University of Wisconsin-Madison
The Dane County Farmers Market returns to Capitol Square for 2025.
+ LIFE & STYLE, PAGE 5
Since 1892 dailycardinal.com
Thursday, April 17, 2025 l
The history of America’s most infamous satire site, as told by an insider.
+ ARTS, PAGE 8
By Olivia Ruetten STAFF WRITER
The University of Wisconsin-Madison will host its second annual Earth Fest from April 21 to 29, a celebration of the planet over the week of Earth Day prioritizing environmental education, sustainability practices and climate justice.
Organized jointly by UW-Madison’s Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies and the Office of Sustainability, this year’s Earth Fest includes over 50 events including lectures, performances, cleanups, workshops and art exhibitions.
“Earth Fest showcases the incredible richness of this field,” Missy Nergard, UW-Madison’s Director of Institutional Sustainability, said in a press release. “It’s so
important to make space for all the ways in which sustainability is woven into the lives, work, and passions of people on this campus.”
New to this year’s event is a series of “headliners” who will promote the advancement of environmental science and encourage student engagement.
Among the headlining events is a “Climate Courage” forum, which will touch on the psychology of environmental resilience and stories of climate courage — the practice of not backing down from combating climate change.
Other events include an “Ecopoetry Writing Workshop,” a day-long conference about cannabis, the Wisconsin Union’s Sustainability Fair and an “Earth Day” Lunch. Allen Centennial Garden will host a “Plant Give Away, Swap,
and Plant Pot Swap,” where visitors can bring plants that need a new pot and trade pots and plants with others.
Also featured are artistic showcases like the Earth Signals Concert, which blends climate science and music, and the screening of “Planetwalker,” a documentary about ecological activism that was shortlisted for the 2025 Oscars.
Organizations like the Hoofer Outing Club, The People’s Farm and the Ethical and Responsible Business Network are among the many student-led groups organizing events during Earth Fest.
The first Earth Day celebration was held in 1970 by Wisconsin U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson, the Nelson Institute’s namesake, who organized a teach-in across America, drawing participation
By Gavin Escott CAMPUS NEWS EDITOR
A federal judge blocked President Donald Trump’s administration from taking any action against an international University of Wisconsin-Madison student whose visa was terminated, preventing the U.S. government from deporting him or taking any legal action for at least two weeks.
In a 12-page ruling Tuesday, Judge William Conley issued a temporary restraining order against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), preventing them from terminating Krish Lal Isserdasani’s visa and imposing consequences, including deportation, until a preliminary hearing on April 28.
Isserdasani, a 21-year-old UW-Madison undergraduate student from India expecting to graduate in May, was informed his visa was terminated April 4, and Conley contended the lack of due process time to contest the termination was sufficient by itself to establish irreparable harm.
“Given the amount of Isserdasani’s edu-
cational expenses and potential losses from having to leave the United States without obtaining his degree, the court concludes that Isserdasani credibly demonstrates that he faces irreparable harm for which he has no adequate remedy at law in the absence of injunctive relief,” Conley wrote.
Isserdasani is among 27 current and former UW-Madison students and at least 40 across the UW System who have had their visas terminated in the past month. As of Thursday, more than 600 international students and recent graduates have had their visas revoked or legal status changed across the U.S., and some students have been detained and deported by Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE).
UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin said during an Faculty Senate meeting on April 8 the university only learned about the terminations after the fact.
Visa termination likely came without cause, judge says
Conley’s ruling came after Isserdasani filed a lawsuit against DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and ICE Secretary Todd Lyons for violating his right to due process. Isserdasani, who filed the lawsuit alongside Hamidreza Khademi, a 34-year-old Iranian master’s student at Iowa State University similarly stripped of his visa, argued Noem and Lyon’s basis for terminating their visas were “arbitrary, capricious, and not in accordance with the law.” They argued the termination was also done without any notice or opportunity to be heard.
Isserdasani was informed “out of the blue” his visa was terminated because he was identified in a criminal records check, the lawsuit said. He acknowledged an arrest for disorderly conduct on Nov. 22 when he and his friends engaged in a verbal argument with another group after leaving a bar, though he said he believed it resolved after the district attorney declined to pursue the case.
Continue reading at dailycardinal.com
from approximately 20 million Americans across the United States.
Earth Fest looks to honor Nelson’s memory and represent UW-Madison’s dedication to climate research and clean energy initiatives, said Paul Robbins, dean of the Nelson Institute.
“There couldn’t be a more critical time to gather people…to learn together about environmental questions and opportunities,” Robbins said. “The work continues, and this year may be our biggest.”
Most Earth Fest events are free and open to the public, taking place across campus locations like the Lakeshore Nature Preserve, Chazen Museum of Art and the UW Arboretum. A full schedule of Earth Fest events is listed on their website.
By Drew Wesson STAFF WRITER
The Madison Police Department (MPD) will add a new policy on April 22 which will prevent underage individuals who call 911 in an emergency from receiving a citation for underage drinking, provided certain conditions are met.
The policy, titled “Amnesty Through Responsible Action,” which is similar to University of Wisconsin-Madison Police Department (UWPD)s amnesty policy, states that citations for underage alcohol violations in the City of Madison won’t be issued if certain conditions are met.
Citations for underage alcohol violations wouldn’t be issued to callers and victims who request medical assistance as long as the caller remains with the victim and cooperates. Additionally, if the impaired individual is a victim of a crime, a citation for underage drinking would not be issued.
The policy doesn’t apply if contact is initiated by emergency personnel or to other violations which may be occurring at the same time.
District 8 Ald. MGR Govindarajan told The Daily Cardinal the goal for the policy is to make city and campus policy more aligned.
“We want to make sure that the policies are somewhat similar from campus and off campus, especially when it’s just mostly impacting students,” Govindarajan said.
Penalties for possessing or drinking alcohol while underage and not at a “licensed premise” can range from $187 to $313 for the first offense, including a possible license suspension for 30 to 90 days. Fines can increase if that individual is within a licensed premise, such as a bar.
University Health Services stated 37% of UW-Madison undergraduates drink at highrisk levels, and 10% of undergraduates have physically injured themselves while drinking.
“There is a lot of hesitation [to call 911] sometimes, especially with underage students. That’s a big fear for people,” Govindarajan said.
The policy, which has been in discussion for a couple of months, was created in conjunction with the Madison and UW police departments, Govindarajan said.
MPD officers will receive training on the new policy after it is implemented on April 22.
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”
By Alaina Walsh ASSOCIATES NEWS EDITOR
Madison Water Utility received high ratings for water quality, communications, finances and infrastructure in Wisconsin’s first statewide water utility report cards, developed by a University of Wisconsin-Madison researcher to spotlight the performance and challenges facing the state’s drinking water systems.
The report cards, compiled by Manuel Teodoro, a professor at UW-Madison’s La Follete School of Public Affairs, evaluated 572 water utilities using data from 2022 and 2023 provided by the Wisconsin Public Service Commission, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Teodoro’s research team.
Each utility received grades in four categories: water quality, customer communication, financial management and infrastructure condition. Final grades were assigned on a traditional A–F scale.
“The report cards help utilities identify voids in service and areas where we can improve, whether its water quality, infrastructure, operations, finances, or communications,” Marcus Pearson, public information officer for Madison Water Utility, told The Daily Cardinal in an email statement. “More importantly, information is accessible
to the public.”
Statewide, more than 92% of utilities received A’s for water quality. But while the water itself remains safe in most places, the systems behind it tell a more complicated story. Over a quarter of Wisconsin utilities received D’s or F’s in finance, and 22% earned failing marks for infrastructure and operations.
Teodoro directed The Daily Cardinal to his recent blog post, where he used a football metaphor to describe the state of utility management: many utilities are playing “prevent defense”— a strategy that aims to avoid disaster rather than pursue excellence.
“In football, that approach can give up ground. In water management, it can put entire communities at risk,” he wrote. “A water system’s strategic goal might be public health, environmental quality, citizen trust, and economic prosperity, but the utilities’ management tactics often boil down to regulatory compliance. The practical goal is not so much to achieve good things, but to avoid bad ones.”
Because water systems are buried and invisible until something goes wrong, Teodoro argued that their value is difficult to communicate — until failure forces public attention.
“It’s hard to get anything done
without a regulatory boot to your backside,” one utility executive told him, as indicated in the post. Teodoro hopes his report cards will shift that mentality from mere compliance toward achievement.
Teodoro believes the report cards can empower both public officials and voters by making water system performance transparent, accessible and easy to understand.
“A simple, comprehensive
report card would give a utility’s leaders a way to communicate progress,” he wrote. “Mayors and council members could trumpet the improvements, helping to demonstrate the value of those unpleasant rate increases.”
The goal, Teodoro said, is not just to avoid failure — but to recognize and reward excellence. Or, in sports terms: stop playing prevent defense, and start playing to win.
By Clara Strecker COPY CHIEF
Agriculture, dairy workers and farm and construction equipment manufacturers, some of Wisconsin’s top industries, fear a possible recession triggered by President Donald Trump’s international trade war.
In a reaction to Trump’s tariffs, Canada and China have placed retaliatory tariffs, increasing the cost of goods from the United States, therefore potentially decreasing exports. As Wisconsin is ranked 11th in food and agricultural exports, this could hurt the state’s economy. Additionally, U.S. tariffs on other countries could increase costs for materials like steel and aluminum inturn reducing the number of manufacturing jobs.
Despite some domestic growth and demand for dairy products, most of the growth that has allowed the expansion of milk production in Wisconsin comes from exporting products outside the United States, Chuck Nicholson, an associate professor in Animal and Dairy Sciences and Agricultural and Applied Economics, told The Daily Cardinal.
“Our top three main trading partners in 2024 were Mexico, Canada and China. We sent about 40% of the value of U.S. dairy products, including products from Wisconsin,
to those three countries last year,” Nicholson said.
As of March 4, Trump’s 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico went into effect, though goods falling under the U.S.M.C.A trade pact are exempt from tariffs. Trump also doubled down on his previous tariff on imports from China to 20%.
As a retaliatory tariff against “unjustified U.S. tariffs,” the Canadian government imposed a 25% tariff on $155 billion worth of imported goods, beginning with a list of goods worth $30 billion.
Equipment manufacturers now face this 25% tariff. China’s retaliatory tariff went up from 34% to 84% on April 10 as well.
“President Trump’s tariff taxes are a disaster,” Gov. Tony Evers said in a social media post Monday. “This will hurt Wisconsin’s farmers and producers, our manufacturing industries, and cause prices for working families to go up on everything from groceries to gas to cars. And Republicans in Congress are doing nothing to stop him.”
U.S. tariffs on other countries’ goods could hurt Wisconsin’s manufacturing industry by raising the cost of inputs, like steel and aluminum. Some economists estimated in 2020 that steel tariffs
may have led to an increase of roughly 1,000 jobs in steel production. But increased costs of inputs facing U.S. firms likely resulted in 75,000 fewer manufacturing jobs in steel or aluminum-reliant industries.
When countries like Canada or China put tariffs into place, it significantly raises the cost of products from the United States relative to other products from different places. This can have an impact on the amount of products the United States will be able to sell.
It could also drop the prices for dairy products — due to increased domestic supply — inside the United States, which could be beneficial for consumers, Nicholson said.
“We also pay farmers in the United States for their milk based on a formula that links the product prices to what they get paid at the farm level,” Nicholson said. “That would also have a pretty significant impact on farm milk prices and the profitability of dairy farms.”
Although the U.S. consumers would see significant decreases in the dairy product prices as a result of the tariffs, farmers would be paid less per gallon, causing an estimated $1 to $2 billion worth of lost income in Wisconsin for dairy alone, according to Nicholson.
Additionally, programs in which the government gives
income for people to buy food, like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, have been on the brink of being cut. As Wisconsin gives a lot of products to these kinds of programs, cutting them will also cut demand, Nicholson said. With economic uncertainty, a second concern for the agriculture sector is labor.
A large portion of the labor force in the agriculture industry — particularly the dairy industry and processing facilities — is immigrant labor, Nicholson said.
“If we do some things to negatively affect the availability of labor for those farms and processing businesses that could have a negative impact by raising their costs, forcing them to train new people, recruit new people,” Nicholson said.
Additionally, if there is significant reduction in the profitability of farms and the demand for products reduces, there is likely to be a negative impact on labor, Nicholson said.
Roughly 298,600 Wisconsinites work jobs in the agriculture sector, with Wisconsin being the top state affected by these retaliatory tariffs, according to the New York Times.
More than 460,000 people work in manufacturing, making Wisconsin susceptible to further damage. Wisconsin exported $26.3 billion worth of manufacturing products in 2024.
By Avery Chheda STAFF WRITER
When former University of Wisconsin-Madison director of tribal relations Aaron Bird Bear was hired in 2003, he was shocked at the lack of representation and resources for Native American students. He saw Native American students’ need for support.
During his time at Madison, Bird Bear created the First Nations Cultural Landscape Tour, increased recruitment and graduation rates for Native American students and helped initiate the Indigenous Student Center.
Prior to Bird Bear’s arrival to UW-Madison, Native presence on campus was limited. Despite being built on ancestral Ho-Chunk land, there were few opportunities to acknowledge and honor their history. Today, Bird Bear’s tour lives on and hopes to move one group at a time from ignorance to awareness.
For over two decades the UW-Madison campus has hosted the First Nations Cultural Landscape Tour. In that time, over 25,000 people have attended the award-winning tour.
The tour starts in Memorial Union with an introduction to the Ho-Chunk and their 12 animal inspired clans. On Bascom
Hill, tour guide Kane Funmaker recounts the rich ecosystem that used to exist there. The tour then passes the few remaining effigy mounds on campus.
The walking tour takes visitors through the Ho-Chunk Native Americans’ 14,000 year history in Madison. While the university was established in 1848, “175 years is less than a fraction of [Madison’s] history,” Funmaker said. From Memorial Union to Observatory Drive, the First Nations Cultural Landscape Tour highlights the rich cultural history of the Ho-Chunk Nation and “punctures the cultural veneer,” he said.
The tour features archaeological sites, historical markers and ancestral stories that challenge traditional narratives of the land the university occupies: Teejop. Teejop translates to “Four Lakes,” named for the four lakes that surround the land that sustained the Ho-Chunk for thousands of years.
The tour also takes participants to effigy, conical and linear mounds. Madison is home to the largest concentration of effigy mounds in the country, and is estimated to be the home of 1,300 existing mounds.
Funmaker said these mounds are an important part of Ho-Chunk history.
“They represent histo -
ry and the erasure of Native American culture,” Funmaker said, explaining Mound preservation is crucial for keeping Ho-Chunk history alive.
“Simply telling people that there’s effigy mounds on campus and [about their] cultural and significance is mound preservation,” he said.
These mounds, and much of the landscape on campus, display Ho-Chunk peoples’ spirit of resistance, having returned to Madison after 11 documented forced removals. Effigy mounds shaped like birds, water spirits and bears commemorate Ho-Chunk stories and mark sacred ground.
“You can take a shovel to any [ground] on campus and potentially be disturbing an archaeological site,” Funmaker said.
Confronting past wrongs
Dating back to the 1850s, cultural erasure of the Ho-Chunk Nation began when Bascom and Agriculture Hall were built atop mounds. Observatory Hill used to boast five mounds. Today, only two are visible.
In the 1930s, at the same time Native Americans were prohibited from practicing cultural traditions, UW-Madison students dressed as Native American caricatures as the
senior class passed the torch to the freshmen.
Funmaker explained Indigenous assimilation efforts were in “full swing” during this period, making it illegal for Native Americans to practice their traditions on campus.
It wasn’t until the 1950s that the university sponsored its first Native American graduate, and it wasn’t until the 1970s that the first Native American student organization was born: The Coalition of Native Tribes for Red Power.
In Memorial Union, inaccurate portraits of Native Americans still cover the ceilings. In recent years, the university has opted not to repaint the pictures.
“The pictures make room for conversations about how to better honor Native Americans,” Funmaker said.
Inscribed on the first official
seal of the territory of Wisconsin are the words “civilization succeeded barbarism,” another misleading depiction of Native American culture.
But the tour helps spark these delicate conversations and tell a holistic history of the city and its campus.
As a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation who grew up with few opportunities to learn about his culture, Funmaker said leading those conversations is a source of pride.
“Being able to learn and share the history with friends and family is the part I take the most pride in,” he said.
In addition, he said learning about Native American history shouldn’t stop when the tour ends.
“‘Our Shared Future’ is about moving from ignorance to awareness,” Funmaker said.
By Jake Piper SENIOR STAFF WRITER
At Memorial Union’s Grand Hall, a room of 100 University of WisconsinMadison students gathered to hear 14 speakers from the worlds of technology, medicine and business share business tips and their views on the evolving application of artificial intelligence (AI) in their industries.
The event, held April 4, was hosted by TEDxUW-Madison, an independent, student-run organization licensed by the national non-profit TED. Speakers from major companies such as Zoom, Ralph Lauren and Oracle Health shared life and business advice ranging from managing a startup to environmentally friendly purchasing.
UW-Madison senior Hank Newell told The Daily Cardinal he was there to feel inspired before graduating. Some students were drawn to specific speakers, with others becoming interested as they heard them talk throughout the night.
Multiple speakers explored the tension between AI and human connection. While there was daylight between speakers, most agreed that while AI was a promising tool, there were dangers inherent to the technology that could never be fixed.
“We are in an era of unprecedented transformation, where artificial intelligence is not only redefining industries, but it’s shaping the way we feel and experience the world around us,” said Nasim Afsar, Oracle Health’s former chief health officer.
For Afsar and many of the other
speakers, generative AI is an “inevitable” technology that offers the ability to redefine industries from the ground up, but could become harmful to those very same businesses.
Illuminate CEO Cole Erdmann centered much of his speech on the ”joyful and fearful” aspects of AI he encounters every day leading the medical tech startup. His speech highlighted the benefits generative AI can bring to the workforce but also warned of the potential downsides of what he called an “overdose” of AI in business. The “overdose” of AI systems is possibly leading to the replacement or overt disruption of programs built on face-to-face interaction, Erdmann said.
“Are we actually going to understand a problem? Are we actually going to have a problem that matters? That’s the fearful part [of using AI],” Erdmann said, alluding to the fake sources and responses many generative AI programs can output.
Drawing from his own experience,
Erdmann described how his attempt to develop a program for early sepsis detection — a leading cause of death in hospitals — failed due to poor parameter implementation. The system was “rejected, almost like an antibody,” by medical staff, Erdmann said.
“That algorithm tries to define a sick patient, who is inside a hospital filled with sick people,” Erdmann said. “So it alerted [doctors] to every single wing of the hospital — the entire ICU, the ER. Every patient was getting an alert.”
Afsar also saw the danger of AI models within the medical sphere, noting how the “indifference” of AI models can — and has — led to wellintentioned projects being misled by a misunderstanding of how AI interacts with their prompts. Because AI has been trained on predominately white male-based historical studies, it can have an inherent bias built into its methods of identification that leads to less accurate diagnoses for Black and female patients, she said.
Not all speakers were as cautious about AI, and many enthusiastically embraced its potential. Girish Rishi, the CEO of Cognite, a consulting firm which utilizes AI and dataset aggregation to inform their business partners, likened generative AI to the “Wisconsin Idea” — a long-standing UW-Madison principle encouraging the use of knowledge to benefit society.
Similar to how the Wisconsin Idea encourages students and faculty to apply their education for the greater good, Rishi said he hopes AI’s “incredible” impact will enrich communities and spark a global “A.I. industrial revolution.”
Andrew Rebhun, a UW-Madison alum and chief experience officer at the restaurant chain Cava, echoed Erdmann’s outlook on AI. He said it would “enhance the human experience, not replace it,” attributing its current ubiquity to its status as a “hot buzzword.”
Erdmann also expressed optimism about the future of AI. He told the Cardinal that AI was “not something we should be fearful of.” He said most companies would still have to do “the same work as before,” and AI was simply a new tool to enhance their existing work.
Rebhun agreed with Erdmann, arguing that AI would only ever augment their industries as a tool for exploration, not a replacement for human skill.
“A lot of the themes you’ve heard today are about people, talent and development,” Rebhun said. “And through human connection you can accomplish all of those.”
By Clara Strecker COPY CHIEF
Content warning: This article contains mentions of suicide and sexual abuse.
Bradyn Bohn, a 15-year-old from Kronenwetter, Wisconsin, died by suicide on March 5 after falling victim to sextortion.
Sextortion is a crime where scammers coerce their victims, usually teen boys, gaining their trust, convincing them to send compromising pictures and then blackmailing them for money.
Brittany Bird, Bohn’s mother, found a note from her son saying “make sure he gets caught,” with a further explanation of the situation. Although Bird said her son sent money, the scammers were relentless and didn’t stop.
It was only two hours after the messages started that Bohn took his life.
This week, a handful of northern Wisconsin legislators introduced “Bradyn’s Law” for co-sponsorship, in honor of Bohn. The bill, which has support from Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul, would make sextortion a standalone crime in Wisconsin.
“Losing a young life because of
the evil acts of these perpetrators and bad people that wanted to prey on our kids is absolutely devastating,”
Sen. Jesse James, R-Thorp, told The Daily Cardinal. “We need to keep taking a stand and when we can hold these people accountable, we charge them accordingly, and we hold them accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
The key provision in the bill states that if the “sextortion” leads the victim to death by suicide, the perpetrator could be charged with felony murder, which could add up to 15 years plus the underlying sentence, Rep. Brent Jacobson, R-Mosinee, told the Cardinal.
This gives law enforcement a statute on the books, leaving it up to the prosecutor to assess if the evidence links causation between what occurred and the individual taking their life. Additionally, Jacobson also said that if the prosecutor believes the level of intent does not connect between felony murder and suicide, he thinks the prosecutor would have “flexibility” and could make the charge a lower level offense like manslaughter.
“We’re a small, tight-knit community in central Wisconsin, and
this really got me emotional,” Jacobson told the Cardinal. “I can’t imagine feeling the loss of a child.”
The base offense for sextortion would be a Class I felony punishable by up to 3.5 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. However, if the victim engages in sexual conduct, suffers great bodily harm or gives money or valuables, it becomes a Class H felony, carrying a sentence of up to 6 years in prison.
If the victim is under 18 and the defendant is more than four years older, the perpetrator has a prior conviction of a sexually violent offense or the crime occurred during child abduction, it becomes a Class G felony carrying up to 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine, Jocobson told the Cardinal.
“Hopefully, this legislation and the sacrifice and tragedy that happened to Bradyn will be able to enlighten others of this nature and maybe prevent something from happening in the future,” Rep. Patrick Snyder, R-Weston, told the Cardinal. “Maybe other teens facing this right now, hopefully, this will give them the courage to come to their parents and come to authorities because the message is no matter how
By Vanessa Gavilan CITY NEWS EDITOR
The Madison Mayor’s Office announced Monday the resignation of Maribeth Witzel-Behl, a clerk under investigation for the almost 200 uncounted absentee ballots in the 2024 presidential election.
Witzel-Behl was appointed city clerk in 2006 and has overseen over 60 elections, as well as performing duties such as overseeing the city’s legislative tracking system and issuance of city and county licenses and permits.
In December, the City Clerk’s Office had announced the discovery of these unprocessed absentee ballots from several wards, a month and a half after the election.
In early January, the Wisconsin Election Commission (WEC) unanimously decided to launch an investigation into Madison’s Clerk’s Office for potential failures to comply with state law or abuse of discretion.
Last month, the WEC followed up on the investigation by voting to depose certain Madison city workers who may have knowledge of the unprocessed ballots. This would include questioning WitzelBehl on her conduct and protocol during Election Day.
Committee Chair Ann Jacobs expressed her concerns with Witzel-Behl’s conduct
during the meeting, saying “this feels like a complete lack of leadership and a refusal to be where the buck stops.”
The City of Madison also had claims filed against them on behalf of voters whose ballots went uncounted, seeking $175,000 for the misconduct.
On March 12, the Mayor’s Office said in a press release that Witzel-Behl would be placed on paid administrative leave “pending the outcome of the City’s investigation into uncounted absentee ballots during the November election and other aspects of her performance.”
City Attorney Michael Haas was appointed acting city clerk on an interim basis and oversaw the April 1 election.
In light of the resignation, Haas will continue to serve as acting clerk while “a national search is conducted to find a permanent replacement to lead the agency,”
Dylan Brogan, city communications manager, said in a press release.
Brogan also said the Mayor’s Office will release the results of their internal investigation once a stipulated waiting period is over.
The WEC will continue to discuss and potentially pursue further action on the incident in their open session meeting on April 17.
you might think it’s embarrassing, you don’t think you could handle it, we will get through it.”
Not only has Kaul worked on this bill alongside Republican lawmakers, Snyder told the Cardinal the bill already has Democratic cosponsors. He also mentioned that a colleague is working on a separate bill that
would help educate middle and high school kids about how to not fall victim to crimes like sextortion.
Bird and John DeMay, who also lost his son to suicide because of sextortion, are holding a free community event to spread the word about the dangers of sextortion on April 30 at The Grand Theatre in Wausau, Wisconsin.
SinghwillreplaceformerChancellorAndrew Leavitt,whoresignedaftera10-yearterm.
By Ava Seib STAFF WRITER
The University of Wisconsin System unanimously named Dr. Manohar Singh the 12th chancellor of the UW-Oshkosh, succeeding the previous chancellor, Andrew Leavitt.
Singh previously served as interim president of Western Connecticut State University beginning in 2023, achieving financial security and expanding the university’s offerings. Singh has also served as the dean of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies at Southern Connecticut State University and worked in leadership positions at Humboldt State University, Penn State University and Long Island State University.
Andrew Leavitt resigned after a 10-year term in response to a depletion of the school’s reserve fund and staff layoffs. Leavitt said in a statement that his resignation was a service to the school, noting that reelection “deprives the university of fresh vision and [the] inventiveness it deserves.” Singh expressed his admiration for the students and faculty of UW-Oshkosh and said their drive for success is what motivates him.
“They are the reason I believe in the promise of this university—and the boundless potential of what we can achieve together,” he said in a press release.
Singh will begin his term on July 1.
By Athena Kafkas STAFF WRITER
February weather. My first time in Berlin. Wide-eyed and electrified, I scan my surroundings. Far beyond the bars on a bridge, I see a statue of two figures embracing. I see cobblestone streets and graffiti-covered walls. And then I see leather. Leather all around.
Tall characters drape leather over their stick bug stomachs. Too-cool kids shine with it in the sun, surely roasting under the heat like grilling kebabs. Sour 20-something students and their curious caretakers wrap themselves in black, feigning familiarity as they walk in gaggles down Germany’s streets.
They cue for the clubs long after nightfall, crossing their fingers for the bouncer’s approval. The leather they wear is timeless and stylish, but is it enough to convey a sense of artistic expression?
Nervous for the impending declaration, like the dead awaiting judgment at Heaven’s gates, they clutch the wrinkled material in
their fists and peer their raccoon eyes up at the bouncer.
Leather couture has been in rotation for centuries, but the leather jacket first gained cultural significance in the 1950s, as actors began sporting motorcycle jackets in blockbuster films such as “Grease” and “The Wild One.”
The films and subsequent audience recognition effectively established the reputation of leather jackets as one to reckon with. Quickly, the leather jacket became a symbol of rebellion and nonconformity.
This ideology surrounding leather developed further with the rise in popularity of punk and metal music in the 1970s and 80s. Bands like the Ramones incorporated the style as part of their respective signature wardrobes, and so did their proud, rebellious fans.
Moving into the 21st century, we took leather with us. The birth of alternative rock by artists like the Strokes and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs bolstered a similar sense of freedom in expression. Paired with ripped jeans and silver accessories, fans donned leather jackets as a sort of uniform, pledging their allegiance to the alternative lifestyle.
Today, the leather jacket endures as a style enhancer. Add it to any outfit, and it is instantly elevated, ushering with it a simulated sense of “cool.”
As the leather jacket persists in the mainstream, however, I am forced to ask a difficult question: is the leather jacket losing its cool?
As fast-fashion brands churn out crisp, slick versions of the basic leather jacket, the piece is blending into uniformity. It has become a safe choice for wearers to don over a simple top and jeans, serving the offduty model look.
Leather is diminishing as a form of expression, at least the type of careless, punky expression we’ve come to love it by. When it comes to getting into exclusive techno clubs like Berghain, artistic expression is not only encouraged but required. Is leather your ticket in?
Getting into a techno club in Berlin — a notable one at least — is not only a
privilege, but a right of passage. Unlike many things, the badge cannot be obtained through bribery or the mystic maneuvers of capitalism. Sure, money can get you the hottest accessories, designer bags and the best extra-leg-room airplane seats to famous destinations.
It can do all of this, but it can’t get you into Berghain.
Berghain is home to a particularly artistic population: it’s for the ones whose bodies run on music like engines run on fuel. A shining diamond in Northern Europe, the place has become a coveted tourist destination. Like moths to a flame, the club is a magnet for hungry conquerors, and visitors from around the world seek it with anticipation.
Berghain has a protector: the doorman, the gatekeeper of the clubs’ exclusivity.
“Sven Marquardt, the head doorman who famously turned away Britney Spears, has said that he wants people who look like they know how to party,” author Julia Bell wrote in “The White Review.” “I have only been once where he was on the door, in gold Elvis shades, his face full of piercings and tattoos; sovereign of the queue, impassive,
a contemporary Captain Kurtz.”
In front of Berghain’s doors, tourists come and go in waves. Ripples of shiny H&M leather gather only to be rejected by the scoffing bouncer waiting at Berghain’s door. On the other hand, seasoned German technophiles glide in on pointed heels or chunky Moon Boots. They’ve got heavy eye makeup, hair in spikes or colored like the rainbow, and textured scarves and furs wrapped all around their bodies. Puffer jackets shaped like spaceships, three belts layered on top of one another, old jeans under skirts or patterned sashes, ripped pantyhose pulled over the arms to serve as a base for cheetah print tops and funky vintage sunglasses in the darkest night — that’s what Berghain fashion is.
There is no questioning the enduring appeal of the leather jacket, but the mythology of cool surrounding the piece is misleading.
In the end, leather isn’t the center of the techno scene. Respect floods into those who present authentic selfhood and alternative style choices. True style in Berlin’s techno scene isn’t stitched into leather — it’s woven from individuality, defiance and the courage to dress boldly.
By Avery Chheda STAFF WRITER
Every Saturday from April 12 to Nov. 8, over 150 vendors gather around the state Capitol for the Dane County Farmers Market. Since 1972, the market has been home to some of Wisconsin’s finest locally produced vegetables, meat, bakery and plants.
The market has only one rule: products must be produced by the vendors in Wisconsin. The Dane County Farmers Market is the largest producer-only farmers market in the country. Community members from Madison to Soldiers Grove participate.
One farmers market staple is Gentle Breeze Honey, based out of Mount Horeb, Wisconsin. Since the 1960s, Gentle Breeze has been maintaining bees and producing honey in southwestern Wisconsin. Eugene Woller started the company, and three generations later, Woller’s son Tim and Tim’s wife Catherine Woller have
taken over the family business.
“We do a lot of our sales in grocery stores, so we don’t get that customer contact,” Catherine said. “Just seeing people come out and shop for great local food when it’s 30 degrees, raining [or snowing, it’s awesome.”
Family ties also run deep for Driftless Gold Organic Maple Syrup. For seven generations, the family-run syrup company has operated out of Viola, Wisconsin. Scott Walter, co-owner of the company, enjoys his weekends on the square.
“Everybody’s having a good time and it’s a great place to hangout,” Walter said.
Noah Angle, a Dane County Farmers Market member since 1993 agrees. “[I love] coming down and talking to the customers,” Angle said. Angle’s 36-year-old stall specializes in root crops, such as potatoes, carrots, beets, onions and winter radishes.
Newcomers and old stalls alike look forward to the crowd that gathers.
Patrick Roth, a Richmond, Wisconsin native who has been at the market for two seasons, likes the steady business.
“This is our second season,” Roth said. “It’s always busy.”
Emily Ricter is one of the owners of Savory Accents. Located in Verona, Wisconsin, the company grows 25
varieties of chili peppers for various oils, sauces and other products. Savory Accents has been a part of the farmers market for the last 40 years and keeps coming back.
“It’s the connection with the people, the connection with the Earth,” Ricter said.
Stan Kitson’s chocolate company Driftless Chocolates is beginning its fourth year at the market, representing six different countries in their singleorigin chocolate: Guatemala, Belize, Uganda, Colombia, the Dominican Republic and Ecuador.
“Every one of them tastes very different because of where it grows. The unique chocolate is really what makes what we’re doing here different,” Kitson said.
Another Dane County Farmers Market specialty is Brunkow Cheese of Wisconsin’s Brun-uusto cheese. The Finnish and Swedish words for ‘baked cheese,’ this exotic cheese with a bread-like crust, has been a market staple for 30 years.
Co-owner Karl Geissbuhler’s favorite part of the farmers market is interacting with his customers. “It’s fun to get their feedback on different products. That’s what farmers markets are all about, person-toperson interaction,” Geissbuhler said.
Another creamy Wisconsin special is Hook’s Cheese Company. Founded
over 50 years ago, this Mineral Point institution has been at the farmers market since 1994. Co-founder Tony Hook started making cheese in 1970.
After 35 years at the market, Hook has come to appreciate the face-to-face interaction with his consumer base.
“[It’s nice to be] Selling directly to the consumers so you get direct feedback from the people that are eating your product,” Hook said.
For those who can’t make it on Saturdays, the Wednesday Dane County Farmers’ Market starts April 23 and runs until November 5. From 8:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m., shoppers can find an assorted array of locally produced specialties.
By Paul O’Gorman STAFF WRITER
Recent political strife and doubt about our nation’s future can cause uniquely American ideas and experiences to leave a bitter taste. But solace in what makes America a unique nation can be found in one of its most popular genres of media: the Western.
From films to novels, the Western has remained a dominant stylistic choice for telling stories of the American ethos. Westerns have the ability to take a well-known region of the United States and relay a narrative that widely applies to our world today.
The imagined American West created by filmmakers and authors reminds us of the great myths and ideals our country still cherishes today.
But what makes a Western unique? What characteristics have allowed this style of media to endure and express our nation’s core values? The most crucial feature of a Western story is undeniably, its setting.
The American West “embodied unspoiled nature, an environment where men could free themselves from the constraints of civilization, overcome alienation, achieve wholeness and commune with nature.” The wildness and physical demand of the West appeals to American values of selfdetermination, ownership of labor
and the search for new beginnings.
The brutality of the American West is also idealized in the Western genre, frequently displaying saloon shoot-outs, stampedes and environmental disasters. The unforgiving nature of the Western’s world serves to highlight the unconquerable American spirit and the right of every individual to pursue their own goals and aspirations they couldn’t achieve in society.
The West caused settlers to become beholden to a trying and brutal system they believed would result in their independence, romanticizing the meaning and importance of freedom without realizing how much more dependence the west would require of them.
As an individual heads into the wilderness of the western U.S., the pieces of civilization they bring with them become all the more important. This interplay of dependence and independence, wilderness and civilization, law and lawlessness, tyranny and freedom; these are the tensions on which the American ethos balances.
This is the beauty of the Western. The desire for individuality while grappling with how advancements and new movements can restrict our liberties is a wholly American contradiction that a Western can
capture eloquently.
However, it must be noted that the mythologized world of the Western can frequently push the roles of people of color and women to the side, refusing to highlight the critical roles these groups played in the historical period. Westerns taking place in the late 19th century often vilify Native Americans as well, and typically lack historical contexts of the atrocities American settlers inflicted upon Native peoples.
These are truths of American history, and should be discussed alongside idealized stories of American values.
With this in mind, here are five Western films and novels that I believe capture an image of a universal and admired America.
“Lonesome Dove” by Larry McMurtry: A captivating and personable story of a group of retired Texas rangers who decide to complete a cattle drive from south Texas to Montana. I’d be lying if I said this book wasn’t my inspiration for writing this article. “Lonesome Dove” has something for everyone, shoot outs, unrequited love, humor, journeys of self forgiveness, you name it. This “there and back again” tale is also unique for a Western as it features three main female characters, each with distinct
personalities and aspirations.
“Hell or High Water” by David Mackenzie: This modern Western film follows two brothers who turn to bank robberies as their means to save their family’s farm in west Texas. Starring Chris Pine and Jeff Bridges, “Hell or High Water” will leave you questioning whether family ties justify leading an outlaw life.
“No Country For Old Men” by Ethan and Joel Coen: This 2007 Western noir from the Coen brothers follows Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) as he attempts to secure a hefty sum of cash found at a failed cartel deal, while being chased by a sociopathic hitman (Javier Bardem). The film and book both contain an excellent commentary on the state of violence in the modern world, and argue that it’s never truly changed.
“In a Narrow Grave” by Larry McMurtry: A collection of short stories and essays, “In a Narrow Grave” captures a native Texan’s outlook on the disappearance of the American frontier. It’s raw, emotional and extremely introspective, you almost get the sense that McMurtry is laying his heart and identity with the west bear for all to see.
“Once Upon a Time in the West” by Sergio Leone: Choosing my favorite Western among Sergio Leone’s filmography was about as hard as I imagine it is for a parent to pick their favorite child, but this film narrowly takes the cake. It’s everything a golden age Western film should be: bold and big. A grandiose Western that still succeeds in capturing individuality and humanity.
By Safa Razvi STAFF WRITER
I used to marvel at the idea of buying a top for only $10 — until I learned it was being produced by someone who made less than $10 for a day’s work.
Every Black Friday, I used to hop onto whatever mainstream shopping site was big at the time and fill my virtual cart with all the clothes I wanted. With promotional deals, coupons and offers, I’d receive items all for a low-low price without realizing they were just as low quality. I failed to think about the people behind the fashion I consumed. Soon after, that bargain didn’t feel like a win; it started to feel like guilt.
Today, the fast fashion industry — trendy, cheap clothing designed for rapid production — is worth $114 billion and is projected to reach around $300 billion within the next decade. Globally, companies have reached new demographics and audiences, widening their customer base. But the majority of clothes produced go to waste — over 65% of clothing is thrown away within 12 months of purchasing. While this throwaway culture is immensely profitable for corporations, it exploits workers and results in massive environmental damage.
The debate over ethical standards in the fashion industry is nothing new. However, with the climate crisis accelerating, income inequality worsening and digital consumerism becoming our default, it begs the question: how much longer can we afford to produce cheap, quick items?
The short answer? We’ve reached the end of the road.
Beginning in the 1970s, mass production of items came to the forefront of the fashion industry, and
around the same time, consumers became more conscious of their environmental impact. Hippies, for example, embraced sustainable practices, going against traditional norms of shopping. They rejected mass consumerism in support of thrifting and upcycling as a form of protest against wastefulness and pollution. Unfortunately, these values didn’t stick. With fast fashion, cheap labor took the industry by storm, charging low prices to consumers for equally cheap goods. Sustainable practices like environmentally sourced clothing and thrifting or recycled materials flew out the window. Once markets like Shein
and Romwe hit the scene, it transformed the way consumers viewed shopping. However, in 2022, these online shops became a popularized and coveted method of shopping, especially for younger generations.
If you find that you err on the side of supporting less environmentally conscious brands, it’s important to reform the way you shop. Luckily for consumers with an eye for shopping sustainably, a new market has emerged to make that process even simpler.
The “Good on You Directory” is a website that informs shoppers of the sustainability ratings of brands, allowing users to determine if the
way they’re shopping is sustainable. But here’s the good news, now more than ever, sustainability is in vogue.
According to Forbes, 62% of Gen-Z shoppers already choose to buy from sustainable brands, while 73% will even pay higher costs for environmentally friendly items.
But, if you’re still on the fence about making the sustainable switch, I want you to think about your real-world impact, especially on the environment.
Profit-driven trends are often short-lived and result in thrown-out clothes, adding to waste consumption and creating 92 million tons of textile waste each year. Approximately 3,000 liters of water are used to produce one cotton shirt, according to Princeton University. This makes the industry a major polluter, contaminating waterways with toxic chemicals responsible for 20% of global water waste. If that’s not enough, the fast fashion industry also produces nearly 10% of the microplastics in our oceans, which is equivalent to 50 billion plastic bottles polluting the Earth.
Of course, purchasing ethically sourced clothing firsthand is a privilege. But don’t shy away from buying from consignment retailers and secondhand shopping. Not only can you curate a unique, affordable collection of vintage pieces, but they’ll also be the outcome of the hard work you did to find them.
While affordability is a valid and important concern, it’s necessary to remember that options like thrifting or antiquing are great substitutes for consumers to look into.
While it might sound easier — and cheaper — said than done, there are still plenty of ways to make a positive change without breaking the bank.
By Haellie Opp STAFF WRITER
The Wisconsin Badgers softball team won two out of three against Indiana at the Goodman Diamond in Madison last weekend. The series puts the Badgers at 26-16 for a .619 win percentage and 8-8 in Big Ten conference play.
Holding steady
The Badgers started strong after senior Hilary Blomberg’s double in the first inning sent Molly Schlosser and Alivia Bark home. Hannah Conger’s stolen base gave Emma King the opportunity to run home.
The Hoosiers scored in the second, but Schlosser brought the lead back up to three after Kendra Lewis’ single in the bottom. The game slowed until Indiana picked it back up at the top of the sixth.
Shelby Jacobson relieved starting graduate student pitcher Molly Jacobson to pitch the final 1.1 innings of the game.
Blomberg’s homer put herself and Schlosser back on the board, extending the lead to 6-3. Wisconsin
closed out the game 6-5 after holding Indiana to their two RBI home runs in the seventh inning.
Badgers get a beating
The Badgers lost 14-1 in game two
on Saturday, with the game ending in the fifth inning due to the mercy rule. Indiana scored eight runs throughout the first and second innings, putting Wisconsin in a tough position early in the game.
Emily Bojan hit a home run
in the bottom of the second and became the only Badger to score all game. The Hoosiers scored five runs top of the fifth, shutting the Badgers down early Saturday afternoon.
Three pitchers saw time at the mound, with Jordan Felci relieving
Gabi Solo in the second and Mattie Beliveau relieving Felci in the fifth. Salo got credit for the loss with her 1.2 innings pitched as the starter.
Taking the win
Wisconsin battled for their 10-5 win on Sunday with Lewis’ RBI single in the bottom of the first and Brooke Kuffel’s sacrifice fly to take the lead going into the second inning.
Dani Lucey’s two-run home run put the Badgers up 4-2 in the second after the Hoosiers got one back on the top of the second. Then, in the third, Emmy Wells’ grand slam upped the lead to 8-2.
Molly Jacobson started as pitcher and was credited with the win, but was pulled in the fourth after Indiana’s three runs. Salo stepped up to pitch and Wisconsin came back with two more runs in the bottom of the fourth, where the 10-5 score stuck throughout the end of the game.
Next up, Wisconsin plays North Dakota State University in a Wednesday afternoon doubleheader at Goodman.
By Daniel Desmond STAFF WRITER
Since college athletes began profiting off their Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) on July 1, 2021, Division I athletics — especially for Power 5 Big Ten schools like the University of Wisconsin-Madison — have been a “Wild West” of spending and competition.
Success in college athletics is now based on the ability of programs to innovate and generate revenue for their teams and players. For example, the Ohio State Buckeyes, reigning national champions in football, reportedly allocated around $20 million in NIL payouts to their roster last year.
With an estimated $2 billion for 2025, NIL spending has taken over college sports.
How is Wisconsin faring?
Wisconsin’s Athletic Director Chris McIntosh spoke to members of the House Judiciary Committee examining potential NIL and antitrust issues on March 11. “I think the combination of third-party NIL and permissibility of unlimited transfers has put our coaches in a really tough position and it’s created roster instability, which I think is not fair to teammates on those teams,” McIntosh said.
Although McIntosh has expressed concerns about the evolving landscape of college athletics, Wisconsin football has had to adapt after failing to make a bowl game for the first time since 2001 last year.
The highest-paid Wisconsin football player is Tanner Koziol, a tight end who transferred from Ball State. Koziol has a $640,000 NIL valuation, according to On3 Reports.
Maryland transfer Billy Edwards, one of the candidates for Wisconsin’s starting quarterback job for the 2025 season, has a NIL valuation of $420,000 and is the fourth-highest-paid player on the Badgers football team.
Koziol and Edwards are indicative of the new era of college sports where talent is brought in through the transfer portal and promises of NIL endorsements and sponsorship deals.
To fund this initiative, McIntosh and UW
Athletics have pursued a variety of ways to generate more revenue for the program.
On Jan. 29, the Kohl Center unveiled a Culver’s logo on the court as part of a major corporate sponsorship deal.
For the first time in 28 years, concerts will be held at Camp Randall, with Morgan Wallen performing on June 28-29, followed by Coldplay on July 19.
But McIntosh also said, “The unstable environment that we are currently operating in is not sustainable to us. It’s been a challenge.”
Simply put, even with the recent efforts to raise money for the program, Wisconsin lacks the resources to compete with other high-level programs in acquiring and keeping talent.
For example, AJ Storr was Wisconsin’s stand-out basketball player during the 2023-24 season. After last year’s season, Storr entered the transfer portal, where he received $1 million in NIL deals from Kansas.
“Poaching is real,” men’s basketball head coach Greg Gard said following Storr’s departure. “There’s also business decisions to make in the portal. For [AJ], he’s in a category where those numbers are real. That’s just the business we’re in right now.”
Gard and his staff then used the transfer portal to replace Storr and brought in Missouri forward John Tonje.
Tonje led Wisconsin in scoring and earned first-team all-Big Ten this year. However, Tonje had originally transferred to New Mexico State before he ultimately flipped to Wisconsin.
“I make my pick off of basketball,” Tonje said. “There’s so much going on and so much to worry about. At the end of the day, I just want to play basketball. I thought it was the best fit to play here at Wisconsin.”
The contrast between losing Storr to a lucrative NIL deal and gaining Tonje, who prioritized fit over financial incentives, illustrates a bright spot of how even without top-dollar resources, Wisconsin can succeed by recruiting and developing lower-cost talent.
What does the future hold?
The NCAA is currently facing a $2.78 billion class-action lawsuit that is on the verge of being granted approval for settlement. The lawsuit, rooted in back pay for former athletes who were denied the ability to profit from their NIL, signals a monumental shift in college athletics.
While some details are yet to be finalized, one outcome will be a salary cap for NIL payments, where in 2025-2026, programs will receive $20.5 million to directly pay out to their players.
Regarding the salary cap, McIntosh said, “I think it’s been long overdue that we can now share revenues directly with those athletes in a fair way, in a generous way. And that will, in turn, support the entire model, the entire ecosystem in which we’ve been successful in the past.”
Athletic Directors like McIntosh, along with the NCAA, hope these adjustments will restore a level playing field in recruiting and encourage more athletes to prioritize a program’s fit and culture rather than financial incentives.
In a world where athletes are paid equally, coaches, facilities and on-field success would reemerge as the pillars of recruiting — something Wisconsin has and will continue to prioritize as they are building a new $285 million football training facility.
The facility is supposed to open for the 2026 season and is the most expensive construction project ever done by UW Athletics.
While the focus of the building is on football, the space will also provide an indoor track and field facility, something Wisconsin currently doesn’t have.
There will also be a new weight room and dining area for all student-athletes to benefit from.
The Wisconsin athletic department’s decision to make the facility accessible and beneficial for a variety of sports shows that the department is
committed to preserving a broad-based model of collegiate athletics — one that supports not just revenue-generating sports like football and basketball, but also Olympic and non-revenue sports that have helped define Wisconsin’s athletic excellence.
However, funding these teams through the salary cap could prove to be difficult.
With only $20.5 million available for all of a college’s athletes to be compensated with, Power 5 schools have to consider what teams deserve more funding than others.
As of now, there doesn’t seem to be any baseline percentage or legislation outlining the salary cap’s compliance with Title IX.
Women’s teams and Olympic and non-revenue sports could have very little financial support, which would result in roster cuts, scholarship losses and the potential elimination of teams.
In response to the growing concerns, Wisconsin Congressman Thomas Tiffany said at an April 11 press conference at the Kohl Center, “I want to know what is happening in regards to Title IX. But also the non-revenue producing sports, which so many young people across America have been able to enjoy and have been able to participate in. I’ll be watching those two things real carefully as we craft legislation.”
With continued support from lawmakers and the development of clear federal guidelines, there is hope that a more balanced structure will emerge, and teams will receive the funding that is fair for their respective situations.
Wisconsin Athletics seem to be wellpositioned moving forward with major investments in projects that can help develop all of their teams, but with upcoming rulings, out-of-control NIL spending and well-heeled competition from other Big Ten schools, the Badgers need to continue to adapt and find an edge over other programs in order to carry out their championship aspirations.
By Marit Erickson STAFF WRITER
The University of WisconsinMadison in the 1980s was the perfect breeding ground to create the self-described “single most powerful and influential organization in human history.”
Before The Onion was a leader in satirical journalism recognized worldwide, it was the baby of a few imaginative Badgers. When founding member Christine Wenc returned to Madison in 2017, the results of the 2016 presidential election and its fallout in national media inspired her to revisit her college years.
But the history of The Onion’s rise to fame was murky, so Wenc decided to use her research and writing skills to get it all down on paper in her new book “Funny Because It’s True: How The Onion Created Modern American News Satire.”
We’ve all seen a headline in the news that seems so ridiculous you question whether or not it’s satire. Wenc said The Onion’s 1990s staff used to love being confused with real news. But in a political era where “fake news” can be used as propaganda, the implications of this are a little more sinister.
Wenc said she thought, “This isn’t entertaining and funny, this is sad and horrible.”
“Funny Because It’s True” shows readers how satirical journalism can work effectively. Wenc writes about the conservative administrations which The Onion formed within, and said that humor was a good way to combat false information.
“News satire… to me it’s one of the few effective remedies against spin. And I think that The Onion’s satire is trying to make the world a better place,”
Wenc said. Wenc defined satire as something that points out hypocrisy and punches up rather than down. “It’s pointing out the flaws in the human condition and the way, at least to me, how politics can exploit that,” she said.
One satirical comic, “Jim’s Journal,” was led by previous Cardinal editor-in-chief Scott Dikkers. Dikkers was the longest running editor-in-chief of The Onion, from 1988 to 1999 and 2005 to 2008.
The Onion’s path to fame is not a perfect one. One difficulty Wenc experienced in her research process was the lack of consistency in each staff member’s recollection of events.
“You take any situation and you talk to five different people who were there and get their opinion of it, and they’re all gonna say something different. And so I did try to use stuff that at least a couple of people were in agreement on,” she said.
Since she left, The Onion went through various transformations which Wenc had the opportunity to track. Despite the many changes, it was clear there was a core belief at The Onion that would never leave the staff.
“Love and protect: those two words actually came up a lot when I talked to later people, which was really touching having been a person who was there at the beginning,” Wenc said.
Madison is at the heart of this story. In the book, Wenc argues that it was the perfect place for something like The Onion to originate. Madison has a long record of dissent, particularly in the protest culture on campus. Pranksters have always flourished in our student body, seen in our iconic pink flamingos
By Britta Sevcik STAFF WRITER
For many students on campus, extracurricular activities provide a creative outlet and a way to release stress from the heavy workload of college. Optima, the largest student-run dance organization on campus, is no exception.
In an interview with The Daily Cardinal, Optima president Sarah Bloemer shared how “many girls didn’t think that they’d be able to dance in college,” but Optima has given them that opportunity.
At the end of each semester, Optima produces a show featuring studentchoreographed numbers, each requiring its own audition. Their spring semester showcase was a big success — before the lights rose for the first dance, the crowd erupted in a roar that lasted through the entire show.
The showcase started with a powerful hip-hop dance to “On The Floor,” choreographed by Alicyn Stephans, and ended with a finale featuring all 220 of their impressive dancers taking the stage at the same time.
BARAJAS/
and Lake Mendota Statue of Liberty tradition.
However, Wenc said the biggest contributing factor to The Onion’s early success was an economic one. The low cost of living allowed The Onion’s original staff to juggle their journalistic pursuits, a minimum wage job, and classes (if they hadn’t dropped out yet).
“Madison was cheap enough that people could make stuff like the Onion,” she said. “People weren’t getting paid, but we also could do whatever we wanted. At that time that was a really important thing.”
That “creative flowering” is apparent in “Funny Because It’s True.” The inclusion of scans of old Onion front pages allows readers to visualize each stage of The Onion’s life. During the writing process, Wenc was surprised to find that one of her past articles became famous within The Onion’s fandom.
“I would find it on Ebay. The person who was selling it described it as ‘the iconic Penis Fear issue.’ I was like, ‘the what? I haven’t thought about this in 35 years!’” she said.
The publication of this book and presenting it to The Onion’s original audience at the Wisconsin Book Festival in March acts as a full-circle moment.
“It was just really nice to have that many people show up and have people really excited about the story,” Wenc said. “It mattered to me as a Madisonian.”
“Funny Because It’s True” is, yes, a historiography of The Onion, but it’s also a love letter to Madison. Watching the progress of a local publication go on to influence the entire country’s sense of humor should warm the heart of any UW-Madison student.
U,” a high-energy hip-hop piece choreographed by Jillian Pohoryles with a perfect mix of eye-catching formations and impressive solos.
Optima is entirely studentrun and all of the pieces are student-choreographed. The student choreographers have the difficult job of choosing each and every component of their piece, including the music selection, lighting and costumes, but their creativity shines throughout.
“Happy Halloween!” choreographed by Abby Sinitz told of the story of girls feeling confident despite what they are wearing in a hilariously impressive number featuring all of the dancers decked out in various Halloween costumes. And “The End of Love” choreographed by Brynn Frank had the dancers wearing stunning green dresses with flower crowns that used styling in a surprising way to further drive forward the stories that she was trying to tell.
Membership has soared from 110 to 220 in the past four years, which Bloemer called “absolutely incredible.”
The entire performance was a masterclass in highlighting different genres while still feeling like a cohesive program. They showcased 43 different numbers featuring various genres, including ballet, hip-hop, contemporary, jazz, pom, tap, heels and musical theater.
Some of the standout performances including “Mr. Bluesky,” choreographed by Julia Feast, had stunning visuals and gorgeous musicality. “Somebody to Love,” choreographed by Hannah Pedretti, showcased beautiful emotion and a beautiful turn sequence and “Upgrade
Another piece that shined through was “After Alaska - For Will,” choreographed by Annie Stamp. This dance was a tribute to her brother, Will Stamp, using a song written by Will himself. The choice of using her brother’s song in a tribute to him resonated beautifully with the audience in a melancholic and beautiful way.
The final small group number was a senior showcase choreographed by Hayley Javoroski. With a bittersweet tone, the number illustrated all of the dancers’ unique abilities while also allowing them to dance with each other one last time.
After the conclusion of their record-breaking spring showcase, Optima now begins the process of preparing for the fall semester. Bloemer, a graduating senior, called the club “one of the most amazing parts of my college career.”
