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Thursday, October 15, 2026

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Residents weigh in on future data center development By Isa Killian STAFF WRITER

The City of Madison’s moratorium on data centers will expire in January 2027, leaving citizens to enact framework amidst company planning. Madison enacted the moratorium to moderate the development of potentially harmful facilities in January 2026. The regulation was set to last one year and expires on Jan. 24, 2027. To prepare, the City is establishing zoning regulations that allow for data center construction and specify potential facility locations. A Wisconsin State Journal map shows potential data center sites fall in Districts 3, 14, 15, 16 and 17. These districts are also largely on Madison’s east side and in overall lower-income, less populated areas. For Derek Field, District 3 alder and member of the Plan Commission, land use is central to the data center debate. He told The Daily Cardinal his east Madison district contains land not yet developed that is “intended to grow in the form

of neighborhoods and mixed-use areas that meet residents’ needs.” Several small data centers, Field points out, already exist in Madison, since the moratorium did not include properties under 10,000 square feet. There are currently 15 of these centers throughout the Madison area. Field said he has not heard concerns from citizens about these smaller centers. However, he believes an increase in size or location coverage could influence public response. “We need to make sure large-scale data centers or clusters of data centers cannot locate in Madison [or] take up too much land that we’ve planned for neighborhoods,” Field said. Michael Zhang, founder and CEO of WiscAI, a Madison-based AI consulting firm, told the Cardinal he believes the outcome of local data centers is in resident hands. “I don’t think it’s a simple net positive or negative,” Zhang said. “It depends on the terms: who pays for the extra power, how

much water it uses and what the community gets back in jobs and taxes.” University of Wisconsin-Madison freshman Neha Pesaramelli is dubious about these positive effects of potential data centers. “When we consider how much environmental impact data centers have, as well as how they impact water and different resources people need, I feel really disappointed that our government and the people that are supposed to be looking out for us aren’t weighing the lives and wellbeing of Madison residents over profit,” Pesaramelli told the Cardinal. Although the proposed data center locations are far from central Madison, Pesaramelli hesitated about their proximity to an urban setting in general. “I think it is privileged to say that [companies] should push data centers out of cities into more rural areas,” Pesaramelli said. “But I also think there has to be other alternatives to our energy needs that aren’t putting citizens at risk like this so close to where people are living.”

Oscar Bertram, another UW-Madison student, told the Cardinal he agrees. “It still is harming those communities and making it harder for them to get out of [their situation],” Bertram said. Apart from data center location, Field acknowledges the city may not have as much control as many citizens believe. Entities like the Wisconsin Public Service Commission are often the sole decision-makers for rules about eco-friendliness and water consumption, according to Field. “The City’s scope of regulations will be pretty limited, which I think is going to be frustrating to many community members,” Field said. As the discussion of data center zoning in Madison develops, a public information meeting through the Department of Planning and Community and Economic Development will take place on Oct. 27. The meeting is meant to bring public opinion into future data center regulation and framework.

UW-Madison biology merger raises staff concerns over layoffs, botany’s future By Ryan Kim ARTS EDITOR

Current and former staff shared concerns about the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s merger of botany and integrative biology departments into a new Department of Biology on July 1 — including layoffs, mistrust of a botany department administrator and worries the merged department would lower the focus on botany. The department merge started from “an extensive shared governance process that began in Fall 2021,” according to an article by UW-Madison. When the University Academic Planning Council voted to approve the creation of the merged department in November 2025, the council noted concerns including the botany department’s “deep fear” of being left behind if the name were to be the Department of Biology. After convening a working group to assess concerns, the formation of the new department was presented to the Faculty Senate in December 2025. On May 1, an integrative biology and botany staff climate assessment about the merger, given anonymously to The Daily Cardinal, found staff concerns about a high workload, a lack of support and not enough recognition of differences between the merged departments in the new department that brings together multiple academic programs and various natural history collections. The assessment included 38 out of 40 department-paid staff, such as administrative staff, lab coordinators or instructors —

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excluding professors, graduate students and undergraduates. “Botany was also very worried about the merger kind of erasing botany,” Joe, a faculty member in the new department who was given a pseudonym for privacy, told The Daily Cardinal. “Historically… botany departments, when they get merged with biology departments or other life science departments, they eventually lose the botany from the department altogether because there’s less of a focus on plant research.” Joe cited Duke University’s closure of its 100-year-old herbarium in 2024

and later merge of the herbarium with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s herbarium, which is set to open in 2027. Some of the herbarium faculty said they believe the herbarium closed because of limited resources, competition from other departments and the aging staff maintaining the plant collection, according to the Duke Chronicle. A Phys.org study led by researchers at University College Dublin concluded the world’s education pathways do not have enough qualified plant scientists to face issues such as climate change.

To ease concerns about the erasure of the botany department, Joe said the new biology department created a Center for Botany. Both integrative biology and botany staff have had fewer opportunities to participate in department committees since the merger, Joe said. Bob, a former botany faculty member who was given a pseudonym, cited the behavior of their former department administrator, Julie Lindsey, as another reason for leaving. Lindsey was the former administrator of the combined department who left this fall.

“The department administrator is primarily the reason I left because of the way she treated people. I saw her treat people badly. She treated me badly on multiple occasions, and that was the motivation,” Bob said. “Other people had a lot of negative interactions with her, and I wasn’t the only one. There were points where I didn’t want to go to work the days that she was there.” Joe said he heard similar issues from other staff about Lindsey. “There was a specific case where I was told a staff member didn’t know how to use Excel, and so [Lindsey] started giving them tasks where they had to use Microsoft Excel, which then created a pattern of documenting that they couldn’t fulfill part of their job,” Joe said. “Basically documenting a pattern of behavior so that she could potentially get rid of that person who was more senior at the time.” Gillian Drummond, Director of Public Affairs, said the department was unaware of the situation and employees supervised by the department administrator were never placed on a performance improvement plan. “The role of the department administrator is to execute the directives of the department leadership,” Drummond said to the Cardinal in an email statement. “Employees with concerns about decisions communicated or implemented by the department administrator should contact the department chair or the appropriate Dean’s office.” Continue reading @dailycardinal.com

“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”

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Thursday, October 15, 2026

An independent student newspaper, serving the University of Wisconsin-Madison community since 1892 Volume 136, Issue 9

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Union investigates student worker who petitioned against TIPS By Sonia Bendre CAMPUS EDITOR

Editor-in-Chief Alaina Walsh

Managing Editor Avery Chheda

News Team Campus Editor Sonia Bendre College Editor Grace Carlson City Editor Jane Dardik State Editor Audrey Lopez-Stane Associate News Editor Zoey Jiang Features Editor Jake Kilander Opinion Editors Brady Ahler • Siena Ferraro Arts Editors Ryan Kim • Liset Zacker Sports Editors Otto von Sothen • Haellie Opp Sports Associate Editor Luca Muehlbauer Special Pages Editor Natalie Popper Photo Editor Jonathan Mintz Graphics Editors Eloise Guth • Klaire Maduscha Science Editors Lauren Eno • Addison Dama Life & Style Editors Isabella Bajaras • Jackson Baker Beet Editor Lizzi McGann Podcast Directors Yadiel Chavez • Amellia Fowler Digital Editor Meredith Schadrie Video Director Ted Hyngstrom Copy Chiefs Emma Schieffer • Brendan Wolf Copy Editors Isabella Barajas • Delaney Chronister • Maia Weissman • Ryan Kim

Business and Advertising business@dailycardinal.com Business Manager Wyatt Vail • Eleanor Zhang Marketing/Outreach Director Hallie Egelseer Social Media Manager Aanya Agrawal Ad Manager Lauren Downham The Daily Cardinal is a nonprofit organization run by its staff members and elected editors. It receives no funds from the university. Operating revenue is generated from advertising and subscription sales. The Daily Cardinal is published weekdays and distributed at the University of WisconsinMadison and its surrounding community with a circulation of 10,000. Capital Newspapers, Inc. is the Cardinal’s printer. The Daily Cardinal is printed on recycled paper. The Cardinal is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press and the Wisconsin Newspaper Association. All copy, photographs and graphics appearing in The Daily Cardinal are the sole property of the Cardinal and may not be reproduced without written permission of the editor in chief. The Daily Cardinal accepts advertising representing a wide range of views. This acceptance does not imply agreement with the views expressed. The Cardinal reserves the right to reject advertisements judged offensive based on imagery, wording or both. Complaints: News and editorial complaints should be presented to the editor in chief. Business and advertising complaints should be presented to the business manager. Letters Policy: Letters must be word processed and must include contact information. No anonymous letters will be printed. All letters to the editor will be printed at the discretion of The Daily Cardinal. Letters may be sent to opinion@ dailycardinal.com.

Editorial Board Avery Chheda • Alaina Walsh • Brady Ahler • Siena Ferraro • Safa Razvi Chair Safa Razvi

Board of Directors Scott Girard, Chair • Don Miner • Nancy Sandy • Nathan Kalmoe • Jack Kelly • Gary Achterberg • Jennifer Sereno • Kelly Lecker

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Wisconsin Union student worker Sarannya Bhattacharya was placed on paid administrative leave Aug. 27, investigated and subsequently issued a work directive on Sept. 26, citing an action following his paid administrative leave as one of three reasons for an investigation. Bhattacharya, a bar manager at the Union for over three years, started a student petition and spoke with the media in favor of abolishing the Union’s Thoughtful Investment in Potential of Staff (TIPS) in early August. Bhattacharya, Grace Kachelski and Ian Terrones, all student employees, told The Daily Cardinal they believe the leave and investigation, which have both concluded, were an act of retaliation for speaking to the media about TIPS. The Union’s investigation notice maintained the investigation was because of actions unrelated to the petition or the media. Bhattacharya told the Cardinal that in an Aug. 27 meeting with Catering Director Lisa Wadzinske, Wadzinske told him to leave work immediately

and not attend any upcoming shifts because he “removed something from a supervisor’s desk,” a claim he and Terrones disputed. In a Sept. 2 notice written by Wisconsin Union HR Generalist and investigator Jenny Lee, which Bhattacharya provided to the Cardinal, Lee said the Union placed Bhattacharya on paid leave while investigating three accusations: first, that he removed an internal document from a permanent staff supervisor’s desk without authorization on Aug. 27; second, that he accessed an office filing cabinet without “authorization or a work-related reason to do so” on Aug. 26; and third, that he entered non-public work areas on Aug. 28 after being placed on leave. The Union did not confirm the suspension was paid and not disciplinary until Sept. 2, Bhattacharya said, though in the days prior, he sent emails to the Union Human Resources Department, OHR Workforce Relations, the Office of Student Assistance and Support, the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs and the Dean of Students

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and met several Union leaders in person to seek clarification on his specific conduct violations and a timeline on the suspension. “I depend on my student job to pay my bills, and being completely removed from the schedule without any clarification in light of recent developments is very disturbing to me,” Bhattacharya said in an email obtained by the Cardinal to the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs and the Dean of Students on Sept. 1. During his leave, he said he received paychecks equivalent to the number of hours he works in a typical week. According to a Union representa-

tive’s notes from Bhattacharya’s Sept. 16 investigatory interview, Lee told Bhattacharya he was being investigated for reasons which included “theft” and the Union was “thinking you’re retaliating against us by going through our materials.” Bhattacharya told the Cardinal he brought three student witness testimonies to his investigatory interview. After the investigation concluded, he received a work schedule Sept. 25 and work directive Sept. 26 from the Union allowing him to return the week of Oct. 5, but it claimed he had violated several policies. Continue reading @ dailycardinal. com

Dane County supervisor seeks to cut $3 million for sheriff’s body cameras until policies are in place By Alaina Walsh EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Dane County District 2 Supervisor Heidi Wegleitner introduced three budget amendments Oct. 11, one of which would eliminate $3 million in funding for Dane County Sheriff’s Office body-worn cameras, saying the county should hold off until clear, communityinformed policies are in place. The three amendments are separate proposals, with two specifically intended to free up revenue for housing-related services in the City of Madison’s operating budget and the other pausing funds for body-worn cameras from the City’s capital budget. Wegleitner told The Daily Cardinal the proposal is not an outright rejection of body-worn cameras but a call to establish how the technology would be used, who would have access to recordings and how the footage would be stored before the county commits funding. “Really it’s about just kind of pressing pause on this initiative until we get more community input and strong privacy protections and public access policies and procedures, record retention,” Wegleitner told the Cardinal. County Executive Melissa Agard proposed the $3 million investment as part of her 2027 executive budget, which totals more than $900 million. The money would fund 200 cameras along with the equipment, hardware and software needed to run them. Madison Police Department also announced an accelerated plan to deploy body-worn cameras within their force, after receiving a $350,000 community grant. The original plan forecasted the cameras to be deployed within three years, but now they are set to be used by the force by the end of 2027. Wegleitner introduced the proposed amendments ahead of the

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Public Protection and Judiciary Committee’s Oct. 13 meeting, saying existing recommendations for camera policies are not binding and do not guarantee adequate safeguards. “The only way we can assure there are strong policies and procedures is to have a good community input process and strong policies adopted before funding for the cameras is authorized,” Wegleitner wrote in an Oct. 11 Facebook post. Separate push for housing funds Two of the amendments target the sheriff’s operating budget. The first operating amendment, co-sponsored by Supervisors Wegleitner and Brenda Yang, would eliminate three vacant deputy positions in the sheriff’s office, reducing expenditures by $493,754. The funding would support housing navigation and case management services provided by local nonprofits, including Urban Triage, the YWCA and The Road Home, according to Wegleitner’s post. The second operating amendment, co-sponsored by Wegleitner, Supervisor Anthony Trucios and Supervisor Tommy Rylander, would eliminate $80,000 in funding for automatic license plate reader cameras to support services for people experiencing homelessness.

Wegleitner told the Cardinal the body camera amendment is separate from the housing push because the camera money is in the capital budget and not the operating budget. “Eliminating the funding allocated in the executive budget for body-worn cameras does not have anything to do with freeing up money for housing or homeless services,” she said. Delaying body-worn camera pursuit until set policies The body-worn camera amendment, sponsored by Wegleitner, would remove the $3 million capital investment proposed in Agard’s 2027 budget. Agard and Sheriff Kalvin Barrett announced the proposed investment Oct. 8, describing it as a way to strengthen public safety, transparency and accountability. Wegleitner said the county should delay the body camera initiative until the sheriff’s office develops clear policies on privacy, public access to recordings, record retention and the use of artificial intelligence. “I think the cameras are a tool,” Wegleitner said. “If there is fair access to that tool, and adequate policy, strong policies and procedures in place, I think that tool can potentially help lead to greater transparency and accountability. If those things are not

in place, it could lead to more harm.” Wegleitner said the county board of supervisors cannot require the sheriff, a constitutional officer under the Wisconsin Constitution, to adopt policies or hold community listening sessions. The board’s authority over the initiative primarily rests with approving funding and a subsequent contract with a camera vendor. Wegleitner pointed to a draft policy from August 2024 for a body-worn camera pilot program in the West Precinct, saying the document raises questions about record retention, deputy compliance, training and whether footage has been used in complaint investigations. She also questioned how artificial intelligence could be used in the proposed camera technology, including whether it could generate police reports or provide reliable language translation. Wegleitner said a meaningful community engagement process could take several months and should include opportunities for residents to comment on draft policies before their formal adoption. “I don’t think it’s something you can do in one month,” Wegleitner said. “There’s too many complex issues here.” Wegleitner said she and her colleagues would be willing to reconsider the funding through a budget amendment in 2027 if the sheriff’s office conducts a public engagement process and develops policies for community review. She said the goal is to ensure that body-worn cameras promote accountability without compromising civil liberties. “I want to make sure it happens, and that’s why I think we should wait on the funding until it does,” Wegleitner said. Ted Hyngstrom contributed to this report.

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“The philosophy of freedom has been diminished and forgotten” By Lilly Nicandri STAFF WRITER

Matthew Continetti, director of Domestic Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute and a columnist at the Wall Street Journal, spoke about the evolution of conservative economics in the United States at the University of WisconsinMadison Law School Oct. 13. In his lecture, he talked about conservative economics, pulling from Edinburgh and Adam Smith, author of “The Wealth of Nations” and pioneer of laissezfaire economics, to Washington D.C., discussing the rise of national conservatism and highlighting the impact of geography affecting conservatism. Conservative economics now Currently, conservatism is often associated with the Republican

Party, but Continetti said the party hasn’t historically followed conservative values as we know them today. To illustrate this distinction, he focused on rising prices, as it’s a focus of the midterm elections on Nov. 3. “[It’s] on everyone’s minds,” Continetti said. “Voters expect government to do something about prices. Ironically, because government is often the reason that prices rise.” To highlight his point, he brought up the Perry Chart, which traces the costs of goods and services over time. “[It] shows costs have risen most sharply in areas where government is most involved: education, healthcare, housing,” Continetti said. ics

Future of conservatism econom“I think there’s going to be a big

debate litigated in the Republican presidential primary in 2028,” Continetti said. “JD Vance represents the views of the national conservatives … If anything, I think he’s for a larger government role in the economy than even President Trump is.” Senator Ted Cruz, Vance’s main rival, Continetti expects to “reassert the traditional conservative understanding of competition [and] trade.” Origins of conservatism Connetti traced the development of conservative thought by highlighting the importance of six cities throughout history. In Edinburgh in 1776, Adam Smith’s “Wealth of Nations” came out in the same year as the Declaration of Independence, laying the foundation for limited government intervention in economics.

Wisconsin Attorney General candidates clash over crime, legislation during debate By Charles Lahmann STAFF WRITER

The incumbent Attorney General, Democrat Josh Kaul, and Fond du Lac County District Attorney Republican Eric Toney, held their first and likely only debate Sunday morning. The current race presents a rematch of the 2022 attorney general election, where Kaul defeated Toney by just over one point. The two candidates discussed the Trump administration’s lawsuit against Wisconsin seeking voter data, the state crime lab, Flock cameras, gun legislation and crime trends. Throughout the debate, Toney frequently attacked Kaul for the current state crime labs. Kaul repeatedly pointed to crime rates falling throughout the state, yet rising in Toney’s district, with felonies up from 300-400 per year to 1,000 per year over the past 15 years. Trump administration lawsuits Kaul has frequently joined other attorney generals in suing the Trump administration, bringing over 70 lawsuits in the past two years. His lawsuits have included the protection of education funding, public health, birthright citizenship and absentee voting. “One of the things I think is critical is that our attorney general is protecting the state of Wisconsin,” Kaul said. “When Wisconsinites are getting hurt, I think absolutely the attorney general should stand up, and we have done that repeatedly under my administration.” When asked if he would have joined any of the lawsuits, Toney said he would make those decisions “based on the facts in the law.” “As attorney general, I’ll absolutely step in when we’re seeing a harm to Wisconsin that is unlawful, and not otherwise protected,”

Toney said. Toney criticized Kaul’s approach to the lawsuits, saying “What we’ve seen from the attorney general is it depends on who’s in the White House and who’s in the governor’s office when he makes those types of decisions.” Trump voting data lawsuit The Trump administration is currently suing the state of Wisconsin for not handing over personal voter data. The bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission said the move would violate state law. “I’ll defend the state laws we have in Wisconsin,” Toney said, when asked if he would give up the voter rolls to the White House. “I’m going to make those decisions working with the attorneys to make sure that those decisions are based on the facts and the law, not who’s in the White House.” The Trump administration said the lawsuit is an effort to prevent fraud and to protect undocumented immigrants from voting in elections. Kaul said giving up voter data “would be against Wisconsin law.” “Our bipartisan election commission has made it clear they can’t lawfully overturn that information,” Kaul said. State crime lab efficiency The attorney general oversees the state crime lab, which conducts forensic testing and analysis for cases across Wisconsin. Testing includes DNA analysis, rape kits, toxicology reports and controlled substance analysis. Kaul and Toney have frequently disputed over the handling of the lab in the lead up to the election. Continue reading @ dailycardinal.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF ERIC TONEY VIA FACEBOOK AND SLR IMAGES/CREATIVE COMMONS

“[Americans] subsidized economic development through land grants and transportation networks, and they spent money on education and research, yet the federal government remained small,” Continetti said. The modern conservative movement took shape because of opposition to progressivism, which argued for larger government regulation. “So, during the 1930s, opponents of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal … became known as conservatives,” Continetti said. In Vienna, economists Ludwig Von Mises and Friedrich Von Hayek provided intellectual support for conservatives. “From the Austrians, conservatives learned of the connection between economic and political freedom, how efforts to reduce economic inequalities create political inequalities that favor government

and the state over the individual,” Continetti said. Milton Friedman in Chicago proposed the Great Depression happened due to mismanagement of credit, which led to a banking crisis, according to Continetti. In the 1970s, stagflation — a combination of unemployment and inflation — became prominent in New York and helped spur the growth of supply-side economics. “Supply-siders prioritized tax cutting over deficit control…[they believed] in stable monetary environment, reductions in marginal tax rates would spur savings, investment, and growth,” Continetti said. These ideals were reflected in President Ronald Reagan’s policies, which included major tax cuts and the abolishment of wage and price controls. Continue reading @dailycardinal.com

Officials say Madison’s 2027 stormwater, drainage budget does not meet the needs of flood prevention By Lucy Simmons STAFF WRITER

Madison’s proposed 2027 budget includes millions of dollars for flood mitigation as the city works to address drainage problems, but officials argue it will still not be enough. The executive capital budget proposes $8.35 million in stormwater utility capital spending including $6.06 million for citywide flood mitigation. Rainfall has fluctuated greatly year to year, with 50.7 inches of rain recorded in 2018 and only 29.8 recorded in 2023. In 2024, Madison saw about 48.5 inches of rain, and 2025 saw 37 inches. Dane County’s annual average precipitation has increased at a rate of nearly 1 inch per decade since 1950, Josh Bendorf, a climate specialist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, told The Daily Cardinal in an email. Bendorf also noted that seven of the county’s 10 wettest years since 1895 have occurred since 2000. “A warmer atmosphere is a key driver of the increase in precipitation,” Bendorf said. “Warmer air can hold more water vapor versus cooler air, and more water vapor means more moisture available for precipitation.” The trend has caused problems for Madison, where intense rainfall can overwhelm stormwater infrastructure. On Aug. 20-21, 2018, more than 11 inches of rain fell on Madison’s west side in 24 hours, making it a once in 1,000 year storm, according to Bendorf. The storm killed one person and left the city with over $21.4 million in reported property damages. The flooding prompted the city to conduct assessments of flood risks throughout Madison. “After the big 2018 flood event, Madison decided to investigate all 24 of its primary watersheds and modeled them mathematically, graphically, to look at what could be done to increase the city’s resilience, assuming we’re going to continue to have major rainstorm events,” District 19 Alder John Guequierre told the Cardinal. One major project planned is the expansion of West Towne pond on Madison’s west side, which is intended to increase stormwater capacity and reduce peak flood levels in the surrounding area. Other stormwater projects scheduled for later years have been moved to the city’s Horizon List. This list consists of projects that meet a clear community purpose but are not ready to formally schedule and fund, since Madison’s flood control needs extend far beyond what can be

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addressed in a single budget year. Madison’s stormwater Section Manager and Principal Engineer, Janet Schmidt, told the Cardinal in an email the city’s geography makes preventing floods particularly challenging. “Madison, and the isthmus in particular, were built on areas of filled wetland,” Schmidt said. “These areas are inherently low compared to the lake and river levels, and providing infrastructure to serve them is challenging.” Schmidt noted the intensity and duration of a storm can make a significant difference in how much water the system can manage. “A storm that produces two inches of rain in three hours is way different than a storm that produces the same rain over 12 hours,” she said. The consequences were clear during the 2018 floods. Guequierre described the severe flooding in his district, where several homes had water reaching the second floor. Residents also faced sewage in their basements and major repair costs. “The streets were impassable, and emergency vehicles couldn’t get through the intersection of Old Sauk and High Point,” Guequierre said. As the city prepares for future storms, officials must determine which areas need protection most urgently and which solutions are practical and affordable. Madison has identified flooding problems across many of its watersheds, but addressing them requires decisions about where to invest first, according to Schmidt. Continue reading @dailycardinal.com

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Baldwin calls for passage of “For the Fans Act” By Michael Reilly STAFF WRITER

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin is calling for the passage of her “For the Fans Act”, requiring all Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers and Milwaukee Bucks games to be made available to Wisconsinites for free online — right as the Packers season kicks into full swing. The bill was first introduced to the U.S. Senate in April. Its key provision requires all major sports leagues to make games free to stream for local fans, limited to the residents of the state in which the team plays. This legislation comes as costs to watch professional sports have risen. To watch every NFL game of the 2026 season, fans can expect to pay upward of $1,000 for a combination of streaming services and

television subscriptions. Four of the 17 Packers games this season are exclusively on paywalled streaming services. For Baldwin, this is four too many. “Wisconsinites shouldn’t have to shell out for a maze of streaming subscriptions just to catch their favorite team,” Baldwin told The Daily Cardinal in an email statement. “Rooting for our favorite sports teams brings people together. Unfortunately, so does the confusion and high costs that fans have to deal with.” Of the four paywalled games, two are on Amazon Prime and two are on Netflix. Each of the streaming giants have negotiated long-term, multibillion dollar deals with the NFL. Prime’s $1-billion-per-year deal runs through the 2033 sea-

son while Netflix extended its deal through 2029 in May. While these contracts guarantee Prime and Netflix exclusive national rights to games, fans in Green Bay and Milwaukee television markets already enjoy free access to paywalled broadcasts. The NFL requires these games to be available on local broadcast stations in participating teams’ home markets. Baldwin’s legislation would extend free access to fans statewide. The system the NFL has set for free local viewership could serve as precedent for expanding access statewide. For other leagues, this is not the case. While the NFL sells all of its broadcasting rights nationally, MLB and NBA teams like the Brewers and Bucks rely more heavily on local broadcasting network revenues.

UW-Madison, community members celebrate Coming Out Day

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By Madelyn Rybak STAFF WRITER

University of Wisconsin-Madison students and community members gathered at Library Mall to celebrate National Coming Out Day Oct. 9. National Coming Out Day, which is celebrated Oct. 11, marked the 39th anniversary of the LGBTQ+ March on Washington, a protest that condemned the U.S. government’s lack of response to the AIDS epidemic. The Gender & Sexuality Campus Center (GSCC) commemorated the event with a “Coming Out” Door, a rainbow-colored door for attendees to sign. The door received over 145 signatures this year, according to Tiffany Lee, GSCC’s assistant director of Student Success. GSCC hosted a variety of pridethemed activities, including opportunities to take polaroid pictures, decorate cup sleeves and play board games across Library Mall and their center in the Red Gym. “Overall, we wanted to create different ways for people to connect,

whether that was through taking pictures with friends, getting creative, signing the door or just stopping by and spending time with folks,” Lee told The Daily Cardinal. “The event is really about bringing people together and letting everyone participate in whatever way feels right to them.” For Lee, the event provides a chance to unite queer community members across the area, with the door representing the diversity of their experiences. “It’s a chance to honor the different experiences people bring with them into our shared community,” Lee said. “It’s an annual reminder of how important it is to create spaces and communities where people feel comfortable being and sharing who they are, in the ways they choose.” Many of the guests echoed Lee’s sentiment, each with their own unique experiences regarding coming out. Many LGBTQ+ adolescents report feeling isolated from their peers, with a 2023 study from Madison researchers indicating that transgender stu-

Under the current MLB system, each club retains 52% of all local broadcasting revenue for itself. For a team like the Brewers, this bill might mean foregoing its current $99 season pass model — the mode in which 150 of its 162 regular season games were aired. The bill allows for the free broadcasts to be “supported by ads,” but it’s unclear if the increased ad revenue from higher viewership would offset lost revenues from local network subscription fees. Regardless of feasibility, owners of professional teams may have the power to prevent the passage of any legislation that threatens to cut revenues. In the election cycles since 2020, nearly all of the owners of the MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL, MLS, NWSL and WNBA

dents were less likely to see mental health support from their parents than their cisgender peers were. UW-Madison Junior Julya Licht told the Cardinal the event provided crucial support for those who need it. “I just love seeing everybody so prideful, just being themselves, being happy, celebrating,” Julya Licht, a junior at UW-Madison, told the Cardinal. “It sets a good example for younger kids who might not feel accepted.” For others, the event’s popularity reflects a changing cultural attitude toward queer acceptance. Alec Hogoboom told the Cardinal the event provides an avenue for self-expression for those who need it. “I think that people don’t understand what it feels like to be able to fully express yourself and be fully accepted, no matter who you are,” Hogoboom said. “A lot of people are stuck in these toxic cycles, and once you finally break out of that, it feels so good.” While it was many guests’ first time attending the event, there were several attendees who return to the door year after year. “To see all the different versions of my name, and getting to have each pic-

franchises were active political donors; As of November 2024, owners donated more than $132 million to federal election campaigns. Roughly 95% of these donations were Republican-leaning. Sports fans, on the other hand, strongly support Baldwin’s legislation. According to a survey of likely voters, 73% of Democrats and 72% of Republicans supported the bill. Most recently, Baldwin introduced the act as an amendment to a college sports bill in committee, her office told the Cardinal. The amendment was not included in the final bill. The “For the Fans Act” currently sits with the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, where it has been awaiting further action since April 15.

ture that shows each iteration of myself each year is really fun,” community member Alex Little told the Cardinal. “Being queer was something that I used to really dislike about myself, really intensely, but in coming out, I found my community, the people I love, a sense of belonging,” Little said. “Coming out to me has been such an integral piece in shifting the narrative from disliking something so integral to myself to loving that part of myself.” Beyond the door, GCSS’s celebration itself acts as a crucial reminder of queer support across Madison. As hundreds of guests navigated through Library Mall, community member Mariessa Roeles reflected on how such events can bring awareness. “I wish students knew how queer Madison is broadly and what that looks like off campus,” Roeles said. “They are welcome here — even if they’re not queer, even if they’re not out yet — just to be able to be out here and celebrate.”Harrison and Kenney’s back-and-forth interactions alongside the dramatic and precise horsemanship acts, made for an entertaining final event. The Midwest Horse Fair will return to Madison in April 2025.

The Daily Cardinal Crossword • By Ryan Mathiason

Across 1 “Why ___ the chicken cross the road?” 4 Word before “hustle” or “effect” 5 One might be acute or obtuse 6 Party causing a noise complaint, maybe 7 Street ___ (reputation) 8 Feminine pronoun

Down 1 2026 movie starring Tom Cruise with a shovel on the poster 2 Sat doing nothing 3 Bucks and does, e.g. 4 Type of drum or trap 5 ___ March (rhyming gameday tradition canceled this season)

4 5 6 7 8

2 3

opinion your badgeralls Paramount-Warner Replace with overalls to experiBros. merger is a mas- ence Madison culture sive punch to the face

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Thursday, October 15, 2026 • 5

By Oscar Danz STAFF WRITER

PHOTO COURTESY OF LAURA ALIER/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

By Andrew Holton STAFF WRITER

A Paramount+ subscription costs $8.99 per month. An HBO Max subscription costs $10.99 per month. The two streaming services are set to merge following Paramount Skydance’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, valued at $111 billion, on Oct. 6. This megamerger will lead to higher streaming prices, layoffs and less creativity, where workers, consumers and journalists bear the consequences. The companies will now operate under the name Skydance, the name of billionaire owner David Ellison’s first media company. The deal puts streaming services Paramount+ and HBO Max under the same roof, as well as CNN and CBS. The deal was made official after Paramount reached a settlement in a lawsuit from California and 11 other states. The settlement requires Skydance to produce 30 movies a year for the first two years, then increase to 32 movies for the following three years. If that number isn’t met, the penalty is $30 million per movie distributed among union retirement and health funds, the Motion Picture and Television Fund and the National Association of Attorneys General. In addition to the quota, the settlement requires the company to invest $1.5 billion into filming domestically over five years and create a $25 million fund for independent films. Furthermore, there is a $6 billion fund for any laid off workers. The settlement also calls for an oversight board to be established to ensure independence between CNN and CBS. While the settlement looks good on paper, it also contains glaring issues. At first glance, an annual movie quota sounds like a great idea. However, the 30 movie threshold could be a big jump for the company that could hinder quality and creative liberty. Last year, Warner

Bros. released 11 movies and Paramount released 8 movies. Warner Bros. found both box office and award success with “Sinners” and “One Battle After Another.” These were both original movies that relied on directors Ryan Coogler and Paul Thomas Anderson having full creative control and a large budget for their respective projects. With Skydance, a company that will accrue around $87 billion in debt, held to meeting a number, it could result in tighter budgets and a focus on hitting a release date rather than the overall quality of a film. The worst possible outcome would be a complete reliance on sequels and unoriginal ideas. Skydance holds franchises like “Mission: Impossible,” “Star Trek,” “A Quiet Place,” “The Conjuring,” DC Comics and more. These franchises already have multiple movies and pressure to meet the 30 movies threshold could result in these franchises being repeatedly recycled, losing the spark that made them special with every new release. It would leave no room for new ideas, perspectives or styles, and halt the excitement that comes with them. What’s more concerning is the settlement only covers the next five years. After that, Skydance is free to release however many movies they choose, and can make decisions about independent film funding and the domestic filming fund. It’s free to cease operations at the Warner Bros. Burbank lot or the Paramount Hollywood lot after the time frame, which would result in layoffs. The acquisition is a direct response to competition like Amazon Prime Video, Netflix and Disney, which acquired 20th Century Fox in 2019. Since 2022, Disney has laid off over 8,000 workers. A similar fate is probable for Skydance employees as Paramount already threatened moving out of California to leverage a settle-

ment in the lawsuit. Beyond the film industry, Skydance now owns both CBS and CNN. There will be a news independence editorial board to oversee the two networks, but considering the Ellison family’s relationship with the Trump administration, the ownership is another area of concern. Simply put, CNN, which the White House Press Corps recently attempted to ban, is now under the control of Trump-backed ownership. Trump has frequently attacked the press via executive orders, legal and financial attacks, access restrictions and arrests. Now, with Ellison’s influence, Trump could manipulate CNN from the inside. Although Ellison supports CNN, MS NOW and Politico’s lawsuit over President Trump’s ban, he’s the same owner who installed Bari Weiss as editorin-chief at CBS News. Weiss has drawn criticism for pulling the CECOT segment, an investigation into the El Salvador prison with horrific conditions where the Trump Administration had sent over 200 deportees, off of ‘60 Minutes’. Her editorial decision actually led to an increased bid for Warner Bros. Discovery from Ellison’s father, Larry, the following day. Overall, Weiss has taken CBS in a more conservative direction, still believing that both sides of a debate have equal merit, even when one side is lying. Under Ellison, CNN could shift more conservative too, even with an independent editorial board. The shift would only be the latest in the rise of right-wing aligned and controlled media outlets. Many of the potential positives for this merger are predicated on “promises.” Ellison promises to rebuild trust, a 45-day theatrical window for movies and quality storytelling. But these aren’t enforceable promises. The best you can do is take the billionaire’s word for it.

Autumn Saturdays in Madison often begin with tuned trumpets and tubas, a boisterous drumline and beaming cheerleaders. Yet for me, Saturdays in Madison begin before the first note of “On Wisconsin” is played, and instead with a long walk down State Street — the Capitol straight ahead. My destination isn’t the impressive arch that welcomes thousands of fans to the historic Camp Randall. Instead, it’s another local place of deep-rooted gathering and tradition: the Dane County Farmers’ Market. Often overlooked by a stadium energetically jumping around, the farmers’ market is where diverse Madison culture and tradition remain on display. To enter the market, you must merge your way into the flock of university students, parents and children, young and old, all eager to see what the 150 plus vendors have to offer. The flow of traffic rhythmically walks around the square like fish traveling upstream, their schools all moving intently, in one direction and with one purpose. Here, around Capitol Square, my purpose is to investigate the square to see what bouquet of flowers, loaf of bread or bottle of honey will come home with me. What enhances the culture of the market is its produceronly rule. All the items I examine on display are produced by the vendors who stand proudly behind them. Additionally, the products are grown, raised and produced around the state of Wisconsin. Badger football games remain largely student-based. Traditions guarantee that redand-white-striped bibs will fill the crowd, and fists will pump enthusiastically, chanting “u-rah-rah.” I love celebrating my time on earth with 14,000 of my peers in Camp Randall’s student section, and when the Badgers are on the field, they have my unwavering support. But Madison is more than a school and more than just a team. The roughly 240,000 other Madison citizens who are not students at the university surely have traditions of their own, too. Traditions, for example, such as street musicians and local bands, who would get drowned out by our rattling keys as the Badgers kick off, are able to flourish during their performances outside of the Capitol. And the beautifully painted gourds that convince me to stop and admire their detailed brush strokes week after week would be hidden the second the wave made its journey around the stadium crowd. Yes, Badger pride shines bright inside of Camp Randall, but the farmer’s market shines the spotlight on the rest of

what Madison can offer. Culture at the farmer’s market means something different to almost every vendor. To some, our state symbols are on full display: Wisconsin dairy-produced cheeses, popcorn kernels and Kringels scattered on all four corners of the market. Yet to others, culture is more personal. For instance, while marching around the square a few weeks ago, I wasn’t intrigued by the shoulder-to-shoulder crowd I found myself in, nor did I pay any attention to the thousands of first-time marketeers with jaws open in awe. Instead, a family’s tradition stood out to me. I noticed a young boy helping his mom hand out beautiful bouquets of dahlias. Red, pink and orange were the dahlias, but their colors all blurred at the speed this young boy was handing them out, a smile glued to his face as he stood beside his mom. Culture in Wisconsin can mean cheese curds or a polka band playing enthusiastically. But in Madison, on Saturday mornings, it can also mean a family tradition. It would be inaccurate to say the only traditions at the farmer’s market come from behind the vendors’ tents when there are 20,000 people all resetting their week in the same way that I am, and all with their own culture. Some choose to hold signs urging others to vote on the east side of the Capitol. Over on the west corner, debates regarding evolution occur. Move to the north, and you can sign up for the Sierra Club. Fall back to the south end, and there’s a free Bible waiting to be handed out to you. Additionally, the tattoos, graphic tees and choice of flip-flops or tennis shoes, walking around smelling candles and tasting produce all have their very own culture on display. Sure, if you’re looking for Badger culture on a Saturday, then, without a doubt, Camp Randall is the place to be. But the diverse styles, products and culture on display every week at the farmer’s market are nowhere to be found in section L of Camp Randall. That’s the beauty of the farmer’s market — it’s a weekly occurrence. It’s a few hours to escape the due dates, grade changes and to-do lists that come with being a student. It’s a constant that reminds me time and time again why I chose Madison. Most importantly, it’s a place to experience how much more culture the city of Madison has to offer outside of the invisible walls of our campus. If you’re looking for Madison culture rather than just Badger culture, then take off your badgeralls and replace them with overalls next Saturday at the farmers’ market.

sports 6

Thursday, October 15, 2027

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Column: Miami Ohio transfer Eian Elmer might be Greg Gard’s next hidden gem By George Atkinson STAFF WRITER

Normally, the Mid-American Conference’s (MAC) post-season tournament isn’t a major story in the college basketball world. Most fans and major media outlets are gearing up for March Madness, but one of the sport’s biggest stories last year came from a MAC team out of Oxford, Ohio. In the 2025-26 men’s basketball season, the Miami University RedHawks achieved national prominence, as they posted a perfect 31-0 undefeated regular season record in the MAC. Though the RedHawks lost in the first round of the MAC tournament, they earned an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament and scored a First Four win over Southern Methodist University (SMU). At the heart of this remark-

able regular season run for the MAC team was Junior Guard Eian Elmer. Elmer, a native of Covington, Kentucky, came up huge in major moments for the RedHawks last season. This past April, after Miami had been eliminated from the NCAA tournament, Elmer transferred to Wisconsin for his senior campaign. The 6-foot-6 guard posted a double-double of 32 points and 12 rebounds in their final regular-season victory over Ohio University in overtime, and Elmer led the team in scoring in their First Four win over SMU. More important than those statistics themselves is what they reveal about Elmer’s play style. Elmer, in addition to leading the RedHawks in scoring in two of their last four games, averaged 5.9 rebounds per game in his last sea-

son with Miami, with 200 boards total in the 25-26 season. Beyond the evident rebounding ability, Elmer displays a versatility that makes him an intriguing addition to a Badger rotation looking to get to the next level. Unlike other bigger guards, Elmer is more of a perimeter scorer; he attempted 4.9 threes per game, which made up over 50% of his total 8.4 field goal attempts per outing. Elmer’s efficient outside shooting makes him a troubling proposition for opposing defenders, even as he transitions to higherlevel competition in the Big Ten. He boasted a 42.9% three-point mark last year at Miami, which fits perfectly in a Wisconsin offense that loves to shoot threes. His archetype is extremely coveted, as “3-and-D” wings his size don’t grow on trees. Elmer’s

Column: College hockey goes pro as the NCAA adopts NHL-style rules By Ava Hudson STAFF WRITER

The gap between college hockey and the National Hockey League (NHL) is becoming harder to see as the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) begins to develop players in an environment that looks similar to the NHL. Several new NCAA men’s hockey rule changes for the 2026-27 season would align the college game more closely to the NHL. With adjustments to offsides, goalie puck handling, faceoffs and coach challenges — how far will the NCAA go in implementing NHL-style rules? Twenty-one new rules were added this year alone, with some already in effect and others coming next season. At the same time, the pipeline between the NCAA and the NHL continues to grow. In the 2024-25 season, 33% of all active NHL players played Division 1 hockey in the NCAA. If the NCAA is becoming an important part of the NHL’s player development system — it makes sense that the two games would begin to look more alike. One of the clearest examples this season is the trapezoid rule. The trapezoid rule only affects goaltenders. Before, in the NCAA, goaltenders were able to play the puck from any area on the ice. Under the new rule, the goaltender is only able to play the puck in the area behind the goal line, called the trapezoid. If they play outside the trapezoid, it will result in a two-minute minor penalty for delay of game. Goaltenders now have to be more deliberate about when they choose to play the puck. Rather than immediately making a pass, they may have to wait a second or two for the puck to enter the trapezoid before passing it

to a teammate. The NHL implemented the trapezoid rule following the lockout in 2004-05, which came after two years of unsuccessful negotiations between the NHL and its players’ union, the NHLPA. The league was pushing for a hard salary cap to have more control over the team costs. So why is the NCAA choosing to do it now? The rule was first introduced in the NHL to try and stop puck-handling goaltenders, most notably New Jersey Devils Goalie Martin Brodeur, who would act like a third defenseman. It allows attacking teams to establish a forecheck and speeds up the game. The argument can be made that Division 1 hockey is designed around player development. Traditionally, allowing goaltenders to play the puck anywhere behind the goal line was viewed as a way to help young players develop their skating and stick-handling skills. Goaltenders rarely possessed the same level of puckhandling as Brodeur, so the rule wasn’t seen as an urgent necessity. As the NCAA continued to produce players capable of making immediate impact in the NHL, the divide between the two levels became harder to justify. Players like Gavin McKenna, Ryan Leonard and Lane Hutson have shown that college hockey can develop talent ready for the professional level, making NHL-style rules a natural next step for the NCAA. Unlike other professional sports, the path to the NHL is not linear. Players can also join the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), which represents three major junior ice hockey leagues in Canada and the U.S. with the Western Hockey League (WHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). Continue reading @dailycardinal.com

EDWARD YEE/THE DAILY CARDINAL

defensive capabilities extend beyond grabbing boards; he racked up 42 steals and 23 blocks in Miami’s 2025-26 campaign, showcasing his strong ability at both ends of the court. Elmer is projected to start in the small forward spot, as he did for Miami in last year’s campaign. Elmer is also capable of playing the power forward four position, which he did during his sophomore year with the RedHawks, giving Greg Gard a true Swiss Army knife of a transfer. Elmer’s shooting ability, strong defensive rebounding and flexibility at both the three and four positions gives a significant boost to the overall prospects of a Badger team looking to get back to the NCAA tournament and advance into the later rounds. The biggest question mark for Elmer at Wisconsin isn’t whether

he’ll be able to have an impact on the Badgers’ performances — his versatile and diverse skill set will likely allow him to impact games in a myriad of ways. The question is whether he can replicate his success with Miami in the MAC against much tougher conference opposition in the Big Ten. If he can take that next step in his game and develop as a shot creator, he could be the next Greg Gard transfer turned AllAmerican in line. Gard has a history of developing low-profile transfer players into Big Ten stalwarts (see SDSU transfer Nick Boyd and Mizzou transfer John Tonje). Combine Gard’s developmental prowess with Elmer’s diverse skillset on the court, and the Miami transfer is primed for an impactful senior campaign with the Badgers.

Column: Was the T.E.A.M. vest cursed? By Sophia Phair STAFF WRITER

Is the most important adjustment Luke Fickell has made during his time with Wisconsin an outfit change? Some Badger fans think so. For years, Fickell’s signature look was defined by his infamous gameday vest, featuring the custom-embroidered acronym “T.E.A.M.” across the back. Standing for “Together Everyone Achieves More,” the design embodied Fickell’s program philosophy of unity. This season, the vest has been retired and left to collect dust in his closet. So far, the vest’s absence has been met with massive payoffs. Completely vest-free this season, Fickell has led the Badgers to a thrilling upset against No. 13 Penn State on Sept. 26, a dominant 31-3 victory against Michigan State on Oct. 3 and a 4-1 record overall. With the disappearance of the vest matching Wisconsin’s newfound success, fans are left wondering: Was the vest the problem all along? The vest first appeared during Fickell’s second season as the Cincinnati Bearcats’ head coach. Its rise coincided with him leading the Bearcats to an 11 win season in 2018, where the vest quickly became a symbol of winning and Fickell’s trademark look. Badger fans, however, did not share that same luck. Before he ditched the vest, Fickell held a 15-20 overall record with the Badgers, a stretch marked by a noticeable year-over-year regression in the team’s performance. The team dropped from a 7-6 finish in 2023 to a bowl-less 5-7 mark in 2024 and bottomed out with a 4-8 record in 2025. When the program was at its lowest and “fire Fickell chants” echoed through Camp Randall on Saturday’s, many students dressed up in the T.E.A.M vest on Halloween night, mocking Fickell. Approaching a six game losing streak, Fickell wore the vest for the last time in early November 2025, just before Wisconsin’s narrow victory against No. 24 Washington on Nov. 8. Prior to this win, the Badgers were winless in nine consecutive games against ranked teams under Coach Fickell.

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When asked in a post-game press conference about the vest’s sudden disappearance, Fickell revealed he was wearing the vest during the game, but it was concealed by his sweatshirt. Still, he joked “it might be” time to make a permanent gameday apparel shift. Backed by the fashion advice of Barstool Sports’ Big Cat, Fickell retired the vest. After the win against Washington, the Badgers went on to beat another ranked team, No. 21 Illinois on Nov. 22, 2025. Fickell now reaches for an Under Armor hoodie instead and has been given the nickname “Hoodie Fick” by fans on social media. Following a Week six bye, the sustainability of the current win streak will be put to the test with three consecutive matchups against ranked conference opponents. The Badgers will first face No. 21 UCLA on Oct. 17, followed by No. 19 USC on Oct. 24 and No. 20 Iowa on Oct. 31. Fans now actively scout out Fickell’s attire during pregame warmups, looking to confirm the “T.E.A.M.” vest hasn’t made a reappearance. If the hoodie is spotted on the sideline, the Badgers should be in good shape.

arts

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Thursday, October 15, 2026

“The Wiz” brings music, magic to Madison The Overture Center’s Broadway season opens with a performance of “The Wiz.” By Liset Zacker ARTS EDITOR

The Overture Center opened the curtain on its 2026/2027 Broadway season on Oct. 6, with a dazzling — although at times lacking — performance of “The Wiz.” Premiering on Broadway in 1975, “The Wiz” tells the story of the Wizard of Oz, but turns it on its head, transforming it from a picturesque, all-white American fantasy world into a celebration of Black excellence, music and dance. “The Wiz” was a Broadway sensation. The show ran for four years and 1,672 performances and won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Its importance as one of the first Broadway musicals with an all-Black cast and creative team cannot be overstated. A 1978 film adaptation launched the performance to a global audience and starred Diana Ross, Michael Jackson and Nipsey Russell, among other Black icons. “The Wiz” began an allnew North American tour in Springfield, Ohio, on Sept. 26, which will run until June 27, 2027. The show took a pit stop in Madison from Oct. 6 to Oct. 11. On opening night of the tour, “The Wiz” performed in the exquisite Overture Hall. Although the story opens with Dorothy (Gabby Samone) in Kansas, the magic world of

COURTESY OF OVERTURE CENTER, JEREMY DANIEL

“The Wiz” begins with “He’s the Wizard.” In a mix of changing lighting, sound and a mysterious mist, theatergoers were transported from the dull life of Kansas to the colorful celebration of culture that is Oz. As Addaperle (Ary’ana N. Davis), the Good Witch of the North, preaches about the Wiz, the world of Oz is expanded. The ensemble cast echoed the words of Addaperle, dancing and singing seamlessly together. Glinda (Toni Lorene Baker) is introduced, sending Dorothy down the Yellow Brick Road to reach the Wiz in

the Emerald City. On her way, Dorothy meets the Scarecrow ( Jose E. Figueroa Jr.), the Tin Man (Jaelen Spellman) and the Lion (Asher Havon), who become a band of unlikely companions. Their journey together is set to the repeated catchy tune of “Ease on Down the Road.” Their quest is momentarily halted when the Wicked Witch of the West, Evillene (April Renee Moye), distracts them with mystifying poppy flowers and attacks them with her team of Kalidahs. Act I concludes with more singing, uplifting of the spirits

and a message of friendship. Act I’s reliance on world-building and characterization is backed up with an Act II showstopper. The second half begins with “The Emerald City,” a celebration of Black culture, mixing a variety of contemporary dance, hip-hop, ballet and more. The ensemble filled the stage with their presence and talent, captivating the audience. In “Meet the Wizard,” the Wiz (Bryan Demond) introduces himself in a Broadwayworthy spectacle, with backup singers flanking him. Another quest is decreed to the gang: kill Evillene, and the Wiz will give them all that they desire. After some debate, the gang agrees, sneaking into Evillene’s lair, hearing her dazzling power ballad and eventually defeating her in a plume of smoke. The show’s conclusion reveals the Wiz as a fraud who was masquerading as magical. The death of Evillene releases the gang from their curses, Glinda returns for one last glittering moment and Dorothy closes the curtain with a chills-envoking solo, clicking her heels three times and returning home. The intrigue of “The Wiz” lies in its updated contemporary humor and rich celebration of Black culture, but this production’s success came from the immense and wideranging display of talent. Baker’s moments on stage were brief, but her voice was rich, reverberating throughout the auditorium and shining as bright as her costume. Although his moments were equally brief, Demond’s smooth vocals, charisma and showmanship brought additional humor to the story’s twist. Ultimately, Spellman was the star of the show. The audience first encounters Spellman in his solo, “Slide Some Oil to Me.” Spellman blends his vocals seamlessly with his movement, first creaking, then gliding across the stage.

His characterization was solid throughout the whole show, whether he was the focal point or off to the side. He was smooth, suave and brought an easy humor to his dialogue. The chemistry of the core four characters was equally exceptional. Their relationship felt genuine instead of cheesy, and their vocal compatibility touched everyone’s heart during their final, slow rendition of “Ease on Down the Road.” The show’s main struggle was in filling the stage. Touring productions typically require minimal set pieces due to money and travel constraints, which requires larger performances from cast members, a tall task unevenly met throughout the show. At times, dances and stage direction felt awkward instead of magnificent. The lower production value accustomed to a touring show could be easily ignored with Dorothy’s hauntingly powerful closing performance of “Home,” an exceptional solo that filled the room with ease and closed the show on a high note. After “The Wiz” concludes its run on Oct. 11, the Overture Center will continue its Broadway series with more Tony Award-winning Broadway shows, including “Hell’s Kitchen,” “The Outsiders,” “Jersey Boys,” “Six” and “Hadestown.” “Maybe Happy Ending” and “Death Becomes Her” will also pass through Madison, making their Wisconsin debuts. A four-show ticket package is still available for theatergoers who want priority access and lower-priced tickets. UW-Madison students can also enjoy same-day rush tickets for a discounted price. All that’s required is a valid student ID. Although UW-Madison students may have missed out on the spectacle of “The Wiz,” the Overture Center’s Broadway season is sure to keep audiences entertained throughout the year.

life & style 8

Thursday, October 15, 2026

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Finding a home in a changing Madison

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By Nadja Duss STAFF WRITER

Like most University of Wisconsin-Madison freshmen, Nolan Schultz spent the first month and a half of his semester making new friends, settling into a routine, enjoying the remnants of the summer sun and dreaming about the next four years. However, looming in his mind was the daunting question every student across campus is asking: “Where will I live next year?” It can no longer be denied: the

infamous fall housing search is here. Students everywhere are frantically scouring rental listings, emailing landlords, trying to lock down roommates and reminiscing on the simplicity of ranking the dorms and praying for your favorite as a freshman. Before spring classes are even selected, students feel pressure to sign a lease for the next school year. While this process is currently at the forefront of so many students’ minds, their experiences can still get lost in the bustle of campus life. So how are

students really holding up? “It’s been a little nerve-wracking and stressful just because there’s no guarantee for any housing,” Schultz told The Daily Cardinal. “Also trying to think about how many roommates you need, [being] able to afford rent and also balancing being a full-time student; there’s just a lot of factors to think about.” Due to increased uncertainty every year, many students start their search as early as the summer, including Schultz. “I started looking [for housing] a little bit before I even got here because I knew from upperclassmen friends that basically by October you needed to have some sort of understanding of what you needed to do [for next year],” Schultz said. “I’ve only contacted about two [apartments] personally, but I’ve looked into probably 12.” Whether looking for a house or apartment, students are constantly trying to get ahead of the rush. “I started looking back in August trying to find [houses] so that I was ahead… because [houses and apartments] fill up so fast,” UW-Madison Sophomore Maddie Gerhardt said. “I’ve contacted two individual houses, but I’ve contacted two or three housing offices.”

Skip spooky, choose sustainable By Kaelana Faessler STAFF WRITER

College students are all too familiar with the stress and impossible decision-making when it comes to picking out a Halloween costume. It becomes even more stressful and impossible when you procrastinate finding something to wear and find yourself the night before Halloweekend raiding your closet, wondering how niche you can be, while still being recognized on a barely lit-up State Street. This often happens because students feel like they are faced with limited choices. You either buy an expensive full costume or buy each individual piece on Shein. Americans are expected to spend $13.5 billion on Halloween shopping this year, according to the National Retail Federation, with consumers expected to average $115.14 per person. So how can students keep costs low when Halloween culture encourages spending? When October hits, University of WisconsinMadison students begin the hunt for finding the perfect Halloween costume. From the classic zombies and vampires, to the more trendy “OffCampus” or “Odyssey” characters, to the niche internet memes and characters like Punch the monkey, people are rushing to buy their costumes and pull their looks together as the end of the month approaches. Madison is well known for its nightlife and party scene for students, and Halloween is a peak time of the year when anyone and everyone hits the streets in their costumes all weekend long. This year, UW-Madison students are looking for ways to balance affordability with sustainability this Halloween season, while planning a costume they will likely only wear once.

“I think a lot of people spend a lot of money on costumes,” UW-Madison Senior Hadley Wendorff told The Daily Cardinal. She said she believes Madison’s Halloween culture can influence how students dress and spend their money by encouraging multiple elaborate costumes in one weekend. “If your friends have a great costume you wanna have a great costume too,” she said. Other students find themselves buying costumes on discount websites. Lily Myhra, a junior at UW-Madison, told the Cardinal she searches for her costumes on Depop. “I would say [I spend] $50 to $100,” Myhra said. Madison’s party culture also affects who wears what costumes — and how many costumes students wear every Halloween. “There’s fads for the year,” UW-Madison Junior Matteo Rovera said. “I would probably only ever wear one Halloween costume a year, but because of what my friends are doing, I have three this year.” Myhra, Wendorff and Rovera all came to a similar conclusion about Halloween spending; not one of them wants to spend over $100 for a single weekend of Halloween costumes. Quick options like Amazon, Spirit Halloween and Shein seem appealing for fast shipping and low prices, but these suppliers contribute to the harmful effects of fast fashion. Fast fashion is the model of designing and producing clothes at rapid rates using inexpensive materials. It follows the changing trends quickly and comes at a cheap price for consumers. The price for the environment however, is far from low. Continue reading @dailycardinal.com

DANIELLE WITELSON/THE DAILY CARDINAL

While getting a head start on housing is a good strategy for upperclassmen, freshmen must consider the risk of signing a lease with people they have known for not even two months. “It’s such a short period of time to find people to live with for such a long commitment,” UW-Madison Freshman Maria Sells said. Roommate horror stories are abundant across campus meaning many freshmen have to choose between anxiously waiting a few weeks to lock down a housing arrangement or taking a gamble on a new friend. When it seems like the process cannot get any harder, rising monthly rent prices in Madison have added additional challenges to the housing search. According to a 2024 housing analysis conducted by UW-Madison, the average monthly rent for properties in and around campus in 2024 was $1,273, “among the highest in the Big Ten Conference.” The study also calculated that “affordable” monthly rent for a UW-Madison student averaged at $980 per month. A more recent 2026 analysis by RentCafe of Madison monthly rent identified the 2026 average as $1,856, a 2.28% increase from the year prior. Along with rent spikes, high rise

apartment construction has increased in Madison in recent years. Growing up in the area, Gerhardt has seen this transformation first hand. “There used to never be as many high rises as there are now,” Gerhardt said. “Both my parents went [to UW-Madison], and they lived in houses here, and they talk about how all the houses they lived in are completely torn down, and apartments are in their place.” While these high rise apartments add more housing options, they are not affordable to every student. The rising prices mean students have to be increasingly conscious of their budgets during their search. “I would love to do under $1,000, but I know it’s not possible unless I share a room with someone,” UW-Madison Freshman Kaia Bodden said. She is specifically searching for a house to live in next year, as opposed to an apartment. “$1,200 is my goal and then $1,300-$1,400 is my max.” “I don’t think I would go over $1,000,” Gerhardt said. In order to find the most affordable housing in the campus area, many students have to make sacrifices in other areas. Continue reading @dailycardinal.com

David Lynch’s Madison ties come alive at Tandem Press By Madelyn Rybek STAFF WRITER

Whether it be an alluring Los Angeles nightclub or a mysterious town in Washington, the locations present across David Lynch’s filmography play an essential role in crafting the surreal atmosphere we associate with his art. However, one location that remains overlooked throughout Lynch’s work is a city he returned to for decades: our very own Madison, Wisconsin. Lynch was an American film and television director who rose to prominence with the success of a number of projects since the 1970’s, including “The Elephant Man,” “Blue Velvet” and the immensely popular “Twin Peaks.” Lynch first became involved with Madison during the 1990s through his wife at the time, Mary Sweeney, a film editor and Madison native. When Lynch visited Madison each summer, he became interested in creating print artwork, which led him to first collaborate with the local print studio Tandem Press as an artistin-residence in 1997. He would continue to collaborate with Tandem Press in the following decades, and, in 2021, produced a series of nude photogravure prints. Lynch sadly passed away in 2025, but this October, Tandem Press is shining a light on his Madison works through their exhibit “In Tandem: David Lynch & Christina A. West” which is currently on display at the gallery. The prints are black-and-white and were created using the photogravure technique, giving them an inky, smudgy quality. The series is composed of surreal images of a nude woman, with various parts of her body missing across each image. “There’s an uncanny nature to them that is similar to his films; there’s a little bit of an unease,” Katie Geha, director of Tandem Press told The Daily Cardinal. Alongside Lynch’s prints are the nude sculptures of Christina A. West, which focus on various components of the male figure. Through Tandem Press, Geha is interested in juxtaposting two artists’ works — like Lynch’s and West’s — to derive new meaning for the work. With Lynch’s focus on the abstraction of the female figure, Geha said she

was interested in pairing his work with West’s as a way to deconstruct the presence of the male gaze across nude artwork. “I thought putting them in conversation with Christina’s kind of funny, kind of odd sculptures of men kind of created this interesting tension, and this interesting dialogue that kind of changes David Lynch’s prints a little bit,” Geha said. Although the exhibit challenges themes embedded in Lynch’s prints, Geha said she is also eager to explore the humor created by the pairing of the pieces, as Lynch’s unorthodox sense of humor had always been a notable part of his filmography. “He was playful himself. I think there’s a great humor in his films,” Geha said. “I don’t know how his legacy will play out, but if he were alive, I think he would really get a kick out of this exhibition.” In the year since his passing, Lynch’s involvement with Tandem Gallery is remembered fondly. Beyond the exhibit, Tandem Press also houses a sound system, gifted by Lynch, because he felt the printers needed music while they worked. In a neighboring room sits a hydraulic press, one of Lynch’s favorites to use when making prints. While text on the machine originally read “DAKE” — the brand of the machine, Geha explained, Lynch blacked out some the lettering, so the press is now marked with his own initials: “DKL.” The exhibit opened on Sept. 15 and runs until Oct. 30, and guests inside are treated to free merchandise and performances from live bands. According to Geha, the event has had substantial turnout so far, with over 200 attendees, which she attributed to Lynch’s broad appeal across the city of Madison. “People in the community really, really love David Lynch,” Geha said. “After he died, we were inundated with sales; so many people were buying his prints.” It is clear that Lynch’s work still resonates with viewers, and his legacy will continue evolving through the presentation of his work. “He was an artist, true and true,” Geha said. “He just had to make, and he would do that in any way that he could.”