After a long career, Rashard Gri th returns to Wisconsin to fulfill a promise to his family.
+ SPORTS, PAGE 8
Five takeaways from the IPCC’s latest report on Earth’s warming climate.
+ SCIENCE, PAGE 5
Incumbent Satya RhodesConway was elected to a second term as Madison mayor Tuesday, defeating challenger Gloria Reyes comfortably in a race defined by housing concerns and public safety.
With 99% of precincts reporting, Rhodes-Conway led Reyes by 11 points. The race was called for Rhodes-Conway less than two hours after polls closed.
At her campaign watch party, Rhodes-Conway thanked her supporters and her partner for their support, and vowed to continue working to address housing affordability, the climate crisis, public safety and the creation of equitable investment in her second term.
Rhodes-Conway told The Daily Cardinal her victory served as an “affirmation” of her agenda in her first four years in office.
Milwaukee County Judge Janet Protasiewicz defeated former Justice Dan Kelly by a wide margin late Tuesday in the race for an open Wisconsin Supreme Court seat, transforming the state’s political landscape.
Protasiewicz’s election gives the court its first liberal majority in 15 years, poising it to hear challenges to Wisconsin’s abortion ban, voting maps and other Democratic priorities.
“Our state is taking a step forward to a better, brighter future where our rights and freedoms will be protected,” Protasiewicz said in her victory speech Tuesday. “While there is still work to be done, tonight we celebrate this historic victory that has obviously reignited hope in so many of us.”
The Associated Press called the race for Protasiewicz less than an hour after polls closed.
As of 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, Protasiewicz led 55.5% to Kelly’s 45.5% with 99% of the vote counted, according to tracking by POLITICO. In 2020, Kelly lost to Justice Jill Karofsky by about 11 points statewide.
In Dane County, a liberal strong-
hold key to Democratic turnout, Protasiewicz received 82% of the vote compared to Kelly’s 18%, with most precincts reporting. Kelly lost the county by a similar margin to liberal Justice Jill Karofsky in 2020.
The race was by far the most expensive of its kind in state and national history. Spending approached $42 million, according to the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, which tracks money in campaigns.
Kelly’s statement following his loss referenced disputes about political ads and Protasiewicz’s comments on abortion and maps, which he said showed a “blatant disregard for judicial ethics and the integrity of the court.”
“I do not have a worthy opponent to which I can concede,” Kelly said.
Abortion, voting maps central to campaign
Protasiewicz campaigned heavily against Wisconsin’s 1849 abortion ban and Republicandrawn voting maps, which she and her supporters called “rigged” on multiple occasions.
Wisconsin Democrats gathered at the St. Kate Hotel in Milwaukee erupted into cheers as the race was called for Protasiewicz.
Democrats spent previous
months attempting and failing to eliminate Wisconsin’s near-total abortion ban, which took e ect after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last June. The issue is expected to come before the state court’s newfound liberal majority, who Democrats expect would strike the ban.
Wisconsin’s voting maps could also land before the new court. The maps, which heavily favor Republicans, enabled the GOP to maintain sizable Assembly and Senate majorities in the past decade — even when Democratic candidates outperformed Republican opponents by multiple points.
Protasiewicz told the Cap Times in February she would “enjoy taking a fresh look” at the Republican-drawn maps installed by a 4-3 Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling last year.
“Throughout my career, I’ve seen our judicial system up close, and I believe in something that is universal to Wisconsinites all across our state and that is that everyone should get a fair shot to demand justice and not feel like the thumb is on the scale against them,” Protasiewicz said Tuesday.
Both judicial campaigns vis-
ited the University of WisconsinMadison ahead of Election Day. Kelly spoke to the College Republicans and Republican Party of Dane County last week. Former Lt. Gov. and U.S. Senate candidate Mandela Barnes and Justice Jill Karofsky campaigned for Protasiewicz.
Lines for polls on UW-Eau Claire’s campus also drew attention on Twitter, highlighting the importance of college-age voters on Tuesday.
Sarah Nehls, vote coordinator for the Associated Students of Madison, said she and other organizers worked for months to galvanize UW-Madison students ahead of Tuesday’s election.
Preliminary voting data was “really, really impressive” as of late Tuesday, according to Nehls. She said final results could rival student turnout numbers from the 2022 elections, when campus voting wards averaged just shy of 60% turnout among registered voters, according to state elections data.
“This is likely a record-breaking spring election, especially here on campus,” Nehls said. “Students clearly made their voices heard.”
Protasiewicz will assume her state Supreme Court seat on Aug. 1.
“I’m glad the voters in Madison had confidence in the work my administration has done over the past four years, and I’m eager to keep working on the things that Madison cares about,” Rhodes-Conway said. “We need to focus on public safety and traffic safety, on investing in our economy in an equitable way and supporting our young people, and making sure we are still tackling the climate crisis, because that hasn’t gone away.”
Rhodes-Conway was first elected mayor in 2019, unseating longtime incumbent Paul Soglin. She is the first openly LGBTQ mayor in city history and the second woman to hold the position.
Reyes previously served as deputy mayor, school board president and a Madison police o cer. In her concession speech, Reyes said that while she hoped for di erent results, she was proud of her campaign.
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”
On April 4, University of Wisconsin-Madison students cast their vote at several polling locations across campus such as Memorial Union, Gordon Dining and Event Center and Dejope Residence Hall.
“I think this is an important election that not a lot of people always turn out for, and I think it really impacts Madison and the Wisconsin community,” student voter Madison Eiler said.
The April 4 election ballot included votes for the Wisconsin State Supreme Court race, Wisconsin State Senate candidates and Madison mayor, as well as referendum questions.
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The most notable results include Judge Janet Protasiewicz winning the Wisconsin Supreme Court Election creating a liberal majority and Satya RhodesConway being re-elected as Madison Mayor.
“This is a really, really important election that will have greater e ects,” said student voter Abigail Nicki. “It’s important to be a young person and have your voice heard because the majority of people who are voting are older it seems.”
Some students and poll workers said voting in this election is important because UW-Madison students are a big part of the greater Madison community.
“It’s an important election — every election is important for students to turn out and have a voice in their local politics because they are just as much a part of this community as they are their home communities,” student poll worker Tabitha Houghton said.
Eiler echoed this sentiment.
“I think there’s so many students on our campus that even a small turnout of our students can make a big difference,” she said.
Student voter William Diaz emphasized how voting is not only important but an easy way to get involved with local politics.
“I think it’s important to do my civic duty,” he said. “It’s easy — there’s really no excuse not to.”
Other students explained that they voted because they were passionate about certain issues and candidates.
“I wanted to protect people’s rights — protecting abortion, LGBTQ rights, gay marriage, all the things like that,” said student voter Lindsey Neumann of her vote in the Wisconsin Supreme Court election.
Student voter, Autumn Hutchens, voted because she was especially enthusiastic about a specific candidate:
Janet Protasiewicz“One of the Supreme Court candidates is pro-abortion, and I believe that will be very helpful if she does get the place in the court,” she said.
While much attention has
been brought to the Wisconsin State Supreme Court race, other races such as Madison City Council could also influence students’ lives.
“One of the candidates — his name is Charlie Fahey — for Madison City Council, he supports affordable housing, especially for students,” said Hutchens. “Considering that housing and rent is going up every single year and some
students just can’t afford to live in Madison — that’s some[one] I support.”
While Charlie Fahey did not win the election in District 8, winner MGR Govindarajan also advocated for making Madison housing affordable for students.
Though the election was specific to the state of Wisconsin, its results have national implications. The
“I stand before you tonight with a heavy heart,” Reyes said. “The voters have spoken, and I have not been elected to serve as your next mayor. While I am disappointed with the outcome, I do not consider this a loss.”
Rhodes-Conway said student housing affordability will remain a top priority during her second term. She committed to continuing a partnership with the University of WisconsinMadison to increase affordability for students renting near campus.
“What we’re working on right now is ways to make sure that the student housing that’s being built off campus has an affordability component in it,” she said. “We’re collaborating with campus and with the developers to make sure that some of the rentals are going to be affordable for students, but I’d like to push beyond that and make sure we’re [building] more housing co-ops which are permanently affordable and find other affordable housing solutions for students.”
Outlining her plans for a second term, Rhodes-Conway said she would expand Madison’s CARES program and support Dane County’s efforts to repurpose the Huber Jail Center into a triage center to support those experiencing a mental health crisis.
Wisconsin State Representative Lisa Subeck (D-Madison) said Rhodes-Conway’s reelection marked “a step in the right direction for the city” and expressed amazement at the high voter turnout for the spring election.
“Having served on the city council, I remember the days when I would knock on doors and voters would say, ‘There’s an election?’” Subeck recalled. “I was just so impressed with how
Wisconsin State Supreme Court has the power to adopt new legislative maps in Wisconsin which have the potential to flip party control for the U.S. House of Representatives.
“I think there’s a lot more that we can do as students and as citizens, but I think that voting is a really important first and essential step,” Diaz said.
engaged people were.”
The mayor’s victory occurred shortly after the Associated Press called the Wisconsin Supreme Court race for Judge Janet Protasiewicz. The nationally-watched race, which will give liberals control of the court for the first time since 2008, may have helped increase voter enthusiasm in other spring elections in Wisconsin, according to Subeck.
Rhodes-Conway said she would take a “steady approach” to her new term, voicing her intention to first establish relationships with the newly elected Common Council.
“We’ll take a moment to get to know the new council and hopefully form good working relationships with them, and then start to lay on policy priorities,” she said.
The entire council historically goes through a complete refitting every two years when all alders are on the ballot, but a referendum approved on Tuesday’s ballot staggered Common Council terms.
District 17 Alder Sabrina Madison, elected to her first full term after being appointed in October 2022, told the Cardinal she is looking forward to continuing to work with the mayor, a sentiment echoed by newly elected District 2 Alder Juliana Bennett and District 8 Alder MGR Govindarajan, who said they were excited to begin delivering for students.
In her victory speech, Rhodes-Conway expressed her gratitude to the many people who contributed to Tuesday’s election and voiced her excitement to begin work in the “new political climate.”
“Tonight we celebrate,” Rhodes-Conway said. “Tomorrow, we get back to work.”
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) released its initial Districts In Play for the 2024 election cycle on Monday, including Wisconsin’s first and third districts, currently held by Republican U.S. Reps. Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden. The targeted districts are slated to play a large part in the 2024 House election — where Republicans are expected to fight to maintain control of their 222-213 majority — requiring 218 for the majority.
Wisconsin’s first Congressional District, home to Kenosha and Racine, has been a Republican stronghold for decades. Former Republican Speaker of the House Paul Ryan held the seat for 20 years, until Bryan Steil — a former Ryan staffer — won the seat in 2018 after Ryan’s retirement. Steil’s win in 2020 was with 59.3% of the vote, but in 2022, his victory margin narrowed to 54.1%.
Judge Janet Protasiewicz’s win in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race Tuesday gives liberals their first majority on the state’s highest court in 15 years.
Protasiewicz said she would “enjoy taking a fresh look” at the Wisconsin state maps,
which have been deemed one of the most gerrymandered in the country — significantly
favoring Republicans.
Democrats are optimistic that with Protasiewicz’s new liberal majority, they can redraw Wisconsin maps in their favor — potentially by including more of Democratic stronghold Milwaukee in Steil’s district.
Wisconsin’s third Congressional District, home to Eau Claire and La Crosse, is represented by Republican Derrick Van Orden, who won over Democratic candidate Brad Pfaff in the 2022 midterms with 52% of the vote. The seat was open after Democrat Ron Kind retired, having held the seat since 1997.
Van Orden, a retired Navy SEAL, faces concerns over his presence at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The seat presents a pickup opportunity for Democrats, who feel they missed out on the chance to win the seat in 2022 following the national party decision to withdraw more than $1.5 million in ad purchases that were meant to support Pfaff during the last weeks of the campaign.
“It should’ve been a target district last cycle when we had a strong candidate fighting to hold the seat as opposed
to now facing an incumbent, as weak as he is, to flip the district, but it’s a step in the right direction,” said Josefine Jaynes, former chair of the third Congressional District Democratic Party and Rural Organizing Director of the Pfaff campaign. “The DCCC still has more work to do to demonstrate that they’re really committed to invest and spend money in WI-03.”
Protasiewicz’s win also brings more national attention to Wisconsin, where redistricting could increase the competitiveness of these two seats.
“Looking at all the money that poured into this race, you can see we were outspent five to one. I think there was a failure by those outside of Wisconsin to recognize the importance of this race and the danger of electing Derrick Van Orden to Congress,” explained Jaynes. “Don’t count us out. Invest in our candidates and trust their strategy.”
With the potential to flip these districts, Democrats have a chance to win back the House majority in 2024, further impacting the political landscape in Wisconsin and the nation as a whole.
By Tomer Ronen STAFF WRITER
A quick look at StubHub shows the cheapest tickets to the Milwaukee Bucks’ home finale against the Memphis Grizzlies are $83 each. Tixplorer shows the real price: $114.38.
The ticket buying experience has turned into one full of hidden fees at every turn. With Tixplorer, University of WisconsinMadison senior Cameron Roth aims to streamline the entire ordeal. By pairing with top ticket merchants, Roth found a way to save users time by quickly analyzing which website has the cheapest tickets and lowest markup percentages for the sporting event they want to go to.
The website, which launched in March, works with top ticket retailers to make the process of buying tickets for sporting events “as simple and carefree as possible for the consumer,” Roth said. Tixplorer o ers a variety of events — from leagues like the NFL and NBA to horse racing and tennis — showing the price, with fees, from a plethora of websites such as Ticketmaster, StubHub, SeatGeek and Viagogo.
For Roth, a Houston native and avid lover of sports who has seen friends go through the hectic process of trying to obtain the cheapest ticket for di erent sporting events, enough was enough upon looking for tickets to an Astros game.
“I had about five or six di erent ticket site tabs open, and so that’s where I got the idea to make the next Expedia for tickets,” Roth said.
Naturally, he searched for the type of service he was looking for. After hours of not finding anything suitable, he decided to take matters into his own hands.
A senior studying marketing, Roth got to work on a new project — starting a business from the ground up in January 2023. He built the entire user interface of the website
by himself while working to get in contact with ticket retailers. He hired a freelance coder to do work on the back-end and had the unwavering support of his family dog Winston, he said.
But Roth wasn’t alone. His father is a business owner, and, throughout the process, Roth would reach out to ask questions about certain processes, he noted.
“He really wanted me to do it independently, but I would always go to him,” he said. “I pretty much call him every day, and so every time I’d call him, it always ended up with me asking him a question about the company or how he would go about it.”
Even with his father’s advice, Roth found breaking into the industry was not easy. With no leverage and massive corporations such as Viagogo and Ticketmaster dominating the industry, Roth had to be persistent.
“I had to approach them [other companies] in a way that they didn’t even think I was a threat to them,” he said. “I don’t even think they really knew what I was trying to do, but it got to the point where they were just tired of dealing with me.”
After two months of back and forth, with certain companies refusing his requests for data and some even asking him to cancel partnerships with other companies, Roth was able to get what he needed to finally kickstart his website. Roth was able to use his unique position as an undergraduate student as a path to obtain the necessary information.
While o to a good start, Roth explained he has not yet reached the end of the road in discussions with other companies.
Although Roth does receive a cut of every sale made through his website — the direct result of an a liate model he is partnered through — Tixplorer is limited only to what ticketing corporations give it. Currently, users can only buy general admission tickets or nosebleed seats, but Roth said his “final
goal” is to expand to a full seating chart — this would give users the ability to compare prices based on individual seats by scrolling through a multitude of options and picking the one they think is the best deal.
For now, Roth is looking to expand the Tixplorer team.
“I reached out to the head of the computer science school [at UW-Madison] — we’re looking for a team of coders that are really going to push this to the next step,” he said.
He also wants to expand the company’s reach. With ticketing startups on the rise, Roth hopes he can become a platform for smaller companies to advertise themselves, allowing him to tap into the international market as well as other areas such as concerts, theater, comedy and even the student section at football games.
“I’m already a step ahead of everyone,” Roth said. “I want to keep that and be multiple steps ahead.”
One thousand, eight hundred forty-eight minutes, $1,691,726 raised for the University of Wisconsin-Madison. That was the impact of the “Day of the Badger” event organized by the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (WFAA), which occurred March 28 and March 29.
Participants, including many UW-Madison alumni, are encouraged to donate to a variety of funds — some broad, like the Chancellor’s Fund or financial aid scholarships, others more focused, like funding for the Chazen Museum of Art or Lakeshore Preserve. They can also participate on social media or “share their Badger spirit,” said Betsy Popelka Massnick, WFAA director of annual giving.
Day of the Badger began at 10:12 a.m. on March 28 and concluded at 5 p.m. on March 29. The 1,848 minutes of the event are a “nod to the year the university was founded,” Massnick said.
During that time, donors can support various causes via online donations, with some “challenges and matching gifts” also offered, according to Massnick.
community together to make an impact across the university and beyond.” The event has been successful, raising “well over $1 million each year,” Massnick noted.
ing over $1.69 million.
Any campus area can participate in Day of the Badger, Massnick explained, with certain “university-wide priorities” like the Chancellor’s Fund, Great People Annual Scholarship and other annual funds.
“These annual funds provide discretionary support to campus leaders and are critical for continued growth and excellence in education,” Massnick said.
WFAA solicits participants in the winter, Massnick noted, and creates pages for the areas and funds those participants would like to promote.
Colleen Schmit, alumni relations officer at the university’s School of Human Ecology, said the Day of the Badger helps “ensure that each of our 2,000 students in the School of Human Ecology has the resources and tools they need to succeed.”
Schmit offered funding for internships as one example.
many students from accepting these opportunities,” Schmit explained. “The money raised through Day of the Badger is key in the School of Human Ecology’s efforts to provide funding for internships and make them accessible to all students.”
Members of the UW-Madison community were also encouraged to engage with the event through social media participation, and, as of Wednesday, the hashtag #dayofthebadger has received over 2,600 posts on Instagram, many of which show alumni and community members donning UW-Madison apparel.
Donors came from every state and eight countries, according to Massnick.
“UW impacts so many corners of the world. Our community can support these efforts to extend the reach of the classroom and make a positive impact on our campus, community and the world,” Massnick said.
The event started in April 2019, Massnick explained, with the goal of “bringing our Badger
This year marked a new record for WFAA, with over 4,600 donors and 6,400 donations rais-
The University of WisconsinMadison was ranked No. 196 in “America’s Best Large Employers 2023” by Forbes Magazine. The university is one of the eight large employers recognized within the state of Wisconsin.
Forbes partnered with Statista, an independent market research firm, to create the list. Around 45,000 employees at various companies and institutions across the country were surveyed. Participants were asked to rank their current employer based on how likely they would be to recommend their employer to friends and fam-
ily members. They were also asked to include other employers they would recommend. The final list, published by Forbes in mid-February, consists of the top 500 large employers with the most recommendations received.
“We are pleased to be recognized by Forbes as one of ‘America’s Best Large Employers,’ particularly given the fact that the results are based on input from employees across the country,” Provost John Karl Scholz said.
This isn’t the first time UW-Madison has been ranked by Forbes. The university also ranked in the top 50 out of 500 universities in “America’s Top Colleges 2022,” and ranks No. 7 in the Midwest.
“Being listed in the top 500 on Forbes’ 2023 ‘America’s Best Large Employers’ reflects the university’s commitment to providing a positive work environment for all employees,” Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administration Rob Cramer explained.
UW-Madison often conducts various internal surveys, such as the 2022 Sta Climate survey. Cramer believes these surveys succeed at “giving employees an opportunity to share their thoughts on issues regarding overall work satisfaction, safety and belonging.”
Survey results are used to identify areas for improvement within the university staff. Scholz and Cramer specifically asked directors and deans to collaborate with their respective leadership teams to review results and indicate specific areas for improvement after the Staff Climate survey. Additionally, the university said it remains committed to transparency with its survey results, forming a dashboard for staff to view various demographics.
“Our faculty and staff make UW-Madison a remarkably special place, and it is a top priority that all employees feel [they] can thrive here,” said Cramer.
“Internships can be dooropeners for a student’s career, but unpaid internships prevent
“It’s such a wonderful example of the power of collective giving,” Massnick added.
By Molly Hauenstein STAFF WRITER
The city of Madison announced the implementation of the MadiSUN program last Tuesday to transition the city to renewable solar energy throughout 2023.
The MadiSUN program will support local renewable energy providers while expanding access to solar energy installations for homes, businesses and nonprofits in the Madison area throughout the year.
The program’s three main initiatives for 2023 include a solar group purchase program aimed at reducing the cost of solar installations for households, a pool of grants provided to businesses installing solar energy sources, and a grant to increase solar energy access for residents and local organizations.
The city partnered with local non-profit RENEW Wisconsin, an organization that promotes the expansion of renewable energy in the state. RENEW Wisconsin Executive Director Sam Dunaiski said in a press conference the initiative will continue to increase access to renewable energy.
“We’re bringing more solar to families, more businesses and more nonprofit organizations across our community,” Dunaiski said. “2022 was our most successful year ever for both the residential and the backyard programs, and our business program is also seeing very high levels of participation.”
Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said the initiative will mark continued progress toward the decarbonization of the city.
“We are proud of our investments and progress, and are grateful for our partners in this work,” Rhodes-Conway said. “Still, there’s a lot to do. We must keep moving forward to improve our resilience, grow our green economy and advance climate equity.”
According to Rhodes-Conway, Madison has installed 1.4 megawatts of
solar energy on the city’s buildings, and the city’s goal is to install eight more megawatts by 2030.
The initiative also encourages businesses, homeowners and organizations to take advantage of the tax incentives included in the Inflation Reduction Act, according to Rhodes-Conway. The Inflation Reduction Act o ers to cover 30% of the cost of renewable energy installation for taxpayers, organizations and government entities.
Dunaiski said the initiative will facilitate the transition to renewable energy while ultimately boosting Wisconsin’s economy.
“These technologies are speeding us away from our fossil fuel-based economy to a decarbonized economy, which will result in far better health and economic outcomes for all Wisconsinites,” he said. “And we can keep these energy dollars at home, while reducing pollution and mitigating climate change as well.”
If you’re an active media consumer, chances are you’ve seen the four letters that often serve as the face of the climate crisis: IPCC. Also known as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, this committee assembled by the United Nations is responsible for analyzing and communicating the latest scientific findings regarding our planet.
On March 20, IPCC published the Synthesis Report of the Sixth Assessment Report, a collection of scientific findings designed to urge policymakers into action. It includes input from over 700 scientists spanning a multitude of fields, including focus areas on physical science, climate change mitigation and climate change impact assessment.
The synthesis report aims to combine the individual reports from the above specialized areas into one digestible read. This year’s edition also includes three special reports on the 1.5 degree Celsius increase in average global temperature, the ocean and cryosphere in a changing climate, and climate change in land.
Now that the Sixth Assessment cycle is complete, countries are equipped with knowledge to participate in the Global Stocktake this year, evaluating their efforts towards Paris Agreement goals. Many view these recent findings as humanity’s final warning before global warming becomes irreversible.
Consequently, it’s crucial citizens read the report, especially students who will be future participants in this changing climate. However, other responsibilities call and not everyone has the time to read through 86 pages.
If you’re eager to understand the main ideas and start making changes, read the five key takeaways from the IPCC Synthesis Report of the Sixth Assessment Report below.
1. The global surface temperature has risen by 1.1 degrees Celsius due to unsustainable use of natural resources.
Our planet is warming faster than ever before, and each fraction of a degree matters. At 1.1 degrees Celsius, there have been observable changes to the biosphere. These include ris-
By Peter Waples SCIENCE WRITER
ing sea levels, extreme weather, ecosystem loss, food insecurity and more.
These consequences are caused by individual and collective actions, and do not have equal impacts. At risk regions with larger climate exposures and smaller populations, such as small islands and Arctic communities, are being disproportionately displaced.
2. Scientists predict we will surpass 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming in the 21st century, a crucial turning point in minimizing harm.
While strides in sustainability have been made worldwide, there are still gaps between the IPCC’s calls to action and what we’ve done so far. This is caused by a multitude of reasons, from lack of policy to barriered access to environmentally conscious technology in developing countries.
No matter the causes, the consequences of reaching 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming are clear. Negative impacts like habitat loss and human health hazards will compound and become widespread.
It is more likely than not that our planet will cross this temperature threshold in the near future, making feared natural disasters a frequent reality.
3. Greenhouse gases are arguably the biggest danger and have already caused inevitable, permanent damage.
Global greenhouse gas emissions are the main cause of rising temperatures, and humans can only make so many adaptations. Communities with direct ties to water are especially vulnerable to resource depletion, which will permanently change their lives and the natural environment they rely on.
The report cites “warmwater coral reefs, coastal wetlands, rainforests, polar and mountain ecosystems will have reached or surpassed hard adaptation limits,” meaning human survival strategies will lose effectiveness with every degree of warming.
However, it is believed if humans exceed the 1.5 warming level warning and inflict these damages, committing to negative carbon emissions, also known as carbon removal, can lessen dangers.
4. Climate crisis mitigation requires action across all sectors and systems, but spe-
cifically in finance, technology and international spheres.
Scientists featured in the Synthesis Report have a unified description for necessary action: deep and rapid. If all sectors make recommended IPCC changes, they would not only protect our planet but also receive fringe benefits like increased quality of life.
Areas with the most powerful potential include finance and technology. The Synthesis Report believes increasing “international cooperation” for these goals is possible if governments prioritize equal financial flows and innovative technology.
5. Environmental justice and multivocal governance is vital for e ective change.
Climate change is a global problem that requires diverse solutions. Action is necessary on local, regional, national and international scales. The IPCC recognizes that climate resilience will be contingent on “drawing on diverse knowledge and cultural values, meaningful participation and inclusive engagement processes.”
So, as a University of Wisconsin-Madison student, how can you use this information to catalyze change? While you may not have access to write policy and restructure government, your voice still matters. Be sure to vote in local and national elections for candidates fighting for climate justice.
Furthermore, empower voices outside of governmental spheres. Utilize the environmental allies in your classrooms, occupying local organizations and on your social media. The easiest change to make is the one that starts in your backyard.
Lastly, take a breath. It’s easy to be overwhelmed by climate warnings and statistics, which can facilitate a doomsday mentality. While there is a need for urgency, there is also a need for hope.
In the words of IPCC Chair Hoesung Lee, “transformational changes are more likely to succeed where there is trust, where everyone works together to prioritize risk reduction, and where benefits and burdens are shared equitably.”
Trust in your community. Be a part of positive change.
Throughout the modern age, the world has experienced explosive population growth — a number that will continue to grow larger and faster. Other metrics have consequently seen explosions of their own. Agricultural science and policy have pushed crop yields to all time highs; the amount of energy produced and consumed in the past 70 years nearly doubles that of the previous 11,000 years; and, as a result, humanity has created enough of a footprint from released pollutants and greenhouse-gasses for scientists to consider marking a new geological epoch.
Dr. Steven Chu, a current professor of physics at Stanford University, addressed these evolving trends in a lecture delivered through the University of WisconsinMadison’s Physics Department this February. Chu — a partial recipient of the 1997 Nobel Prize in Physics — served as the Secretary of Energy under the Obama administration from 2009 to 2013.
During his time in o ce, Chu worked to maintain awareness and spur action around how the U.S. energy sector can be and needs to be adapted in the face of a warming global climate. Chu previously called for increased data collection and regulation on the expansion of fossil fuel technology, especially natural gas and fracking.
More recently — as discussed in Chu’s February lecture — he widened his topics of interest. In addition to energy issues, Chu now connects issues such as water availability and agriculture sustainability to the greater movement of reducing humanity’s impact on our climate.
Chu sets the stage by highlighting that a transition to a more sustainable future will not be without its own challenges. Pointing to the decreasing costs in renewable technologies, for instance, Chu cautioned that when including the peripheral needs of renewable technology — such as energy storage, resource acquisition and infrastructure — the overall cost will most likely still need to “reduce by half” before meaningful widespread adoption.
Despite this, Chu referred to several achievable goals that can ease an interim transition. He identified the need to reinvest in nuclear fission to make reactor construction “on budget and on time.” Additionally, he pointed to the role hydrogen can play in decarbonizing the many greenhouse gas-emitting industrial processes in the United States.
While progress in energy production and industrial e ciency are important first steps in fighting climate change, Chu argued decarbonization e orts need to go a lot further. For instance, technologies such as plastic and practices including planned obsolescence and general mismanagement of material are important targets for improvement, according to Chu.
“The goal is to reuse, not recycle,” said Chu.
One of the most unconventional changes Chu argued for at the talk is what he calls a “fourth agricultural revolution.”
Historically, through social structure reworks and scientific enhancements, humanity has made great strides in maximizing agricultural yields. However, these benefits come at a cost.
“We over fertilize,” said Chu. Many nitrogen-based fertilizers release nitrous oxide if they go unused by plants. Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a greenhouse gas three hundred times more potent than carbon dioxide, leading to its emissions having a relatively outsized e ect on global warming. Currently, Chu suggests, “we’re lucky” if a plant uses half of its fertilizer and that future fertilizing techniques will need to cut back on this waste.
To improve farming sustainability, Chu pointed to technologies like synthetic biology and carbon capture techniques. Seeding farm plots with nitrogen-fixing bacteria — little microbes that cling to the roots of plants — could drastically reduce emissions and cut back on the total consumption of fertilizer, all while still providing the high agricultural yields a growing population demands, he said.
The fight against climate change must be a concerted one, Chu argued. Many seemingly unrelated sectors need systematic change to reduce and eventually recapture greenhouse gas emissions, Chu noted.
“America’s Got Talent” star and comedic sensation Drew Lynch is coming to Madison on April 14. I spoke with Drew over the phone as he made his way across the country on his latest tour. Are you wondering what the comedian has been up to lately, or want to learn more about his perspective on comedy and life in the public eye?
Lynch gives insight into how his stutter has a ected his comedy, takeaways from his comedy, his views on his social media presence and advice on the pursuit of dreams. Here’s your one-stop shop for everything you need to know about Lynch before he graces the Orpheum’s stage next week.
Those who knew you from “America’s Got Talent” likely know of your stutter. What’s happened with the stutter since 2015, and how do you feel about the fact that it’s improved? How would you say it a ects your comedy now?
As some may know from “America’s Got Talent,” I had a softball injury. It was a grounder to the throat, and then I fell and hit my head on the ground, and I had a concussion because of that. The concussion was something that I went to sleep on, and the next day I woke up and I had to be rushed to the hospital because my motor skills and speech were o . Almost 12 years ago that happened.
It’s been a long journey of not only trying to remedy it but just also living my life with it. There are some days where there are certain triggers or things you get stuck on. I’ve been to speech therapy, seen a neurologist, chiropractors and physical therapists and rehabilitation. I think ultimately it’s been something that I’ve learned to not make such a big deal about.
And, ironically, it’s become less and less of a thing because of my own lightening up. I always used to think that everything was an attack or people thought less of me because of [the stutter]. Fortunately, my career makes me able to be very self-deprecating by being aware of it.
To speak of how it a ects me now, it shows up every now and then. But for the most part, I’m glad I don’t use it as a crutch. I don’t want it to be something I need to have to do comedy; I always want it to be about the things that I’m saying, not the way I’m saying them. I think it’s part of me; it’s a part of my past, but ultimately, it’s just another texture to who I am as a person.
You’ve said before that your comedy has come from a place of “making fun of yourself” as a healing and coping mechanism. The well-known source of this material is your stutter, but have there been any other parts of yourself and your life that have inspired your comedy?
Yeah! I end up making quite a bit of jokes about my height. I think the tentative title for it is
“short king?” It’s still just kind of pulling from that same idea of “I want to make fun of myself!”
It’s important to know where a joke is coming from, especially nowadays. If it’s something that is potentially perpetuating a wrong narrative, you can’t really go wrong with that when you’re making fun of yourself. I think that’s important.
If you’re gonna weigh in on certain things or topics that could otherwise be polarizing — I don’t think that I ever try to be polarizing — it’s a safe bet to make fun of yourself. But I do want to be fair in how I sometimes make fun of myself and sometimes make comments about something else. I think that comedians have to do not just our job of making jokes but communicating where those jokes are coming from and that they’re not from a place of malice. It’s a challenge for a lot of comics in today’s age, but I also think it’s necessary. You’re communicating, “This is who I am, and these are all just lighthearted and for comedy’s sake.”
How do you feel about your social media presence as a whole? What role has it played in your career?
This is a great question! I got my start on “America’s Got Talent.” I think that show did a great job of telling everybody who I am, like an introduction. But it really became up to me after the fact. It became my job to sustain what was going to happen afterwards. Social media is a tool, it’s a business tool that I think a lot of people are using more.
For me, after I did the show, it all just kinda stopped. Everything just kinda stopped. And now, it’s up to me to gain or build an audience. So that was when I directed a lot towards putting out videos on YouTube. I had a weekly vlog with my late dog Stella; she passed away last year. She and I were always using social media as an outlet to connect with people online.
I’ve been very fortunate in that we’ve been able to use social media to connect with others and make yourself accessible to anyone that wants to find you.
How has being on “America’s Got Talent,” then building up your YouTube and internet presence shaped your personal life? Do you find that there’s a large difference between “Drew on stage” and “Drew in everyday life?”
I love that question. I think I’ve let go a lot. I’m a very private person. But lately I’ve let go of feeling like everyone is out to attack me. Early in my career, when I went on stage after my injury, a lot of people thought it was a gimmick. When you carry around that resentment for people who don’t even know your situation, or they don’t even know you, it makes you that much more private. There’s comfort in knowing I can let go, I can be human, I can have a bad day.
The majority of people are good, and they just want you to
be human. I’ve felt much more comfortable letting go as I’ve gotten older and just trusting that I can be myself and that I can be accepted for it. I think when you don’t think about it too much [being in the spotlight], you’re doing it right.
I recently discovered the TED Talk you did where you talked about the strengths of curiosity versus ambition and how your life experiences have allowed you to realize the power of curiosity. In what ways have you pushed yourself to be curious and step outside of your comfort zone, and what would you say to others who struggle to do the same?
I think the biggest focal point from that talk was the things that we’re good at, we got good at because we’re comfortable. If you challenge yourself to do something that’s a little unordinary for yourself or your comfort level, then you’re able to attack it from a di erent perspective. When I say the word “attack,” that’s always my approach. My approach to almost everything is, “Let’s get a game plan, let’s attack it, execute that game plan in its entirety and exactly the way that we planned it.” I think with the talk, it became a lot about how your approach to that plan allows you to gain from that. You can actually learn through challenging yourself to not go with that same template every time.
My wife is someone who’s a pretty big inspiration for that — not even an inspiration, she inadvertently taught me — because she’s the opposite. She always comes from a playful place and almost never wants to address those deadlines. She’s someone who’s taught me: if you identify more strongly with someone that has ambition or someone that has curiosity, you gravitate toward your opposite.
By embracing your opposite, that was how I was able to do the talk. I usually like to keep it within the realm of comedy; I was very scared to do it [the TED Talk] — I didn’t really foresee how that fit into my usual game plan or structure. I’ve had so many things go wrong in my life that the more I was overbearing, the more I tried to control it, and the further away it got from where I wanted to go. I think that lesson was almost like a second level of how the development of my speech has gotten to be the way it is. If I think so hard about not stuttering on a word, I’m going to. You have to be able to take a break from that to see something a di erent way and let it not go well so you can recover and learn a lesson that rea rms your strengths.
How do you feel about hecklers? Where would you say the line is between playful banter from the audience and disruptive and disrespectful heckling?
I don’t discourage or encourage anything during shows within certain limitations on both ends. I love if there’s a show that feels specific to that audience. So if there’s something that happens unprompted, I love to play with that. Again, like we talked about earlier, so long as it’s in good fun and that it’s not malicious, I love that the audience can leave feeling like, “Ah, that’s something that was unique, that was just specific to our show, that can’t be recreated.”
On the other end of that, if someone does call out and it becomes so much of a distraction, or it becomes clear in the show that other people are not having a good time because of it, that’s when I have to kind of step in and draw the line. Some people love interactive components to a show because that’s the advantage of going to see a live comedy show, but at the same
time, there are some people who just want to hear the performer. If a certain joke is monopolized by one audience member, then it’s up to the performer to try to mitigate that. That’s something that I had to develop because I used to think that a lot of people would be heckling me out of a hurtful place.
I used to get heckled because of my speech and people feeling impatient. So, that was a defense mechanism that has shaped into a tool that allows me to funnel little bits and spontaneous moments into my comedy. Something happening from nothing is one of the most beautiful moments in a stand-up show. As long as it’s on the performer’s terms and it’s not becoming so disruptive that other people aren’t enjoying themselves, I think communication with the performer is a good thing.
Is there anything else you want to say? Perhaps anything you’d wish you were asked, or something you’d like people to know about you that doesn’t necessarily manifest in your comedy?
I could talk all day about comedy and about pretty much anything. But, I especially find it amazing that we’re in a comedy boom right now. There’s some people who have so many different favorite comedians, and they’re so accessible because of the social media component. But at the same time, we’re also at a time where there’s a lot of sensitivity in the culture, and I think a lot of it is warranted. We’re in the midst of trying to navigate that all together. Having an awareness of that’s what’s going on, whether you’re an audience member or you’re a comic [is] super important.
Catch Drew at the Orpheum on April 14 at 8 p.m.
Less than two months ago, Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) was only known to a niche group of individuals in California. Fast forward to today, and it has gained an international reputation as a paragon for which we chastise the banking industry and our own government.
Founded in 1983, SVB has long been considered an engine for the innovation economy. The bank provided money to startups and emerging technology companies in the hopes they would grow and pay back the loans. This lending practice was extremely rewarding but risky, as these companies had a high chance of failing and defaulting on their payments. Soon, SVB started losing the confidence of its investors and clients.
These concerns were further amplified by the pandemic, as the contraction of the economy significantly affected SVB’s customer base of startups and emerging tech companies. Companies collectively struggled, leaving the bank to deal with significant losses and a reduced ability to provide more loans. As a result, the bank’s financial position became increasingly risky.
This eventually boiled over
By GL Sacco STAFFDisruptive technologies have impacted our lives in innumerable ways. Electric cars, virtual reality, 5G and numerous other genius human accomplishments have changed the way we live. But, the latest breakthrough in tech is artificial intelligence (AI).
As a student, I see how it impacts both students’ ability to complete their schoolwork and professors’ teaching styles. However, with this added ease for students comes an added pressure for professors.
Hours of lecturing can now be replaced with a simple prompt and some elementary follow up questions. I’ve witnessed first-hand teachers make learning content we can’t get from AI their top priority in a class. It makes sense. What is the purpose of going through the entire college process just to have a computer do the exact same thing in significantly less time?
Making sure there is a distinction between the capabilities of humans and those of AI should be a top priority — otherwise, our day to day lives would seem merely superficial. But as AI constantly increases its own capabilities, this becomes a seemingly impossible task.
The generative AI chatbot known as ChatGPT has taken college campuses by storm. Now, the popularity and power of ChatGPT have led to an AI arms race with major tech firms such as Google and Microsoft squaring o at the top.
The speed at which new technolo-
on March 10, as SVB clients were making a run on the bank.
Depositors were scrambling to withdraw their money, which ultimately totaled an amount the bank couldn’t provide. The bank’s stock crashed by 60.41%, trading was halted and banking regulators in California decided to close the bank.
Because SVB was deemed “too big to fail,” the government had to intervene and give SVB financial backing. They gave the bank a credit loan so they could continue lending to customers.
This was considered a necessary action to save the bank from failing and sparking a crisis in the banking sector. But, the whole scenario just emphasizes the more severe problem we have been dealing with since the 2008 financial crisis.
Back in 2008, the entire banking industry was on the verge of collapse. The sector was experiencing multiple bank runs, as reckless lending practices and a lack of regulation led to decreased confidence from clients. To stop the wider economy from collapsing with it, the government rescued the failing banks by bailing them out with national funding. While it might have been necessary at the time, banks soon realized they can force the government to contin-
ue bailing out riskier institutions that are in trouble.
Although vital, rescuing these failing banks feeds into a moral hazard. The banks become aware that they can count on the authorities to bail them out of trouble, so they become more willing to engage in risky behavior. Put simply, they realize they won’t have to pay for their actions since the U.S. government will — with taxpayer money.
Bailing out failing banks also releases them from responsibility. These banks are not required to alter their behavior or accept accountability for their actions. Because of this, the same issues keep arising — increasing volatility and danger within the
banking sector.
More stringent banking laws are needed, as they support the sustainability required to address this issue. Banks should conduct their business safely and responsibly, without taking on too much risk or relying on predatory lending techniques. They also must be able to answer for their deeds and bear the consequences of their choices. Increased capital requirements for banks would be a strategy to persuade them to act more responsibly. If these institutions had the financial resources to absorb losses without help from the government, they would be less likely to take risks. If we toughen the penal-
ties for banks that violate regulations, a culture of responsibility that ensures bank accountability can be established within the sector.
So, should you open a bank account with Silicon Valley Bank? That decision ultimately boils down to whether or not you trust the U.S. government’s ability to make its credit payments.
If so, opening a savings account with SVB is practically risk-free because it is Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insured, meaning depositors will be protected by up to $250,000 in the case of a bank failure. The decision to create an account with SVB, however, becomes pointless if you don’t believe the government will be able to pay its debts on time. All scenarios would result in the eventual collapse of the whole financial system, making all savings and deposits — regardless of the financial institution — meaningless.
So for your sake and mine, let’s give SVB a second chance.
Jason Li is a sophomore studying Finance, Investment and Banking at UW-Madison. Do you trust the U.S. government’s ability to make its credit payments? Let us know at opinion@dailycardinal.com.
gies are being released is remarkable. This innovation is fueled by competition and, of course, money. However, AI may be a disruptive technology — one we might not want gaining power too quickly. For all of the good that comes out of AI, it’s also important to be mindful of the dangers that can come from it. Unlike electric cars, virtual reality and 5G, AI has the capability to act in human-like ways, reeling in a whole new list of issues.
Earlier this year, AI engines from Google and Microsoft passed the “Turing test.” The Turing test is administered by a human on an AI engine. If the interrogator is unable to distinguish the AI responses from the human responses, then AI has passed the test.
Most of these questions are not centered around high-level intelligence but rather on language cues and elementary level problem solving. Before the development of these chatbots, passing the Turing test was a rarity, to say the least. Now, it seems ever more common.
This accelerated development of AI being indistinguishable from humans is dangerous. For example, AI can now engage in manipulation and initiate a task as simple as a common scam. This isn’t to say we have reached “The Terminator” levels, where the human race could be at risk, but it is certainly important to monitor as the capabilities of AI increase.
Additionally, equipping bad actors with this kind of AI could have catastrophic impacts throughout the world. As a result, AI experts and
global tech leaders such as Elon Musk recently called for a pause in the development of this powerful technology.
In an interview with Yoshua Bengio, often referred to as the “Godfather of AI,” Musk said, “We’ve reached the point where these systems are smart enough that they can be used in ways that are dangerous for society.” This consensus among tech leaders is not a call to action to stop AI development, but rather to understand how
to control the AI that is developed before it is further developed.
Ensuring we can control AI before rushing to expand it seems like common sense; however, as history heeds, greed often takes control of people when they stumble upon an opportunity as lucrative as AI could be. To simply hope every AI specialist across the world will slow down for the purpose of safety is not something to bet on.
So, next time ChatGPT is doing your math homework or writing your
10 page essay for your class, keep in mind the consequences of this intelligence as well as its benefits. AI could be the answer to humans’ most complex problems or the downfall of all our previous accomplishments.
GianlucaSaccoisasophomoreat UW-Madison studying Economics and Political Science. Do you agree that Artificial Intelligence requires increased vigilance? Send all commentstoopinion@dailycardinal.com
Rashard Griffith strode hurriedly towards the Middleton High School fieldhouse in early November, the sound of dribbling basketballs growing louder with each step. Team tryouts began at 4 p.m. — Gri th’s phone read 4:30 p.m.
Joining a new team was practically second nature to Gri th, having played for 10 di erent professional clubs across the world. The star center’s playing days, however, were far behind him.
Gri th didn’t don a triple-XL jersey upon entering the fieldhouse — his Wisconsin Badgers hoodie and gray sweatpants su ced. The first year coach’s tardiness wasn’t an issue, either. It was expected.
As the hopeful Middleton Cardinals took the court 30 minutes prior, Gri th took a family friend home from a hospital visit. Several hours earlier, the 48-year-old drove a former teammate to their physical therapy session.
Middleton’s assistant coaches happily handled the extra work in his short absence. In just several months of knowing their head coach, one thing became abundantly clear — helping others was ingrained in Gri th’s identity. And basketball was the outlet through which he gave back.
‘Basketball
Gri th first gravitated towards basketball at 13 years old. As a sixfoot-four-inch seventh grader, expectations were sky-high the moment he stepped foot on the court. After sprouting another five inches over the summer heading into eighth grade, those expectations reached orbital levels.
As Gri th’s stature grew, so did his confidence. While playing basketball on the playgrounds of the South Side of Chicago, the raw big-man routinely took on kids who exceeded him in both age and talent.
Under the guidance of Bennie Parrot, his grade-school coach at Marcus Garvey Elementary School, Gri th honed his talents in the gym. Long days were spent lifting weights, running drills and learning fundamentals.
Gri th returned home to study basketball on television. He and his father sat glued to the screen watching the Chicago Bulls’ Michael Jordan dominate the NBA, earning the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year
awards in 1988. Over time, observing the best player in the game’s work ethic, mentality and competitiveness rubbed o on Gri th.
A fast learner, hard worker and naturally gifted player, Griffith quickly developed a name for himself among college scouts. As universities expressed interest in him, the towering middle-schooler realized the power basketball held.
“Basketball was my way out,” Gri th said.
The orange leather ball suddenly unlocked several doors in Gri th’s life. A departure from he South Side. A path to college. A means to provide for his family.
The first taste of winning
Gri th enrolled at Martin Luther King High School in Chicago, one of the nation’s best basketball programs where Parrot worked as an assistant coach. It didn’t take long for the nearly seven-foot freshman to make his presence felt.
Alongside All-American guard Jamie Brandon, Gri th led the Jaguars to a perfect season and state title in 1990. His sophomore season bore comparable results, with King losing just one game in the regular season before su ering a shocking defeat to Marshall High School in the Public League semifinals.
Gri th returned his junior year with a vengeance, averaging a careerhigh 22 points and 14 rebounds a game. The strong play propelled the Jaguars to another one-loss regu-
lar season and a bout against the Westinghouse Warriors in the Public League Finals.
Westinghouse employed a small ball strategy against King, which featured two standout big men in Gri th and Thomas Hamilton. The Jaguars couldn’t keep up with the lineup of nearly all guards, falling to the Warriors after squandering a late lead.
As Westinghouse poured onto the court and King headed to the locker room, Gri th stayed seated on the bench. With a towel over his head and tears in his eyes, he watched the Warriors celebrate their victory.
“I made a promise to myself that day,” Gri th said. “I’m going out the way I came in.”
Gri th fulfilled his personal vow the following season, leading the Jaguars to an undefeated record and state title — Gri th’s first since freshman year. He subsequently earned the 1993 Illinois Mr. Basketball award as well as o ers to play for several top collegiate programs in the country.
The national interest brought Gri th one step closer to the NBA, his life goal. For his mother, Elaine, it meant something more — a chance to become the first in his family to graduate from college.
‘Chicago raised me, but Madison made me’
Gri th chose the University of Wisconsin-Madison, which was led by former Knicks head coach Stu Jackson but hadn’t made the NCAA Tournament in 47 years. The leap
of faith to a struggling college was backed in reason — Gri th wanted to work for success.
“His decision sent out a loud signal that the University of Wisconsin basketball program was a viable place to land for a high level highschool player,” Jackson said. “To that end, he was a pioneer.”
Despite being the first McDonald’s All-American to attend Wisconsin, Gri th’s spot in the starting lineup wasn’t guaranteed in 1993. At the first practice in the Field House, Coach Jackson laid out the parameters — all spots were open, and minutes would have to be earned.
With the scrimmage about to start, Gri th informed his teammates the fifth spot was his. On the first missed shot, he corralled the o ensive rebound and dunked it with two hands. The authoritative slam was so forceful it knocked a screw loose from the rim.
“Well, we’re gonna be better,” Jackson remembered thinking that day. “Every team didn’t have one of those Rashard Gri ths.”
Griffith’s dominance extended past the practice court. In the first game of his freshman year, the imposing center scored 27 points, snagged 12 rebounds and dished out six assists against UW-Milwaukee. With each passing game, Gri th blossomed into a complete player.
“Chicago raised me,” Gri th said. “But Madison made me.”
Alongside Michael Finley, Tracy Webster and Howard Moore, Gri th helped lead the Badgers to an 18-11 regular season. The improved record placed Wisconsin seventh in the Big Ten and on the bubble of the NCAA Tournament.
On the day of the tournament reveal, Jackson gathered the team at his house to watch the bracket unfold. Once Wisconsin’s name appeared as the No. 9 seed in the West Region, the living room erupted into a state of pandemonium. After nearly five decades, the Badgers were back on the big stage.
Behind Gri th’s 22 points and 15 rebounds, Wisconsin knocked o No. 8 Cincinnati in the first round. Even though they lost to No. 1 Missouri the following game, Badger faithful were ecstatic — Gri th and his teammates had kickstarted the turnaround for Wisconsin basketball.
By the end of his freshman year, it became apparent Gri th wouldn’t be at Wisconsin long. With a departure to the NBA seemingly looming on the horizon, head football coach Barry Alvarez called Gri th into his o ce. In a conversation that the big-man considered a “setup between him and my mom,” Alvarez made Gri th promise to someday return and get his degree.
Gri th continued to excel his sophomore season, averaging a double-double and gaining the interest of several NBA teams. He forwent his junior year and entered the 1995 NBA Draft, where he was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 38th pick. Since Gri th was seen as a raw prospect, Bucks head coach Mike Dunleavy encouraged the 19-yearold to spend his rookie year overseas. Playing in Europe would allow Gri th to sharpen his game for a year, after which he could return to Milwaukee.
Gri th obliged, beginning his professional career with Tofas Bursa in Turkey. Despite the unfamiliar setting and di erence in play style, he took the league by storm, earning the MVP award his first season.
Gri th’s strong performance wasn’t enough to sway the Bucks, who were only willing to pay him around the league-minimum. Though Gri th always hoped of playing in the NBA, the promise of more immediate money overseas couldn’t be passed up. Providing for his family took precedence over his dreams.
After signing with Maccabi Tel Aviv two years after, Gri th became a multi-millionaire at age 21. He later teamed up with Manu Ginóbili on Kinder Bologna, becoming the third team in European history to win the Triple Crown — every major championship in the calendar year — in 2000-01.
Success followed Gri th to each country he traveled to, as stints in Turkey, Israel, Spain, Italy and Romania produced 17 championships.
In the summers, with the season paused, Gri th flew back to Wisconsin to visit Alvarez. Sharing a bottle of wine from whichever country Gri th was based in, the pair sat down to catch up on life.
“[Alvarez] would always tell me, ‘Hey, I’m looking forward to you keeping your promise by getting your degree,’” Gri th said. “So when the time came, I came back to school.”
Following a decorated 15-year career abroad, Gri th returned to Madison in 2016 intent on graduating from his alma mater. The degree in community and nonprofit leadership immediately sparked his interest.
“I wanted to learn how to give back the right way,” Gri th said.
Gri th enrolled in the School of Human Ecology in January 2017, 22 years after leaving Wisconsin for the NBA Draft. Moore and his family kindly provided their home as a place to stay.
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