Thursday, March 23, 2023

Flogging Molly

+arts, page 5

Public defender, prosecutor shortages prevail in Wisconsin

By Liam Beran STAFF WRITER

Long wait times and a backlog of cases have severely impacted those waiting to utilize Wisconsin public defenders for

choosing to go into private practice, rather than public service, backlogs for both public defenders and prosecutors have become increasingly severe in Wisconsin.

According to PBS Wisconsin,

Ibarra said. “That’s really important, especially for those who are struggling in society.”

“It’s extremely di cult, and I think there is a lot of burnout because there is a shortage going

lic defenders as a potential way to raise graduate interest, but noted loan repayment and geographic incentives to leave well-served locations, like the Madison and Milwaukee metropolitan areas, for areas with greater need.

“A lot of the need is in rural Wisconsin,” Kite said.

Positions in public defense and prosecution, see skill-based benefits, particularly for graduates interested in careers in litigation, Kite explained. “These are among the best ways to get trial experience early in your legal career.”

Prepping UW Students

At UW Law, Kite sees a strong interest in “public service tradition” and hasn’t noticed a shift in student attitudes towards public service. A third of UW Law graduates, she said, go into government or public interest positions, a number higher than the 2021 national average, 18.1% between 3,699 government positions and 2,732 public interest positions, per

the American Bar Association.

Real world skills are a key part of preparing students at UW Law for public service, Kite noted. The school o ers clinics and externships from which students can earn credit doing work for real clients.

“This gives them the training to hit the ground running in those types of jobs and also reinforces the commitment of our students to serving vulnerable populations,” Kite said.

The school also o ers prosecution and public defense “projects,” which have second-year law students spend their summer working in a Wisconsin public defender or prosecutor o ce, Kite explained.

“Many of the prosecutors and public defenders in the state are alumni of one of these two programs,” Kite said. “It’s a really great pipeline to the public defender’s o ce or the prosecution o ce because you’re actually working in those o ces your second summer.”

the past two decades.

“I was able to attend court intake in my hometown, and there were about six to eight people in the short time that I stayed that were unable to receive any kind of help with their own defense,” Carmen Ibarra, a senior English major at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and prospective law student, said.

Ibarra’s observation is echoed throughout the state of Wisconsin, whose shortage of public defense lawyers has been termed a “constitutional crisis” by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. They, alongside other interested organizations, filed a class action lawsuit in 2022 against Governor Tony Evers, members of the O ce of the State Public Defender and the Wisconsin Public Defender Board on behalf of indigent defendants in Wisconsin.

An indigent defendant is one whose income is too low to a ord a lawyer. In such cases, the Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution provides assistance of counsel. The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers’ suit alleges previous Wisconsin Supreme Court cases hold that delaying the appointment of counsel for more than 14 days has been consistently found “unreasonable.”

With many law students

since 2003, wait times before decisions in felony cases have increased 85%, and wait times for misdemeanor cases 110%.

The e ects of these shortages can be dire. In Dodge County, outgoing district attorney Kurt Klomberg resigned after citing “untenable” conditions due to the loss of “all working prosecution sta before the end of January 2023” in a letter to Governor Evers. Evers later appointed Andrea Will, a Waukesha County attorney, to fill the position until January 2025, according to WPR.

Shortages in public defense attorneys are “devastating,” Ibarra said. “A lot of people really need help, especially those who wouldn’t otherwise be able to a ord defense.”

Ibarra sees herself going into immigration law or public defense. Yet, Ibarra sees the high expense of law school as a drawback to a potential career in public defense, whose practitioners “don’t make that much money.”

“Public defenders do a lot of work for not a lot of praise or reward, which makes it di cult,” she said. “That’s unfortunate, and I think that’s why people don’t want to pursue it.”

The people aspect, however, can make the profession attractive.

“I think the main part about public defense that entices me is that I love to help people,”

on,” added Ibarra.

Salary also plays a role in one’s choice of field to enter, according to Emily Kite, associate dean of career and professional development at the UW Law School. Even students with a draw to public service may feel obligated to take a higher-paying job in private practice, she noted.

According to a 2020 report from the National Association of Law Placement, the median starting salary for a new lawyer in a government position was $64,000. In comparison, the median income for private practice ranges depending on the size of the firm — while lawyers in smaller firms had typical salaries of $60,000 to $85,000 dollars, the overall median starting salary was $130,000.

Yet, Kite also noted other factors, like the perception of high caseloads and geographic concerns, with much of the demand for public service lawyers being in rural areas that may not be ideal for students, according to Kite.

“I think many of our students come to law school recognizing the unique position that lawyers are in to be changemakers, whether that’s on an individual, client-by-client basis or more macro, policy-based impact,” said Kite.

Kite sees proposals to raise the base income of state pub-

Women’s hockey championship +sports, page 6

TAYLOR WOLFRAM/THE DAILY CARDINAL COURTESY OF FLOGGING MOLLY

Editor-in-Chief Sophia Vento Managing Editor Jessica

Wisconsinites spent $121 million in Illinois on cannabis in 2022

By Jasper Bernstein STAFF WRITER

Wisconsin residents spent

$121 million in 2022 on cannabis sales in neighboring Illinois, a recent report finds. Requested by Sen. Melissa Agard (D-Madison), the report conducted by the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau studied neighboring dispensaries, uncovering $36.1 million in taxes that Illinois collected from Wisconsin residents on cannabis sales.

The figure highlights the significant impact cannabis legalization in neighboring states has had on Wisconsin — which continues to prohibit the sale of recreational cannabis. Illinois became the 11th state to legalize recreational cannabis in 2019. In February 2023, over $120 million of cannabis was sold statewide, according to the report.

The report was conducted using the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) data on cannabis sales, which notes $239.7 million —15.4% of total sale — was spent in dispensaries located in counties bordering Wisconsin. Of the sales made in these counties, $121.2 million (50.6%) was spent by out of state residents, which the study attributes to purely Wisconsinites.

The study estimates

Wisconsin residents make up $36.1 million (7.8%) of Illinois marijuana tax revenue.

“It should upset every Wisconsinite that our hard earned tax dollars are going across the border to Illinois. This is revenue that could be going toward Wisconsin’s public schools, transporta-

2022 referendum found 82% of voters supported legalizing, taxing and regulating marijuana for people 21 and over, along with the expungement of small marijuana crimes. Marijuana is currently decriminalized in the county.

“We are an island of prohibition and the people of our state

in the Midwest that has not yet legalized recreational cannabis. Michigan and Illinois legalized recreational marijuana, and lawmakers in Minnesota are expected to join them by May.

“Wisconsin’s loss of potential revenue is even larger if we include taxes paid to Michigan, as well as Minnesota in the near future,” said Agard.

“As seen in our neighboring states, legalizing marijuana for responsible adult usage will generate significant revenue for our mainstreets, safely regulate the existing illicit market, reinvest in our agriculture and farming heritage, support entrepreneurship and address the massive and egregious racial disparities from marijuana prohibition.”

In his first two biennial budgets, Gov. Evers included di erent levels of marijuana legalization, both of which were struck down by Republican lawmakers. Evers reintroduced his marijuana legalization plan as part of this year’s budget.

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tion infrastructure and public safety,” Sen. Agard said in a statement. “Instead, Illinois is reaping the benefits of Republican obstructionism and their prohibitionist stance on marijuana legalization.”

In Dane County, a November

are hurting because of it,” said Agard. “We know that legalizing cannabis for responsible adult use is wildly popular among Wisconsinites, including the majority of Republicans.”

Agard also noted that Wisconsin is one of the few states

“I fully support Gov. Evers’ 2024-25 biennial budget proposal to fully legalize marijuana for responsible adult use, and if Republicans choose to remove it from the budget, I will once again introduce my bill to achieve this goal,” said Agard. “It’s high time we get this done for the betterment of our state and the people living here.”

Reproductive rights activists back Evers as lawmakers weigh changes to Wisconsin abortion law

By Annika Bereny STAFF WRITER

Wisconsin lawmakers are fractured over reproductive rights after party leaders introduced two dueling proposals to alter state abortion laws, both of which appear unlikely to pass.

Last week, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) held a press conference to introduce a bill amending Wisconsin’s 1849 abortion ban to include exceptions for victims of rape or incest. Reinstated after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last summer, the 1849 ban currently makes it a felony for medical professionals to perform abortions in the state of Wisconsin.

Evers responded to Vos’ proposal with one of his own — a definite veto.

“I won’t sign a bill that leaves Wisconsin women with fewer rights and freedoms than they had before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe,” Evers said Tuesday, reiterating his commitment to veto any bill that failed to completely repeal the 1849 abortion ban.

Evers joined Democratic lawmakers Tuesday to unveil their own proposed abor-

tion legislation. If passed, Democrats’ “Restore Roe Act” would repeal Wisconsin’s abortion ban and revert state abortion law to before Roe’s overturn, which allowed abortions for any reason up to 20 weeks of pregnancy.

“Let’s have a debate,” Evers said. “Republicans have their bill, and Democrats have their bill.”

Democrats’ proposal is unlikely to pass after garnering sharp criticism from Vos. But Vos’ proposal seems likely to face its own roadblocks after. Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) said last week he would not bring the bill to the floor because of Evers’ commitment to veto it.

“Further discussion on this specific proposal is unnecessary,” LeMahieu said in a statement following Evers’ announcement. “The bill will not be considered on the floor of the Senate.”

Still, Vos promised Wednesday to bring his proposal for an Assembly floor vote, calling it a “middle ground” bill.

“I think most Independents and Democrats support updates to health of the mother and 90% agree

on updates to exceptions,” Vos told Corri Hess of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “The only person in the way is Gov. Evers.”

Some Senate Democrats believe Vos’ bill is conveniently timed, falling after the GOP defeat in last November’s midterm elections and before the upcoming Supreme Court election on April 4.

“Republicans are simply flailing after su ering unexpected defeat during last year’s midterm elections, in large part because of their draconian position on abortion access,” Senate Minority Leader Melissa Agard (D-Madison) told the Associated Press last week. “They are sorely mistaken in their hopes that [this legislation] will placate Wisconsin women.”

Outside the Capitol, Wisconsin reproductive rights groups have largely rallied around Evers.

Tanya Atkinson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin, released a statement backing Democrats shortly after Vos announced his bill last week.

“This bill is not about protecting survivors,” she said. “This bill is

simply a covert way for legislative leadership to enshrine the 1849 criminal abortion ban and take away Wisconsinites’ ability to make their own health care decisions. It’s taking away freedoms in compromise’s clothing.”

Madison Abortion and Reproductive Rights Coalition for Healthcare President Hailey Rude agreed with Evers’ decision in light of the upcoming Wisconsin Supreme Court election on April 4, which could flip the ideological balance of the court in favor of the liberal justices ahead of a potential case challenging Wisconsin’s abortion ban.

“If there was no chance of ever having anything more than the sole abortion ban with exceptions of rape and incest, then I would be like, ‘Well, why aren’t you doing this?’,” she said. “But because of the state that Wisconsin is in, there is that hope to have a full overturning of the 1849 ban.”

“Why settle for less when you could get more?” Rude added.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court election has become a recent focus of national news,

with record-breaking money pouring into the campaigns of conservative Daniel Kelly and liberal Janet Protasiewicz. Following the election, the court will likely review a case brought by Attorney General Josh Kaul that seeks to overturn the 1849 abortion ban.

UW MARRCH, an a liate of the Madison Abortion and Reproductive Rights Coalition for Healthcare, plans to air their grievances this Saturday at the Rally for our Rights event hosted by reproductive rights advocates from across Wisconsin. These groups are currently working on getting out the vote, Rude said, believing the upcoming election to be integral to the fight for reproductive rights in Wisconsin.

With the potential of a liberal majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, reproductive rights advocates are standing strong in their determination to restore full abortion rights — not just a fraction — to Wisconsin residents.

“Why have [a fraction] when we could have more because of the election?” Rude said. “We’re now seeing that there is possibility.”

COURTESY OF JEAN MORRISON VIA FLICKR

‘Normalize butter’: Into the mind, stomach of Badger Rowing’s ‘Butter Dawg’

By Cormac LaLiberte STA FF WRITER

Six months ago, University of WisconsinMadison senior and Badger men’s rower Jack Turco decided his diet was too strange and unique not to be shared online. At that time, Turco was strictly carnivorous, eating raw and cooked meats and animal products exclusively while simultaneously performing at peak physical condition in his sport.

Turco is originally from Libertyville, Illinois and is in his fourth year at UW-Madison, where he studies personal finance. He has over 117,000 followers on TikTok, with several of his videos eclipsing 5 or even 10 million views and has generated controversy online with his radical diet.

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

What inspired you to start your carnivore diet and your social media accounts? Which came first?

I started my diet around a year ago — I was kind of questioning [the] sustainability of my current diet at the time, which was, I would say, pretty healthy, but I just wasn’t feeling good. And I kind of made an extreme switch. I’m kind of that type of person, to go all in on something.

I decided to go all in on a [carnivore] diet, and I ended up having crazy results, and I was

you gonna give ‘em to your dog?”

And I was thinking, like, “Huh? What did he just say? Pizzle?” Like, I don’t know what that is. And come to find out, he’s like, “Yeah, the bull penis. People, you know, they dehydrate ‘em, give ‘em to your dog.”

And I’m like, “No way.” And then I actually bought all of them, I cleared out their whole stock.

Before you tried it?

Before I tried it — I didn’t even know. I was just like, “This is going to be amazing.” And people ask me, “Oh, were you eating bull pizzle before TikTok?” And to be honest, no, not at all — I just found it and then it blew up.

What are the guidelines of your diet?

So basically, I kind of have a framework by now, but when I first started, it was just strictly animal products. So like fat and steak or ground beef, right? And now I’d say I have around two pounds of ground beef or meat a day. I’ll backfill the rest with honey, fruits.

It’s definitely morphed as I’ve gone along. But as an athlete, it’s important to be fueling up. So fruits, honey, dairy are all foods that I’ve begun including for sure.

I don’t think I got everything out. It definitely did not taste good at all.

What made you want to do a carnivore diet?

I was researching and I was seeing people have success with the carnivore diet. People started popping up like Liver King when I first started my carnivore diet; I didn’t know who he was. Then he blew up, and I’m sure a bunch of people started adopting some of the things he was doing.

I felt like the carnivore diet was just what made the most sense to me, because humans are meat eaters, so I felt like adding that to my diet or making it the entirety of my diet was something that was gonna benefit me.

Why do you eat so much butter?

I think butter has been demonized in recent years, especially with big corporations pushing seed oils, right? And so basically, butter is something that has been lost in, I think, a lot of people’s diet, and it was in mine as well.

And that was one of the first things I started eating again, and I felt amazing. I just felt sharp all the time. I was sleeping, I was recovering. And so butter for me was like, I just came to this realization that maybe not everything we’re being told is correct.

So I feel like butter has a really bad rap, and people avoid it. I feel like I almost try to normalize it, right? Normalize butter, that’s kinda been my mission.

Have you always had a strict diet or consistent food regimen?

am. But now I get stopped basically any time I go out in public — people will look, point or a lot of people come up to me.

Even getting gas like the other day, I had my head down and my hood up, and some kids approached me and were freaking out. But to me, I don’t feel any di erent. It’s kind of funny to me, but I always try to be nice because I feel like they’re the reason that I’m where I am, for sure.

I have seen people online say this is fake. What would you say to that?

I would say if you’ve watched any of my live streams or know anyone close to me, they will tell you it’s the real deal. I was just talking to my friend before this, and he was like, “Yeah, it’s crazy. I look at all the comments and I think it’s hilarious ‘cause they just don’t know who you are. I know you live this way and do everything.”

What are your favorite foods that you eat currently as part of your diet?

eating this way for like over six months at least. And people would say, like, “Dude, you’re weird. Put that on social media. Just see what happens.” And I just kind of put it o . I didn’t really care too much about it, but I started posting and it just kept blowing up and honestly, I just ran with it.

Can you walk us through what you eat on a daily basis?

Yeah, so I brought a little steak and some butter here as well, uh, to show you. I can have some of that as well. But today I woke up, I had a couple cheeseburgers, a little bit of raw liver and then some milk.

But I’ve posted videos before of some crazy recipes like raw testicle lollipops and whatnot. I do eat that stu ! Bull pizzle is another one that blew up on my page — that’s normal. Nose-to-tail eating is what I have on a daily basis.

Do you want to explain what pizzle is?

Yeah, okay, because that blew up on my TikTok recently. But bull pizzle is just bull penis, and the story of how it came to be is actually pretty crazy.

I was just at the butcher looking for some organ meats, right, as you do. And I thought I was getting some beef tendons — I was gonna make some broth or some soup. And I was checking out and there was no label on [the meat], so I didn’t really know.

And then the butcher took it, scanned it and he was like, “Oh, you like the beef pizzles? Are

Do you worry about any purported health risks from eating raw meat?

That’s a good question. So, I eat raw meat basically every single day, but it’s not a strictly raw diet, and I will say, I have never gotten a stomachache. I’ve never gotten sick, I’ve never gotten food poisoning at all. Ever. Which is surprising, to some people, but if you get quality products, then I really wouldn’t worry about it.

Where are you buying your meat? What does your grocery budget look like?

I go to a butcher — the Conscious Carnivore, actually, o of University [Avenue]. But other than that, you can order some stu online or just at a regular grocery store for sure. And I would say on average I’m spending $20 to $25 a day on my diet, which I almost consider an investment.

Because if I’m healthy, then I’m not gonna be visiting a doctor. I don’t need to go to the dentist. I don’t need to buy medication. So it’s like, if you dial in your diet, there’s other parts that you won’t have to pay for.

You eat a lot of things that some people might find gross. Is there anything you’ve ever had that you just hated?

There’s one video I made of lamb intestines that I called spaghetti, and I had meatballs on top. And I will say those actually did not taste good at all. I just boiled them and I think there was still some waste in the intestines.

I guess not, honestly — that’s a good question. I never really cared up until a couple of years ago, which is surprising, right? I’ve played sports my whole life and it was one thing that I’ve ignored basically the whole time.

And I think that’s why I’m so passionate about it now, because bringing awareness to other athletes about the importance of your diet is huge. Maybe your diet doesn’t look similar to mine, but basically just realizing the importance of what you put in your body is crucial.

How do you maintain your diet when you’re on the road with the rowing team?

Anytime I’m traveling, I guess you could say I kind of always have a plan. Like when I travel, I’ll pack some food. I’ll do my best, but it’s really easy to just throw a stick of butter in my bag and some honey, and then I’m good.

What’s it been like to go viral?

It is weird, ‘cause before this, I would walk around campus or in public and I wouldn’t think twice about how I look, if people know who I

I would say steak — you can’t go wrong with a steak and some butter, like we got here. But a majority of my diet is really just ground beef, and I love it. And most people would probably get bored of the taste, but a little maple syrup on ground beef … it’s crazy. I don’t really [try to prepare it di erently]; it’s really either the grill or a pan and that’s it.

Have you had anybody reach out to you and say that they’ve adopted your diet?

So, social media’s been great in the sense that people reach out. A lot of people have some positive things to say — others, not so much. But a lot of ‘em have said, like, “Hey, I’m in. I’m incorporating some ideas, or some things that you do,” and you know, that’s great.

And a lot of my videos probably seem extreme, and that’s almost by design too. Because if you see something extreme, you’re like, “Okay, maybe I won’t do that, but hey, maybe a little bit more butter, maybe a little bit more meat in my diet would be good.”

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DRAKE WHITE-BERGEY/THE DAILY CARDINAL

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Madison mayoral candidates debate affordable housing, transportation

By Nadya Hayasi STAFF WRITER

Incumbent mayor Satya RhodesConway and challenger Gloria Reyes faced o in a forum on Monday, to debate issues including a ordable housing, equitable public transportation and food insecurity in Madison.

The event was co-hosted by the Campus Area Neighborhood Association (CANA), BadgersVote, Chup, Go Vote! and the Associated Students of Madison (ASM) at the Memorial Union at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Each candidate started o with a three-minute opening statement, with Rhodes-Conway focusing on her time in o ce and the changes she made as mayor over the past four years, while Reyes spoke about her previous experiences in the community, and her concerns about the future of Madison.

“I am jumping in this race because I care about Madison. I’m concerned about the future of Madison,” Reyes said in her opening statement. “I want to focus on public safety across the city, particularly public safety across the city, but I’m seeing trends right now on campus, and I think we really need to have targeted solutions and the community’s approach to solving crime in our city.”

Affordable housing remains a key issue

Housing remains a huge priority to constituents, as a question asked to both candidates queried how they plan to address the issue of a ordable and accessible housing for both renters and homeowners in Madison. Prices of homes in Madison reached record highs in the past few years and continue to skyrocket while wages fail

to keep up, leading many to consider alternative options including moving out of the city.

Rhodes-Conway attributed the housing crisis to the slow production of housing — which did not keep pace with the population growth in Madison — prior to her election in 2019. She proposed producing a wider variety of options for a ordable housing as well as relaxation of the rules surrounding

ing choices all throughout our community so that everybody can a ord to live here.”

In response, Reyes proposed a targeted universalist approach based on equity to work with developers and take concrete steps to start building housing units.

“We are in this a ordable housing crisis and we’re just not moving fast enough,” Reyes said. “I’m going to look at our current systems

up by an audience member during the Q&A portion of the debate, sparked a heated debate between the two candidates over whether the amendment is a solution to the housing crisis.

“We do have to use every single tool in the housing toolbox, but we also have to address the problem right now,” Rhodes-Conway said. “I think that the work we did on changing the family definition speaks to that.”

Reyes contended that zoning ordi-

about and work with the UW campus and UW o cials on where we build in this city and on campus.”

Candidates address equity in access to transportation

The candidates also debated transportation, including public transportation options available to Madison residents. Reyes argued that current transportation decisions made in the city do not prioritize equity, and her focus would be on a transportation network redesign intended to address issues of accessibility.

“As mayor, I’m going to evaluate that network design, and I also want to evaluate the transit system downtown to ensure that the bus is accessible to everybody,” said Reyes.

Rhodes-Conway responded with claims that the work her administration has done to solve transportation challenges in Madison tackles issues of equity for low-income communities.

“The network redesign addresses those issues,” said Rhodes-Conway. “It makes it better for everyone but it makes it even better, if that’s a way to say it, for low-income folks and neighborhoods of color.”

the construction of di erent types of housing in Madison.

“We need to be producing a whole variety of options,” said RhodesConway. “We have worked over the past four years to more than double the a ordable housing fund, we’ve produced thousands of housing units and we’ve changed the zoning. We made it easier to build things because it’s so important that we create hous-

that are interfering with the process of developers and getting the work done quickly.”

The Common Council recently amended a section of Madison’s zoning code to increase the maximum number of unrelated people able to rent housing units from two to five to address the housing shortage, a change co-sponsored by RhodesConway herself. This issue, brought

nances are unable to provide Madison residents with the housing they need immediately and pointed to potential unintended consequences of this amendment which would impact areas closer to campus and those with single-family homes.

“I think we can’t just throw these zoning ordinances out there and it’s going to fix our problem,” said Reyes. “We have to be intentional and think

Another audience member asked the candidates about their plans to address food insecurity, given additional federal SNAP benefits sunsetted earlier this month. Both RhodesConway and Reyes spoke about plans to increase food access and reduce food waste around the city, with Rhodes-Conway emphasizing the importance of creating a zerowaste ecosystem.

Both candidates ended the debate by encouraging students to vote. The mayoral election will be held on April 4.

Department of Energy grant funds next five years of Great Lakes biofuel research

By Liam Beran STAFF WRITER

As the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change issued a summary on Monday declaring “a rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a livable and sustainable future for all,” researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are investigating methods to turn plant waste into sustainable biofuel and bioproducts with renewed funding from the United States Department of Energy (DOE).

The Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) announced an additional five years of grant funding from the DOE on March 17. Funding is expected to reach $27.5 million this year, with a ceiling of up to $147.5 million over the next five years, according to a university press release. The GLBRC was created in 2007 by the DOE and researches the creation of “biofuels and bioproducts that are economically viable and environmentally sustainable,” according to their website.

Dr. Steven Ackerman, a professor of atmospheric and oceanic sciences and UW-Madison’s vice chancellor for research and graduate education, explained the value of the

GLBRC’s work and the significance of the DOE grant.

“GLBRC focuses on three areas of research: sustainable cropping systems, e cient biomass conversion and field-to-product integration,” said Ackerman.

Energy security, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing the diversity of available “biobased” products are among the benefits of that research, he explained.

The GLBRC researches advancements in creating biofuels and bioproducts from lignocellulose, “one of the most abundant biological materials on earth,” Ackerman explained. Lignocellulose contains sugars and aromatic compounds that can be used to make fuels, solvents and other chemicals, according to Ackerman.

“The extension will allow scientists at the GLBRC to continue foundational research to enable the breakthroughs needed for the coste ective conversion of non-food plants into low-carbon replacements for jet fuel, diesel and other fossil fuels,” said Ackerman.

Ackerman said curbing climate change will require more than avoiding fossil fuels, but also “reducing the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses.”

GLBRC scientists found that integrated approaches “combining bioenergy and advanced management of crop, forest and grazing lands can provide climate benefits far greater than either approach alone,” according to Ackerman.

The economic benefits from this research are myriad — the GLBRC employs over 400 sta members and creates research with widespread opportunities for biorefineries, farmers and rural communities traditionally underserved by the current fuels and chemicals industry, Ackerman said.

“[GLBRC is] helping everybody to think a little di erently as to how agriculture plays into clean energy,” said Erik Iverson, chief executive o cer at the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF). “It’s everything from immediate employment through how farmers and infrastructure around farming approach crops in a di erent way other than as part of the food system.”

WARF, a nonprofit technology transfer organization, helps researchers in the GLBRC identify patentable inventions, and seek patents and licensing partners for those inventions, according to Iverson. WARF also assists the three other

DOE Bioenergy Research Centers across the country, he said.

“We’ve helped them patent upwards of 250 inventions … We’ve executed maybe 100 plus di erent license arrangements with companies and with di erent institutions,” Iverson said. “[WARF wants researchers] to be conducting the research identifying new inventions and then translate those into products and get them into the hands of society to improve people in the environment.”

One such invention came from Jim Steele, professor emeritus of food science at UW-Madison, and the GLBRC-funded research he conducted on lactic acid bacteria, which can contaminate ethanol production and reduce overall biofuel yields, according to a UW-Madison news post.

Steele’s research led to the establishment of Lactic Solutions, an LLC which produces genetically modified bacteria allowing biofuel producers to use fewer antibiotics and receive higher ethanol yields, acquired in 2017 by a subsidiary of Lallemand Inc., a Canadian fermentation company.

Iverson pointed to Steele’s work as an example of the collaboration between the GLBRC, WARF and

commercial partnerships. The funding will help researchers continue to develop their inventions and collaborate across the four bioenergy research centers (BRCs), he said.

“The BRCs are at an inflection point of a critical mass of inventions that have been created at a point in time during the evolution of their research into translatable technologies that could be brought into the marketplace,” Iverson said. “It’s an amount of money and the continuum of research into products, but also coalescing the collaboration across the country in this e ort.”

Iverson acknowledged DOE and BRC e orts in thinking on a large, bold scale, but also recognized their push toward “forcing the interinstitutional and interdisciplinary research being conducted across the country and largely in the Midwest, instead of the individual one-o scientist that is individually getting grants.”

Iverson said it’s a big deal, especially for interests with big egos who are world class scientists in their own right.

“[The DOE] is demanding that they work together and collaboratively to address what are the great issues, certainly of humankind, and for the earth,” said Iverson.

COURTESY OF WORT NEWS VIA FLICKR

‘There’s three lives to shoes’: The humanity of hand-made footwear

By Lillian Mihelich STAFF WRITER

The “Hand Made in America: Contemporary Custom Footwear” exhibition within the School of Human Ecology honors 11 di erent shoemakers’ functional, undying artistry.

Curator Amara Hark-Weber’s background as a professional shoemaker distinguishes the space, where viewers can interact with the shoemaking process from conceptualization and construction to completion.

The Helen Louise Allen Textile Collection has featured a series of globally sourced shoes from China, Lebanon, Bosnia, Herzegovina and Turkey that date throughout the 1900s. The United States artists featured include Hark-Weber, Daphne Board, Francis Waplinger, Greg Carmack, Jesse Moore, Lee Miller, Lisa Sorrell, Marcell Mrsan, Paul Krause, Rachel Corry and Sarah Madeleine T. Guerin.

Some examples of the featured designs include Miller’s pink star-embellished cowboy boots, Sorrrell’s “Wild and Blue” flower embellished leather boots and Carmack’s boots decorated with portraits of majestic women.

The space mirrors the mind of an artist. Unlike in traditional galleries, the shoes inhibit large display boxes stacked upon drawers that reveal the internal organs of footwear with a pull. Leather paneling, stitch patterns, paper sketches and wood models articulate how materials transform into wearable garments. The setup is complementary to

the thorough nature of the meticulous craft. Transparency in design processes helps viewers imagine the relationship between the shoes and their makers, the intentions behind custom garments and the humanity behind hand-made shoes.

A television in the exhibit displays a compilation of videos that each maker recorded. It gives viewers an inside look into the featured shoemakers’ spaces. In Guerin’s video, she explains that as an American shoemaker, she is “grateful” that the traditions of U.S. footwear are carried out in her work space.

“There’s three lives to shoes. There’s the making life, then there’s the life where it’s brand new and then there’s the life that it’s worn, which is really long, hopefully,” said curator and featured artist Hark-Weber.

“Having parts of the process available to the viewer was important to me,” said Hark-Weber.

Hark-Weber’s current work is based in St. Paul, Minnesota. She received an MFA at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, is trained in several shoe types and has received several awards for her work.

Having grown up as the daughter of an artist and craftsman, she’s well-acquainted with creative-oriented environments. She makes customized shoes of all kinds and is trained in robust menswear construction techniques with both male and female clients and enjoys working with leather, color

and texture.

Each year, Hark-Weber teaches lessons for about a month and finds beauty in preserving the shoemaking craft, she said. In our interview, she eagerly showed a glorious pair of boots with fancy stitching that one of her students was crafting in her studio.

This is the first time she’s curated an exhibit, and it’s the first time a show of its kind has been displayed in Madison.

“Having something like this in Madison is really a special thing, and I don’t know when there will be another shoe show. Hopefully more and more and more,” said Hark-Weber.

Hark-Weber highlighted

the importance of exceptional craftsmanship and contemporary design. There are few shoemakers in the U.S. and few have made the craft their professional career — this exhibition is unique by design.

Having two young children, Hark-Weber values sustainable footwear and hopes her children will grow up thinking about their decisions behind “things,” their “longevity” and develop an “awareness of the world around them.” She recognizes there are circumstances and decisions behind the purchases people make, both environmentally and socially.

A pair of Carmack’s ostrich leather “kid boots” printed with

butterflies and covered with dirt demonstrate the worn life of a cherished shoe. While museums often prioritize art in pristine condition, Hark-Weber purposefully included a worn down pair of boots full of real Texas dirt. They demonstrate shoes’ ability to accompany people through life’s practicalities.

Shoemaking is “high-skill, high-stakes, high-reward,” Hark-Weber said. She expressed immense gratitude to the university, and her passion for craftsmanship radiates throughout the entirety of the exhibit.

The exhibit will last until May 14 in the Lynn Mecklenburg Textile Gallery in Nancy Nicholas Hall, free for viewers to explore.

Flogging Molly captivates, inspires at the Sylvee

By Noe Goldhaber STAFF WRITER

Irish rock band Flogging Molly performed at the Sylvee on March 3. They were joined by openers Anti-Flag and Skinny Lister. Despite the absence of Flogging Molly violinist Bridget Regan, all bands gave motivating and political performances that energized the audience.

Skinny Lister, a Londonbased folk group, performed first, demoing some new material. The group’s energy was electric as members danced on stage, enlivening the audience and priming them for the main performance.

While many in the audience were unfamiliar with the band, the audience shared excitement over the announcement that Skinny Lister would be headlining on tour the next time they perform in Madison, in October 2023. While their performance was positive, the band lacked identity as there were clashes between the style and the performance and music.

The next group to perform was Anti-Flag, an anarchist punk band from Pittsburgh. The group emphasized their politi-

cal stances while simultaneously uniting the audience.

While acknowledging the likely variation in political beliefs among the audience, Anti-Flag got the audience to agree “that politicians fucking lie.” Several times throughout their performance, Chris Barker, bassist, and Justin Sane, lead singer, spoke about “personal freedom” and evil politicians.

Barker increased the energy in the building and started a mosh pit in the center of the Sylvee. The chemistry between Barker and Sane was notable and served as a contrast to some of the discontinuities in style and performance among members of Skinny Lister. Both Barker and Sane encouraged audience members to connect with each other.

The political messaging of Anti-Flag was a theme echoed throughout Flogging Molly’s performance, as guitarist and lead singer Dave King took the audience through the history of Irish liberation through music inspired by Irish freedom and folk tunes while mirroring AntiFlag’s themes of self-determination and freedom. King connect-

ed the themes to modern issues such as the invasion of Ukraine.

While Regan’s violin playing was surely missed during some of Flogging Molly’s classic songs like the opening song “Dear Majesty” or “The Likes of You Again,” it seemed the guitarists in the seven-piece band pivoted to take on some of the violin tunes and melodies.

Highlights of Flogging Molly’s performance included Spencer Swain’s incredible banjo playing and improvisation. Throughout the set, King allowed each band member a special part in the performance, however, Swain’s mastery of the banjo stood out to the audience.

While Flogging Molly did a good job balancing new songs with old classics, audience members seemed to especially enjoy the change of pace o ered by more emotional, raw songs like “The Heart of the Sea,” as it allowed King’s vocals to shine.

In all, Flogging Molly and openers o ered performances that engaged everyone from the politically minded to Irish history bu s, and from fans of rock to those who prefer more folk and acoustic sounds.

LAUREN AGUILA

Badgers claim seventh national title

By Maddie Sacks STAFF WRITER

The Wisconsin women’s hockey team (28-10-2) edged out the Ohio State Buckeyes (33-5-2) to win the 2023 NCAA Championship on Sunday, 1-0. The game was lowscoring, yet thrilling, with both teams giving it their absolute all in the final match of the season.

Right out of the gate, Ohio State took control of the puck, maintaining consistent pressure against Wisconsin. Both sides were having little luck getting shots o as each teams’ defenses worked hard early.

With just over eight minutes left in the first, shots on goal were tied at 4-4. That did not last, as freshman Kirsten Simms tallied the first and only goal of the game, taking the lead for the Badgers. Caroline Harvey worked to get the puck deep into OSU’s defensive zone.

Simms eventually gained possession and centered herself to take the shot. She perfectly used an OSU defender as a screen and pocketed the puck into the upper left corner of the net to make it 1-0 with 6:32 remaining.

After scoring the goal, Wisconsin amped up the pressure.

Goalie Cami Kronish repeatedly caught and blocked shot attempts from Ohio State, while Wisconsin defenders worked to keep the rebounds from finding new life.

With about a minute left in the period, Buckeye wing Paetyn Levis demonstrated incredible speed as she raced past two Badgers to win the puck and take a breakaway shot. Luckily for

Wisconsin, the attempt went wide and the period ended with the Badgers still in the lead.

The second started off similarly to the first, with each team doing everything possible to keep the puck away from their respective nets.

With 6:18 left in the period, OSU forward Jenna Buglioni got a threatening look on goal after breaking away from Badger defenders. The shot went high above the crossbar however and missed, similar to Levis’ close attempt in the first.

The teams went back and forth until there was 1:30 left in the period and Wisconsin took complete control.

The Badgers had possession of the puck for over a minute, and the Buckeyes tired out wereunable to change their line. Unfortunately for Wisconsin, they couldn’t get anything past goalie Amanda Thiele who put up a remarkable effort after surrendering an early goal.

The third allowed goalie Cami Kronish to shine as the Buckeyes turned up the intensity. Kronish

pulled o several acrobatic saves and stepped up when her team needed it the most.

The third period proved to be an excruciating countdown for the Badgers, as their only objective was to maintain their one-goal lead. Tensions were high in the crowd as both fan bases held their breath for the final 20 minutes.

With 2:42 left, the referees resolved a minor confusion about the number of players on the ice after the Buckeyes attempted to pull the goalie, but the extra skater proved unhelpful.

Wisconsin proudly took the 1-0 win over the defending champions in a truly unforgettable NCAA title game.

The sweet end to the season was hard-earned for this underdog team as they proved one lone goal was all they needed. This victory made Wisconsin the first unseeded team to ever win the national championship. Their seventh national championship, and third in five years, broke the record for the most wins of all time for any program, surpassing the Minnesota Gophers.

From unknown to unbeatable, Kronish delivers when needed most

By Cameron Lane-Flehinger STAFF WRITER

The Wisconsin women’s hockey team was the center of quite the Cinderella story this season, entering the NCAA tournament unseeded with few playo expectations, to winning the 2023 championship.

The entire team succeeded against all odds, but one player in particular represented this underdog story the most — goalie Cami Kronish.

The redshirt senior started only three games for the Badgers prior to this year. She and Jane Gervais worked together, splitting time in goal evenly at the beginning of the 2022-23 season.

Head Coach Mark Johnson evidently saw something in Kronish’s performance and character early on and instilled his faith in her as goalie. On Nov. 19, Kronish took over full time, starting nearly every game for the rest of the season.

Shortly after, she earned her first ever WCHA Goaltender of the Week award following an outstanding show in a Border Battle game against Minnesota, making 26 saves. The success only continued from there, as Kronish averaged 23 saves per game for the rest of the season, even exceeding 40 three times.

Kronish entered the 2022-23 season with only three starts. By the end of the year, she shutout one of the best teams in women's hockey en route to a third championship victory.

Additionally, she earned eight total shutouts after securing her

first against Lindenwood in the second game of the season.

Kronish showed out all season, but the championship game proved her value on the biggest stage. The New York native finished with an astounding 31 saves and no goals surrendered. To add to the pressure, the Badgers only scored one goal — from freshman Kirsten Simms early.

It all came down to the third period, but her teammates felt confident with Kronish in goal. In the final minute of play, she faced shots from six Buckeye skaters after they finally pulled their goalie.

Despite the pressure, she remained calm and collected with cat-like reflexes, swatting and catching any shot that came her way until the last seconds counted down on the clock. Right as the final buzzer sounded, Kronish threw off her gloves before being swarmed by her teammates to celebrate the historic win.

While credit is certainly owed to Kronish for her truly exceptional performance this season, the Badgers were lucky enough to be backed by a record-breaking coach.

Johnson extended his record as the winningest coach in NCAA women’s collegiate hockey — which he earned in

2018 — with a career record of 565 games won. Regardless of the up-and-down season, coach Johnson remained irrefutably supportive and maintained belief in their potential, admitting, “Part of the process is having some bumps along the way.”

It all paid o in the end for this exceptional team and program, who now lead Division 1 in most won national titles at seven. Kirsten Simms, Cami Kronish and Coach Mark Johnson all deserve acclaim for their incredible contributions in the championship game as well as the rest of the season.

TAYLOR WOLFRAM/THE DAILY CARDINAL

The victorious Wisconisin women's hockey team returned to the LaBahn Center Monday to celebrate with the Madison faithful.

By Anna Schulman STAFF WRITER

Whenever I’m asked to share a fun fact, I often say I’ve never broken a bone. Granted, it’s not the most exciting fact for those around me, but it’s something some individuals can either relate to or use as a reminder of their bone-breaking experiences.

I heard someone use that as their fun fact recently — after I could no longer use it — and I internally rolled my eyes as some people in the room glanced at my black, knee-high cast.

My internal frustration grew into concern and sadness — many of those who have not had a temporary mobility disability have yet to realize how ableist our society is.

Before breaking my ankle in two places, I did not realize how hard it is to navigate life with a physical impairment. As naive as this sounds, there are services and resources in place that provide assistance on paper, but not in reality.

We live on a walking campus at the University of WisconsinMadison — there’s no denying that. So, when I was handed my crutches, I knew I would have to quickly modify some aspects of my life. I transitioned from a life of walking an estimated nine miles a day, constantly on the move, into one of patience and reliance on others — especial-

Crutching to changes

ly when traveling from school building to school building.

The little things I modified have been some of the most upsetting ones. Music is a major part of who I am, constantly keeping me in a good mood. I used to listen to music all the time — bringing my phone into the shower and walking to class with earbuds were a daily necessity.

Yet, I’ve grown nervous of dropping my phone while crutching to the bathroom and simply don’t want to deal with the hassle of an AirPod potentially falling out of my ear. Minor aspects of my daily routine now contribute to a nostalgia I have for my life before breaking two of my bones.

It’s always about the little things.

I started using this service o ered by the school that shuttles students with mobility disabilities. I was ecstatic when my physician’s assistant told me it existed because it meant I wouldn’t have to pay for Ubers anymore. It’s the small victories that help my current physical and emotional fracture.

Yet, this service is the opposite of a victory. I live 0.2 miles o campus, on Langdon Street, just like thousands of other students. The service refuses to pick me up and drop me o at my home. It is unsafe for me to be crutching to the Graduate Hotel on black ice or when our lovely Wisconsin

winter decides to unpredictably shower us with snow.

Yet, our inaccessible campus allows individuals like me to be rejected a convenient pick up and drop o location.

I’m one of the lucky ones, though. While this is an inconvenience for my spring semester, I will eventually be able to

Even if the shuttle service is more helpful for some students than it is for me, we still have to make it into our classrooms. I hope most students who have mobility disabilities were admitted into the business school their freshman year, because that is the only campus building I have found

enough winds up disabled sooner or later. While my disability experience happened at 19, I know I will continue to walk through life with a less ableist lens.

Of course, it is not my hope that everyone breaks their ankle and is on crutches for months. But, I do hope everyone is able to open their eyes and see our societal structure benefiting those with full mobility and disadvantaging disabled individuals.

walk from class to class normally — putting this experience behind me.

Students with permanent mobility disabilities must find on-campus housing accommodations. Beside university housing, the apartment options considered in bounds for the shuttle service are significantly more expensive than living slightly off campus. Some can afford this financial burden, but I sympathize with those who can’t.

with a ramp at the entrance.

For being a top ranked university, I expect more accessible campus buildings. However, this is something many donors and designers don’t consider when making new buildings because they are likely removed from disability in their functional lives. I was too, before Feb. 17.

Now, I realize how ableist our society is, and disability advocates predict just that — they believe everyone who lives long

I plan to turn this accident that has prompted pity from my peers into campus change. I began talking to our administration about the shuttle service boundaries with the hope that future students with temporary physical disabilities don’t have to undergo the same trudges through snow. I also plan to work with the student government sector that has contacts to make disability changes on campus.

Turning this challenge into an opportunity and eye-opening experience is what made an accidental fall down the stairs worthwhile, and maybe — just maybe — happen for a reason.

Anna Schulman is a sophomore at UW-Madison studying Journalism, Digital Studies and Social Justice in Education. Do you agree that campus is not accessible enough to those with physicaldisabilities?Letusknow atopinion@dailycardinal.com.

Cell phones are hurting human connection

By Nina Starynski STAFF WRITER

It’s amazing how human innovation has dramatically changed technology within the last 30 years. When you look at calculators, for example — a staple for many students and professionals alike — they’ve dramatically changed how people live and learn by becoming more compact and accessible for more people.

Cell phones are another example of technology that has dramatically changed the human experience. Now, I can keep in contact with relatives who live far away and otherwise wouldn’t talk to. I also have access to practical and straightforward applications, like the camera function or The New York Times. I can view my bank account balance at the click of a button. It’s insane how technology has improved many minor, yet necessary functions of lives. But, cell phones also exasperate me.

If you walk around campus in between classes, you’ll notice something: almost everyone is on their phone in some capacity. Many people are listening to music or looking at something on their phone (which makes them walk absurdly and infuriatingly slow). Once you get to class, you’ll notice many are scrolling through their social media and not interacting with their peers. It’s hard to start a conversation on campus when fewer people seem to want to

engage. It’s also common for people to scroll on their phones during lectures, even so much that professors have to explicitly prohibit cell phone usage.

Being with others constantly on their phone is an unpleasant way to spend time with people. Why would I bother going out with others if they ignore me and text their boyfriend or their other friend instead? We need to learn how to disconnect from our cell phones.

I once had a teacher reflectively note that young people don’t get to leave school at school. We bring home all our friends and all our worries at night with our cell phones.

Why am I in contact with people all the time? It shouldn’t be like this.

Most of Gen Z grew up around the time of the creation of the iPhone. Many young people don’t remember or didn’t live in a time without a smartphone.

Yet, it’s odd not to have a cell phone nowadays. I think this explains the cell phone addiction in America, especially for young people, where around 16% of people under 30 rely too heavily on their phones.

One of the worst apps that encourage phone addiction is Snapchat, and “streaks.”

On Snapchat, you can have a “streak,” which means you have to send “snaps” for a prolonged amount of time. It’s the norm to be in constant contact with your peers, even at the expense of your own in-

person interactions, and some even base their self-worth off of their “streak” length. For some young people, these are ways to stay in contact with each other.

A study from Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) and the Young Health Movement (YHM) found Snapchat and Instagram are the worst social media platforms for young people (between the ages of 14 and 24) and their mental health. It’s not healthy for young people to be in constant contact with their peers.

While there is direct causal evidence that phones are bad on young brains, some studies have shown that excessive time on cell phones “had a premature thinning of the cortex.”

“The Cortex is the outermost layer of the brain that is involved in processing di erent types of information from all five senses,” according to MedicineNet. “Cortical thinning at a young age thus indicates that children are maturing earlier from the use of cell phones.”

Because Gen Z is one of the first generations that grew up with technology and cell phones, dependency on smartphones has increased. Around 55% of Gen Z spends five hours or more on their cell phones a day, and 31% feel uncomfortable when they’re without their phone for 30 or more minutes. The more time spent on our phones, the less likely we are to shape connections with others around us.

The COVID-19 pandemic exasperated and dramatically shifted how we communicate with others. Real-life meetings turned into Zoom calls, and keeping in touch with your peers meant liking their Instagram posts. Another study found that adolescent phone use during the pandemic increased the risk of suicide and suicidal thoughts.

As the pandemic made people a lot more anxious and more likely to renege on plans, having a cell phone to hide behind was something of a coping mechanism for many to stay in touch with people they care about. This effect still lingers today and is incredibly annoying to be around.

I’m not innocent when I write about this — I do it too. However, cell phone addiction

is something that needs to be addressed and fixed. I’m not completely advocating that we abandon cell phones, but people need to stop relying on them.

One of the first things you can do is this: be present when you’re with others. I stress this the most. Nobody likes being ignored, especially in person. If you care about the person right in front of you, get off your cell phone.

Like most things, start simple. You’ll end up more engaged with the world around you.

Nina Starynski is a sophomore at UW-Madison studying Political Science, History and Criminal Justice. Do you think cell phones are becoming a problem for today’s young people? Let us know opinion@dailycardinal.com.

COURTESY OF WILLIAM ROSS VIA FLICKR

life & style My senior year to-do list

By Erin Mercuri STAFF WRITER

My days and nights spent in the library hunched over a computer writing papers make the weeks drudge by. However, those slow weeks studying have made for a fast four years of college, and now I find myself staring down the finish line of my time at the University of Wisconsin-Madison with just a couple semesters remaining.The thought of college coming to a close is bittersweet. I still remember my first day of college like it was yesterday — moving into my dorm room and saying goodbye to my family, anxiously ready to start the next chapter of my life in a brand new city.

Situated between two lakes on an isthmus, Madison, Wisconsin curates a healthy mix between a college campus and a city. UW-Madison students are spoiled with the city’s offerings, from hundreds of restaurants and coffee shops to the infamous Memorial Union Terrace and overflowing school spirit year round.

In my wholly biased opinion, Madison is the perfect city to attend college in. Even after living in this city for three years, there are still so many activities I haven’t

participated in that make Madison unique. The difficulty is not finding something to do in Madison, but it’s making time for everything there is to do. So, for my final year and a half, I’ve compiled a to-do list so I can make the most of the time I have left.

Take advantage of Lake Mendota

Although I’ve lived less than nine blocks from not one, but two lakes for the past three years, I have yet to make it past the shorelines of Mendota and Monona out onto the open waters. The university o ers equipment rentals through Outdoor UW for camping, hiking and climbing, snowshoes, ice skates and paddling equipment at a discount for students. As of now I may be a paddle boarding newbie, but by the end of next year hopefully I can balance and leisurely paddle around the lake without falling in.

Attend more Badger sporting events

Some of my favorite memories from college stem from game days as a Badger. However, I’ve only attended football games at Camp Randall. Over the next year, I hope to change that by attending a variety of sporting events. Teams at the top of my list to watch over the next year include the women’s ice hockey team, the men’s ice hockey team, the women’s volleyball team and the men’s basketball team.

Explore campus buildings

As a journalism student, my academic scenery is limited to a few buildings. I am usually found walking from the basement of Vilas Hall to random rooms in Mosse Humanities, then occasionally meandering over to Helen C. White Hall. When I stray from my typical path, I see beautiful buildings I’ve never set foot in. For my last year on campus, I will wander in hopes of being lost, maybe finding my new favorite study spot in a building I didn’t even know existed.

Go inside the Wisconsin Capitol

Fairly simple and easily achievable, but on principle I cannot say I truly lived in Madison for four years without going inside the governmental hub of Wisconsin. Maybe I’ll even visit during the holidays to see the Capitol Holiday Tree lit up.

As I finish my last two months of junior year and look ahead toward senior year, I plan to make the most of the limited time I have left as a UW-Madison student.

I hope this list gives you a starting point to enjoy the university, city of Madison and everything it has to o er. If not, let it instead serve as inspiration to create your own to-do list. The four “long” years of college are much shorter in hindsight, so my advice is to make the very most of every moment you possibly can.

Survival guide for early morning classes

By Sophie Henschel STAFF WRITER

It’s 7 a.m. on a Monday, an alarm blaring in your ears. The last thing you want to do is get out of bed and hit the books. You refrain from slapping the snooze button and quietly start your morning routine so as not to wake your roommate, who was smart enough to not choose any 8 a.m. classes. Nothing but regret floods your mind as you think back to course registration last semester, when you thought, “This won’t be too bad.”

Some people enjoy getting a jumpstart on their day with an early bird class, but most students are just trying to survive these early mornings.

As the winter months wind down, we can all get excited for spring on campus.

Madison spring bucket list

By Lalitha Viswanathan STAFF WRITER

Even though snow flurries are still falling upon students in March, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and we can start daydreaming about the beautiful springtime. A Wisconsin winter is a long one, so it’s normal to think of warm nights and flowers blooming. As the sunshine reemerges, perhaps one of the most refreshing things to do is to connect with nature.

The first thing I think about when I hear “spring” is flowers. Botanical gardens can be refreshing and stunning when you’re in the sunlight. There are three gardens on or near campus: the Allen Centennial Garden, the University of Wisconsin - Botany Garden and Greenhouse and the Olbrich Botanical Gardens. While the main purpose of botanical gardens is to preserve plant and pollinator species, we can appreciate the general

value of nature. As flowers bloom and the sun shines, students can enjoy the springtime and the new season approaching.

Another amazing springtime activity for people to do is exercise outside. One of the many benefits of living in Madison is having access to the amazing biking and walking trails. Madison is one of the best biking cities in the country, so students should take advantage of this and get exercise in the beautiful weather.

Located about four miles from campus is the UW Arboretum. On these terrains are miles and miles of trails for the public to use. Getting fresh air and absorbing the sunlight is great for mental health, so UW-Madison students can make the most of the weather and connect with nature.

Similar to the botanical gardens, the Arboretum helps with ecological restoration, promoting a better envi-

ronment. The nature and resources Madison has to o er to the public are perfect for people to take part in during the spring.

In addition to the great walking and biking paths in Madison, there are also fun lake activities that open back up in the spring. If you are a swimmer, you can always take a refreshing dip in Lake Mendota, accessible from Memorial Union. If you would rather kayak or canoe, many companies, including Outdoor UW, offer water activity rentals for a fun day on the lake. Outdoor UW supplies students and the public with constant fun when the spring weather emerges.

The Wisconsin spring brings loads of sunlight, activities and fun after a long, snowy winter. It’s refreshing to see that there will be warm weather in the near future, and we can all get excited for the spring slowly approaching.

And I get it. Every morning, I sit in my dorm room bed debating whether I go back to dreaming about whatever cute moviestar I’m loving that week or roll out of bed to get to my calculus lecture. But because I’ve had early morning classes every day

this semester, I began to learn the tips and tricks as well as the benefits to an early schedule.

For starters, be realistic and know yourself when selecting your course schedule. Not every student is cut out for 8 a.m. classes and that’s okay. The beauty of college is that you get to choose your course load and schedule.

1.Set your alarms earlier than you wish I’m usually up for an hour or so before my first class of the day begins. This provides time to sip on co ee, scroll through TikTok, eat a bagel and get ready. If you wake up at 7:50 a.m. expecting to make it to class by 8, you’re setting yourself up for failure from the start. Giving yourself that time is vital to being attentive during a morning class.

2. Give that low energy a boost

Along with giving yourself time, give yourself an energy

boost. Whether that be a cup of coffee, tea, cold water, a Celsius or even maybe some endorphins at the Nick if you’re feeling optimistic, having a pick-me-up before an early morning class is necessary to make it up Bascom Hill for your lectures while most of Madison is still snoozing.

3. Reward yourself

Early classes are tough, especially with the college lifestyle we’re all living. Leave some days in your schedule to sleep in — maybe go get a fun breakfast every so often after an early class, and remember that while early mornings may feel impossible, they’ll probably help you in the long run.

So, with Fall 2023 course registration right around the corner in April, keep in mind how early you can realistically wake up, and maybe challenge yourself to start your day with an early class while others sleep their mornings away.

MEGHAN SPIRITO/THE DAILY CARDINAL

These amazing sunrises on our campus skyline can be worth the early mornings!

MEGHAN SPIRITO/THE DAILY CARDINAL