students

By Lennox Owino STAFF WRITER

Each year, thousands of international students ​ start their college journeys by flying to Madison, Wisconsin​.

With them, they carry the hopes and dreams of not just themselves, but also their families back home.

However, the unfortunate reality is that right from the start of their college careers at UW-Madison, these international students are disadvantaged.

When I joined the University of Wisconsin-Madison last semester, my expectations, similar to those of other international students, were high.

This is a highly ranked school and I assumed that my expectations would be matched to the very least.

However, I was disappointed right from the start: at the Student Orientation Advising & Registration (SOAR) session.

Most of the ethnic studies classes I really wanted to take had been filled up by those who had the opportunity to enroll earlier.

To make matters worse, I got a schedule that was evening-heavy,

which meant that I could not take part in many of the extracurricular activities I had intended to when I became a Badger.

There are restrictions for when international students with F-1 and J-1 visas can travel to the United States — typically less than a month before classes begin.

This leaves them no option but to book and attend the later SOAR sessions.

What this means is that a majority of the classes that they may have intended to enroll in would be filled up by domestic students who had the privilege of attending early SOAR sessions.

The effect this has on the academic paths of these ambitious international students tends to be larger than what the Center for the First Year Experience (CFYE) at UW-Madison and the Office of the Registrar might imagine.

In terms of how this affects student academics, it predominantly falls between scheduling conflicts and a lacking motivation to study.

Students are not motivated to take part in — or even attend —

classes that they have no interest in.

Given that many international students are forced to choose whichever classes are available during their SOAR sessions, they find themselves taking courses they have never heard of or have never had any interest in.

Just to satisfy course requirements during SOAR, international students are left to choose courses from the “scraps” discarded by domestic students.

Taking such classes leads to a lower starting GPA, which might affect the chances of these students getting admitted to most of the colleges and schools that they might apply to on campus, possibly even leaving a mark on their career aspirations.

Few class options and seats mean that international students will not have a wide array of class schedules to pick from. Many international students thus have to sacrifice some of the other activities they intend to take part in on campus.

From the student who won’t be able to debate on Friday evenings because of the class he has to take at 5:00pm, to the student who will

not be able to serve as a Badger Volunteer because her schedule will not allow her to; it is simply not fair.

Having spoken to Mr. Chris Verhaeghe from the CFYE, it was clear that not much is being done to solve this issue.

Mr. Verhaeghe did mention that CFYE ensures every incoming student leaves SOAR with a full schedule that satisfies their course requirements.

However, the focus should be on ensuring that international students are taking courses that they actually want, specifically ones in which they actually feel motivated to take part in and that allow them to explore other interests on campus.

Currently, based on the conversation I had with the First Year Interest Groups (FIG) Director, Mr. Nathan Phelps, there are plans to create a committee that would discuss how to make classes and schedules equally accessible.

Nevertheless, this is still in the planning phase and, at the moment, the class of 2024 will still find the same unfair class allocation system existing at SOAR.

The SOAR program says that it “aims at ensuring first year students gain exposure to an array of academic and social opportunities at UW–Madison and also begin to integrate into university life and UW–Madison culture.”

It is thus important that equity and inclusion be at the center of this mission so that all incoming students get to have the full first-year academic and cultural experience.

It is time that the CFYE together with the Office of the Registrar style up and ensure that every Badger has the same access to academic resources.

I, together with my colleagues at the Associated Students of Madison, will continue fighting and campaigning to make sure that this becomes reality.

Lennox is a freshman and is on the Pre-Business track. He interned with the Associated Students of Madison (ASM).

Do you think that SOAR is unfair to international students? What do you think the university should do to be more inclusive for these students?

Send all comments to opinion@dailycardinal.com.

melanin speaking l

8

Thursday, February 13, 2020

dailycardinal.com

Letter to Trauma

By Alex Martinez Melanin Speaking

Sometimes, I can’t sleep at night, I lie down and lie to myself that I might be okay My mind runs, and runs, and runs Until I get tired, not sleepy, just tired of carrying this baggage.

Every now and again I hear the sounds of fists hitting flesh, mom and dad screaming in the kitchen and the muffling of cries As I’m pretending that I’m sleeping Just to mask the pain in my

Luna

By Alex Martinez Melanin Speaking

Siempre te encuentro aquí, In the loneliest of nights Sin estrellas ni nubes.

Maybe someday I could fly Y únete a ti.

I can melt with the cosmos, Para siempre contigo

voice That I now soothe with alcohol And I can’t help but to think that maybe I could’ve done something A ch ild stepping into shoes that should’ve been filled by an adult Doing all I could to survive I was young, And I feared death Not my own, but of either parent A future yet to be unraveled by the seams Some kids talk about wanting to be firefighters, doctors, pilots

But I, just wanted to grow up to a point the noises would stop I was 2 when the sounds first started I was 6 and they kept coming I was 10 when these sounds crescendoed into a suicide attempt I was 11 when I left that toxic environment But I’m still haunted by the memories I’m 21, a decade later, writing this letter to my trauma Up at 3am because I still can’t sleep Photo Courtesy of Pixabay / Openclipart-vectors

“...a decade later, writing this letter to my trauma”

To the Ghost in my DMs

By Alex Martinez Melanin Speaking

maybe I was an afterthought, an evanescent blue bubble. sometimes, I’ll read over and over, the confession that took months to write and rewrite.

maybe it didn’t mean anything to you. that’s okay, I’m still here, without you, but still here.

Moving on, and learning to love myself the way I loved you.

Untitled

By Alex Martinez Melanin Speaking

she was a cloud that danced around alone. she was her own orchestra to the soundtrack of her life. her heart was full of love and she gave all of it. she was a free soul who could never be tamed and that’s why I admire her.