UWM Post 9-12-2011

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THEUWMPOST est. 1956

the student-run independent newspaper

September 12, 2011

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Issue 3, Volume 56

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Pantherfest welcomes back UWM community

Festivities bring almost 15,000 students, staff and alumni together at the Summerfest grounds

UWM losing experienced staff Number of retiring professors up 100 percent this year By John Parnon Assistant News Editor news@uwmpost.com

Students pile up outside the entrance to the Marcus Amphitheater, eagerly awaiting performances by rapper Lupe Fiasco and electronic artist Girl Talk. Post photo by Austin McDowell By Steve Garrison News Editor news@uwmpost.com

Over 14,000 UW-Milwaukee students, staff and alumni alike flooded the gates of Pantherfest Friday night, almost beating attendance records set last year for this uniquely UWM-centric event. Although the gates opened later

than expected, the concert capping the night ran smoothly, with Milwaukeebased rapper Prophetic kicking off the performance at 7:30 p.m., followed by Lupe Fiasco at 8:30 p.m. and Girl Talk at 10:00 p.m. Before entering the Marcus Amphitheater, concert-goers were welcome to participate in a variety of school-sponsored activities, including Euro bungee, a giant slide, carnival games

and intramural sports competitions. Senior Colby Shoemaker, who was working on behalf of the Recreational Sports and Facilities Department, said she liked the Euro Bungee but was hesitant to try it. “I’m kind of scared of heights, so it’s frightening,” Shoemaker said. First Friday, sponsored by the Division of Student Affairs, also welcomed UWM community members

to socialize and enjoy traditional First Friday fare before the concert began. Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Michael Laliberte said Pantherfest’s importance lays in its ability to unite students, staff and alumni under the common banner of UWM. “It gives us an opportunity to kick the year off with a great celebration,

See PANTHERFEST page 2

Guns on campus, not in buildings UWM is expected to ban weapons from campus buildings, despite new law allowing them on campus grounds By Aaron Knapp Assistant News Editor news@uwmpost.com

With less than two months left before Wisconsin’s new concealed-carry law allowing licensed individuals to bring weapons onto campus goes into effect, the UW System has announced that it will support universities in banning weapons within campus buildings. However, universities are responsible

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for placing signs at every building entrance on campus in order for the ban to be legal, giving each institution some flexibility. So far, UW-Madison is the only institution to announce that it will post these signs, but all UW members are expected to adopt the same policy. “I think in general it’s a good idea throughout the country, but here in Milwaukee, just knowing the attitudes… there’s so much tension in this city. I just really am not for it here in Milwaukee

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County,” UW-Milwaukee senior Michael Haarstad said. Over the summer, the state legislature passed 2011 Wisconsin Act 35, which Governor Scott Walker signed into law, allowing properly-licensed individuals to possess certain types of firearms, tasers and knives on public grounds, except some buildings like schools, courthouses and law enforcement facilities. “The UW specifically requested that the legislature exempt colleges

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and universities from the law, but the legislature declined to insert the requested provision,” a FAQ page about concealed carry on the UW System’s website said. “The law does, however, contain special provisions allowing colleges and universities to take action to prevent people from carrying firearms in campus buildings.” Although police have been unable to enforce the ban on concealed weapons

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Nearly twice as many professors retired from UW-Milwaukee in 2011 compared to 2010, some citing concerns about loss of benefits. Vice Chancellor of University Relations Tom Luljak said that 37 professors retired between 2010 and 2011, up from 20 the previous year. UWM History Professor Michael Gordon was one of the 37 professors to have retired this year. Gordon taught many courses ranging from freshmen seminars to graduate courses, and he received mostly positive reviews on the website ratemyprofessor.com. “My favorite part of teaching, hands down, is the students. Being able to work with students, learning from students, taking some courses once in a while,” said Gordon. “I could help some students, make some progress. That’s the whole reason I love to be here – because of the students.” Gordon has taught at UWM for 24 years and said he left UWM over concerns that the Walker administration would seek to end the Supplemental Health Insurance Conversion Credit program. The SHICC program helps state employees pay for their health insurance after they retire. State employees were able to exchange unused sick leave credits accumulated over their career to pay premiums on state health insurance. The Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds estimates that a state employee that has worked for 28 years and made $22.50/hour would receive about $100,000 towards health insurance premiums after retiring. “There were many rumors that the Walker administration planned to make key changes in key health insurance benefits,” said Gordon. “Those rumors persist even though there have been no efforts to make such changes so far.” Gordon said he consulted with family and friends before deciding to leave UWM. He hopes to be able to teach courses periodically but has no plans to return to a permanent teaching position. “I’m really very much worried about the ability of the students to be able to pay tuition. Tuition

See GUNS page 5

See RETIRE page2 uwmpost.com

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NEWS

September 12, 2011

the uwm post

THEUWMPOST Editor in Chief Zach Erdmann

Production Editor Melissa Dahlman

Managing Editor Mike La Count

Chief Copy Editor Jackie Dreyer

News Editor Steve Garrison

Copy Editors Kara Petersen Brad Poling

Assistant News Editors Aaron Knapp John Parnon Fringe Editor Steve Franz Assistant Fringe Editors Kevin Kaber Graham Marlowe Sports Editor Jeremy Lubus Assistant Sports Editor Tony Atkins Editorial Editor Zach Brooke Photo Editor Sierra Riesberg

NEWS BRIEFS Milwaukee Weekend Report

Two males, one 21 years old and the other 15 years old, were shot overnight on Sunday Sept. 11 while in a vehicle on the 2900 block of N. 29th St. at 1:47 a.m. Both have been receiving treatment for what are believed to be non-fatal injuries.

Distribution Mgr. Patrick Quast Off-Campus Distribution Alek Shumaker Business Manager Tyler Rembert

The body of an unidentified woman was found on the Oak Leaf Bike Trail close to the 1600 block of N. Prospect Ave. early Sunday morning Sept. 11. Both investigations are ongoing.

Advertising Manager Stephanie Fisher Online/Multimedia Editor Kody Schafer Board of Directors Jackie Dreyer Zach Erdmann Stephanie Fisher Mike La Count Kody Schafer

A man driving a Chevrolet at 2:50 a.m. Sunday Sept. 11 ran into a Cadillac parked on the intersection of N. 43rd St. and W. Good Hope Road. The Cadillac was stopped due to a f lat tire. The driver of the Cadillac, a 41-yearold Milwaukee man, was standing behind the car at the time and was also struck. After the accident, the Chevrolet, which is thought to be a dark-colored Monte Carlo, backed into a utility pole and f led going north on N. 43rd St. The 41-yearold man was taken to Froedtert Hospital for severe leg injuries. The driver of the mid-nineties Chevrolet was described a black man between the ages of 25 and 30 years old.

Phone: (414)229-4578 Fax: (414)229-4579 post@uwmpost.com www.uwmpost.com Mailing Address Union Box 88 UWM P.O. Box 413 Milwaukee, WI 53201 Shipping Address 2200 Kenwood Blvd. Suite EG80 Milwaukee, WI 53211 THE UWM POST has a circulation of 10,000 and is distributed on campus and throughout the surrounding communities. The first copy is free, additional copies $.75 each. The UWM Post, Inc. is an independent nonstock corporation. All submissions become property of The UWM Post, Inc. The UWM Post is written and edited by students of the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee and they are solely responsible for its editorial policy and content. The University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is not liable for debts incurred by the publisher. The UWM Post is not an official publication of UWM.

UK police bust slave camp

POLICE REPORTS On Wednesday Sept. 7 at 2:41 p.m. client services in the Union called to report a possible retail theft in progress at the Student Union Flour Shop. The hot water turned out to be free. On Wednesday Sept. 7 at 8:02 p.m. a woman called MPD to report a dog that attacked her dog in the Klotsche Center parking lot. On Thursday Sept. 8 at 9:50 a.m. a UWM advisor reported seeing a former student on campus, possibly in the Fine Arts Theater. The former student’s mother said there was an arrest warrant for him and his sister, a UWM student, had a restraining order on him. On Friday Sept. 9 at 3:04 p.m. a black male wearing a black t-shirt and blue jeans was spotted trying to sell Pantherfest tickets at the Union. The subject destroyed the tickets when officers arrived. On Saturday Sept. 10 at 4:10 p.m. a brown Jansport backpack was found in the Sandburg Commons. A note was left for police to question the owner regarding drug paraphernalia found inside.

CORRECTION The UWM Post mistakenly reported during last week’s article, “Neo-Nazis and community members clash in West Allis,” that Jacob Flom would not hesitate to use violence if it was offered in kind. The Post apologizes for this error.

Post photo by Austin McDowell

PANTHERFEST Continued from page 1

where students can get together and feel connected in the UWM community.” Pantherfest is an annual celebration for the UWM community that caps-off Campus Kick-Off Week – two weeks of activities, events and get-togethers for new and returning students, according to a UWM press release. Now in its fifth year, the celebration is the brainchild of recently retired Student Union Program Director Scott Gore, who was brought on as a special assistant to the chancellor to ensure the event’s continued success. Gore said in a previous interview with UWM that in creating the event, he wanted to announce, “UWM has arrived.”

RETIRE

Continued from page 1 is going to go up,” Gordon said. “The amount of money that the state is going to contribute to higher education is going to decline, and I’m very much concerned about the ability of students to pay for university schooling.” Gordon is not the only veteran professor retiring from UWM. Only three of 27 UWM professors that retired between May and August of this year had less than 20 years of experience, according to information obtained through an open records request.

“We need to go to Summerfest and create an event that will be a memorable experience,” Gore said. The first concert held at the Marcus Amphitheater in 2006 was considered a resounding success for the university, with 7,000 members of the UWM community attending, according to an archived UWM Report. Student enrollment has grown considerably since 2006, with approximately 30,000 students enrolled in 2010, and as a result, Pantherfest has more than doubled, with a record-setting 15,000 people in attendance last year. Vice Chancellor Tom Luljak said that according to one source, approximately 14,700 people attended the concert this year. However, attendance numbers did not seem to concern concert-goers, who rushed through security checkpoints at

approximately 7:00 p.m., quickly filling the first 20 sections of the Marcus Amphitheater, roughly 3/4 of the available seating. Milwaukee Fire Captain Frank Alioto, a UWM alumnus, attended the event with his wife and son. Although Alioto said he would not consider himself a fan of Lupe Fiasco, he does “enjoy some of his songs.” Alioto said he never graduated from UWM, but did enjoy his experiences on campus. “My memories were having my freedom and parties, but I enjoyed school as well,” Alioto said. Freshman Dan Herman said that he had never heard of the concert’s headliners, but attended the concert anyway for social reasons. “All my friends came, and it was something to do,” Herman said.

Another UWM history professor, Philip Shashko, retired this May after 43 years of teaching at UWM. Second only to Shashko, Political Science Professor Donald Pienkos has taught at UWM for 42 years. The University Committee – charged with handling issues of concern regarding staff – has also expressed concerns about the effect Walker’s budget proposal will have. “UW-Milwaukee faculty are even more concerned about the irreparable damage [the budget repair bill] would do to our University and its capacity to contribute to Wisconsin’s longterm future,“ according to a statement released by the University Committee in February.

The February UC report also said that UWM faculty salaries are between 13 and 29 percent below those at comparable universities all over the country and are the lowest salaries relative to peers of any university in the UW-System. “The effects of the proposed changes in total compensation will be immediate and long-term. Many of our most experienced faculty will retire, our “best and brightest” young faculty will leave, and those faculty who remain will be demoralized,” according to the UC report. Just this year, UWM has lost a total of 777 years worth of cumulative experience in the form of retiring teachers.

Police officers in the UK arrested five individuals who are being held for allegedly violating the Slavery and Servitude Act of 2010. Four men and one woman are being accused of running a forced labor operation in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, about 50 miles northwest of London. The victims, men from England, Poland and Romania, were found in unsanitary and cramped conditions. Some were kept in horseboxes, dog kennels and old caravans. It is believed the workers were recruited from soup kitchens and benefits offices. They were told they would receive daily pay of 80 pounds, food and lodging. Once they arrived at the work site, they were forced to work and given minimal amounts of food. Some are believed to have been enslaved for up to 15 years.

Gumby’s hands held up holdup

California police began looking for a Gumby impersonator after a robbery attempt Monday Sept. 5. Early Monday morning, a man wearing a costume of the children’s cartoon character Gumby tried to rob a 7-Eleven in San Diego. The man announced he was robbing the store and when the store clerk thought it was a joke he said, “You don’t think this is a robbery? Let me show you my gun.” After trying to reach the gun in his pocket, he realized his green hands were too big to fit. Instead of pulling out a gun, he dropped 27 cents on the ground. His accomplice ran out to a minivan and honked the horn. Gumby then left the store, and they drove off. Afterward, the store clerk was still unsure if an attempted robbery actually took place, so the incident wasn’t reported until the next morning when the store manager came in.


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September 12, 2011 3

Three wars, two majors and a Master’s degree

A machine gunner in the 82nd Airborne watches for enemy troops outside the Tallil Airbase in 2003. Photo by Ron Larson

Part two of a three part series By John Parnon

Assistant News Editor news@uwmpost.com

Crossing the border into Iraq was a rude awakening for UW-Milwaukee graduate student Ron Larson. His eyes first opened to the sight of smoke columns rising off of burned-out tanks and husks of obliterated buildings littering the landscape. Larson had spent several weeks in Afghanistan years before arriving in Iraq and said it had been much more dangerous there. Larson also did not have the benefit of being embedded with U.S. military troops in Afghanistan, a new-found luxury in Iraq. Larson, a UWM graduate student who spent time in Afghanistan in the 1980s as a freelance journalist, was embedded with U.S. troops in Iraq following 9/11 and just returned from

Libya this August. Larson said that arriving at the base did nothing to hide the sense of chaos and war all around. “I remember the first night in Iraq, and in the distance, I saw what were probably American rockets,” Larson said. “You saw these flashes of light and heard the boom, boom, boom, and you could hear the guerillas shooting at our base.” Larson was not embedded with a combat unit and said he was always a few days behind the front line. “It was a whole different ball game if I had been with the Marines or third infantry division or something – it was just where I saw in the distance fighting or shooting,” Larson said. It had taken more than a plane ticket and a dream for Larson to get to where he wanted: alongside an MLRS rocket artillery unit actively firing at guerilla fortifications in Iraq. Larson had the idea

…continued from last week’s “Three wars, two majors, and a Master’s degree” to try and get embedded after spending a semester studying journalism at Cal State Fullerton. “I did a one-credit study writing for the school newspaper; this was in the fall of 2002. Leading up to the invasion of Iraq, you keep hearing about all of these reporters getting embedded,” Larson said. “In fact, when I first called the Pentagon, I thought they said military in bedding, and I had never heard this term before. I was like ‘military in bedding?’ Guess they’re going to put me up.” Because Larson had been to Afghanistan in the ‘80s and was also being sponsored by a student newspaper, the Pentagon approved Larson’s request to be embedded in Iraq. “We sent an email to the Pentagon, and they said OK,” Larson said. “Our thinking was that they thought of it as ROTC outreach. They would have a college student embedded and

writing, and it will go to all the college newspapers. I was just guessing, but it seemed like a promotional thing.” Larson spent his time in Iraq as a professional journalist instead of a freelancer as he had in Afghanistan in the ‘80s. “It’s not like my passion is to tell the world or to do news. My passion is to tell a personal experience of it, more like a memoir than news,” Larson said. “In Iraq, that was news. That was having to write two or three stories a week. I realized that’s not really my thing.” When events began to unfold in Libya this year, Larson assumed things would be over quickly. Larson said they would oust Gaddafi right away, because there was no love for him there. But Gaddafi and his sons mobilized their armor and artillery divisions together and began pushing the rebels back towards Benghazi.

“The rebels were completely outclassed in terms of equipment. It was guys with old Kalashnikovs and some not even with those, just unarmed against tanks and artillery strikes,” Larson said. Larson said he agonized over whether or not he should go in May and June. “Even in May, you’re thinking this is going to… Well, by the time I get there this is going to be over,” Larson said. Larson decided to go on June 24 and was on a plane to Cairo by July 19. “I didn’t really tell a lot of people I was going to go there for fear that I would fail. I didn’t tell my parents,” Larson said. “I don’t want to sound cavalier about it, but I was more worried about disgrace or embarrassment than getting maimed or killed because I felt that just wouldn’t happen. It felt right.” Larson’s story concluded in next week’s issue.


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NEWS

September 12, 2011

the uwm post

Legal help to students in need

The UWM Legal Clinic offers keen insight to campus

Paralegals Alexandra Patten and Seth Newman are two staff members who aid students at the UWM Legal Clinic. Post photo by Sierra Riesberg By Olen Burage Special to the Post news@uwmpost.com

UW-Milwaukee students and young adults in general run into a fair amount of legal trouble, ranging anywhere from defaulting on payments to run-ins with the law. When it comes to legal advice, most students can’t afford to balance education fees and the cost of a licensed attorney. However, UWM is making a difference for students in need of legal guidance. The UWM Legal Clinic has been offering free advising to enrolled students on appropriate legal action since 1971. The student-run staff of 15 to 25 paralegal and criminal justice majors isn’t licensed to offer legal advising. Instead, they refer clients to staff attorney John Wartman, who

is qualified to guide students in the direction of legal action. “Landlords think they can push students around because they don’t know the law,” Executive Director Jason Hoelker said. “We do anything from speeding tickets, underage drinking tickets, parking tickets, etc.” Hoelker has been with the legal clinic for two and a half years and explains that they’re more than just mediators. “We do a lot of work with NHO, the Neighborhood Housing Office,” he said. “They refer a lot of cases to us.” Apart from smaller cases, the clinic also handles issues such as uncontested divorce, as long as there are no property or children involved. However, the clinic will not advise students seeking legal action against other students. The UWM legal clinic also

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encourages students who already have lawyers to come to them for a second opinion. “There are other legal resources in the city that can point people in the right direction,” Hoelker said. “But we’re here to help students who can’t always afford an attorney.” The legal clinic is always looking for students interested in volunteering their time. “It’s a chance to give back to the students, and it looks great on a resume,” Hoelker said. The volunteer positions are unpaid and require three semesters of dedication, but Hoelker says the benefits of helping out fellow students and gaining legal experience far outweigh the lack of a paid compensation. “It’s a professional atmosphere, but it’s not like Wall Street. It’s without the

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Associate professor files for bankruptcy, faces controversy

UWM professor and MPS board president files for bankruptcy By Jon Gorski Staff Writer news@uwmpost.com

UW-Milwaukee Associate Professor of Educational and Community Studies and Milwaukee Public Schools official Michael Bonds is facing scrutiny after recently filing for bankruptcy. Lawyer Michelle Cramer is accusing Bonds of attempting to avoid paying off debts while still making a sum of $105,060 – more than double the median income of Wisconsin residents. In a recent Journal Sentinel article, Ralph Anzivino, a Marquette University law professor, said that Bonds was “abusing provisions of the bankruptcy code.” He implied that although Bonds may have significant debt, the amount of money he earns is more than enough to pay off his debt. Lawyers questioning Bonds’ claims cite the irregular nature of his relationship with his wife. Bonds maintains that he and his wife are legally separated, but still live together. Doing so “legally allows him” to disregard his wife’s income when filing his bankruptcy claims. His wife, Kathy Bonds, refused

to take part in filing for bankruptcy to “avoid the embarrassment,” according to the Journal Sentinel article. Bonds has served as senior fiscal review analyst for the city of Milwaukee and has a Ph.D. in urban studies from UWM. He also serves as school board president for MPS. According to the bankruptcy filing, Bonds is paying $600 a month to cover around $10,000 worth of unpaid taxes to the Internal Revenue Service. In addition, he also pays $526 monthly on a second mortgage. According to Bice, Bonds also has “two relatively new cars.” In the same article, Anzivino said, “The guy making $105,000 a year shouldn’t be treated the same way as the guy making $15,000 – that’s abuse. The statute uses the word abuse. It’s not a word taken out of the sky.” At the moment, it is unclear whether or not this filing will have a significant impact on UWM students or the functionality of MPS, though Bonds’ ability to run the MPS school board could be in question. Bonds and his lawyer were both unavailable for comment for this article.

September 12, 2011 5

UWM commemorates 9/11 victims, soldiers overseas Chancellor leads students and faculty in commemorative moment of silence

Lovell addresses the approximately 40 students and staff members outside Mitchell Hall who came to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11. Post photo by Sierra Riesberg By Steve Garrison

GUNS

Continued from page 1

since July 23, public university campuses are excluded from this, and firearms are still banned from campus grounds until November 1. After that date, properlylicensed individuals may carry firearms on campus but not in buildings with proper posting. “You can carry it into open areas, unless it’s posted otherwise, and they can’t enter a building if it’s posted that you can’t enter the building with a concealed weapon,” Horicon Police Department Lieutenant Adrian Bump said. However, the right to carry a gun at UWM is complicated by Hartford University School’s location in the middle of campus, because the new bill kept a provision prohibiting firearms within 1,000 feet of a school. “We do know that the law exists, but I’m not sure that all the people that are on UWM’s campus know that the law is in existence about 1,000 feet away from schools,” Hartford University School Principal Tanzanique Carrington said. Aside from the area around schools and places where signs are posted, individuals may have weapons on campus, an issue that generates concern that attacks or accidents involving these

News Editor

weapons might occur. “I don’t think that they should have any concealed weapons on campus at all” freshman Kelsea McCulloch said. “I just don’t think it’s necessary.” One junior who preferred to remain anonymous supports the bill allowing for concealed weapons to be carried on public property, but he is skeptical about extending that right to campuses. “I’m a hunter who uses firearms every year, and I actually enjoy going to the gun range and firing guns,” he said. “I understand the idea of concealed carry as it becoming a state law… The problem that I see is that I don’t understand why someone would need it at a university setting.” Haarstad is also torn on the issue. Although he has lived outside of Minneapolis, where a similar law has been in effect for years, and generally supports such laws across the country, he says that concealed weapons in Milwaukee might heighten racial tensions that have been flaring lately. “Like the whole state fair incident, if people had guns that’d be even worse. If somebody were to pull a gun out, even if self-defense, it would escalate everything a hundred times over,” Haarstad said. “Every state is different. Every community is different. I just really don’t think it’s good here in Milwaukee or in the cities in particular.”

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Chancellor Michael Lovell led approximately 40 students and staff in a moment of silence outside Mitchell Hall Sunday morning in commemoration of the lives lost 10 years prior on Sept. 11, 2001. The brief event, which ran from 9:00 a.m. to 9:10 a.m., was organized by the UWM Veterans Advisory Council, chaired by Student Accessibility Coordinator Laurie Petersen and Dean of Academic Affairs Patricia Arredondo. “We just thought this is such a significant event that we wanted to

have something on campus, not just for the vets, but for anybody who wanted to commemorate the attacks,” Petersen said. The U.S. flag flew at half-mast on the east lawn of Mitchell Hall as Lovell began his speech. “Anniversaries are very powerful events,” Lovell said. “Today we are here to commemorate the anniversary of 9/11, a day that we will shoulder forever.” Lovell said that even 10 years later we still mourn the victims of 9/11 and terrorists’ victims around the world. “Our university must be a place where we practice tolerance, unity and understanding,” he said. Lovell then led a brief moment of silence, after which the Golden Eagles

Baton choir performed “Amazing Grace,” “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “Taps.” Sophomore Abby Zellmer attended the event, although she lost no family members in the World Trade Center attack. “I have family who are in the military, and I thought I should come honor them,” she said. Abby Jacobsen, one of several ROTC cadets in attendance, said that she was in middle school during the attacks and feared that her mother, who was serving in the Navy at the time, would be sent overseas. Thankfully, that was not the case, but Jacobsen said she still felt that she owes her country a few years of service.


6 September 6, 2011

SPORTS

Volleyball loses in final of Milw. Invitational to MU

Slow start dooms Panthers in final

THE UWM POST

Panthers beat Wisconsin, stumble late to MU Hagen scores goal in overtime to down Badgers

Senior Kerri Schuh tries to handle a kill in the championship vs MU. Post photo by Sierra Riesberg Senior Sarah Hagen watches a shot go by against rival MU. Post photo by Sierra Riesberg By Jeremy Lubus Sports Editor sports@uwmpost.com

After overcoming a slow start against Akron and Southern Mississippi State, the Panthers could not afford another slow start to the talented Marquette Golden Eagles in the final of the Milwaukee Invitational. Yet that’s exactly what happened. The Panthers lost the championship match in three straight sets – 25-14, 2520, 25-22 – to MU Saturday night at the Klotsche Center in front of a packed house. The Golden Eagles came out blazing in the first set, quickly scoring 10 of the game’s first 13 points as never trailing in the first set. The Panthers (7-3) had only 9 kills on 31 attacks, good for just a .143 hitting percent. UW-Milwaukee looked up at a 21-11 deficit and were never able

to get into a solid rhythm on offense for much of the match. The Panthers took punch-afterpunch in the second set but battled to make it a four-point game at 2420. However, the Golden Eagles (73) quickly snapped all hope from the Panthers with a kill, ending the set and Milwaukee’s confidence. Three different players recorded double-digit kills for the Golden Eagles while the Panthers failed to record one. Sophomore Rachel Neuberger was the closest with nine. Also, Kayla Price had 28 saves for the Panthers. Morgan Potter and Neuberger were selected to the All-Tournament team as well. Milwaukee travels to Western Michigan this week before returning home to the Klotsche Center to open Horizon League play this coming weekend.

By Mitch Pratt and Jeremy Lubus Staff Writers sports@uwmpost.com

Overtime in soccer will make a coach go crazy. Nobody knows this better than UWM’s women’s soccer coach Michael Moynihan. His No.14 UWM squad won 2-1 over in-state rival Wisconsin Sunday afternoon in overtime but lost in double overtime 1-0 earlier in the week to No.12 Marquette University. “I really like how we were able to rebound after a tough loss earlier this week,” said Moynihan. Senior Sarah Hagen scored the team’s first goal early in the first half. After the game entered overtime, Hagen won it for Milwaukee with a strike midway through overtime. “She is a handful to defend,” said Moynihan. “She beat a double team and shot with her off foot to score.”

The game remained tied as Badgers (5-2) escaped what looked to be a handball that would have allowed the Panthers a great opportunity to score in the 90th minute. The Panthers (7-1) finished with 24 shots compared to Wisconsin’s 10. Marquette The game wasn’t decided until a chipper off the foot of Marquette forward Maegen Kelly beat Milwaukee keeper Jamie Forbes with one minute and nine seconds left in the second half of the second overtime to win 1-0. The visiting Golden Eagles (7-1) outshot the Panthers 19-6 and were able to limit Milwaukee’s star forward Sarah Hagen to just two shots, neither of which landed on goal. “Marquette really does some good things on defense,” Moynihan said. “A lot of the time it was one-on-three, and that’s tough to ask anyone to do.” Milwaukee’s best chance to score came

in the 102nd minute when a corner kick by Keara Thompson was nullified by a foul in the box on UWM. The Panthers best opportunity was quickly gone after the change of possession. “The game was played at a physical level the whole time,” Moynihan said. “It seemed like every time we got physical, we got whistled, and every time they did, there was no whistle. That’s just how it goes sometimes though.” The cross-town matchup helped shatter the attendance record at Engelmann Field. The previous record was 1,309 when the two met in 2009. The game, televised nationally on Fox Soccer Channel, finished with a total attendance of 2,212. “It was such a great atmosphere here,” Moynihan said. “Soccer is pretty big around here, and I think with the right media coverage the sport can really explode.”

Wisconsin hammers Oregon State, 35-0 By Kelly Erickson Badger Herald, U. Wisconsin via UWIRE

So far the Wisconsin football team has had a taste of the great, the alright and the bite of injuries. Don’t let the shut out completely fool you, the Badgers (2-0) 35-0 trouncing of the Oregon State Beavers (0-2) while dominating wasn’t initially pretty or their most efficient play thanks to a fired up Beaver defense. In its first shutout since Oct. 31 2009 over Purdue (37-0), Wisconsin gained a total of 397 yards to Oregon States 284. Quarterback Russell Wilson stayed sharp going 17-for-21 with 189 yards while also rushing four times for a net total of 11 yards. Wilson only took one sack, but threw for three touchdowns with no interceptions. If a single play could define the game, it was OSU’s botched punt in the first quarter. Backed up on their own 18, Oregon State’s punter Johnny Hekker took the snap only to have Wisconsin defensive back Andrew Lukasko right in his face. Hekker punted the ball sideways and actually gave the Badgers field

position deep in Beaver territory with a -4 yard punt. “They did that over shift punt, kind of like a rugby, and I took Lukasko and put him in at the rush spot because I knew he’d go 100 miles anhour up the field and set the edge,” Bielema said. “He really flashed in front of the punter’s face and got that shank punt. It was fun to see Lukasko have some success.” The run game struggled early on as the OSU defense was suffocating. Between running backs Montee Ball, James White and Wislon, UW only gained a net total of three yards in the first quarter on ten carries, but found its stride in the second quarter finishing the half with 85 yards on 23 carries. “Very frustrating, actually,” Ball said. “I was yelling on the sidelines a couple times because I was frustrated. I’m used to one hits and bursting out for 45 yards or something like that. It’s a good thing that it happened because it showed our offense that we have to overcome adversity and we did.” While the run game was lethargic, Wilson spread the field finding wide receivers Nick Toon and Jared Abbrederis several times for key first downs and tight


SPORTS

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Sets in the city Panthers down Marquette Milwaukee tennis looks to continue improving under McInerney By Tony Atkins Assistant Sports Editor sports@uwmpost.com

The UW-Milwaukee women’s tennis program was long forgotten for many years, losing over and over again during the early 2000s and compiling a woeful 9-65 record during the 2001-06 seasons. That ship has since sailed. The once “black sheep” of the UWM athletic department is beginning to show improvement ever since coach Sean McInerney took over in the middle of the 2009-10 season. That year, the Panthers finished the season out with a record of 5-14 as a team and sat near the bottom of the Horizon League once again. Results aren’t always immediate when you bring in a new regime for a program. In the case of the UWM tennis program, the results came sooner than expected. In 2010-11, the Panthers made great strides under McInerney, posting a solid 11-11 record and making an appearance in the Horizon League tournament for the first time since 2009. After such a solid season, the Panthers adopted a very tough schedule, including four different tournaments this fall. Starting with the Drake Invitational in Des Moines, Iowa, the Panthers will be off to Minnesota, back to Northern Iowa, then off to Chicago to face the reigning Horizon League Champions, the University of IllinoisChicago Flames. McInerney knows that his team will be tested this year, but adopting a difficult schedule will be the best for the development of this team as people and players. He also thinks the tougher competition will help the program as a whole in years to come. “It’s definitely a tough love schedule,” end Jacob Pederson for two touchdowns. Toon, who finished with 69 yards and one touchdown in seven receptions — which ties his career total for number of receptions in a game — noted the importance of the passing game in the shutout. “That’s football,” Toon said. “If the running game’s not working, you’ve got to throw it. Our run game had some difficulties early on and came back later on and had success. You have to have success at least in one aspect of the game to win. We were able to do that today.” To add to the slower start, Wisconsin lost defensive end Pat Muldoon to a right dislocated shoulder, corner back Devin Smith to a left foot injury — x-rays were negative for any breaks — and started without outside linebacker Kevin Claxton due to a broken wrist he sustained last week against UNLV. Putting up 21 points in one half while keeping the opponent out of the endzone is no easy feat, but it wasn’t until the second half that the Badgers started to really click and look crisp and efficient. Wilson and Toon continued their passing relationship and the run game finally showed moments of the typical juggernaut it’s known as. Coming out strong in the second half, on the first drive of the third quarter, Wisconsin started on their own 20. After a few short rushes and a personal foul on Oregon State’s Jordan Poyer for a late hit, bringing the ball to the OSU 19, Ball ran it 19 yards for the touchdown, keeping the running game relevant. “That was nice,” Ball said. “To make sure that we go into halftime with a

McInerney said. “I believe that if were going to be a good team and improve, we need to be able to compete with the good teams. We might struggle initially, but these are the steps we need to take.” Leadership amongst the players was something much needed when McInerney took the helm of the program. Despite tennis being such an individual sport, he began to bring players together as a team in order to win. The team is stocked with talent this year after bringing in good recruits. Just last year junior Maddy Soule posted an impressive single season record with 24 singles wins and was named Horizon League Newcomer of the Year. Following suit was sophomore Kristin Kurer with 20 wins. This year, senior Megan Gow will be the sole senior on the team. She has noticed a great improvement in the program since she started four years ago. “It’s just been a good change since I came in as a freshman,” Gow said. “Coach Sean has really gotten the players really excited to do something as a team. In the past year and a half, he has really gotten us to be our best as leaders, players and people.” I had one simple question to ask to gauge the progression of this growing program. I asked her, “Has your time playing tennis here at UWM made you love the game more or less?” She simply replied, “Oh yeah!” As the team continues to get better, they are starting to play against some of the best competition in this region. No longer forgotten, the Panthers’ tennis team is on its way up.

positive play, so we come out with the same mentality.” Ball went on to finish the game with a net total of 118 yards in 18 carries with two touchdowns. While the Wisconsin run game picked up, OSU’s continued to suffer. With running back Malcolm Agnew out with a hamstring injury and an oppressive Badger defense — that started with a healthy Smith who seemed to be all over the field — the Beavers just weren’t able to get the ball in the endzone, much less the redzone. While the Oregon State offense just couldn’t seem to move the ball well, the defense found ways to badger Wisconsin, initially in the run game. “They did a great job crashing the ball, flying in, jumping around blocks and making some athletic plays,” Ball said. “We tip our hat to them for that because they’re an athletic team. I wish the best of luck to them, but we made the adjustments at halftime and came out with Wisconsin football.” Bielema was pleased with how his team reacted on the field to different looks OSU was trying to create. Despite the slow start to the running game, the Badgers still gave a strong performance in the end. “The game is five percent of what happens and 95 percent of what you react to,” Bielema said. “Because they were giving us certain looks that took away, we had to have the mentality to not panic, not flinch and just keep the ball going the right direction. I thought it was a great example of Wisconsin football.”

in Milwaukee Cup

Stingy defense holds strong late to preserve win By Nick Bornheimer Staff Writer sports@uwmpost.com

The UW-Milwaukee Panthers kept the Milwaukee Cup on the east side of the city for the second straight year Friday night with a 2-1 victory over the rival Marquette Golden Eagles. A pair of first-half goals by seniors Robert Refai and Keegan Ziada proved to be enough offense as the Panthers held off a second-half Marquette surge. “Marquette played well towards the end of the game,” UWM coach Chris Whalley said. “They really threw the kitchen sink at us, and I think we held up well.” The Panthers’ defense faded late, but junior goalie John Shakon accounted for seven saves, including a game-clinching save from point-blank

range by Golden Eagles forward Andy Huftalin in the 89th minute to secure their 2-1 advantage. “John made a couple of really good saves,” Whalley said. “He made a brilliant save there at the end. We really showed resiliency late.” Momentum was with the Panthers (3-1-0) from kick-off, but UWM did not find the back of the net until midway through the first half. The Panthers struck first at the 22:20 mark, when freshman Laurie Bell advanced a loose ball to Refai who chipped it in from six yards out with impressive finesse. The Panthers were not done in the first half, taking a 2-0 lead in the 36th minute on a Ziada goal that was brilliantly set up by freshman Nick Langford. Langford sent an accurate through-ball to a streaking Ziada who

snuck it past Marquette goalie David Check for the near-post goal. The Golden Eagles (1-3-0) found the back of the net with just over 20 minutes left in the match but could not get another ball past Shakon. The victory helps UWM improve to 3-0 in their last three games and gives them their longest winningstreak since the 2006 season. The victory also marks the 27th time UWM has earned the Milwaukee Cup since the award originated in 1973, trumping the nine times Marquette has taken the trophy home. “This feels great,” Whalley said. “It’s where the cup belongs… Now we have to keep working hard doing the right things. I think we played some good soccer, and the best team eventually won.”

Image courtesy of sportschatplace.com


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ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL PANTHERFEST

This year's edition of Pantherfest, which featured performances by Lupe Fiasco and Girl Talk, among others, was a thoroughly successful start to a new semester. Post photo by Sierra Riesberg


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Joined by the local rapper Prophetic, Lupe Fiasco and Girl Talk created quite the kick-off for the new school year By Kevin Kaber Assistant Fringe Editor fringe@uwmpost.com

Friday night marked UWMilwaukee’s largest event of the year. Students and others lined up for hours to crowd the Marcus Amphitheater to get up close to the night’s headliners. But before Lupe Fiasco and Girl Talk were to hit the stage, local rapper Prophetic played a short set, though the up-and-comer shouldn’t be taken lightly. Along with the sassy DJ Poizon Ivy and a few others, Prophetic played a memorably homegrown set – of course, he was donning a “Bitch I’m from Milwaukee” sweatshirt and was, like so many others in the crowd, still ecstatic about the Packers’ win the night before, playing a variation of Lil Wayne’s “Green and Yellow.” Prophetic demonstrated an extreme knack for freestyling on a few occasions. 88Nine Radio’s Marcus Doucette, the MC for the night, showed his excitement for the local act and prompted everyone to check out Prophetic’s album, which is

free to stream on his website. Lupe then took the stage, sporting short dreads, a hole-littered t-shirt and a nearly ten-person ensemble – including singer Sarah Green, who can be heard on many of Lupe’s tracks. Opening with Lasers’ “Letting Go,” the politically minded artist set the tone for his set – large and poppy with plenty of activism-inspired lyrics. It was obvious by the giant “A” in the middle of the stage that the set would be a huge promotion of Lupe’s latest album, Lasers, which released earlier this year with a new, popinduced sound that departed tenfold from earlier albums, Food & Liquor and The Cool. The album-promoting set is to be expected from any artist signed to a major label, but in no way did that take from some great music. There were a few accelerated runthroughs of earlier albums, which typically ended on a performance of a well-known song – such as about three Food & Liquor and The Cool excepts followed by the crowd-pleasing “Kick, Push.”

Between songs like The Cool ’s “The Coolest” and “Hip Hop Saved My Life,” Lupe got the crowd to stay attentive and swaying in their seats, hands back and forth and side to side. On only a few occasions did the rapper stop the music to say something to the audience. One such occasion was the obligatory phrase “Where’s the ladies at?” before the song “Go Baby.” Other occasions were more serious, like the moment Lupe shared his dark places, even more so as he urged a moment of silence for those lost in 9/11 and the subsequent wars. A brief moment off-stage led to an encore, initiated by the Indian Summer Festival’s fireworks display and the favorite “Superstar.” Lupe’s latest hit “The Show Goes On” was played to the crowd’s obvious delight and received the most ovations and lip-syncing. Lupe played a riveting “I Don’t Wanna Care Right Now,” as its heavy bass drum beats kept to crowd going for Girl Talk. After a short set change and the Pantherfest raffle, a small table with monitors was wheeled to center stage. This was Girl Talk’s set. Also known

by his real name, Gregg Gillis, Girl Talk began his hoot-and-hollerin’ set by begging UWM if they want to “start the party right fucking now!?” Opening with some mash-ups like Biggie’s “Juicy” and The Throne’s “Otis,” Gillis had only just begun as an entourage of students crowded the stage behind the DJ. At this point, the crowd, on- and off-stage, became an instant scuzz-butt, bro-fest. But what else is to be expected from likely the world’s foremost mashup artist? Gillis has crafted some of the most successful rave music ever, and Pantherfest indulged fully to this fact. Who would have thought that a mix of Vampire Weekend and The Ramones would put so many inebriated students into a dancing trance? Girl Talk’s staff of balloon throwers and toilet paper blowers piqued the interest of audience members to get closer to the stage, as balloons and toilet paper often do. Crowd control efforts to detain those without VIP access were rendered useless, as so many had began to grind their way to the front.

The DJ had effectively recreated the same moment he had made at Summerfest – fans danced until they tuckered out while Gillis shed his notorious sweat suit and perspired all over his laptop. There were many pinnacles throughout the set, especially when the crowd heard samples from Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance.” Onstage lighting and strobes could have almost caused seizures and created a slow-motion effect for the wave-like motion of the entire amphitheater. Towards the end of the set, security themselves were dancing and singing along, the sign language interpreter’s arms grew in muscle mass just from keeping up with the speedy lyrics, and the crowd had begun to reek of sweat, while numbers and spit were swapped. Pantherfest, as always, pleased the crowd of incoming freshmen, welcoming them to college and kicking off a (hopefully) successful year of school.


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Michael Ian Black has issues The comedian opens up in advance of his show at Turner Hall

Famous for The State, Wet Hot American Summer, and countless VH1 specials, comedian Michael Ian Black will be performing at Turner Hall on the 17th.

Seeing how young Michael Ian Black actually looks, it can be difficult to wrap your head around just how long he’s been in the comedy scene. Dating back to the mid-1990s, with MTV’s classic sketch troupe The State, Black has been a persistent, if understated, comedy presence, especially on Comedy Central, which aired his short-lived endeavors Stella and Michael & Michael Have Issues, and VH1, for which he’s appeared on just about every I Love the… special you can think of. The UWM Post recently had a conversation with Black in advance of his September 17 performance at Turner Hall about the odd nature of his career, the future of a cult movie, and the shifting landscape of comedy in the early ‘90s that ultimately gave birth to the modern scene. UWM Post: You grew out of the comedy scene in New York. What about that scene at that time lent itself to your act? Michael Ian Black: It’s hard for me to say what inf luence it had because it was the only scene that I knew, so I can’t contrast it with anything. But I did start performing comedy in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, and it was a good time to get into comedy, because comedy was more or less dead in the mainstream. Comedy clubs were closing. If you wanted to do it, you really had to want to do it. And at that time, there were a lot of people who really wanted to do it, and it was a very fertile ground for new ideas and new voices and new ways to approach what had become a kind of stale form. And with sketch comedy, which I was doing, there was really no other sketch comedy that I knew. There were a couple other groups, but there were no places to perform really, and so you just sort of had to make your own stuff. You had to make your own theaters, and you had to make your own shows, and you had to promote them the way you promoted them, and it was a really great, fertile time. Post: Would that have to do with a generational divide around that time? The lack of a certain thing and the

ability for that group of young people to fill the need for it? MIB: Maybe it was generational in terms of stand-up comedians. There was a whole breed of comedian out there in the Jerry Seinfeld mold, and that idea just got exhausted through repetition and exposure on cable television, and people were just sick of it. And so it just died. And when that happened, there was a hole that had to be filled, and there were people in New York, L.A. and Chicago at that time who rushed in to fill that hole. Post: Was that new approach to comedy particularly difficult to sell to a mainstream comedy audience? MIB: Nobody was really trying to sell it to a mainstream comedy audience. That wasn’t really the goal. The goal was just to figure out different ways to do stand-up, and then over time, those people sort of entered the mainstream. But it probably took 10 years from the time that it started. Post: You mentioned a lot of the people that all converged to make this sort of comedy. Were there any compatriots of yours that had a particular inf luence on you and your act? MIB: The group of comedians who came right before me – they were working at the same time but they were a little bit older – were Louis C.K., Marc Maron, Jeff Ross, Todd Barry, Janeane Garofalo; David Cross had his sketch group. And then I had The State and Stella and then also doing a little bit of stand-up myself. And there was just a group of people. And I don’t think I inf luenced them at all, but yeah, they definitely inf luenced me in terms of how they were approaching the medium and what they were trying to do. I don’t mean to make it sound more intellectual than it was, because people were ultimately just trying to get laughs, but the way to get laughs was to do something fresh. There’s a guy named Toby Huss who was one of the voices for King of the Hill after this – and he’s been around a long time – who was the first

See BLACK page 13


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BLACK

Continued from page 11 guy that I remember getting up on a stage and just telling long stories about his life and doing it in the context of stand-up comedy. There was a guy named Ross Brockley who was this real oddball from Nebraska who had a real laconic, understated delivery and did a lot of surreal stuff. There were a lot of people f loating in and out of the scene, and for me at the time – I was 22, 23 – it was all very inspirational. Post: You mentioned all the styles of comedy that you guys had, in particular the groups you were in. What would you describe your style of comedy as, both as an individual now and throughout your career? MIB: As an individual, I think it’s still evolving. It goes from being “smug asshole” to “less smug asshole” to maybe “trying not to be a smug asshole” to “going back to being a smug asshole.” And then in the context of a larger group, it’s a little bit all over the map. I don’t know that I have one thing that I do, and I don’t know that it would be fun to do the same thing over and over again. I like a lot of silly stuff, but I also like a lot of serious comedy, if that makes sense. Post: You do have this paced, thoughtful air about you when you do your live show that I think lends itself to the idea of serious comedy. MIB: That might just be because I don’t know what I’m going to say next. Post: Has improv had any particular impact on you? You mentioned not knowing what to say next, which lends itself to the idea that there’s some improv going on there. MIB: Well, I am always looking for new and better ways to express myself, and that happens a lot onstage. But I was never an improv artist. I

September 12, 2011 13

was never good at it. I didn’t really understand it. And so I never did it. Post: I wanted to go over the many short-lived television shows that you’ve had over your career – The State being one of them, Stella being another, and then Michael and Michael Have Issues – what impact or inf luence has the fact that those shows have been so short-lived had on your career? MIB: It’s impossible to say. It’s made me more self-loathing maybe. Post: Your 2001 film Wet Hot American Summer seems to have had a much longer shelf life than it would have logically seemed when it came out. Are you surprised at all by how much Wet Hot American Summer lasted? MIB: I guess so. I’m always surprised when projects take on their own lives and exist separate from the people who made them. You make something and you cast it off, so when people find things, it’s always surprising because there’s so much stuff out there that when people grab a hold of something you’ve made, it feels really good. It’s a pleasant surprise that people celebrate the movie after 10 years and still talk about it and still enjoy it. Post: Because I kind of have to ask, there have been some rumors recently about a sequel. Is there any strength to that; is that something that has been talked about? MIB: [Director] David Wain was talking about it, so I have to believe that it’s serious on some level, but movies are very difficult to get made. I don’t put a lot of faith in the idea that it will ever get made, but that’s not to say that it won’t. I know that the whole cast would do it. Everybody’s excited to do another movie. It’s just trying to get someone to pay for it can be a little hard.

Gene Ween dials it back

The former Ween frontman plays it straight at the Pabst By Steven Franz Fringe Editor fringe@uwmpost.com

In the coming years, there will be a massive nostalgia wave for the 1990s. We’re already seeing it now as bands like Smashing Pumpkins and Soundgarden are putting out new material and programs like TeenNick’s late-night 1990s programming block find their way back to the air. Most people, especially of this generation who were only kids during the ‘90s and have no real connection with anything other than its populist side, are going to be putting their nostalgic effort into the more mainstream elements of ‘90s culture (radio-friendly alternative rock, Quentin Tarantino and shows like All That). But what’s really deserving of reminiscence from the Clinton decade is its more absurdist, surreal side – TV shows like Rocko’s Modern Life and The Adventures of Pete & Pete and bands like Ween. Which is what was disappointing about Ween co-founder Gene Ween (née Aaron Freeman) and his show Saturday night at the Pabst Theater. It just wasn’t weird enough. That’s not to say it wasn’t

a great show. Played before a scantyet-enthusiastic crowd in the theater’s quarter-empty lower bowl, Freeman’s set was a surprisingly raucous one, despite its acoustic nature. But considering the history that a band like Ween has, and considering that Ween’s songs were the ones the band’s former singer was earnestly strumming for a solid 90 minutes, the fact that the absurdity wasn’t there ultimately hung heavy over the performance. It was a massive performance at that. Twenty-four songs were represented, all but one from Ween’s catalog, which is a feat mostly made possible by the fact that so many of them are under two minutes in length, but ultimately speaks to just how deeply great Ween’s career has been. The only other song was a joyously strange cover of Motörhead’s “Ace of Spades,” played by former Ween bassist Dave Dreiwitz on his low-ender. And the sheer quality of the songs managed to carry almost all of them despite the absence of their strange and absurd recorded particulars – that and the fact that the audience was so bawdily animated. Gene Ween could have been repeatedly hammering nails into the floor for an hour and a half, and the crowd

would have eaten it up. (I’m also sure it would have been some commentary about the messages the media drills into society; Ween tended to work that way.) But even though “Push th’ Little Daisies” was played as a straightforward pop song instead of an ear-piercing shriek of music, it worked well because of just how great the song is when you strip away its baffling, great studio production. Because Ween, when you took away all the absurdity, were great songwriters. And when it came to material from more musically basic albums like 1997’s The Mollusk – here represented by its title track, “Cold Blows the Wind,” and “She Wanted to Leave” – their acoustic interpretation became almost transcendent. Aaron Freeman has had a history of peculiar and drug-fueled behavior, which seemed to culminate at a show in January of this year, and, lately, he’s been a different Gene Ween – thinner, less odd, more buttoned-up. (He wore a tucked-in dress shirt to Saturday’s performance.) But gone with his behavioral irregularities appears to be his larger sense of absurdity. And, ultimately, I’d call that a fair trade, especially when he can still be as invigorating as he was on Saturday.


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Now showing at a theater near you

A look at what’s to come at UWM’s Union Theatre

Renowned actor Steve Buscemi is just one personality whose early career in New York City art cinema is profiled in Celine Danhier's Blank City, which plays Thursday at the Union Theatre. Fringe Section staff fringe@uwmpost.com

The UW-Milwaukee Union Theatre is one of the most notable and diverse movie theaters in the entire country, but it can be easy to overlook in the context of studies and the day-to-day bustle of the UWM campus. Every week, the staff at The UWM Post provides a brief guide to the theater’s most notable titles, in an effort to encourage students to make the most of this unique and vibrant resource. Blank City (Sept 15) Part of the Documentary Frontiers series at the UWM Theatre, Blank City sheds light on 1970s and ‘80s New York City and its independent arts, namely film. Dubbed “No Wave Cinema,” due to its tight budgets and various other constraints (as well as a rip on French New Wave), the movement fostered in a new era and mode of filmmaking. First-time director Celine Danhier showcases the city’s former run-down, near-bankrupt grittiness and captures its subsequent independent film movement. Danhier includes interviews from the likes of the now-famous actor Steve Buscemi and director Jim Jarmusch, as well as plenty of excerpts of their scratched-up and nearly forgotten Super 8 films. Expect an intriguing portrait of the Big Apple’s film underground. Film Socialisme (Sept 16-18) Aged director and French New Wave cofounder Jean-Luc Godard’s latest feature, his first to be fully on video, Film Socialisme, debuts in Milwaukee on Friday. Godard’s filmography stretches

over fifty years and includes some of film history’s most important pieces. Film Socialisme presents Godard’s infamous style of filmmaking in three movements complete with broken English subtitle translations, which the director calls “Navajo English.” The art film depicts an uncertain human condition and socialist ideals through means of images and videos, some of which appear to have been taken from cell phones. As stubborn as the 80-year-old director can be, Film Socialisme might be a difficult piece to digest for some. Those with no penchant for the avant-garde likely won’t appreciate the film, but then again, Godard’s visions are not the easiest to crack. The Conformist (Sept 16-18) Upon its debut in 1970, Bernardo Bertolucci’s unquestioned masterpiece The Conformist was a savage, uncompromising, controversial portrayal of modern foreign policy – amidst an era when political mistrust and international espionage were not just the things of pulp fiction but a viable, unstable and very much real part of the international atmosphere. Based on the 1951 novel by Italian writer Alberto Moravia, the film draws direct and distinct parallels between the Cold War environment of the mid-20th century and the rise of Italy’s Fascist party in the 1930s, forgoing the pseudo-noble heroics of contemporary spy fiction. It is also a particularly beautiful film, with gorgeous art deco production design that portrays the ironic beauty of a troubling time in Italian history.


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fringe

Neon Indian lets go of the past, learns from it

As the aging process takes hold, the psychedelic-pop group sheds an important layer of its sound

Neon Indian's latest album, Era Extraña, departs from the band's earlier "chillwave" efforts in a mature fashion

the uwm post By Graham Marlowe Assistant Fringe Editor fringe@uwmpost.com

Alan Palomo, i.e., Neon Indian, wasn’t alive when ‘80s pop first began flooding the airwaves, but he obviously possesses a sophisticated grasp of the era’s musical playbook. Based on this premise, Palomo has continually exceeded his chillwave peers with an uncanny ability to replicate – or should I say reimagine – the complex emotions of synthesized soundtracks like 1983’s cocaine-saturated blockbuster Scarface. Two summers ago, Palomo’s Lefse Records debut, Psychic Chasms, sent a shockwave through the blogosphere that has yet to subside, and while Palomo does not live in the past, he’s sure learned a lot from it. Chasms received enormous critical praise, and since then, a remix album, Mind Ctrl: Psychic Chasms Possessed, and a collaborative EP with The Flaming Lips have made Neon Indian a modern classic of the indie-pop canon, especially for those with a thirst for the psychedelic. On terms not a whole hell of a lot different from Psychic Chasms, the synthpop scholar’s second album, Era Extraña, picks up the pieces from his young-adult vision quest (which Chasms began) and sustains the Texan’s interest in video game-sampled soundscapes (“Heart: Attack”; “Heart: Decay”), as well as the bittersweet epiphanies we’ve grown accustomed to (“Hex Girlfriend”). The commonalities between those albums far outweigh their differences, and, with but a small increase to the music’s danceability, Palomo continues to derive wisdom from a certain kind of morning-after dread. And through that lens, the 23-year-old sage guides us through what remains a triumphant listening experience. Where Extraña differs from its predecessor the most is in its dialing

down of Palomo’s main theme: lost youth and the lost possibility that accompanies it. Per usual, the songwriter does not hesitate to slather the already-dark guitar and keyboard(s) of his tracks in a multitude of reverb and effects. (Let’s just say a headphones listen is different than an open-air consumption of the album.) Perhaps the aging process has shed some of Palomo’s rebellion or merely conquered his demons. Nevertheless, the result is a growth spurt of expressiveness, and the stories he’s telling no longer bear resemblance to the poignant journaling of a self-medicated college student, albeit a brilliant one. Part of what drew listeners to Neon Indian in the first place was the music’s natural ennui, a vision of America where the past and present cross paths with one another, introduce themselves and maybe share some stories in a coffee shop. More than ever, the group has found its true self and, going further, found something meaningful (and representative of American culture) in plugging quarters into arcade games without any real place to go (“Arcade Blues”). With Palomo on his own label now, Static Tongue, it’s safe to expect a bit more of the same (the formulaic “Polish Girl”), in addition to tracks that mirror the lonely consolation of a bike ride through one’s old neighborhood as if to merely find what’s disappeared, what’s still there and what could have been (“Fallout”). In the right setting, this band is childhood bliss, and, in others, it is the perfect soundtrack for the reflection that coincides with the end of something great, like this summer coming to an end. No matter the imagery or what warbles behind Palomo and his words, it’s clear that he is looking forward these days, not backward, and this is where his maturity shines the brightest – literally.


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Narrating the fears of viral epidemics

Soderbergh’s latest film Contagion encapsulates every hypochondriac’s nightmare

September 12, 2011 17

Lost in the Mix

Male Bonding’s Endless Now and the state of modern punk By Steven Franz Fringe Editor fringe@uwmpost.com

Punk music is in a wild state of flux in 2011, raising the genre to levels of critical success it hasn’t seen since its mid-1990s glory days – while threatening to throttle once and for all the formerly vibrant scene that surrounds the music itself, which in America had existed as a constant force for four decades before it began to falter in the middle part of the last decade. The reason for the latter aspect is simple. The critical viability of punk rock in the mtvU era has required a new audience, not with the mohawk-sporting, leather-wearing punks whose influence and interest waned with the rise of preteen-friendly artists, like Sum-41 and Avril Lavigne. Blog-browsing hipsters, part of the new audience of punk rock, insist on genre compartmentalization that separates a definitive style of musical construction – three-chord structure, straightforward songwriting, catchy Chuck Berry-inspired lyricism – from its basic identity as being punk rock. The results of this style of indiepandering punk are bands like Wavves, Dum Dum Girls, Vivian Girls, and Male Bonding, whose new album Endless Now

presents a series of irresistibly catchy pop punk melodies so saturated in generic, push-of-a-button fuzz aesthetic that they seem opposed to the idea of what they are. To be certain, this music is undeniably pop punk. All four bands – especially Wavves – feature both the sardonic songwriting and lovelorn subject matter of the great pop punk bands of the ‘70s and ‘90s and bring back into vogue the Ramones worship that defined bands, like Screeching Weasel and Teenage Bottlerocket. But it’s a different scene entirely, one whose identity is so confused about itself that it might not even really be there. The fundamental question, without a satisfactory answer, is why. The songwriting on Endless Now is a bit more serious and introspective than that of other bands. It’s less concerned with dry wit and sarcasm than its sardonically detached contemporaries. The result is an album that, even with the simplified songwriting, attempts to speak to a type of universality reflected in the abstract cosmic imagery of the album’s cover. But no matter how ethereal Endless Now portends to be, it’s ultimately an album of love and loss, of universal disconnect and dissatisfaction, things grounded in the basic nature of

being human. As a result, it should be a lot more accessible than it actually is. The wall of reverb aesthetic that serves to signify Endless Now as being indie rock – one that oddly enough is far less intense than the brittle basement-tape quality of the band’s 2009 debut, Nothing Hurts – also inadvertently creates a barrier between band and listener that is difficult to overcome. Lyrics become unintelligible, the bass gets buried in the mix and the guitar sounds lethargic and weak-willed. The only reason is because it’s supposed to sound this way, otherwise bloggers wouldn’t pay it any mind. But disregarding this, Endless Now is a breath of fresh air and a singularly good work. It’s a driving, simple, strippeddown punk rock album that absolutely revels in the influence of bands that have come before it – the musically upbeat delight of the Smoking Popes on the six-and-a-half-minute “Bones,” the clap-along Ramones-esque revisionist surf rock of “Dig You Out,” the diagonal Screeching Weasel progressions of album highlight “Channeling Your Fears” – while never losing sight of its own songwriting aspirations. In insisting on pandering to a production fad, it doesn’t seem to understand just how good it actually is.

Steven Soderbergh's latest film, Contagion, effectively translates the American public's germophobia with vivid realism.

By Kevin Kaber Assistant Fringe Editor fringe@uwmpost.com It seems to happen every couple of years: a contagious virus is discovered to have killed humans who are without defense while news of the virus spreads, and people begin to panic as laboratories race to find a cure. So is the case of Steven Soderbergh’s latest film, Contagion, which may be one of his last. The film follows the spread of a lethal virus named MEV-1 beginning with the virus’s first human infection, Beth (Gwyneth Paltrow), as she travels home to Minneapolis from a business trip in Hong Kong. In the film’s first few minutes, symptoms begin to manifest, not only in Beth but also in those she unknowingly infected, until she ultimately dies. The virus then begins to spread at an alarming rate within the United States, as the Center for Disease Control races to find a cure. Tracking down the source of the virus proves difficult since Beth was in contact with so many in China, and creating a vaccine is reduced to a guess-and-check method. Internally, the CDC shows its bureaucratic side by shutting down independent labs, subjecting possible vaccines to financial budgets and not alerting presses about the issue. All the while, news begins to spread. Blogger Alan (Jude Law) conspires that MEV-1 is treatable, but the government won’t push a safe vaccine. Alan then claims to have figured out the cure on

his blog, causing mass riots for the drug Forsythia. Soon after, cities begin to be looted as the death toll rises. At this point, it becomes obvious that Soderbergh and screenwriter Scott Z. Burns are asking what causes an epidemic: the virus or the gossip? The film nearly fixes itself as a document of the bird and swine flu scares. When the media gets a hold of such topics, people begin to panic in desperation for a cure. Pharmaceutical companies manufacture vaccines, and conspiracies arise that the virus was administered by the government – though in the case of this film, the virus actually spreads and kills at an alarming rate, only fueling the panic’s fire. Soderbergh effectively translates these fears by not only showing the aftermath of looted cities, but by constantly putting the camera on what really matters: all of the objects we touch every day. The director makes it obvious that doorknobs, buses, cups, silverware and everything else we touch should be considered in an event like this. Contagion truly is a modern and realistic horror movie. Previous generations had Cold War-induced monster flicks, the ‘60s and ‘70s were doused with countercultural themes and sexually-charged slasher films, and now our societal fears of homeland diseases are being portrayed in virus-type films, most notably zombie movies. But Contagion takes a more realistic approach at scaring audiences to not touch anything without Purell nearby.

Male Bonding's Endless Now is a searing punk album afraid to acknowledge its own identity


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Fall video game release schedule What to look forward to this season By Tom Kosiec Staff Writer fringe@uwmpost.com

With the summer release of Deus Ex: Human Revolution, the onslaught of new video game releases for the fall has officially begun. Video game enthusiasts can say goodbye to their savings funds, social lives and homework time. For Microsoft, the Wii and the DS are on their last legs in terms of new releases, but Zelda and the Nintendo 3DS makes this year bearable for Nintendo fans. Nintendo’s biggest game for the fall is The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, which takes the critically acclaimed series in a new direction through its altered dungeon format, intuitive motion controls and beautiful impressionism style graphics. Nintendo’s other big title for the fall is Super Mario 3D Land, a combination of 2D and 3D platforming with the return of the tooniki suit from Mario 3. Other notable games that round out Nintendo’s lineup are Mario Kart 7 3DS, StarFox 64 3DS, Kirby’s Return to Dreamland for Wii and Kirby’s Mass Attack for DS. Sony’s big game for the fall is Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception. The third installment in the series features a thrilling campaign through the desert, an evil woman as the villain and strong multiplayer support. Other Sony exclusives include the recently released

Resistance 3 from Insomniac games, which improves upon the single player campaign from Resistance 2 and includes a more balanced multiplayer mode with plenty of creative ways to eliminate the enemy. Also from Insomniac is Ratchet and Clank: All 4 One, designed with coop gameplay in mind and support for up to four players. Also, exclusive to Sony are HD collections of classic PSP/PS2 games such as God of War, Ico, Shadow of the Colossus and the Splinter Cell Trilogy. Microsoft has not one, but two big releases for the fall. Granted, one is a remake of the first Halo (called Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Edition) with improved graphics and multiplayer support, but it’s still impressive. The other is Gears of War 3, which brings some new tweaks to the GOW franchise: four player co-op for the campaign, new multiplayer modes, a change from dark environments to bright outdoor action set pieces and female soldiers. Microsoft also has Forza 4 to satisfy those craving a realistic driving game. For Kinect, Microsoft has Dance Central 2 and Kinect Sports Season 2 to fill the void left by Kinect Star Wars, which got pushed to next year. There are a ton of new titles forthcoming, and if you have an Xbox 360 or PS3, you’'ll have no shortage of great games to play. Unfortunately, if you

See GAMES page 19


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Fall fashion tips What to wear during the colder months By Patrice Vnuk Staff Writer fringe@uwmpost.com

While lamenting the loss of 75 degree days, we can celebrate, nay, relish the fact that the fall season forces our pale Wisconsin flesh back under layers of sweaters and jackets, much to everyone’s benefit. We can also say goodbye to the sandals and sheer shirts that really don’t belong on their owners. But this article isn’t solely for criticizing the student body’s taste in fashion – UW-Milwaukee is a diverse school, and, therefore, it should also have a diverse look. If you’re seeking some new inspiration, or are even mildly interested in how to dress, take comfort in knowing that autumn in Wisconsin allows for the

GAMES

Continued from page 18 just have only a Wii or DS and not a 3DS, then it’s pretty depressing. For the most part, this year is packed with shooters, and the biggest juggernaut for the fall is Battlefield 3, which may dethrone Call of Duty as the most popular shooter on the market with its kick-ass graphics and complete multiplayer modes. Other shooters include Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, which aims to wrap up the story started with the first Modern

widest array of attire possibilities. September 8 marks the beginning of New York Fashion Week, which is a really big deal for the fashion conscious. This is the time for the biggest names in the industry to show off all their hard work, and we, the spectators, get to see beautiful clothing we will probably never be able to afford. The bright side, though, is that we can take the ideas and make them our own. Isn’t fashion great? While the details and patterns change, a few basic standbys return every year. Black for fall? What a novel idea. Truthfully, black looks good on everyone. If you haven’t made black a staple in your wardrobe, do so as soon as possible. Regardless of personal style, it’s a color that can be incorporated into any look and improve it tenfold. Warfare, and Rage (from the creators of Doom), which combines open-world gameplay, shooting and car combat. Other heavy hitters are Batman Arkam City (which also contains open-world game play) and Elder Scrolls Skyrim, featuring the same great gameplay from Oblivion but with a new graphics engine and dragons. Assassin’s Creed Revelations wraps up the story started in part two with Ezio and, like Brotherhood, brings back multiplayer. Some other important titles are Dead Island, which combines first person zombie slaying and RPG elements to distinguish it from Dead Rising, and

Wear a lot of plaid and flannel, because that’s just something you should do in fall. It’s what it was made for, and it also happens to be very warm and comfortable. Find a good medium-weight jacket or coat that can be thrown over any shirt. Make sure you like it because you’ll be wearing it more and more as the semester progresses. Tailored, oversized, bright or neutral, it can bring together an outfit and give a more “polished” appearance. Accessorize yourself to death: Knee socks, belts, hats. Scarves are nice. It’s okay if they clash slightly, because no one wants to look like he or she is trying too hard. Adding the right extra flair to what you’re wearing can make you stand out in a good way. everyone’s favorite blue hedgehog, who returns with Sonic Generations, which combines the franchise old school gameplay with the recent 3D releases. Saint Row the Third is here to satisfy gamers waiting for Grand Theft Auto V. Lastly, Need for Speed: The Run invigorates the old racing franchise with an emphasis on story and high-stakes chase sequences. There are many more games to choose from this fall, so be sure to check back at GameSpot weekly or browse Amazon up until next year. This year looks to be one of the best for video games.

“Madden 12” starts with a bang, though falls short soon after By Joe O'Leary The Daily Campus, U. Connecticut via UWIRE

It’s a shameful pun, and I’m quite embarrassed to use it. It has to be said, though, with no exception. The best way to describe “Madden 12 is that it’s… maddening. There have been many installments (it’s older than me, at least), but it’s undeniably one of the flagship sports franchises today. It’s been a few years since I’ve picked up a copy of Madden,” and as a result, I was blown away at first by 12’s presentation. But you see how I wrote “at first”? Yeah, that’s important. The game launches with a fairly exciting video that apes music from “Inception” and shows off many of 2010’s best NFL plays, the segues into a fairlyeasy-to-use menu system. The camera angles are nice, the graphics look great with only a few hiccups, and the controls are easy to pick up and play. However, the game quickly stutters and spurts after this impressive start.

The decline starts slowly; for starters, the commentary is unbelievably bad, unless you like Gus Johnson screaming nonsequiturs a full 10 seconds after a play has ended. Here and there, glitches start to pop up. The game apparently reserves the right to audible your play without letting you know, leading to many embarrassing sacks and massive losses of yardage. Players decide to forget their characteristics, when running routes and locations. Eventually, it becomes evident that despite some fresh polish and a few brand-new features, this is the same Madden it’s been since at least 2006. In both multiplayer and Superstar mode (where I led my custom-made star quarterback Durp McHurr through his rookie year on the Oakland Raiders), many problems became apparent. The game is incredibly unbalanced. Vick’s Eagles and Rodgers’ Packers cannot lose, at least in my experience. Passing is a crapshoot, while receivers will routinely catch the uncatchable, just as often cornerbacks fly out of nowhere to tip passes—but never intercept them.

Running backs either glitch their way past the offensive line to tear up defenses or forget that they get paid to run forward, looking stunned like a deer in headlights. Defense is a laughable idea that didn’t seem to exist in half of the 4235 shootouts I played. And perhaps most hilariously, the injury bug bites often; I’ve played four games with my favorite team, the Patriots, and receiver Deion Branch didn’t make it to halftime in any of them before breaking a bone or getting a concussion. I don’t want you to think I’m ragging on the game. It’s still the same basic, flawed Madden game it’s always been, but there’s a good reason why that game’s still on shelves: it’s fun, plain and simple. Unless you love spending money recklessly, there’s no real reason to buy “Madden 12 if you can find a roster update for “11,” or even “10.” In football terms, “Madden 12 is like the Cowboys; it’s popular, and with a good setup year after year, but it can never impress, and always seems to disappoint.

Image courtesy of lookbook.nu


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EDITORIAL The following piece represents the views of the Editorial Board of THE UWM POST. The editorial board is not affiliated with the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee and these views do not represent the views of the university.

Happiness is no guns

Banning weapons from UWM buildings only reasonable option

Now that concealed carry has been approved for all University of Wisconsin system campuses, each college must decide whether to ban guns, tasers, billy clubs and various knives from campus buildings. It is our belief that UW-Milwaukee should follow UWMadison’s lead and prohibit weapons from all campus buildings, including all residence halls and Engelmann Field. Part of our decision is based on people, both those who we wish to protect – ourselves included – and those we have reason to fear, as well as our tragic inability to reliably tell the difference. A simple glance at the statistics shows that any group of 31,000 people will include many dangerous individuals. Several of them, such as University of Texas shooter Charles Whitman, will have no record to serve as warning. Even those who do exhibit clear red flags, such as Virginia Tech shooter Seung-Hui Cho and wouldbe assassin Jared Lee Loughner, are often overlooked or allowed unmolested freedom by school officials. Part of our decision is based on technology. Advances in weaponry have allowed guns to become as deadly as bombs. Automatic weapons can be bought online for less than a semester’s worth of financial aid, with plenty left over for ammunition. Allowing traditional weapons would be menacing enough, allowing modern weapons all but invites a bloodbath. Even supposedly nonlethal weapons like tasers can kill. Weapons cannot be evaluated on a case by

case basis. Policy can’t possibly keep pace with technology. Regulations must apply to all or there can be no regulations at all. Part of our decision is based on environment. Spirited and often heated discussions are a near daily occurrence throughout campus. They occur inside classrooms, outside in Spaights Plaza and not infrequently within the offices of The UWM Post. This dynamic is fundamental to higher education and cannot exist if every scheduled event has the potential to turn into a hostage crisis. Guns don’t foster debate – they prevent it. Similarly, the structured living environment of residence halls would be significantly compromised by the introduction of guns and other weapons. There would be little security in an atmosphere that’s closer to a single floor dwelling then a multi-unit apartment complex. The most thorough precautions can be overcome by a determined insider, and can still invite a pitiless legal examination of shared culpability should tragedy occur. Additionally, UWM houses both an elementary school and a children’s center on its grounds. UWM’s responsibility to provide security increases tenfold when considering children. It’s the kind of scenario by which Supreme Court precedents are made. We advocate the prohibition of weapons not out of a desire to curb second amendment rights. As an independent press, we have a healthy respect for all freedoms afforded by the Bill of

Rights and consider each amendment as sacrosanct as the first, which all newspapers claim as birthright. But we believe freedoms must be balanced against their potential for significant harm. No right is absolute, and all rights can be abused. If the Post abuses its first amendment privileges, we print a retraction. If an individual discharges their weapon into a crowd, many lives are forever shattered. Furthermore, we ask that individuals refrain from carrying weapons in the open areas of UWM’s campus, despite having been granted the right to do so. We ask this because a right is not the same as a need. The health of our society is belied by defaulting to the extreme. We more fully realize our country’s ideals not when we are most ready to assert our rights, but when we are willing to reserve them until the times themselves become extreme. Understandably, many gun rights advocates want to counter the bogeyman image created by handful of highprofile tragedies. This is a reasonable, respectable and fairly brave thing to do. However, college campuses should not be the proving grounds for this particular public relations campaign. Rather, they should remain arms-free institutions of higher learning, where every student can pursue their academic endeavors without having to stare down the business end of the ultimate rebuttal. Books and bullets just don’t mix, nor should they be expected to.

LETTERS

TO THE EDITOR

All of us at THE UWM POST want to hear what you think and welcome your letters to the Editor. Feel free to comment about articles, opinions or anything you find in our weekly issues. Send your letters in an email to letters@uwmpost.com. In your submission indicate whether or not you wish to remain anonymous.

Student Association dedicated to campus progress In response to “Justification for SA pay raises just isn’t there” Published September 6 This year won’t be like any before. I guarantee it. The Student Association has been working all summer to bring UW-Milwaukee a campus experience as unique and extraordinary as you deserve, and we’re excited to begin the academic year. Last week’s Campus Kickoff was huge, with show stopping performances at Pantherfest by Lupe Fiasco and Girl Talk. We’re not stopping there. This summer, the SA’s Campus Activity Board has been hard at work planning an international speaker series, campus block party, winter concert festival and a zombie apocalypse. (Coming in October, get ready.) But not all our of efforts focus on programming. If you commute to campus or have a friend who does, you can park for free at the Columbia St. Mary’s parking structure in the Northwest Quadrant near the Sandberg dorms. Last year, we fought for free campus parking, and, though we won the battle, we’ll work hard to ensure we win the war. We’re also lobbying state and local representatives to expand UWM’s influence. We’re dedicated to seeing our students respected in the neighborhood and at the capitol. We’ve heard your need for a better dining experience in the union, one that includes vegan and vegetarian options. We’ve heard the demand to support student organizations that create a traditional college experience, especially Greek life, and we’re working with administration and the neighborhood to build it. More than anything, we’ve heard your call for a voice – the 30,000 students here deserve one – and we don’t intend to let them down. When Brent and I won the SA elections, along with the ASAP party back in April, we made a promise. We will see that UWM evolves into the comprehensive and respected research university that our first chancellor, J. Martin Klotsche, dreamed of in 1956. In the last few years, enrollment has increased, as has our responsibility to the community. Our university educates more Wisconsin residents than anywhere else, and we’re proud of it. Milwaukee is on the verge of a renaissance, and the SA is ready and willing to spur it on. We can’t do this alone. At every turn we look for your input, your passion and your unique perspective on UWM. Help us create a campus experience like none other before. If you’d like to get involved, visit our office in Union EG79, or email me directly at ajkostal@uwm.edu. Alex Kostal, Student Association President

“Milwaukee” at the UAG, more comprehensive than it seems In Response to “Milwaukee: A City Intersected” The Union Art Gallery’s Attempt to Define Milwaukee, Published September 6 My name is Andrea Avery and I am currently a MFA Graduate Student here at UWM, as well as the curator and gallery manager of the Union Art Gallery. I am writing in response to the article that was recently written about the current exhibition Milwaukee: A City Intersected. The show was meant to be a positive look at the energy of the city as a whole, not to define the boundaries and stereotypes that we often associate with the city. Before the exhibition opened, I talked with community members, students and also put out a call for artists to submit works. These works were by artists residing in Milwaukee whose work was inspired by their neighborhoods, communities, architecture, and all the things that they love about Milwaukee. Many of the artists chose to do things they found iconic, familiar, people they know and love in their neighborhoods or places that they love about the city that they wanted to share. Geographically the artists are from all different neighborhoods, economic standpoints and career paths. This was the inspiration and subject matter of the work, although some might not be as apparent as others. I feel that as both the curator of the gallery and also a citizen of Milwaukee it is important to look at the larger picture. I think Sarah Luther’s piece says it best “The whole city is your city.” Let’s not define the city, but celebrate it. Andrea Avery

Campus Kickoff in Spaight’s Plaza. Post photo by Sierra Riesberg

UWM Union Art Gallery Manager University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 414.229.5830


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OP-ED

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“Crazy in Love” New freedoms, new responsibilities

Let go of your ex, not your sanity UWM police welcome new and continuing students By Angela Schmitt Special to The Post editorial@uwmpost.com There is something about relationships that brings out the crazy in people. Everyone has his or her unbalanced moments, whether it’s a small hang-up or tendency for all out call-the cops-get-this-psychoa-straight-jacket moments. Some people might go through a significant other’s phone every once in a while, while others find themselves throwing things, screaming and scheming elaborate, hurtful plans to get their way, revenge or redemption. I dated a guy once whose exgirlfriend lost it after they broke up. It probably didn’t help that he dumped her and started dating me two weeks later. When she found out he had moved on, she went off-the-charts crazy. She would stalk him at work, call and text him constantly, make threats to kill herself and show up in his car and at his house. And she, of course, sent me a few nasty emails and text messages. She even went so far as to create a fake friend account on Facebook, so she could have a separate account to harass us with. It was wild. We’ve all been in situations where we wanted to get out of control like that, but, in the end, what did her actions accomplish? She made a scene and made herself look like a complete fool to me, him, our friends and our families. When she would call his phone 35 times in a row, he definitely wasn’t thinking, “Oh, that’s nice. I better call her back.” Instead, he was thinking, “I have to change my number,” and that’s

exactly what he did. When she was sitting outside his house, waiting for him to come home, he didn’t think, “She must really like me. Let’s get back together!” Instead he was thinking, “I’m calling the police and getting a restraining order.” When she was harassing me, he wasn’t thinking, “I should ditch this perfectly mentally sound girl I’m dating and go back to her.” Instead, he was thinking: “Yikes. Maybe my new girlfriend should get a restraining order from my ex, too.” That is embarrassing. Seriously. Unfortunately, her reaction was not all that uncommon. It was standard scorned woman behavior. Yet people continue to act similarly to how she did when things don’t go their way. Instead of acting like a mature adult, many people chose the go-to reaction of getting their crazy on. This needs to stop. You just end up looking stupid when you lose it. And I’m not just talking to the girls; I have met many men who get crazy. Nobody ever says, “I met this guy, and he’s so crazy. I love it. I can’t wait until the next time he blows up my phone and hunts me down because I didn’t call him back.” It’s really all about having selfcontrol. Take a deep breath. Calm down. Whether it is a generally bad relationship or simply a fight, you always should take the time to calm down, in order to keep yourself together. Don’t let the crazy get the best of you, and you will find that not only are you saving yourself from looking like a fool, but you also get to be the bigger person. Trust me, that’s a lot better than being the crazy one.

Bill contributes to educational breakdown

Dwindling resources, teacher exodus harm quality of schools

By Michael J. Marzion, UWM Police Chief Special to The Post editorial@uwmpost.com

As a community, the university is a bit like a summer resort town in reverse. Our population is small – but busy – over the summer and then booms in September. This year we’re welcoming 30,000-plus students who join more than 3,600 faculty and staff on campus and online. That makes UW-Milwaukee a good-sized city within a much larger city. As in any community, life is easier if all members respect, assist and support each other. As a campus police department, we have an obligation to the community to protect everyone on campus and collaborate with local law enforcement in keeping surrounding neighborhoods safe. We provide regular patrols, trained student S.A.F.E., or Safety Awareness For Everyone, walkers, emergency phones, surveillance cameras and a text alert system as part of these efforts. The university provides regular shuttle service and B.O.S.S., or Be On the Safe Side, vans to get you to and from the campus and surrounding areas safely. The university community also provides numerous resources to help you prevent and deal with academic challenges, as well as stress, depression, financial strains, family problems and mental health issues. If this is your first time living away from home or living in your own place

Special to The Post editorial@uwmpost.com

There has been a spike in the number of teachers announcing their retirements, all thanks to Scott Walker’s weakening of the teachers’ union. In this present school year alone, over 5,000 teachers around Wisconsin will not be returning to their classrooms and lectures halls. It is truly a shame that many of our talented veteran teachers are bitterly passing the torch to inexperienced teachers who will need guidance when entering their new classrooms for the first time. Teachers who have taught for over a decade did not see the benefit in deciding to teach another school year. In fact, the new bill requires teachers to pay more money for benefits while hindering their right to negotiate. Some of these teachers even felt as if continuing to teach would actually cause them to lose money. One major change includes the increase to 12.6% of the average cost of their annual premiums. With this new increase in benefit payouts and limited rights, who can really blame them? Many people, if put in a similar

Resources: UWM Police Department http://www4.uwm.edu/police/ Norris Health Center http://www4.uwm.edu/norris/ Panther Academic Support Services http://www4.uwm.edu/pass/ B.O.S.S. Vans http://www4.uwm.edu/boss/ First Year Center http://www4.uwm.edu/ssc/

The tragedy of white separatism By Joe Ford

editorial@uwmpost.com

situation, would clearly decide to receive full benefits as a retiree, instead of settling for a job with more stress and less benefits. What was Scott Walker thinking? Hopefully he didn’t anticipate this major retirement increase. It seems that Walker not only failed to prepare for the increased number of retiring teachers, but he also failed to recognize that more retirees can lead to a larger financial payout. Just think about it for a minute. Many of those teachers choosing retirement are of the necessary age to receive pension and full benefits. How can we afford to pay those retirees if job cuts and unemployment rates are steadily increasing? If we fall short, property taxes will increase, and school resources will decrease, in order to make up for the difference. Where does this leave the future of our education system? It seems as if Walker has planned to gain some money by requiring teachers to pay more for benefits, but he clearly failed to see what this bill risks. Instead of looking to cut funds, Walker should have looked into the future and sought to invest in our teachers, students and educational system as a whole.

residents have lived here for years and work hard to keep the area beautiful and livable. Be a good neighbor and respect their rights to get some sleep, have a little privacy and not have drunken students urinating on their flower beds. A good rule of thumb: If you wouldn’t do it in front of your grandmother or your next-door neighbor back home, don’t do it in your neighborhood here. The campus police department isn’t just here to confiscate liquor from underage drinkers on Friday nights or break up loud parties (though reading some recent student tweets would indicate that’s a common perception of our job). We’re here to help keep you safe and enforce the rules of acceptable behavior that this university and city have put in place. We appreciate your help in making this a safe, enjoyable community for everyone.

A rainy Saturday

Special to The Post By Allesha Gilbert-Ewing

off campus, you may not have too much experience being a member of a large community. In fact, you’re probably looking forward to the freedom you now have to enjoy your social life without interference from a protective family. But you are also members of this community, too, and you have a few obligations – as a student, friend and neighbor. As a student, you have a responsibility to justify those tuition dollars you or your family paid or borrowed by attending classes and studying. As a friend, you have an obligation to keep your fellow students safe and well and help them make good decisions. That means helping them make better choices about alcohol and/or drugs. It means not letting a friend walk home alone at 4 a.m. If you’ve been seeing or reading any media reports lately, you know students at any urban campus can easily become crime targets, particularly if they’re alone, drunk or on drugs – or not paying attending to their surroundings because they’re texting or talking on their cell phone. As a neighbor, you need to think about how your behavior affects others around you in your residence hall or off-campus housing. Most students need a stress break or celebration now and then, but try to use good judgment. Remember, you now share space with other students who might need to study rather than party or with neighborhood residents who have children, jobs and non-college lives to live. UWM is located in a beautiful urban neighborhood. Many of the non-student

I was biking to the farmers market in West Allis on Saturday. I took a detour to see if there was anything I could do in town by the city hall. A bunch of white power Nazi skinheads were going to be gathering there, and I wanted to make fun of them. Waiting in the rain for the skinheads to show up, I overheard an older woman standing under an umbrella near me say, “I want to see the Nazis.” “Why?” I asked. “See what they look like,” she said. “They look like you and me!” I tried to point out to her. They finally showed up. The cops had them fenced in and separated from the hippies by about 100 feet of lawn and a line of cops in riot gear standing behind barricades. (Bear in mind these are the same kind of people who scorn government and plot their overthrow during American Idol commercials.) I worked my way around. I wanted to get into the fenced area. I figured, “Hey, I’m a white boy – how will they know I’m not on their side till I start laughing at them?” On my way around the west side of this temporary fortress, I came across a group of them in their black t-shirts and

jeans standing by the BP gas station. Cops surrounded this little group, too. A self-proclaimed veteran wearing a t-shirt that said “White Power” questioned my background when I yelled, “Poor white boys, waannnhhh!” I told him, “I’m a vet.” He said, “You’re a traitor.”

“I’m a citizen of the planet, and so are they. They are not my enemy, and I am not theirs.” I told him, “I’m patriotic to the planet, pal, and your political borders bore me.” I’m a citizen of the planet, and so are they. They are not my enemy, and I am not theirs. Our enemy, the entity standing in the way of social progress and cooperation, is money and the ideology behind a profit-driven world that serves a few well and leaves the rest of us fighting each other for the crumbs. I stopped at a bar for a pit stop on my way home. I bought a beer to justify my facility utilization and took it out on the deck so I could smoke while drinking. A woman in her sixties was sitting there,

too, but she had no drink in hand. I asked her, “Why you sitting out here?” “Waiting for my son,” she said, mumbling something about a spaghetti pie recipe on the computer. “He’s at that protest.” “Why aren’t you?” I wondered out loud. “I went to college in Madison in the ‘60s,” she said. “I’ve had enough of that.” I finished my beer, snuffed out my smoke and was biking home when it occurred to me. What the protest is truly over is the difference between people like her, who sit comfortably on he sidelines, and people like me who are willing to confront issues head on – we can’t get together and confront the real problems and people behind them. We let these petty crimes set us against each other while major crimes are perpetrated on all of us from behind the curtain. Who is behind the curtain? We have a common enemy and one of their tactics is to divide and conquer. They’re making these rules that put petty criminals behind bars while fraud and theft of a much larger magnitude go unprosecuted. People, we’ve got trouble and learning how to bake a spaghetti pie and squabbling with each other are both critical misdirections of our energy.


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September 12, 2011

COMICS PRIMAL URGES

the uwm post Andrew Megow

Andrea Thurner

PET OF THE WEEK This delightful little mutt is not exactly your grandmother’s lapdog. Having survived a short but nasty early life as a stray on the mean streets of Milwaukee, little Artie has finally found a loving home. He is a 3 year old Shih-tzu mix with possible schizophrenia and a mouth full of messed up teeth. Weighing in at an impressive 10 pounds, Artie doubles as an intimidating guard dog. Despite his continuous growling and deeprooted disdain for bicyclists, he has some very lovable quirks, including the occasional snacking on a roll of paper towel, the need to mark every tree on the block, and his love for lounging on extremely hard surfaces (probably reminiscent of concrete alleyways). Artie is a loyal companion and loves to cuddle, play, and sleep, which he does 20 hours a day.


PUZZLES

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September 12, 2011 23

THEUWMPOST CROSSWORD SUDOKU ACROSS 1 Celebrities 6 Exist 9 Iron, for example 14 Gold measure (var.) 15 Female chicken 16 Inform 17 Words after Scott 19 Prefix for glycerin 20 Smart aleck 21 Demonstration of acclaim 23 Jeans brand 24 Air pollution 25 Voice 27 Words after Angel Soft 33 RAV4, for example 34 Be afraid 35 Multiply by three 36 Form of Japanese poetry 38 To's partner 40 Tiny amounts 41 Serves 43 Facilitate 45 Type widths 46 Words after Cottonelle 48 Bother 49 Load 50 Circle part 52 Voting papers 56 Hostess, at a restaurant 60 Goodbye 61 Word after Charmin 63 Scrabble and Monopoly 64 Time period 65 Highly elaborately (with "to the") 66 Use a pipe 67 Fasten by stitches 68 Odor

solution found on page 4

INSTRUCTIONS: Fill in the squares so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9 exactly once.

DOWN 1 Alter 2 Cab 3 Music and dance, for two 4 Seldom 5 Play setting 6 Sailor’s greeting 7 Ump 8 Bury 9 Zoo 10 Revise 11 South American monkey 12 Big hairdo 13 French city 18 Brushed leather 22 Electrical current unit 24 Bizarre 25 Debonaire 26 Relating to birds 28 Klutz 29 Portuguese river 30 Chose 31 City in Texas

32 Fewer 33 Thick carpet 34 Poker hand (2 wds.) 37 Collection of drums 39 Paddle 42 Act as usher 44 Scorches 47 Swears 48 Vinegar component (with “acid”) 51 Animal controls 52 Containers 53 Eden dweller 54 Fancy car 55 Scallion relative 56 Chew (on) 57 Fork prong 58 Tied 59 Relax 62 Bard’s “before”

solution found on page 4

GODOKU

INSTRUCTIONS: Fill the squares so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 bo contains the following letters exactly once: N, H, L, O, C, E, T, D, U. One row or column will reveal a hidden word!

solution found on page 4

How would you cut this gingerbread dog’s head into two pieces of the same shape?

post@uwmpost.com


24 September 12, 2011

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