University of Wisconsin-Madison
The Badgers are currently 6-2 on the young season, largely thanks to a few standouts.
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Thursday, September 18, 2025
UW exhibit honors the legacy of fantasy map maker Karen Fonstad
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By Zoey Elwood & Isabella Barajas COPY CHIEF & GRAPHICS EDITOR
Hundreds of students gathered on Library Mall Tuesday to watch evangelical street preacher Cindy Smock, better known as Sister Cindy, urge students to repent for their sexual and spiritual sins and embrace Jesus Christ.
Smock is popular on social media, amassing over 400,000 followers on TikTok, where she shares her Evangelical Christian beliefs and her “Ho No Mo” message that encourages modesty and abstinence. The University of Wisconsin-Madison was the twelfth stop on the Sister Cindy and Friends Fall 2025 Tour, with appearances also at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Library Mall was also populated by pro-life activists debating students. Although neither organization is a liated with Smock, she did voice agreement with things she heard from the
group. Turning Point USA was also working to register voters nearby.
Poking fun at her student audience, Smock referred to Tuesday’s visit as “Slut Shaming 101.”
Smock has been visiting college campuses for more than four decades, including frequent visits to the UW-Madison campus, beginning in 1979 with her late husband Jed Smock.
“Even right here in Wiscon-SIN, this liberal, atheistic-agnostic state,” Smock told The Daily Cardinal, “Gen Z is turning from the hoe life to follow Jesus.”
Smock said her own “sinful” past was her inspiration for turning students away from premarital sex and promiscuity.
“Back when I was a hoe, I had an abortion, and I regret it to this day,” she said, warning students against abortions and emphasizing the rewarding nature of motherhood, as well as options like adoption and foster care.
Smock said that while someone can be a “physical virgin,” they can still be a “spiritual hoe,” a lifestyle she defined as partying and dressing in revealing clothing, which she believes attracts unwanted male attention.
“Ladies, these boys are penises with arms and legs,” Smock said. “Help them out by covering up.”
Despite “slut-shaming” women, Smock also defended women, saying “just because a girl is dressed like a hoe, it doesn’t necessarily mean she wants to do you.”
Smock highlighted the importance of spreading her message on college campuses, telling the Cardinal she “gets students thinking.”
However, many UW-Madison students said they attended the event simply for entertainment, not to genuinely absorb her teachings.
“It’s really funny. I don’t believe in her beliefs at all, but it’s just kind of fucking crazy to listen to,” Blu Ginko, a freshman at the UW-Madison,
Madison crowned the university’s “most performative male”
By Madison Moris & Dani Nisbet LIFE & STYLE EDITOR & STAFF WRITER
Feminist literature-carrying, labubu-wearing, matcha-drinking contestants gathered at Library Mall Friday, with the wired earbud-clad participants competing for the title of “most performative male.” About one hundred students huddled on the steps of the Memorial Library to watch the competition, and some were even lucky enough to catch free menstrual products thrown into the crowd.
The archetype of the performative male, popularized on social media, pokes fun at men who change their hobbies or style to impress women. Matcha, totebags, feminist literature, carabiners and physical media from artists like Clairo are often associated with the performative male.
The event was organized by freshmen Adrea Matulle and Beri Barton. The duo was inspired by other performative male contests across the country. “We were bored, I [had] fun with some graphics and posted it on YikYak,” Matulle said.
Her post received 951 upvotes.
For Nathan Johnson, a contestant, his performance was not performative. “This is not an act. This is who I am,” he said. While trying to garner votes, Johnson showcased his electric guitar, a Fleetwood Mac “Rumors” vinyl and his tote bag.
Quinn Womer, another contestant, was deemed a finalist for his performance — one which started with a tote bag tour and ended with tampons being flung into the crowd. “I had all the building blocks,” he said. “I was able to put my entire self into this.”
Participants voted for the top three by cheering and clapping for their picks. The final three were put to a vote, again o of crowd loudness, and after all the matchas had been drunk freshman Khabbab Gassikia emerged victorious.
Gassikia told the majority female crowd that he knew they would vote for the best contestant. “And guess what, they did. They voted for me,” said Gassikia, adding that he
always trusted women.
Following his victory speech, Gassikia could be seen walking down Library Mall holding a sign saying “performative men wanted!”
Students online did not waste time discussing the event and sharing photos and videos on the app Yik Yak, where the event was first publicized. The “Well Red” Bucky statue in Alumni Park was given a shout out as one user called it, “the true winner of the performative male contest.”
After all of the excitement of Friday’s contest, users are looking ahead, discussing possible ideas for future contests. “Is there going to be a performative masc lesbian contest?” one user asked. Another user commented, “Guys can we please do more of these contests like the performative male one!! It’s so fun to have community.”
Will contests like this grace University of Wisconsin-Madison’s campus yet again? Only time and YikYak will tell.
told the Cardinal. “I don’t really think [her message] has a real e ect on people.”
While the crowd actively participated in cheers and chants during the event, many said they were poking fun at Smock and her beliefs.
“The way the crowd sounds… that sounds like it’s mockery,” Kylee VanPatten, a freshman at UW-Madison, told the Cardinal.
Ginko highlighted his concerns regarding Smock’s religious messages, drawing attention to its absurdity.
“I think, if God does exist, he doesn’t care about telling people what to do,” Ginko said. “When people care about telling other people what to do to this extent, to me, it’s just absurd.”
While her preaching has been viewed as controversial and extreme, Smock said her message can apply to anyone, and that it is never too late to repent and embrace Christ.
“Don’t get triggered,” Smock said. “Jesus loves the hoes.”
By Madison Moris LIFE & STYLE EDITOR
University Health Services (UHS) is hosting vaccine clinics at various locations around campus throughout the fall semester to help limit the spread of infectious diseases. Students and employees of the University of Wisconsin-Madison can receive a no-cost flu vaccine with or without health insurance through Dec. 2.
“Vaccination is a critical tool we use to protect individuals in our community,” Andrew O’Donnell, Director of Medical Services, told The Daily Cardinal in a statement. “UHS makes it easy and convenient to access vaccines.”
During last year’s vaccine clinics, nearly 12,000 students and employees received a flu vaccine. O’Donnell said COVID-19 vaccines are also being o ered at the clinics, though eligibility and insurance coverage is subject to Center for Disease Control guidance.
This year’s clinics occur as vaccine development and accessibility face scrutiny from Trump Administration o cials. In August, Department of Health and Human Services secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pulled $500 million in funding from mRNA vaccine development projects used to prevent the flu, COVID-19 and other respiratory infections.
O’Donnell said vaccines are important to protect others and prevent the spread of diseases like the flu and COVID-19. “Vaccines protect our campus community,” O’Donnell said. “Especially those with health conditions that put them at an increased risk for more severe disease.”
The UHS clinics o er accessible ways to receive vaccines at a time when federal guidance is ever-changing. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers signed an executive order Monday requiring insurance companies to continue covering COVID-19 vaccines despite these changes. In the order, Evers called on the state Department of Health Services and other relevant agencies to “ensure vaccine access for Wisconsinites to the fullest extent of the law and available funding.”
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By Haellie Opp STAFF WRITER
A four-speaker panel of university experts at Memorial Union Tuesday evening discussed how the Trump administration’s cuts on the University of WisconsinMadison’s research practices stall innovation and slow economic and scientific growth.
UW-Madison — one of the top research universities in the country — has faced funding and award cuts from the federal government, pushing the university into legal challenges to combat funding discrepancies. The panel explored the potential economic impacts of losing federal research funds.
UW-Madison’s research has historically been funded by the federal government and funding has declined by about 15 percentage points in the past two decades, from 33% to 18%. The university received around $127 million from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and $457 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 2024.
Money from the federal government is generally distributed to projects by Congress. The National Cancer Institute receives appropriated funds from the NIH that Congress has allocated to the NIH.
“The devastation on the NIH is going to be unbelievable,”
Robert Golden, Dean Emeritus of School of Medicine and Public Health, said.
G olden highlighted UW-Madison’s Alzheimer’s research — the lead center for a major Alzheimer’s study — as some of the most impactful research being conducted, saying federal funding is required to continue.
One way UW-Madison sees a direct impact of cuts to federal funding is the graduate student program. To combat the cuts, the university is accepting less graduate students, as their research is generally paid through federal grants and awards.
The panel unanimously identified spending transparency from universities as the central issue regarding federal funding.
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Golden claimed the public felt misled and confused. Berger then discussed how the medical and public health communities learned lessons about lack of transparency, condescending attitudes and belittling those who raise legitimate questions about research conduct and how it’s funded.
The panelists argued that as a university considered to be a public ivy, UW-Madison is perceived by society as an elitist institution.
Berger discussed the challenges scholars should consider when attempting to educate.
“Scholars must be more vigorous and transparent in their work, focusing on scientific evidence and a more idealistic perspective,” Berger said.
He emphasized the importance of scholars welcoming “ideological diversity” in conversation on campus.
Research requiring significant funding is usually built on years of basic projects and Crim emphasized that private organizations depending on donations and philanthropy cannot fill the holes cuts to federal research funding would leave behind.
Lack of money going towards research is not only a schol-
arly issue, but an economic and state issue as well, according to the panelists. Research conducted at UW-Madison directly impacts the farmlands of Wisconsin, as the university works directly with Wisconsin farmers to make advances in science and agriculture.
“Research impacts who it is designed to help,” Cramer said. “It’s designed to solve problems.”
The panelists emphasized that cuts to already low funding prevents scientific advancements and innovation on a national scale.
“Understanding how the world works makes us a better society,” said Fleming. “It has lots of practical benefits, but that fundamental research is transforming the future.”
By Jake Kilander STAFF WRITER
A flurry of color converged at Bascom Hill, syncopated drum beats bumped through the crowd and the voices of congregating students wrapped in the colors of their heritage filled the center of the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus last Friday, Sept. 12.
“To see everybody so prideful and so open with their culture is very heartwarming,” UW-Madison junior Victoria said. “This is such a big school. A lot of the time, I don’t see the Hispanic presence on campus.”
The event kicked off UW-Madison’s Latine Heritage Month celebration, themed this year as “Amor Sin Fronteras,” or “Love without Borders.”
This year marked the Latine Cultural Center’s 8th annual March Up Bascom. After making their way up the hill, attendees played games and took swings at candy-filled piñatas.
Making its inaugural appearance at the celebration was the “Mercadito,” or little market. The Mercadito filled the Birge Hall lawn with local vendors selling homemade crafts, jewelry and snacks.
“Sometimes it feels a little isolating when you go to a lecture and you look around and you feel like you’re the only one with your identity,” junior Tatiana Estrada said. “These kinds of spaces are a place where you can talk and find out there are people that have similar interests [as] you and understand you culturally.”
Natalie Ergas, LCC Program Coordinator, told The Daily Cardinal both the March and the Mercadito were a rousing success.
“It’s the biggest March Up Bascom that I have seen,” Ergas said, who for two years has overseen the event. Ergas and her sta recorded 287 attendees. The Mercadito was the brainchild of Ergas, who said she wanted to extend the great “energy and positivity” of the event past just the walk up Bascom Hill.
“Students were still around at the end, kicking a soccer ball, doing crafts or just socializing,” Ergas said, adding it was like a “big warm hug” for her after putting her whole summer toward planning the event.
The March was the beginning of the LCC’s Latine Heritage Month
on campus. According to Ergas, the idea and event planning began in January of this year.
Ergas said the goal of the celebration is to highlight the unique experience of being Latin American, and how di erent identities transfer, change and evolve when coming to the United States.
“We have a tremendous sense of love for other identities, cultures and communities within the diaspora,” she said.
“No matter where you’re from, you can find that strong, resilient community,” Kelani Rodriguez, chair of the Latine Heritage Month Planning Committee, said. Rodriguez helped pitch the theme idea along with Ergas, and together the two led the committee. Rodriguez
became chair less than a year ago but has already seen growth.
“We had 30 students in the committee this year, when in the past they’ve had about 12 to 15,” she said. Rodriguez said she was happy to see the excitement and joy the committee has put into planning this year’s month of events.
The LCC is part of the Multicultural Student Center housed inside the Red Gym. Established in 2018, the LCC o ers culturally relevant spaces and programs, with many students using the space and events to study and meet friends.
“There [aren’t] a lot of us, so we [have] to stick together,” Nicola Quintana, a sophomore draped in an Argentinean flag for the March, told the Cardinal. “I try to seek out people with similar experience to me to build that community.”
Ergas said events like the March Up Bascom develop and grow community in the LCC. “There is a tremendous sense of pride that comes with Latine heritage,” she said. “Being able to celebrate is foundational [to that].”
The LCC has planned six events for Latine Heritage Month this year, concluding with the Latine Ball on Oct. 4 held in Varsity Hall.
“Latine Heritage Month is always fun,” Ergas said, “it’s really cool to be able to set the tone for the year and welcome folks in to celebrate with us and learn more about Latine communities and culture.”
By Grace Carlson STAFF WRITER
Rep. David Murphy, R-Greenville, was sexually assaulted at 4-years-old, leading him to introduce a bill providing a sexual assault survivor bill of rights and aiding victims by tracking rape kits.
“I like to think that it hasn’t significantly changed me, but I think over the years I’ve come to figure out that trying to discount it as a factor in your life is probably a mistake,” Murphy told The Daily Cardinal. “If I had tried to deal with it, I may have been better off.”
The bill would give victims information on the sexual assault kit them of the location, testing date and results of the kit, as well as the kit’s
estimated destruction date.
A sexual assault kit, also known as a rape kit, involves collecting the victims clothing for DNA evidence and a medial examination performed by a specially trained nurse, who then refers victims to further care or counseling.
Under the bill, the victim would also have to be notified if a DNA test was performed and a result matching a profile of a known person was found. Additionally, the victim would be informed of any change in the status of their case, such as if it has been reopened or closed.
“I’m trying to give the victims as much certainty as I can. Communication that lets you know what is happening is very important,” Murphy told the Cardinal.
Currently, crime victims are protected under basic rights which ensure all victims and witnesses are treated with dignity, respect, courtesy and sensitivity throughout the process.
Murphy told the Cardinal he expects no issues passing the bill, but he does foresee an accreditation issue with the Wisconsin Crime Lab.
In Wisconsin, state crime lab workers are not authorized to give information to anyone except law enforcement ocers. It’s a major hurdle the bill must overcome in order to be enacted, as the law directly prevents victims of sexual assault from tracking the testing of their rape kits.
“I will do everything in my power to make sure that the bill doesn’t cause accreditation
By Ethan Morse STAFF WRITER
Preliminary enrollment estimates across the University of Wisconsin System remained steady this fall, amid the restart of Wisconsin Tuition Promise, the expansion of Direct Admit Wisconsin, declining international student numbers and continued visa uncertainties.
Eight out of 13 UW System schools reported enrollment increases, despite likely reductions in international student populations and fewer college-aged students. The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater posted its highest enrollment since 2020.
New freshman enrollment across the system increased by three percent — nearly 900 students — signalling continued interest in UW schools. Total enrollment now stands at 164,340 students.
The University of WisconsinMadison’s preliminary fall 2025 headcount is 51,550 students, a slight drop from 51,729 students in fall 2024.
The UW System admitted more than 9,000 students from the Direct Admit Wisconsin program this year. The program automatically admits high school students in the top 5% of their class to most UW campuses without requiring an application. The program includes all UW campuses except the University of WisconsinMadison, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and University of WisconsinEau Claire.
The restart of the Wisconsin Tuition Promise also boosted in-state enroll -
ment. After the UW System suspended the program in 2024 due to lack of funding, they resumed it in 2025. The program guarantees full tuition and fees coverage for students with family adjusted gross incomes (AGI) of less than $55,000.
UW-Madison reported 3,569 undergraduate international students in 2023-24. This year’s data is unavailable due to interview suspensions and limited availability. The Association of International Educators estimates the U.S. could see 150,000 fewer international students arriving nationwide this fall.
International students pay nearly $16,000 more a semester in tuition than Wisconsin residents, a gap that makes them an important source of revenue for the university. Unlike instate students, international students are not eligible for programs such as BANNER or Bucky’s Promise.
Federal funding uncertainties provoked budget cuts last summer, amplifying pressure on the UW System to compensate for shortfalls..
UW-Milwaukee Chancellor Thomas Gibson cited declining international enrollment as a factor in a 4% budget cut earlier this month. UW-Madison leadership also raised concerns about international enrollment declines in the midst of university wide budget cuts.
In a statement, UW-Madison leadership said uncertainty around international students’ ability to study in the U.S. could have a “significant impact on enrollment” going forward.
problems. We can’t hurt the integrity of our crime lab. That would be an unintended consequence that we can’t live with,” Murphy said.
University Health Services (UHS) declined to comment, but stressed information on their website for student survivors.
“UHS provides a safe, confidential and nonjudgmental space where students of all genders can explore their options regardless if alcohol was involved,” a spokesperson said.
Untested sexual assault kits have been an issue for Wisconsin in the past.
In 2015, former Republican Attourney General Brad Schimel was tasked with finding a solution as more than 6,800 rape kits were sitting untested in evidence rooms across the state. It took Schimel
until 2018 to get 4,000 of the rape kits tested.
This delay was questioned by many, including his opponent, now Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Susan Crawford, in April’s election.
“He [Schimel] only put his foot on the gas when it became an issue in his reelection campaign,” Crawford told PBS.
Rebecca Ballweg, a spokeswoman for the attorney general’s o ce said Wisconsin had only tested nine kits two days after Schimel said “a few hundred” were tested. This drew the ire from leaders, as Schimel received funding from the federal government to complete the testing.
The Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety held a public hearing for the bill Wednesday.
By Lizzi McGann STAFF WRITER
The City of Madison ratified a new contract with Metro Transit bus drivers Tuesday after almost a full year of negotiations.
The city said the highlights of the contract include a 3% per year pay increase with a stipend adjusted for inflation, closer work between the union and city government, more vacation days, providing employees with personal protective equipment and ensuring safe working conditions for all Metro Transit workers in a press release.
The Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, adopted in September 2024, includes bus-only lanes, articulated and more accessible buses and busspecific traffic lights to shorten commute times, but has proven draining and unsafe for Madison bus drivers represented by Teamsters Local 120, which advocates for laborers throughout the Midwest.
Since the last contract expired at the end of 2024, Local 120 representatives attempted to reach an agreement with the city to increase pay and vacation, make federally sanctioned checks
and repairs faster, avoid understaffing and ensure health and safety are prioritized for all Metro Transit workers.
Madison bus drivers’ jobs often entail early and long hours, risky routes made more dangerous by difficult topography in 15-ton buses, low wages and unpaid hours during the day stretched out by understaffing.
During negotiations with city officials in February, drivers participated in a “sick-out,” reducing the service of the entire transit system by 12%.
Drivers were notified in advance that this sick-out was illegal under state statutes 111.70(3)(b) and would require a whole new contract, according to WKOW. The union carried it out anyway.
Six months after the sick-out, the Madison Common Council brought up the contract for its formal adoption by the city.
“We are grateful to our members for their determination and patience throughout this long fight,” said Tom Erickson, President of Local 120, in an official statement.
Metro Transit and Teamsters Local 120 were unavailable for comment.
By Shane Colpoys & Clara Strecker SPORTS EDITOR EMERITUS & STATE NEWS EDITOR
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker discussed the 2026 midterm election, preserving democracy and the national guard pulling out of Chicago in an interview with Washington Post Chief Political Correspondent Karen Tumulty at the Cap Times Idea Fest Saturday.
Preserving democracy and midterm elections
In today’s political climate, Pritzker said people have two choices: team “fight” or team “cave.” Slowly, elected officials are choosing team fight, he said, acknowledging that governors have issues to worry about — like federal funding — that make speaking out against the Trump administration difficult.
“You’ve got to understand that if you do not stand up and speak out and activate people and join team fight, what is 2026 going to look like? What is 2028 going to look like?,” Pritzker said. “You may not have democracy at the end of this.”
Pritzker highlighted the importance of voters fighting alongside Democratic political leaders, saying two things he considers “vital” for everyone to understand are the significance of peaceful protest and registering and voting in elections.
“Show up, protest, make your voices heard peacefully,” Pritzker told the Cardinal. “It really does matter. It makes a difference to the elections in 2026 and to what the Republicans do from now until that time, because the more activism they see, the more concerned they are.”
Pritzker pointed specifically to young people saying they protest better than anyone, urg-
ing them to use their voices.
“Because honestly, we should be following you,” Pritzker told The Daily Cardinal. “We have problems in this country that are not being addressed by the current leadership in Washington. We need more young people running for office, but we need your voices in the election to elect people who reflect your views.”
With the rise of political violence, Pritzker said he worries it will keep people from protesting or speaking out but said he wants to remind everyone these are “targeted assassinations” and not aimed at protesters.
“We need to bring the temperature down,” Pritzker told the Cardinal. “As riled up as everybody is on both sides… people just need to take a beat here and recognize that this is the whole reason you have a democracy is to avoid violence in politics.”
Mid-decade redistricting
Pritzker said he “hates” the mid-decade redistricting currently going on, adding that President Donald Trump is clearly trying to “manipulate” the system, which directly goes against what the framers intended.
Recently, Trump encouraged gerrymandering legislative maps in Texas, where re-drawn maps favoring Republicans passed the Texas House, resulting in similar conversations in California, where Gov. Gavin Newsom is now working to offset Trump’s efforts.
Pritzker said he believes independent commissions should make congressional maps but it must be universal. If it comes down to it he said Democratic states need to counter gerry-
mandering to keep fairness.
“If Missouri does it, Maryland is going to need to do it. If Indiana does it, it may be that Illinois has to do it,” Pritzker said. “That may be what happens now that you know they’re going to take advantage of every opportunity they’ve got. I don’t like any of this again. I don’t want to do it… But it can’t just be the good Democrats that are doing independent commissions.”
Pritzker talked about Trump’s recent threats to send the National Guard to Chicago, saying he’s “pleased” to report that troops are not coming to the city.
This comes after weeks of national discourse between the two leaders over federal troop deployment to combat crime in various U.S. cities.
“It is a mass effort on the part of leadership in Chicago and in Illinois to push back, fight back, and collectively, we beat him,” Pritzker said. “For now, I might add. We have three and a half years of the war left.”
Trump shifted his focus on Monday, signing an order authorizing the use of the National Guard in Memphis. Today, Trump said he plans to send troops to Chicago “against Pritzker.”
Pritzker said the only way to stop Trump from militarizing cities is to take him to court and make sure they “keep him out.”
“We can only go to courts,” Pritzker said. “Our goal is to keep them from federalizing the National Guard and sending
them into any city in any state. If they do it in Illinois we will take them to court and we are winning in court on this issue.”
Pritzker credited Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul for his response to the recent national guard threat. Raoul pledged to combat any deployment in court, saying there is no legal basis and called it an overreach of power that would violate Illinois’ sovereignty.
Pritzker also praised the business leaders, non-profit organizations and elected officials across Chicago for continuing to speak out everyday against the threat. He warned about the potential for deploy-
ment of troops in democraticled cities in the 2026 election, saying blue states with blue governors will continue to fight in court.
“I guarantee you, in about five minutes, we will get this into a federal court and they will recognize that it is unconstitutional to send troops in, certainly,” Pritzker said.
Pritzker announced his bid for reelection in June. When asked about a potential presidential run in 2028, Pritzker did not indicate his plans but said Democrats need to build a brand around their future nominee, especially with “such a great bench” of potential candidates.
By Grace Carlson STAFF WRITER
Two North Korean defectors spoke to students about preconceptions about North Korea, their experiences escaping and how they accustomed to life in South Korea as university students at a Tuesday event sponsored by Liberty in North Korea (LiNK) and the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Center for East Asian Studies.
LiNK is an international nonprofit organization that helps resettle North Koreans and empower those who have left to become advocates on the issue. They also help refugees escape North Korea “through a 3,000 mile secret rescue route,” according to their website.
LiNK fellow Rose Jang defected in 2008 with her mother. She was in elementary school at the time, and reminisced on how she had resented her mother for taking her away from her grandparents, whom she will never see again.
“It felt like a cruel trick,” Jang said. “I couldn’t accept my new reality of never seeing my grandparents again at such a young age.”
As Jang slowly grew accustomed to
her new life in South Korea, she came to resent her North Korean heritage and tried to hide it from her new friends.
“I was proud of not looking or sounding like a North Korean. I had been living my life avoiding who I was,” Jang said.
She says that it took her a long time to accept herself and her identity. Part of that journey was becoming an activist for LiNK and educating others about North Korea.
“Survelliance, chaos and oppression face North Koreans,” Jang said. “I dream of returning home one day when all North Koreans can live free and full lives.”
Hannah Oh, the other LiNK fellow, defected from North Korea in 2019, far more recently. She was born in Hysean, the northernmost city in North Korea and one of the coldest cities in the country. While growing up, she said, they regularly didn’t have electricity or enough food to eat.
“My father was a high school physics teacher,” Oh said. “Despite his long hours, the monthly rations he received were not enough for our family. In order to survive, my mother began selling goods at the market. She wanted a better life for us, and that hope led to her trying to escape North Korea three times.”
Oh’s mother tried to leave North Korea three times, and was imprisoned in a labor camp. She recounted that it was “a living hell”, alongside memories of bringing her mother rice at age 13 and wondering why her mother and family were being treated like prisoners.
Oh’s mother was able to successfully escape on her fourth attempt and resettled in South Korea.
“My mother had made the choice to leave to save her family, but North Korean society saw her as a criminal,” Oh said.
She recalled her mother sending her money for a computer and smartphone from her new home in South Korea. She used these to secretly learn about the outside world, and became inspired to one day join her mother in South Korea.
When Oh applied to university in North Korea, she was denied admission because of her mother’s defection.
“I volunteered for the shop brigade that did manual labor at dangerous construction sites,” she said. “When I returned, expecting a promotion, my supervisor simply said, ‘let’s wait.’ That was the moment I understood my mother. She wanted to live like a human being.”
Life after defecting
Jang recently graduated from Hongik University in Seoul, South Korea and utilized her architectural degree to create a memorial that symbolizes the struggles of the North Koreans and commemorates the sorrow of separation.
“The names of loved ones are carved into stone, representing those we missed dearly from before politics and ideology.”
Oh is now a 4th year electrical engineering student at Hongik University in Seoul, South Korea. Her family, as well as Jang’s, is safe, she said. They look forward to working more with LiNK to share their stories.
By Sungyun Jung STAFF WRITER
In recent years, political violence has escalated to concerning heights. In 2025 alone, several acts of politically motivated violence were reported, including: the assassination of Minnesota’s Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, the shooting and wounding of another Minnesota Representative, John Hoffman, and his wife, an arsonist setting Pennsylvania’s governor Josh Shapiro’s house on fire while the governor and his family were inside, New Mexico Republican Party headquarters being set on fire and a shooter attacking the CDC headquarters.
Political violence isn’t new. In the 20th century, many activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were assassinated, as well as President John F. Kennedy and presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy.
What feels di erent today, however, is not only the persistence of violence but the environment in which it spreads. Unlike in the past, when political violence often stemmed from broad social movements or individual extremists, today’s incidents unfold against the backdrop of a hyper-connected, pervasive media ecosystem. With the rise of social media and fastpaced news, extreme polarization has also increased rapidly.
Many influencers and politicians, regardless of their political leanings, have taken advantage of this accelerated media cycle by amplifying outrage, conflict and fear. Sensationalism is favored over nuance, demonization over dialogue.
An example of this is former Fox News host Tucker Carlson,
who is known for his often controversial and provocative dialogues that often targeted people of certain races, sexes and political inclinations. Even after leaving Fox News, he continues to use his social media platforms and podcasts to share his opinions, which are often filled with misinformation and criticism, making the stage ripe to amplify hostility and animosity between people.
While social media algorithms are great to help people see what they want to see, when it comes to politics, it also means one can get stuck only seeing one side of the argument and not the other.
For example, I often watch reels of Atlético Madrid. But those clips rarely just highlight Atlético’s strengths — they frequently include slander or exaggerated criticism of rivals like Real Madrid or Barcelona. What I rarely see are positive portrayals of those teams. In the same way, algorithms that adapt to our preferences don’t just reinforce what we enjoy. They also push us further into one-sided perspectives, reinforcing our beliefs while dismissing or misrepresenting others. This creates an illusion of objectivity while fueling polarization.
Polarization is not inherently destructive. People will always have di erent values, priorities and political visions. Democracy thrives on the clash of those ideas. When polarization becomes dangerous is when it hardens into a refusal to see political opponents as legitimate or even as fellow citizens. When disagreement becomes dehumanization, violence becomes easier to justify.
This has become increasingly common in recent years, especially due to the media eco-
system. The constant flood of outrage-driven content does not simply inform us about political events; it shapes how we interpret them. If every headline, every clip, every tweet is framed as a battle between good and evil, compromise becomes betrayal and dialogue becomes weakness. This doesn’t just divide parties from one another; it also divides neighbors, friends and even families.
At the same time, political leaders have often fanned the flames instead of cooling them. Outrage is a powerful political tool as it mobilizes voters, drives donations and strengthens loy-
alty. But while outrage might win elections, it also corrodes the foundations of democratic society. This cycle of fear and anger creates a feedback loop where both sides escalate their rhetoric, leaving less and less space for moderation, cooperation or understanding. This cycle has been the reason that political violence is becoming increasingly common to see in our lives, as most recently represented by Charlie Kirk. Breaking it will not be easy. It will require e ort at multiple levels: citizens willing to seek out information beyond their own echo chambers, media platforms that prioritize
accuracy and dialogue over virality and leaders who recognize that democracy requires restraint as much as passion. Perhaps most importantly, it requires a cultural shift in how we view those we disagree with — not as enemies to be destroyed, but as fellow participants in a shared experiment of self-government. If division is the lifeblood of democracy, violence is its poison. The challenge before us is to preserve the energy of disagreement without crossing the line into destruction. Whether or not we succeed will determine the future of democracy itself.
By Roman Fritz STAFF WRITER
As University of Wisconsin-Madison students skip meals and work for poverty wages, Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin’s salary has surged past $1 million. While high-level administrators receive massive bonuses, student worker wages stagnate and the cost of living skyrockets in Madison.
Jobs are scarce, and many of the ones the school o ers pay too little to serve students’ needs. These contradictions threaten the dignity and livelihood of students, and must be addressed by the administration if they respect the students who call this university home.
This year, the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents raised Mnookin’s salary more than that of any other UW System chancellor, and it is set to hit a gargantuan over $1 million, more than twice the salary of the U.S. president. There are numerous benefits associated with the prestigious role, including the opportunity to live for free in a mansion and receive an additional fifty thousand dollars from private donations each year she remains in her role, until 2029. Why are such rewards given if the salary and home value could be used to support thousands of struggling students?
Strangely, student workers have not seen such wage increases. The minimum wage for many UW student jobs still sits at an abysmal $10 per hour and
few listings sit above $15. It has been this way for years, and there is no system in place to automatically increase wages in line with the cost of living and tuition. Unfortunately, the university can a ord to do this when students, especially internationally, are financially stretched and struggling to find employment. There are few alternatives in this city.
To make matters worse, according to a 2024 survey, nearly a third of students are su ering from food insecurity. Many skip meals to make ends meet. On housing, another review published in 2024 found that 98% of campus housing is already occupied, and the average rental
property is 29% more expensive than the price deemed a ordable for UW-Madison students. With few options, students are forced into overpriced housing.
The UW Board of Regents has also, in the last few years, prioritized a costly new engineering building over programs to support marginalized students and raised tuition by 5%, while refusing calls to take their hundreds of millions of dollars in investments out of companies complicit in Israel’s genocide of Palestinians. The last thing students should have to worry about is being able to a ord to stay in school, but things are getting worse.
It’s easy to feel hopeless, but we are not powerless. I have a few ideas: first, we must take a page out of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s book and sell the chancellor’s residence. Like UW-Milwaukee’s chancellor, ours most definitely has the discretionary income to a ord housing in this city, contrasting with many of her students. Next, let’s tie student worker incomes to tuition and cost of living. Student wages should never fall below what is necessary to maintain a stable living in Madison.
Additionally, students should not be embarrassed to take advantage of fantastic student-run resources on campus, like the Food Pantry and the Career Closet. Too many students are unaware of these services. This, however, does not erase the need to address the rising costs of essential goods on campus. For a quick, initial list of things the administration may do concerning prices: dorm meal plans should be covered in housing costs, the price of goods the university buys should be limited and tightly negotiated and vendors who refuse to cooperate should be kicked o campus.
Schools should not profit from their students’ su ering. The goal is education. That is the bare reality. And we, as students, must put pressure on administration immediately. Our campus-wide campaign to make life as a ordable as possible begins now. If UW-Madison truly believes students are its heart, it must stop treating us like its bankroll.
By Jake Piper SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Hundreds of community members poured into the sun-soaked cartography library at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Science Hall in the last 10 days of July, gingerly perusing through decades of fantasy maps, all created by one woman.
The exhibit, curated by UW-Madison alum and University of Oregon professor Mark Fonstad, showcased the maps, annotated books and meticulous research notes behind Karen Wynn Fonstad’s, his mother, atlases of worlds including “The Lord of the Rings” and “Dungeons & Dragons.”
What started as a simple archival project quickly ballooned into national media coverage and local exhibits. Mark donated Fonstad’s work to the American Geographical Society Library (AGSL) at the end of the summer. While Mark — like many others — grew up admiring his mother’s maps, he told The Daily Cardinal he only now realizes “how truly impactful” they were.
Fonstad published her first cartographical collection in a book titled “The Atlas of Middle Earth” in 1981 and immediately developed a cult following. Yet, despite developing a fan base through the years, she avoided fantasy conventions and the public eye for most of her life.
“It wasn’t until Peter Jackson’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ movies that
she started to get out of her skin and went to some of those conventions,” Mark said.
At those conventions, Fonstad truly started to realize for the first time how much her maps meant to other people, and the impact she’d made with them.
In 2005, after a long fight with breast cancer, Fonstad died at the age of 59.
As a part of The New York Times series “Overlooked,” which documents “remarkable people whose deaths went unreported in The Times,” the paper highlighted Fonstad’s life, work and journey through three decades of cartography.
After interest in his mother’s maps rose again with the Times article, Mark decided to scan his mother’s work. He pulled out the “almost 1,000” maps in his mother’s collection and began the arduous process of cataloging them.
Because the equipment needed to properly digitize these creations was so expensive, Mark felt there were “only two places in the country” he could digitize his mother’s work: his o ce at the University of Oregon or UW-Madison’s cartography library.
Equipped with a drum scanner, a professional-grade rotating scanner that produces the highest quality physical to digital conversion of an image possible and the blessing of his alma mater, Mark got to work scanning and documenting his mother’s work. Nearly all of the maps were made with thin layers
of semi-transparent paper that created the final product when layered together, and Mark painstakingly digitized every map.
Not long after coming to Madison, Mark received a call from Wisconsin Public Radio asking for an interview. They arrived at the cartography library to find a display of Fonstad’s work meticulously laid out. The decision to do so ended up defining the rest of Mark’s summer at UW-Madison.
“After the radio show aired, within a day, there were people coming in o the street wanting to see the maps,” Mark said.
Seeing such a home-grown interest in the maps, Jaime Martindale, head of the UW-Madison cartography library, decided to turn the library into a one-of-a-kind exhibit, displaying Fonstad’s original maps publicly for the first time in history.
“You never get to see everything all together,” Mark said. “I
thought, ‘wouldn’t it be great to have a show?’”
“Hundreds” of people came to the show according to Mark, with the number of attendees exceeding even what he thought was possible.
“I don’t think it really hit me how much my mother’s work is foundational to fantasy cartography,” Mark said. “So many people came in and said, ‘When I want to think about a fictional world, this is how I think about it.’”
Mark attributes this to not just the fact Fonstad was one of the first authors to make a fantasy atlas, but the unique, grounded methods she approached her work with.
“She approached fantasy worlds like you would approach a real world. “If you went to work for National Geographic, it wouldn’t have been that di erent than what she was doing for Middle Earth,” Mark said. “It doesn’t matter that it’s a fantasy world, it still takes
research. You have to connect what the author is envisioning to what you have put down on the page.” It was that in-depth research and deep understanding of modern cartography methods that Mark said set his mother apart from other contemporary cartographers. Her “30 or 40” readings of books like “The Lord of the Rings” contributed to the deep, almost lifelike impressions of the worlds she chose to map.
After seeing the public’s interest in Fonstad’s maps, the AGSL agreed to take every map, transparency and annotated book his mother had ever created.
On Aug. 8, almost four months after Mark’s preservation e orts first started, he drove his mother’s entire body of work down to the AGSL at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and entrusted his mother’s legacy to the public for the rest of time.
By Eiman Mir STAFF WRITER
Quanyin Hu, an assistant professor in the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s School of Pharmacy, aims to develop personalized vaccines that prevent post-surgical recurrence of aggressive tumors. Using their vaccines, Hu and his research team successfully slowed recurring tumor growths in mice.
A prominent concern in cancer treatment is that a tumor might return after an initial surgery to remove it. The recurrence rate can be particularly high in aggressive cancers such as certain breast cancers and melanoma.
An unexpected finding
Hu and his team focus on improving the long-term prognosis of cancers by reducing their tendency to reoccur after treatment.
Recently, Hu’s lab found a way to make vaccines induce cell pyroptosis, a type of inflammatory cell death that triggers an immune response. This helps the body recognize and attack cancer cells, preventing recurrence long-term.
Current tumor vaccines are limited in their ability to address individual differences in tumor antigens, proteins found on the surfaces of cancer cells that help the immune system recognize and respond to cancer cells. Individual and tumor-specific differences in tumor antigens are important to address to develop personalized cancer treatments.
Hu’s vaccines would be able to trigger each patient’s unique “immuno -
genic cancer cell base,” which includes specific tumor debris and signals that remain after cancer cells undergo pyroptosis. The immunogenic cancer cell base primes the immune system to respond to cancer later on.
“We were looking at ways to trigger the cancer cell pyroptosis because we found that this cancer cell pyroptosis can induce the immunogenic cancer cell base,” Hu told The Daily Cardinal.
Hu’s team noticed that dying cancer cells were releasing large amounts of particles that did not match what had been previously described in the literature. Upon further investigation, Hu and his team confirmed that they had identified a new type of vesicles called pryoptic vesicles.
“When we looked at the morphology of the cancer cell undergoing pyroptosis, we found these cells were secreting a lot of extracellular vesicles… we suspected this was not the classic tumor exosomes,” Hu said.
These pryopic vesicles contain tumor specific antigens and molecular bits that can suppress cancer after tumor removal and activate the immune system against cancer. These features make the vesicles ideal candidates for personalized cancer vaccines, since the vesicles are derived directly from the patient’s tumor and allow the vaccine to be tailored to the individual.
To test out the effectiveness of the vesicles in preventing recurrence after surgery, the vesicles were paired with an immune stimulant to boost the immune
response to any cancer cells. The vesicles were then inserted into a biocompatible hyaluronic acid hydrogel, forming a substance called PyoVAC. The hydrogel allowed the vesicles to be released safely into the body over time.
PyoVAC was implemented in three types of cancer-infected mice: mice with melanoma, triple negative breast cancer and a humanized breast cancer model from patient tumor samples.
Hu said he chose these models because of the clinical need to prevent recurrence in cancers that frequently return.
“Triple-negative breast cancer and melanoma have very high chances of coming back after surgery,” Hu said. ”Our goal is to fill this unmet clinical need by prevent-
ing post-surgical recurrence.”
At this point, the mouse studies have shown promise.
Hu said five or six out of eight mice became tumor-free in one study, proving the vaccine was able to “completely eradicate” post-surgical tumor recurrence. “That piece of data really got me excited, because it reflects the huge potential of this vesicle-based vaccine,” he said.
Hu sees these results as promising for improving the prognosis of several types of cancers.
“We really want to translate these technologies [to humans],” Hu said. “We want to examine the toxicity of these vesicles and establish protocol for the future. There is still a long way to go before we can implement this clinically, but we see the translational potential.”
By Harper Sollish STAFF WRITER
This article contains spoilers for“Twinless.”
“Twinless,” filmmaker James Sweeney’s second film hit theaters through a limited release in September and has received only glowing praise from critics and audiences alike. This sibling-centered story o ers a lighter take on the grief-based films that have taken over the drama genre, fusing dark humor into its presentation to tell a story about trust and obsession.
“Twinless” follows Roman (Dylan O’Brien) navigating life after losing his identical twin, Rocky, in a car accident. While attending a support group for twinless people, or those grieving a twin, he meets the awkward yet charming Dennis (James Sweeney), and they become fast friends.
The first segment of the film is from Roman’s perspective. Everything seems bleak and blue as we see snapshots of Roman going through the motions of life without Rocky.
When Roman meets Dennis, he believes they are experiencing the same grief and bonds with him quickly. They evolve from “grocery
buddies” to friends. Soon, they are playing video games together, going to hockey games and doing everything else.
Then we see Dennis’ perspective. Contrasting Roman’s short clips, one long shot shows Dennis alone in a restaurant, where he meets Rocky. Dennis has had a twin obsession since childhood; this evolves quickly into an obsession with Rocky. Dennis becomes so enthralled with Rocky that after receiving no response for days, he finds and stops Rocky on the street, leading to a fatal car accident.
This scene also marks a change in the film’s coloring — it is much brighter and yellower. These visual cues help clue the audience in to the fact that the rest of the film is from Dennis’ perspective — he is not actually mourning anyone.
If you ignore his lies, Dennis is pretty likeable. However, his lies become hard to ignore.
Dennis’ coworker Marcie (Aisling Franciosi), a sweet and single redhead, almost catches him photoshopping two childhood photos together to create proof of “Dean.”
After a hockey game and a fight with homophobic teens, Roman opens up to Dennis about never
being able to share his feelings with his twin. The slow buildup of emotion as Roman stares into the camera and breaks down is incredibly emotion-stirring and would bring a tear to anyone’s eye. His voice gets higher, then angry, before he eventually quiets, breaking into tears amidst cries of, “I don’t know how to fucking be here without you.”
During this scene, I felt my eyes tear up as Dennis’ did, and I felt a connection to him and how he comforted Roman. This only led to further confusion about the audience’s connection to Dennis — while his actions are wrong, it’s hard not to feel empathy towards him.
The following scene, a houseparty, is the best in the film. Dennis and Roman pair o with each other’s friends, the screen splitting to show both simultaneously.
Next we see Roman falling in love with Marcie at first sight. This direct comparison between Roman and Dennis shows how di erent they are — Roman is genuine, looking for connection, while Dennis only has eyes for the twin and is not interested in anyone else.
Later, as Dennis third wheels Marcie and Roman, she begins to
By JJ Rodriguez STAFF WRITER
The University of WisconsinMadison’s Art History Department is celebrating its 100th anniversary this month, with an official centennial celebration Sept. 24-26 and further events planned throughout the semester, including lectures and panels with art history professionals.
There will be an open house at the Chazen Museum of Art led by curators, faculty and alumni on Sept. 25.
UW-Madison’s art history department is unique because it is one of the only freestanding art history departments in the country. At other universities, art history programs are often subsections of history or art departments. UW-Madison’s program is also one of the oldest.
“It was really one man back in 1925, Oskar F. Hagen, who was a Germaneducated art historian [and professor]. He wanted to start [the program] and started it. [It was] big in the sense that he was a one-person show originally,” Anna Andrzejewski, art history professor and the department’s centennial chair, told The Daily Cardinal.
From there, the program continued to expand.
Hagen hired some former students to teach alongside him. This included James Watrous, who went on to organize the Elvehjem Art Center, now known as the Chazen Museum of Art.
Prior to this, “art was all over the place,” Andrzejewski said. “It was in the lobbies of buildings. It was in professors’ offices.”
When the department was founded, it was envisioned to be a fine arts headquarters for the university and wider region.
That mission can be seen today in the success of the department’s alumni.
“What’s really amazing about our achievements is that we turn out students at all levels. In the art history field, we’ve had many become curators
at museums,” said Andrzejewski.
Two recent examples of the department’s impact are Drew Sawyer and Marcela Guerrero, UW-Madison alumni who have been named lead curators of the 2026 Whitney Biennial.
“The coursework I took at Madison stuck with me throughout my subsequent graduate work and really formed the way I continue to think as a curator and a scholar,” Sawyer said.Tennessee, Minnesota, Illinois, Missouri and beyond, announcer Kelly Kenney told Friday’s rodeo crowd. He said all take part in these highly difficult events to prove their abilities and to perhaps earn a check granted to the top three finishers.
Kenney was joined by his comedic other half, John Harrison, better known to the event’s viewers as the rodeo clown.
“I really love the clown,” Detwiler said. “He’s just really funny, and it’s been the same guy forever.”
Jumping in and out of the arena, Harrison engaged extensively with the audience, challenging them to name the song playing out loud and trying on their bedazzled denim jackets.
Harrison and Kenney’s back-and-forth interactions alongside the dramatic and precise horsemanship acts, made for an entertaining final event.
unravel his secret. James Sweeney’s performance as Dennis is at its best here, presenting the character as lovable and despicable all at once. Writing, directing, producing and starring in a film that creates a character so divisive it’s truly impressive.
As Marcie asks more questions about Dennis’s “twin,” the trio enters a museum display full of twirling lights, a well-done visual representation of Dennis’s panic. Staring at himself in the mirrored wall, Dennis yells that he is having a panic attack. It is unclear if this is yet another lie or if Dennis is genuinely scared of the truth being revealed.
When Dennis confesses the whole truth to Roman, Roman beats
him badly, and their friendship ends. The final scene takes us back to the same diner where Dennis met Rocky. Roman invites Dennis for a chat, and they share some awkward banter that is reminiscent of their old friendship, but missing the spark they used to share.
I believe a good movie brings peaks and valleys of emotion.
“Twinless” allowed me to laugh out loud, gasp in shock and let tears fall all in 90 minutes. The narrative was just as breathtakingly beautiful as the imagery. The final scene attempts to tie everything up, even though things are so complicated they can’t be. The pair can’t possibly be friends again.
So, is it a happy ending? I’m not sure, but I know I had a good time.
By Oliver Gerharz ARTS EDITOR
Singer-songwriter Lily Grace sings in an American accent but speaks in an Australian one. After the success of her debut album “Old Enough To Know Better” on Australian country music charts last year, she is touring internationally.
Grace also moved to Nashville, which has one of the deepest country music scenes and histories of any city on the planet, to further her music career.
While on her current tour, Grace got to experience the Midwest and Wisconsin for the first time in her life. On the second day of her tour through the Midwest, Grace sat down with The Daily Cardinal between stops in Dubuque, IA and Oshkosh, WI.
This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
What are some of your favorite things that you’ve seen while touring?
A lot of cornfields, that’s for sure. We’ve been driving and seeing all these new places, and as someone who comes from a small town in Australia I feel like the movies were my first impression of all these American cities. Now I get to see them in person and meet cool people. I think that seeing where people live and what di erent walks of life look like is a really special thing, and I feel grateful that I get to have this experience.
Have you had any Midwestern experiences on this tour?
We’ve been here for about two days so we’re very fresh to the Midwest in that respect. We recently did California, which I thought was really beautiful. I come from a beach town so that felt like home for me, and I love that. I tried — what are they called — the cheese things you have here. The… is it cheese curds? Tried it for the first time last night and I was not disappointed, let me tell you that much.
What are you working on right now musically?
We’re really working on touring and putting out new songs. I’m living in Nashville now as of six months ago, which is the Mecca for coun-
try music and making great records. That just means I get to pour myself into songwriting, collaborating and pushing myself musically. We’re working on the next EP at the moment. We just released a new song recently called Wingwoman, which is part of that EP, and are now finishing up the rest of the songs that will tie up that project, and then working on shows — getting out to play them live for people too.
What excites you about living in Nashville? Are there a lot of connections you’ve been able to make?
One hundred percent. I feel like it’s the most inspiring place to live as a country music artist. It’s like Disneyland for country musicians. There are a million things to fire you up and get you excited about country music. People who believe in it, people who appreciate it, a city that’s built on a strong appreciation of the musical genre and just this wonderful city where people strive for excellence with their musical talent, which I think is a really great place to be and push yourself creatively. The first time I ever landed in Nashville I knew I wanted to move there. I was like “oh my goodness mom I love it here, I have to get here at some point and do this with my life.”
What’s your favorite place you’ve performed?
A venue back home in Australia called Brisbane River Stage. It’s this awesome venue they’ve set up. It’s like an outdoor amphitheater, and it’s really cool how it’s built. It’s on a hill so everyone can see and sit on their picnic rugs and watch the concert, and it’s on the river. I think anything where water can be connected to music is the best. I’m a big water baby. I grew up in the oceans surfing, doing all the things. I think if it’s a lake concert, anything near a body of water, that’s a really great time.
Grace initially planned to perform Sept. 22 in Madison at the Bur Oak but said she plans to reschedule her performance to sometime in April.
The Supreme Court is currently reviewing a lower court decision that would significantly restrict access to mifepristone, a medication used in medical abortions. Of Wisconsin voters polled, 60% said the court should rule to keep current access to the medication, and 25% said the court should rule in favor of the lower court and restrict access to the medication.
By Tejas Rao STAFF WRITER
A game filled with mistakes brought the Wisconsin Badgers to demise against the Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa last Saturday. Their 38-14 loss was largely a result of sophomore quarterback Danny O’Neil’s interceptions and a surge of costly penalties that extinguished any hope of an upset.
This was the first time since 1928 that Alabama hosted the Badgers. It was, however, a disappointing road trip for Wisconsin as the game slipped away early due in large part to self-inflicted mistakes against one of college football’s best programs.
Interceptions Destroyed Momentum
O’Neil faced the 100,077 Alabama fans at Bryant-Denny Stadium Saturday. Before that, the most-attended away game he played in in his career was a crowd of 36,838 against Boise State. Despite this challenge, O’Neil showed some early fight before Alabama’s relentless pass rush and down field coverage proved to be too much.
O’Neil’s two interceptions occurred in especially crucial periods in the game for the Badgers, killing momentum.. One came deep in the Crimson Tide’s own 39-yard line, setting Alabama up with a
short dash to the endzone.
“I saw what coverage they were in. Their safety did a good job re-routing the tight end and just undercut the curl. I’ve got to be better at manipulating him and not letting him play in between,” O’Neil said after the game.
His second interception came within Alabama’s 20-yard line — ending a promising drive that could have added some points for Wisconsin. A couple misdirected passes was all it took to put unnecessary pressure on Wisconsin’s defense.
O’Neil finished with a 64% pass completion rate but only 117 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
Penalties stall momentum
Throughout the game, whenever Wisconsin seemed to gain footing, repeated penalties took them steps back. Roughing the passer, hands to the face and pass interference — all unnecessary and backbreaking penalties — forced the Badgers into increasingly undesirable situations.
It was disappointing to see the Badgers, previously with just four penalties against Miami (OH) and zero in their win against Middle Tennessee, give away 65 yards in six penalties in their first road game of the season.
“It really does start with me. I’ve got to be better at leading practices, keeping up intensity, so that we can
come out and play four quarters, O’Neil said. “We dug ourselves a hole in the first half. Being able to play four full quarters is something we’ve got to figure out.”
Defense kept fighting, but to no avail
Wisconsin’s defense stayed consistent through Alabama’s onslaught of touchdowns and stood tough against Alabama’s rushing attempts for much of the first half, but a similar story of repeated discipline issues proved to be costly.
Ranging from o sides to late hits, these penalties extended Crimson Tide drives that otherwise may have ended in punts or farfetched field goal attempts. By the fourth quarter, Alabama’s o ensive attack took advantage of the mistakes, sealing the game with repeated scoring drives.
The stat sheet remains to be a frustrating one for the Badgers. Wisconsin had around half the total yards Alabama did and less half the average yards per play. The turnovers and penalty yardage kept piling up and created too many missed opportunities to pull o any kind of win. Against a team as e cient as Alabama, these kinds of miscues are extremely unforgiving.
Fickell did not mince words postgame, saying, “That was a much better team than we are right now. They did everything they needed to do. We knew we had to come out poised and confident, but that’s the exact opposite of what we did.” He added the coaching sta and players both have to get better, saying there’s “not a whole lot of bright spots” at the moment. Wisconsin lost in part due to Alabama’s talent, but also because of their own mistakes. The dream for the Badgers remains to compete on the bigger stage, but limiting
turnovers, cleaning up penalties and capitalizing on opportunities is a crucial first step.
“We’ve gotta make people earn things, and those are the ones that stand out right there,” Fickell said, reflecting on his team’s turnover and penalty woes. “You’re not gonna go on the road and beat a team like this making those types of mistakes.”
Big Ten conference play will begin next week when Wisconsin hosts Maryland. After their first loss of the season, the Badgers must focus on playing a cleaner, more disciplined style of football.
The stars are out: Meet the players writing Wisconsin
By Lydia Picotte ARTS EDITOR
The University of WisconsinMadison women’s soccer team started this year strong with a 6-2 record, building on the success they saw last season.
The Badgers made the NCAA tournament in back-to-back years in 2023 and 2024. Last year as a No. 5 seed, they advanced through the first two rounds before falling to No. 1 seed USC (3-1). This string of recent success has given the program high expectations going into the season.
In the eight games they’ve played so far, Wisconsin is meeting those expectations. Their only two losses came at the hands of LSU on August 28 (1-0) and in their first Big Ten conference game vs. Purdue on September 11 (2-1).
A few Badgers have been key to this success.
Ashley Martinez
In grad student Martinez’s fifth season with the Badgers, the midfielder and defender remained a consistent player for the team on both ends of the field, with two goals and the team lead in assists (three) since the start of the season.
One of the most notable aspects of Wisconsin’s style of play is their shooting percentage. So far this season, they’ve averaged almost three times more
Soccer’s early success story
shots per game than their opponents, and it’s a strategy that’s proven e ective. Martinez is a key part of this, leading the team in shots taken with 19.
Drew Stover
The Badgers’ senior goalie has played a critical role in their success this season, recording 15 saves and a 0.750 save percentage, which ranks second in the Big Ten. Her four shutouts are twice the number she had at this time last season.
Anya Gulbrandsen
After finding success last year in her first season with the Badgers, all eyes were on Gulbrandsen coming into 2025. In her first year as a starter, the sophomore midfielder has lived up to the expectations.
She leads the team in goals scored (three) and shots on goal (eight). When asked about her future at Wisconsin in an interview last year, she told The Daily Cardinal, “I just want to keep contributing.” So far, she’s been doing just that.
Given she’s only a sophomore,
Gulbrandsen will continue to be a key player to watch as she grows with the team.
Erin Connolly
The junior midfielder has been a starter for Wisconsin since her freshman year but suffered a season-ending injury which sidelined her for much of that first season. Now, she’s entirely back, having started every game this season.
Currently, she’s tied with Gulbrandsen for most goals on the season (three). Connolly also scored the Badgers’ only goal
against Purdue with a header in the 81st minute.
Hailey Baumann
Baumann is no stranger to success, having started every game since her freshman year and gaining invitations to U19 and U20 Youth National Team camps. She’s racked up a goal and two assists so far this season and is the star of the team’s defensive line. Her impact will continue to be felt heading into her junior year.
The Badgers continue conference play in their next game, Sept. 18 at Ohio State