A Noble farewell
Madison Police department c hief retires after 28 years of service
Story by Melissa Howison
There was a moment early in Madison Police Chief Noble Wray’s tenure when he was sure his short-lived career had come to a screeching halt.
He had thrown his body in front of the rolling unmanned squad car he had forgotten to put in park to stop it from hitting a “souped-up hot-rod” parked on East Washington Street.
“I was literally in front of the squad, trying to push it back, but it kept pushing me into the other vehicle until I moved out of the way,” Wray said. “At that time, you were told in the academy ‘you have an accident while you’re on probation, you’re fired.’” An officer’s probationary period consists of his
or her first 18 months on the force. “I just knew I was fired,” Wray said.
Instead, 28 years later, Noble Wray bids the city where he dedicated his professional life, including nine as the leader of the Madison Police Department, a reminiscent farewell.
Wray said his upbringing prevented him from ever imagining a life in law enforcement, but when he wound up on the MPD roster by a series of surreptitious events, he realized his potential.
“There were people in my life that influenced me and said, you know, ‘If you don’t like something, don’t run away from it ... protest it,
Cardinal View:
Why safety on campus is a team effort +OPINION, page 6
get involved. You can reform and change things from within,’ Wray said. “And that has always stuck with me.”
Born in the turbulent 1960’s in Milwaukee to parents heavily involved in the civil rights movement, the values of freedom and participatory government imprinted themselves on Wray at an early age and were not lost to him as he confronted daily challenges in his post. However, public safety remained a priority concern throughout his career, especially during the 2011 protests, when “hundreds of thousands of people [descended] on the Capitol,” according to Wray.
Wray said witnessing “government by the people” and watching parents educate their children about the necessity of democracy was an “unbelievable experience,” but it was only one of many moments
NPR’s Ira Flatow discussed how science is becoming more popular in America through entertainment news, magazines and television shows such as “Breaking Bad.”
NPR’s Ira Flatow says ‘science is the new sexy’ in lecture series
By Megan Stoebig
the dAIly cARdINAl
Ira Flatow, host of National Public Radio’s “Science Friday,” described how science has become “sexy” in America as part of the Distinguished Lecture Series at the Wisconsin Science Festival.
In front of a crowd of approximately 250 University of Wisconsin-Madison students and community members, Flatow argued science is undeniably becoming more popular in America and said there are “geeky” people everywhere: on television, the internet, appearing in science rock bands and
wearing t-shirts that say “science is cool.”
“Science is the new sexy,” Flatow said. “I’m going to try to show you how even though our school systems, or whatever it may be, are failing us at teaching science, people are still learning.”
Flatow said this transition is evident because the public is learning more about science from television shows such as “Breaking Bad,” teen magazines and entertainment news than from school. He added that only 3 percent of the science an individual learns in their lifetime is learned in school.
“The entertainment industry
discovered science is sexy and is making sure it’s followed by the public,” Flatow said.
Additionally, Flatow said while more women are involved in the science industry than ever before, the industry is constantly looking for ways to attract more women into the field.
“What’s the best way to portray women who we want to attract to science?” he asked. “Do we attract them from the ‘sexy’ side? From the ‘brainy’ side?”
Still, he said scientific issues remain generally under-
that shine in his recollections of his time as a patrol officer and the department head.
Looking forward, one of the big issues Wray foresees in the city’s future is making the Isthmus and down-
town accessible to all, equally. Currently, Wray said multiple groups, including the homeless, University of WisconsinMadison students, working
State legislative bill could restrict mascot complaints
By Jack Casey the dAIly cARdINAl
A new Republican proposal in the state Legislature would make it more difficult for residents in school districts to file complaints against Wisconsin schools that use American Indian mascots.
State Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, and several other Republican legislators announced the proposal Thursday.
The new proposal would require any complaint against a school that uses an American Indian mascot to include a petition signed by adult residents of the school district totaling at least 10 percent of the school district’s total enrollment 120 days before submission instead of the previous rule, allowing any individual to file a complaint, according to a release from the legislators.
Mukwonago school district
“strongly supports” the proposal. The high school currently uses “Indians” as its nickname.
When the Indians nickname and mascot law was originally passed, the Department of Public Instruction ordered the school to change its nickname and logo, or face a severe fine. The school responded by passing a resolution defying the order.
If the new proposal were passed, a complainant would need to obtain approximately 470 signatures before submitting the complaint to the Mukwonago district. The proposal would also change the current law and require the Department of Administration’s Division of Hearing and Appeals to conduct the hearings instead of DPI, shifting control of the hearings to Gov. Scott Walker’s administration.
UW adopts new safety protocols after employee death at art Lofts last april
New safety procedures are being put into place after a UW Physical Plant employee died last spring while working at the Art Lofts, according to a University of Wisconsin-Madison news release.
Kenneth Newman, 63, died Tuesday, April 16 when a loading dock lift fell as he was making repairs at the Art Lofts on North Frances St.
An investigation into the incident
revealed an inappropriate method was used to block the lift and a safety mechanism intended for the situation was not used, according to the release. It also disclosed new training and policy changes that are necessary to ensure effective training of university staff.
Several new changes to increase worker safety will include requir-
mascot page 3 safety page 3
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”
University
Wisconsin-Madison
Brian BaUer/the dAIly cARdINAl
MeLiSSa HOWiSOn/the dAIly cARdINAl
Read the full transcript of Madison Police department chief Noble Wray’s departing interview at www.dailycardinal.com.
Masochistic Fake News writer aroused by Madison Misnomer
By Kane Kaiman Fake NeWS Friday
Daily Cardinal staffer Jared Lang, a repressed sexual deviant, was incredibly aroused by a scathing Madison Misnomer article that skewered his satirical page, Fake News Friday.
Madison Misnomer, a famous student publication that directly competes with The Onion, published an online editorial ridiculing the comedic talent of the Cardinal’s writers this past Thursday. Lang, a regular Misnomer reader who just happens to derive sexual pleasure from emotional and physical abuse, told Cardinal reporters that the article had, “ ...turned (him) on more than anything in (his) entire life.”
Lang gave the Cardinal a detailed account of his first encounter with the piece. He described how his “pulse quickened” when he spotted the headline, and how he became more excited by each caustic remark he read.
“My hands were shaking so badly I could barely click the ‘Read On’ link,” Lang said. By the time he reached the part about
Pretentious student tackles open-ended question
By Zach Clark Fake NeWS Friday
This morning, freshman Charles Nelduck III enthusiastically took on the following question posed by his American History professor: “What was the single most important event in American history?”
Nelduck, generally seen strolling along Lakeshore Path wearing a tweed jacket and smoking a hand-rolled cigarette while reading one of a dozen pieces of classical literature on his iPad, delivered his answer in the form of a 15-minute discourse on topics ranging from the importance of pepper sales in the SpanishAmerican War to Gerald Ford’s various personal faults.
“Let’s face it, the Taft Administration was directly responsible for World War II, which was directly responsible for America becoming a global superpower,” Nelduck, a Boston native, said in an English accent.
“So when you connect the dots of this unbelievably complex mosaic of history, you can
really only come to the conclusion that William Taft was most directly responsible for the America we see today.”
Other members of the class, which mostly consists of seniors trying to squeeze in a required history course, have speculated after the fact that Nelduck III would have continued if it were not for his attributing of FDR’s famed ‘fear’ quote to JFK.
Nelduck attempted to continue but was interrupted by the professor and a number of his classmates who rather angrily insisted that Nelduck was in error.
“It was ridiculous,” said Professor Kendoll.
“I just wanted to open the floor up for students, let them have a say.
“Instead that little beast starts making unfounded assertions about the Bay of Pigs being a ploy by republicans and Reagan being a fascist.”
We attempted to reach Nelduck for comment but were told that he was busy listening to NPR whilst smoking a pipe of fine tobacco.
how Fake News Friday articles “read like a scared freshman dipping his toes in Lake Mendota... full of titters and nervous, unjus-
tified fear,” Lang could no longer contain himself and reached a shuddering climax.
Lang has proposed that the clearly dominant Misnomer and pathetically submissive Fake News Friday staff engage in some sort of prolonged Master/Slave relationship, hopefully involving hot wax play. “I’m a pathetic worm that deserves punishment from people far superior to me. I’ve been a bad writer, and I need to be pushed to my limits. If that means no safeword, then I’m fine with that. If we do use one though I’d like it to be ‘HERALD,’” Lang said.
Madison Misnomer puts no name beneath their stories, something that also excites Lang. “I find the idea of anonymous intimacy to be really hot,” Lang said.
Lang says that he’s looking forward to more erotica from the writers over at Misnomer, but will continue to reread what they’ve written for as long as necessary.
UW biology and football combine to conquer Ohio State Saturday
By Andrew Tucker Fake NeWS Friday
On Saturday as the Badgers take the field, a new player will be in their midst: Jamelvinrey Whigordent III, a genetic combination of the three running backs James White, Melvin Gordon III and Corey Clement.
After weeks of development, the genetics department is ready to unveil its new creation on the field.
“All three of our backs have great qualities, so I said, ‘How could we get all three guys the ball on the same play?’” said Tom Hammock, running back coach for the Badgers.
“What if we combine them?” head coach Gary Andersen replied.
Andersen immediately contacted Chairman of the Laboratory of Genetics Michael Culbertson about trying to splice the genes of his three best backs into one. Lab technicians took hair samples from each player, and picked which traits to pass on to the new superback. As the embryo
developed, it sprouted six arms and legs. The fetus soon grew too large for a petri dish, and was stored in a large vat filled with a nutrient-soup. Experts called it the perfect womb.
“It’s alive! It’s alive! And they said we couldn’t play God,” Culbertson said.
Monday was the final day of incubation, and Tuesday the team ran tests on Whigordent. He ran a 3.83 40-yard dash, could bench press 1800 pounds and uttered his first words, “Double-tight 38 blast-toss.”
His pure speed and his six arms will make him an asset to the team as they face fourth ranked Ohio State on Saturday.
The NCAA responded to these developments Wednesday night.
“As long as a player isn’t getting paid to sign autographs, he can play regardless of how many limbs he has. Besides, the NCAA welcomes the idea of a more expensive, six-sleeved jersey,” NCAA Spokesman Bob Williams said.
JANe ThOMpSON/the daily cardiNal
Staffer Jared lang relishes the pain he describes as ‘hurting so damn good.’
Finance committee denies funding to Christian fellowship
By Sarah Olson the daIly CardInal
Associated Students of Madison financial committee unanimously denied InterVarsity Christian Fellowship funding from the General Student Services Fund at a meeting Thursday.
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship is a student organization that offers small-group Bible studies, facilitates “witnessing communities” and hosts weekly worship and discussion sessions, according to Executive Team member Cassandra Chiao.
Student groups receiving funding from the General Segregated Service Fund must present to the Student Services Finance Committee every two years at eligibility hearings and demonstrate their ability to provide direct services to students. Direct services are defined as educational benefits available and customizable to the needs of any UW-Madison student.
SSFC Vice Chair Ian Malmstadt said InterVarsity Christian
professionals and locals, are “competing for the same turf.” He said students will play a pivotal role in developing a shared, interactive space.
“The student involvement is just critical,” Wray said. “During my career, whenever we have had an initiative that involved the Isthmus or the downtown where we have had student involvement, [the outcome] has always ended up being dramatically better.”
The three widely publicized and highly contentious civilian deaths involving Wisconsin police officers that occurred during Wray’s final year as police chief will also shape the future of the city, the state and the nation in coming years, according to Wray.
He said city officials are in the process of adjusting the policies under which the department investigates officer-involved deaths to make inquiries more transparent and impartial. The internal policy overhaul is meant to complement the efforts of state legislators, not compete with them, Wray said.
Recent data ranksWisconsin 34th in country in private sector job growth
By Jack Casey the daIly CardInal
The most recent private sector job growth statistics released Thursday showed Wisconsin dropped one place to 34th in the country in private sector job growth and drew mixed responses from Gov. Scott Walker and state legislators.
The data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’s Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages and covers a one-year span between March 2012 and March 2013.
Wisconsin added 24,305 private sector jobs, according to the report, and had increased
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Fellowship does not provide some of its services throughout the entire fiscal year and does not make its services available to all university students, both of which are GSSF eligibility criteria.
Malmstadt said the organization only focuses on undergraduate students and not “all university students,” which makes them ineligible for funding.
Chiao said although InterVarsity Christian Fellowship focuses primarily on undergraduate students, there is a separate chapter of the organization that serves graduate students.
“It’s just really how our organization is set up,” Chiao said. “We do reach mostly undergrads, so I completely understand their decision, and I respect that.”
SSFC also voted to approve GSSF funding for BadgerSpill, which is a student organization that provides an online platform for students to anonymously submit questions and receive feedback from peers.
“Some people may assume that police don’t want people looking at this, but they do,” Wray said. “What police want is to make sure that their voice is being heard. What police want is to make sure that whatever comes out of the legislation, that [officers] are involved.”
Despite the public skepti-
“At some point in time you may be put in a situation, life or death, and you can’t run away from it, you’ve got to run to it.”
noble Wray
chief of police Madison Police department
cism surrounding this issue, Wray said he is confident the department will continue to live up to its core values of trust, both internal and external, and a commitment to excellence.
“If you are not about constant improvement, you shouldn’t be in this business,” Wray said. “If you are so heavily invested in your ego you really shouldn’t be in policing.”
the rate of employment by 1.1 percent. The percentage in increased employment falls almost an entire percentage point lower than the national average of 2 percent.
Private sector job growth has been a prominent issue in the state after Walker promised to create 250,000 new private sector jobs during his term as governor. So far the governor has fallen short of that goal, drawing the ire of state Democrats.
State Senate Minority Leader Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee, and state Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, both criticized the governor for
reprsented in media outlets, and people continue to be largely uninformed on science as a whole.
“We get such little science in the media that it goes against what people actually want,” Flatow said.
University of Wisconsin-Madison student Samantha Wagner said Flatow created a good path for future discussion on scientific issues.
“I thought Ira did a great job bringing awareness to some of the issues we face as far as getting more women involved in science, how science is perceived in the media and how it’s perceived among the American population and things we can do to improve that perception,” Wagner said.
The Wisconsin Science Festival will continue through Sunday, and will take place both on campus and throughout Madison.
Wray views his retirement as a stepping stone to his future at the firm Blue Courage, where he will consult with police departments across the country about problem solving and community policing.
Although he will no longer be serving the Madison community in the same capacity, Wray said he will take with him the most important lesson he learned while committed to the “unconditional pledge” of guarding public safety: “take a moment to recommit.”
“It’s unconditional because you know that at some point in time you may be put in a situation life or death and you can’t run away from it, you’ve got to run to it,” Wray said. “And we tend to lose that along the way.”
Upon his departure, Wray said he would like to thank UW-Madison students for being a “partner” of the force throughout his time at the MPD on everything from the Mifflin Street block party to off-campus residential safety.claimed, “we did white boy work tonight,” while being booked in jail on disorderly conduct and trespassing charges.
what they said was his role in the lower half ranking, in statements Thursday.
Larson said in the statement the recent numbers represent “Wisconsin’s continued economic recovery breakdown.”
“We can’t continue driving down this same road,” Larson said in the statement. “We owe it to Wisconsin families to try a different route.”
Walker relied on different data in a press release, saying the economy is in fact moving in a positive direction. He said Thursday’s data fails to include the summer months, which were “Wisconsin’s [best] in 23 years.”
Annual July fourth rhythm and Booms firework show could move downtown
Madison’s Committee on the Environment met Thursday to discuss moving Rhythm and Booms, the city’s Fourth of July firework show, in the downtown Madison area.
Ald. Sue Ellingson, District 13, expressed her concerns on the issue, which included the potentially harmful environmental impacts of shooting fireworks off a barge, which would be parked in Lake Monona along John Nolen Drive.
While little is known about the type of fireworks that will be used at this point, Ellingson said study results have shown
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Current law also requires school districts to prove the names and logos do not promote discrimination, pupil harassment or stereotyping.
The proposal would shift the responsibility of gathering evidence to the complainant.
The Legislature will consider the proposal within the coming weeks.
these fireworks will not be harmful to the health of people, but there is a major concern about the chemicals that will be used in them, which have the potential to be extremely harmful to the lake.
She also said she is especially concerned about phosphorus, which has a history of being detrimental to the Lake Monona ecosystem.
Currently, the committee has not made a decision about where to hold the Rhythm and Booms show, according to Ellingson. However, she noted a decision will most likely be made in November.
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ing the UW Physical Plant to complete a job hazard assessment for its employees, and taking extra steps to ensure training is offered as well as documented.
Furthermore, the university will implement an employee pairing system, which will allow workers to observe each other as a way to make sure safe practices are being used.
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Student Services Finance Committee Vice Chair Ian Malmstadt said InterVarsity failed to meet certain eligibility criteria.
Amy Gruntner/the daIly CardInal
On CAmpuS
Students meet with representatives from companies across the country in the Kohl Center thursday in hopes of earning jobs and internships in the future . +Photo by Will Chizek
Why I can’t listen to ‘Backseat Freestyle’
Music is, by its very nature, subjective. Personally, I am not the biggest hip-hop fan; however, I love Kendrick Lamar.
My experience with Lamar began during welcome week last year. “The Spiteful Chant” rang loudly out of my dorm room speakers multiple times per day.
But there is one Kendrick song that is arguably the worst song ever written, “Backseat Freestyle.”
When I reviewed Good Kid, M.A.A.D City last October for The Daily Cardinal, I wrote, “[‘Backseat Freestyle’] refuses to go anywhere, with a repeating hook and a chorus that melds right into the verses. This is Lamar at his angriest, and unfortunately, it does not work.”
Yet despite the rest of the album being a veritable masterpiece, this song sticks out like a sore thumb as the worst thing ol’ K.Dot has ever released.
Now apparently I am in the minority here as the song reached number 22 on the Billboard US Rap Songs chart and was one of four songs to be released as a single off the album.
Lamar has often been known for his clever wordplay and incredible delivery with strong production value to boot.
“Backseat Freestyle” has none of that.
Let’s start with the beat. For this song, we get something sounding like the theme from “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift,” “Tokyo Drift (Fast & Furious)” by the Teriyaki Boyz, to go along with a boring bass line and what sounds like an 8-year-old sporadically triggering random samples.
But the beat is fine compared to the words. Let’s start with the most abrasive and dumb lyric of the song—the second half of the hook.
“I pray my dick get big as the Eiffel Tower/So I can fuck the world for 72 hours.”
Really, Kendrick? How one can go from the creative wordplay of “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe” to this is astounding.
I fully understand the point of this song is not to be the pinnacle of human achievement. It’s meant to show the growing pains of Lamar as a young rapper who is just going off the cuff about his life as a 16-year-old.
When a song is popular, they make a music video. Naturally, this song gets the music video treatment, and it’s as confounding as the song itself.
For the first 90 seconds or so, Lamar sits around his house and eventually goes to the store. It quickly cuts to his father, sitting in a chair, without a shirt, smoking for about a minute. There is no explanation of this. This is not in the album version of the song.
But taking that at face value, we then go into the next verse where we see Lamar leaning on his car while Sherane, a character that
THe reCOrd rOUTIne
By Paul Blazevich
The Bones of What You Believe is Chvrches’ first full length album, but they have been impressing Passion Pit and Depeche Mode fans since mid 2012 with their synth-filled remixes of popular electropop songs as well as releasing unique singles of the same genre.
The Bones of What You Believe does not waste any time showing listeners what the album is all about, as “The Mother We Share” starts the debut with Lauren Mayberry’s key, electronic vocals. Soon after, Chvrches’ staple instrument is introduced: the synthesizer.
Tracks like “We Sink” and “Lies” show off their knowledge of the synthesizer—and just how much they like to exploit this knowledge—making sections of this album tiring and repetitive. The debut has some major highlights, though, in tracks like “Gun”
appears throughout the course of the album, is “twerking.” This lasts for about 30 seconds while Lamar just stands there.
At some point we end up in Paris, where Lamar raps in front of the aforementioned Eiffel Tower, before the video mercifully ends.
Now some of you may be fans of this song, others maybe not so much. But one thing is certain, whether you like it or not, the song is horrible.
Lamar has put out dozens of good songs and guest verses over his meteoric rise; however, this just isn’t one of them. Between his amateur-hour raps about his dick size being as big as a Parisian monument and the underwhelming beat, coupled with this perplexing music video, I can firmly say that “Backseat Freestyle” is my least favorite song that people seem to like.
Is “Backseat Freestyle” actually the best song in your opinion? Complain Brain’s ear off at weidy@wisc.edu
THe reCOrd rOUTIne
Solitude
Lord Snow
By nikki Stout the daily cardinal
Sometimes it’s all just too much. I get stressed over things I really don’t have to worry about, nothing makes sense and I just want to escape into being a girl. When these episodes strike, I usually put on a limited, repeated loop of The Smiths and Hole and float along through my estrogen ocean, waiting to come back to equilibrium. So I sat down this afternoon, pen in hand, to write an album review. What I was not expecting was to be assaulted with a Riot Grrrl throwback for the 21st century. Lord Snow’s Solitude threw me right into that aforementioned hormonal ocean, but instead of floating back to shore, I doggypaddled myself to exhaustion, wanting to stay in place. I will admit Solitude took some getting used to on my part.
I “wtf’d” my way through the first three tracks, just feeling it out. But once I got it, I got it. Maybe it’s just an unexplainable affinity I have for punk, but by the end of this 11-track album, I wanted more. Musically, I have to give most of the credit to the drummer. The strength, speed and agility of his abilities are flawless. In many instances, his skill takes over where the vocals are absent, as the vocalist sounds as if she is screaming from another room. This effect is my only point of contention with the album. While it is a really cool sound for one or two tracks, an entire album of this technique leaves the listener straining to make sense of the lyrics—which is a shame, because her voice is amazing. But when the lyrics can be heard, there is an incredible amount of depth and vulnerability to them. They want to make us uncomfortable—and if we could only fully understand them, I’m certain we would be.
So listen to it once then listen to it again. With each subsequent listen, it’ll grow on you. Just bring a lifejacket along for your swim.
Grade: B
and “Under The Tide.” These songs show a higher degree of variety in Chvrches’ musical ability, adding the keyboard and back-up singers to create a more diverse sound.
“You Caught the Light” ends the standard version of the album with a very gritty, ’80s pop presence and the lead vocals handled by Martin Doherty. With drums reminiscent of the hair-band era mixed with Doherty’s R&B voice and sweet synth melodies taking front stage, “You Caught the Light” is a perfect end to this debut and easily my favorite track on the album.
Chvrches’ firm grasp on the growing genre of electropop makes them a great band to see in concert, especially in the live music scene like we have in Madison. Mayberry’s vocals are consistently the highlight of the album, as I find the synth riffs and house-inspired beats very repetitive around four tracks into the album. This makes The Bones of What You Believe a difficult listen when in a more personal setting.
With that said, I do find The Bones of What You Believe to be an impressive debut for Chvrches and surely the beginning to a long career in today’s music industry, ruled by free internet releases and psychedelic, drug-filled live shows.
BrIan WeIdy Weid-ing out the noise
the Bones of What you Believe Chvrches
Graphic by Haley Henschel
view
Cardinal View editorials represent The Daily Cardinal’s organizational opinion. Each editorial is crafted independent of news coverage.
as students we must do our part to stay safe
As we’re sure you are probably and hopefully aware, in the past few weeks, the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus and its surrounding community has seen an increase in strong-armed robberies taking place in off-campus housing where university students live. Suspects are robbing people at random, often threatening the victims with a weapon.
All of us students need to treat the crime that has occurred in the past few weeks as a wake-up call. We live in a city which can be dangerous at times, not in a safe campus bubble. With all this crime, it is even scary walking home from the library at night and should not be done alone.
According to the UW-Madison Police Department, off-campus robberies are up from 26 in 2012 to 34 in 2013 from the period of May 1 to Sept. 23, while on-campus crime has not increased. Incidents of armed robberies, those involving a weapon, are even more present than in past years. This is alarming and proves we must take extra safety precautions now more than ever.
The police officials are doing their job, and it is up to students to act with common sense and take advantage of services the univer-
sity provides.
Although SAFEcab is no longer provided to students through UW Transportation Services and Associated Students of Madison segregated fees, the university does provide SAFEwalk, a system where students can pair up with two other designated safe-walkers to escort them home.
all of us students need to treat the crime that has occurred in the past few weeks as a wake-up call.
When going out late at night, please consider planning your way back home. Whether that’s budgeting for a taxi, leaving a party at a certain time or planning out ahead of time who you will leave with, make sure you know how you are getting home. Do not walk home alone at night.
Always use well-lit areas, don’t walk with electronics out in front of you, don’t walk with headphones on and report any suspicious activity you see.
These cases of armed-robberies are fear-inducing, especially as many are happening near and on-campus. Students
should be nervous and hyperaware of their surroundings, especially when walking home alone at night.
Victims of random attacks and robberies are not at fault and should not be blamed, but at this point, police are taking the appropriate measures to keep city residents safe and we need to do our part.
The police are fulfilling their responsibility. It’s time we, as responsible citizens, take care of ours.
Both city and university police have increased patrols in response to the recent uptick in crime and were also involved in an online Twitter conversation with Dean of Students Lori Berquam to answer questions from students and community members on the recent state of safety on and near UW-Madison’s campus. Ultimately we think that police officials are taking the appropriate measures regarding the recent increase in off-campus crime. We believe that safety has to be a collective, team effort.
Got any other good advice to stay safe? Pepperspray? Buddy system? Are you as scared out of your mind as we are? Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
Defunding the Affordable Care Act is not a good strategy for Republicans
Jeff BIRnkRant opinion columnist
This opinion, written while I’m insanely busy with work can be attributed to Ted Cruz, Mike Lee and Rand Paul. Thank you for ruining my week. It is simply ridiculous there is an effort to defund the Affordable Care Act. The process that set up this law has been in motion for years and jobs were created in the heath care industry to adjust to the new system. The train has come and gone, and now the entire government is taking heat because a few individuals want to send a message. Well, they are sending the wrong one. As a Republican, I want Obamacare to go into effect; that way, if it does fail, the chances of the Republican Party winning the next election are exponentially improved. The real reason these politicians are stalling is they are scared this law might actually work, negatively affecting their future political endeavors. To go back on all of the preparations that have gone into implementing this new law makes no sense. The
economy has adjusted for the bill that was solidified by the Supreme Court’s decision. It would cause more damage to our country if the work that’s been done to implement this law was scrapped and the program defunded. What would result if the Tea Party’s desires came to reality? A loss of jobs and massively pissed off insurance companies would be the result.
From a Republican strategic standpoint, why not let the Affordable Care Act pass? If the program fails it will bring about political gain for the Republican Party. If this law does not work out as planned and the public does not see cost saving aspects in effect, then you’re looking at an election similar to what we saw in 2010, but this time, the Republican Party will win the presidency! However, if the Republican Party should be nervous for the blow-back that could occur should the program actually work- which explains why we are seeing our government on the verge of shutdown and threatening to defund the presidents’ signature law. Ted Cruz, Mike
Boehner is ineffective
alex Holland opinion columnist
It is time Speaker John Boehner flex the muscle of his speakership. Speaker Boehner is the kid who keeps getting his lunch money stolen at recess. From the failed farm bill vote to the inability to cajole his caucus to pass a comprehensive budget resolution in conjunction with senate Democrats to Tea Party Republicans bullying him into including a clause to defund Obamacare in the resolution the House passed the other day to stop the government from shutting down, Boehner is running out of money and so is the government.
I believe Mr. Boehner truly wants to pass a comprehensive and bipartisan budget, which addresses the deficit and ensures we do not have to worry about a debt-ceiling vote in the near future. I believe Mr. Boehner agrees with Minority Leader Pelosi that a government shutdown would be disastrous for the recovering economy.
Yet, Mr. Boehner seems helpless over these issues. Over one shoulder is Majority Leader Eric Cantor, who is eyeing the Speakership and on the other is Minority Leader Pelosi who is eyeing a return to the Speakership. What makes the current Speaker so helpless are the forty to fifty Tea Party Republicans in the House. While less than a quarter of his caucus, the Speaker has found it excruciating to pass legislation without that part of his caucus.
The Tea Party folk have been saying consistently (particularly when it comes to reducing the size of government and defunding Obamacare), “I am voting this way because my constituents want me to.” While I always roll my eyes at this kick-the-can-down-the-road remark, there may be some truth to that statement.
Lee and Rand Paul are scared and should be cheerleaders on the sidelines for Obamacare.
Shaking in their snakeskin boots. Looking at this whole thing from that perspective makes no sense at all to me why they are stalling away.
as a Republican, I want obamacare to go into effect; that way, if it does fail, the chances of the Republican Party winning the next election are exponentially improved.
From a funding standpoint, Democrats, it seems the Democrats will most likely be pleased with the outcome. It also wouldn’t really surprise me if we see more and more funds being given to Democratic campaigns from insurance companies. Considering they just gained a brand new consumer base through a “tax” or “mandate” or whatever you would like to call it.
Jeff is a junior majoring in political science and history. Do you agree Ted Cruz, Mike Lee and Rand Paul need to back off? Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
To put this in perspective, only twice in the last seventy years has the party that gained a higher percentage of the two-party vote not held a majority of House seats. The redistricting that took place as a result of the 2010 elections drew districts so undemocratically skewed that the only threat to GOP House members today is the GOP themselves. So when many Tea Party members give that line, “my constituents want it,” some of their bases truly want the government to shutdown should Obamacare not be defunded although a CNBC poll found 59 percent of Americans believe the opposite. This type of redistricting threatens our very democracy and the livelihood America.
In the 2012 election, the Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan organization, found despite Democrats winning 50.59 percent of the two-party vote, the Democratic Party only holds 46.21 percent of House, leaving the GOP with a thirty-three-seat advantage.
So what does this mean for the very ineffective Speaker? First, the GOP may be in for a rude awakening in 2014 should the government shut down over attempting to defund Obamacare. Second, the GOP redistricting that occurred after the 2010 elections has created such safe seats that for many Republican legislators, a majority or at least significant number of their constituents do indeed want the government to shutdown if Obamacare is not defunded; this makes it quite difficult for the Speaker to build coalitions with his broad ranging party. Third, more moderate Republicans who would normally side with where I believe the Speaker wants to be are scared to find “common ground” therefore putting our country at great risk. Perhaps, the only way for the Speaker to regain his speakership is to revolt against the very GOP who revolted against his leadership time and again. Surely the moderate and even some more conservative GOP House members would support the Speaker. The tactics of appeasing the far right have had little success to date. This begs for a new strategy. Mr. Boehner could lose his speakership over such a strategy, but history would view his Speakership in much better light than where it is currently heading. Do you agree with Alex? Please send all feedback to opinion@daily cardinal.com.
Badgers open Big Ten schedule against Purdue
Restrictions on hits ruining football
It seems like every Monday morning after a Sunday of jam-packed NFL action, there’s adiscussion about a player being fined thousands of dollars for an illegal hit on an opposing player. This unfortunate recurring theme is one that will continue to be debated and discussed unless something is changed.
In recent years the NFL decided to impose a set of rule changes to better protect the health and safety of its players.
No longer can a defensive player initiate helmet-to-helmet contact with an offensive player when leading with the crown of the helmet.
While the intentions of this rule change are good, it seems way too often that calls made by the referees are controversial.
From the first time little kids are taught to play football they are told to use their shoulder pads.
Unfortunately, there happens to be a big round helmet that sticks out in front of their shoulders when going in for a tackle.
Because of this, there’s often a fine line between shoulder and helmet contact and the referee generally has a split second to see the play, process his opinion and throw the flag. This process does not seem reliable enough to award the offense a potential game changing advantage.
On top of referees blowing calls, players are being fined large sums of money. In many cases, it’s simply a brief mistake the tackler made. I’m fairly confident in saying most defensive players don’t hit the other player with intention to cause an injury.
Should they really be punished for poor tackling technique? What if people with ordinary jobs were punished every time they had a momentary mental lapse?
By Samuel Karp The Daily CarDinal
The Wisconsin Women’s volleyball team (11-1) opens up Big Ten play Friday at the UW Field House in Madison, WI., against No. 20 Purdue (9-2).
The following day, Wisconsin will host to the Indiana Hoosiers (0-1 Big Ten, 8-4 overall).
“I’m really excited for the competition that is going to come with playing a lot of teams,” junior outside hitter Ellen Chapman said. “Every single game in our conference is going to be a tough match and I am looking forward to scouting and seeing a different team every time.”
Head coach Kelly Sheffield, on the other hand, believes the Big Ten presents no different of a task than do nonconference games.
“It doesn’t matter who the name is on the shirt,” Sheffield said. “You are trying to win that match.”
Purdue is coming off a victory in the Active Ankle Challenge in West Lafayette, Ind.
Junior middle blocker KiKi Jones was named tournament MVP, while redshirt seniors, setter Rachel Davis and outside hitter Katie Griffin, earned all-tournament honors.
Purdue poses a threat to the Badgers, bolstering one of the NCAA’s top offenses.
Purdue’s 6-2 offensive system hasn’t fallen lightly on UW, with Sheffield admitting that the scheme stretches your defense out along the net.
“We have to be able to read the play
football from page 8
For example, it wouldn’t be fair to take 10 percent of an employee’s paycheck away because he accidentally took a wrong turn on his way to work and was late.
The bottom line is fining players for their mistakes on the field will not stop the root of the problem.
The problem is not in the hands of the players, rather it lies within the constant restrictions and rule changes being placed upon them.
Behind rugby, football is arguably one of the most physical sports on the planet, and anyone who chooses to play (especially at the professional level) recognizes the risks involved. Players can no longer be punished for partaking in the physicality of the game.
Here is what I suggest: Let the NFL return to its hard-nosed roots. Lift the rule regarding helmet-to-helmet contact, and let them play football. The rules being implemented are destroying its integrity, not to mention the salaries players are paid to risk future health problems.
Just to be clear, I’m not suggesting that players take the field in leather helmets and start knocking each other’s teeth out. I cringed as much as the next guy when Packer running back Eddie Lacy suffered a concussion on a hit from Washington’s Brandon Meriweather. But I do think there needs to be some sort of common ground for the benefit of defensive players.
Maybe I’m asking too much or I just miss the highlight tapes of guys getting plowed on a slant route. Either way, I hope, for the sake of the game, the NFL will stop changing the violent game fans have loved for decades.
Do you agree that football is getting too soft on players? Does the fact that they are paid millions of dollars offset the future health implications of multiple concussions? Let Blake know by emailing sports@dailycardinal.com.
ahead of time,” Sheffield said. “If you are reacting to everything or if you are just not reading early enough you will be in trouble.”
The Badgers have been preparing all week for the changes the Purdue offense warrants, and are not looking at this game any differently.
“Serving tough will be the key to keeping their hitters from hitting in system,” Chapman said.
The Hoosiers enter Madison fresh off of a loss to No. 9 Minnesota (1-0 Big Ten, 13-1 overall).
The Gophers won in straight sets, posting a score of 25-14, 25-15, 25-18.
Indiana’s balanced attack was led by redshirt senior outside hitter Jordan Haverly, who racked up 10 kills in the game.
Indiana also plays a 6-2 offense, which Sheffield believes will help UW.
“It certainly helps, Sheffield said. “We haven’t had to worry about setters attacking this week in practice. Once Saturday morning gets here and we start focusing on IU, it’ll make it a little easier.”
The team is not focused on where they place in the Big Ten at the moment, but rather believe if they play the right way UW will end up where it deserves to be.
“We want to be a team that continues to get better … We are trying to win every match,” Sheffield said. “As far as winning conference, top three, top five, whatever it is, we haven’t approached it that way. We want to play good volleyball and approach it consistently. If we do that we’re going to win a lot of matches.”
redshirt sophomore running back Melvin Gordon.
though the Badgers have personnel to fill the spot if Pedersen succumbs to injury, according to Andersen.
“[Redshirt senior tight end Brian Wozniak] has been very good at the point of attack.” Andersen said. “He’s been physical. He’s done what we’ve asked him to do in the run game and been very good at that. I like where he’s gone.”
The Badgers may need to deviate from their traditional ground-andpound offense.
The Buckeyes have undoubtedly noticed the outstanding numbers from senior running back James White and
White is currently the NCAA’s active career rushing leader, while Gordon is currently leading Wisconsin in all-purpose yards.
Gordon leads the nation in yards per carry with 11.8, averages 156 rushing yards per game and has 7 touch downs so far this season.
“I think for their defense, they want to obviously stack up and stop the run,” Anderson said. “So I think our run game may help us get another safety out of the box. People are going to build an eightman box against us, a nine-man box against us. That’s the way it’s going to be. It will be no different with Ohio State.”
ShoaiB alTaf/The Daily CarDinal
Junior outside hitter ellen Chapman has played in every set so far this season and has double-digit kills in 11 of her 12 matches, earning her 3.89 kills per set.
BlaKe Duffin shake ‘n’ blake
niThin Charlly/The Daily CarDinal
e stablishing an early passing game will be one of redshirt sophomore quarterback Joel Stave’s main challenges Saturday at Ohio State.
UW takes on undefeated ohio State
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The Daily Car D inal
Two titans of Big Ten football will clash Saturday night as the Badgers head to Columbus, Ohio to take on No. 4 Ohio State.
The Buckeyes (4-0 overall) went undefeated last season and currently hold the longest active winning streak in the NCAA at 16 games.
Ohio State was ineligible for a bowl game last season, while No. 23 Wisconsin (1-0 Big Ten, 3-1 overall) won its third consecutive Big Ten championship.
The highly anticipated game been surrounded by rumors and dialogue, including OSU’s quarterback situation: Whether Buckeye junior quarterback Braxton Miller or senior quarterback Kenny Guiton will start.
After much anticipation, head coach Urban Meyer revealed earlier this week that Miller was likely to start.
“I’m sure they will both play,” head coach Gary Andersen said. “We haven’t prepared any differently for whichever quarterback is going to be out there.”
The Badgers will start with a healthy defense as redshirt junior cornerback Peniel Jean, redshirt senior linebacker Brendan Kelly and junior linebacker Derek Landisch will play Saturday after coming out of last week’s contest against Purdue with injuries.
It does not seem to matter much to Wisconsin who its opponent is or
which storylines the media highlight. Anderson looks to play steady football week to week.
“I do not believe in treating one game as a massive game,” Andersen said. “It’s another game we prepare for exactly the same way.”
Redshirt junior center Dallas Lewallen was also injured, and will sit Saturday night, with redshirt freshman Dan Voltz likely to take his place.
Problems with smooth snaps have plagued the Badgers this season, including redshirt sophomore quarterback Joel Stave’s lost snap against Purdue, which he recovered to salvage the play.
“You need to make sure you’re smart with who is in there, every guy is a little bit different.” Stave said. “I think whoever we’ve got in there will do a good job.”
Stave has 761 total passing yards this season, while his favored target redshirt senior wide receiver Jared Abbrederis is leading the Badgers with 365 receiving yards, averaging almost 16 yards per reception.
Wisconsin may not have their full starting offensive line, but they will have redshirt senior tight end Jacob Pedersen, who was also injured against Purdue.
He has 101 receiving yards this season,
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nithin Charlly/The Daily CarDinal
redshirt senior wide receiver Jared abbrederis has roughly half of the Badgers’ receiving yards this season, averaging about 16 yards per reception. football