UWM Post 02/27/12

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THEUWMPOST est. 1956

the student-run independent newspaper

February 27, 2012

UWM Post: Crowdsource

Ryan Braun Last week, a three-man arbitration panel threw out a 50-game suspension against Ryan Braun, clearing the way forCrowdsource: the Brewers leftfielder to play Ryan Braun the entirety of next season. With that in mind, we asked students and faculty what they thought of the decision, as well as what kind of numbers we should expect from the reigning National League MVP in 2012.

Panthers track wins conference page 3

Panthers dominate at Horizon League Championships

Emily McClellan ‘A ’ cut time just one of many highlights By Jeremy Lubus Sports Editor sports@uwmpost.com The Walter Schroeder Aquatic Center in Brown Deer is home to many of the UWMilwaukee men’s and women’s swimming memories before they became Panthers. The facility is the home to many high school club events that help showcase their talents and help them realize their dreams of being a collegiate swimmer, and for many on the Panthers swimming teams - their dreams of being a college champion. That was nothing short of the case Saturday as both the men and women Panthers swimming teams pushed away

from their competition claiming the Horizon League titles among a host of other plaques. The women were clinging to a single-digit lead heading into Saturday but pulled ahead for good to finish with 759.5 points. The two-time defending men’s squad finished with an impressive 901 points, 174.5 in front of runner up Cleveland State. The margin of victory for the men was the highest ever since Milwaukee joined the Horizon League. “These kids are very comfortable in this pool,” coach Kyle Clements said. “But for us, we have amazing parents who travel well no matter what and it being here allowed for so much more. We had an outstanding alumni crowd here. They were cheering,

Shared governance inaction

SA not fulfilling shared governance responsibilities By John Parnon Assistant News Editor news@uwmpost.com The Student Association at UWMilwaukee hopes to do more to fulfill their shared governance role this semester despite a history of poor attendance at committee meetings and concern from Chancellor Michael Lovell. According to Wisconsin’s statute 36.09(5), the legislation that gives student government authority, “The students of each institution or campus subject to the responsibilities and powers of the board, the president, the chancellor and the faculty shall be active participants in the immediate governance of and policy development of such institutions.” In essence, students share the responsibility of governing UWM with faculty and administrators. In order to fulfill this responsibility, the Student Association is in charge of appointing committee members to committees such as the Academic Misconduct Hearing Committee as well as search and screen committees for potential UWM employees. At a University Committee meeting last week, Chancellor Lovell said,

INDEX

NEWS SPORTS

“Student involvement is an important piece of shared governance and that piece was not as strong, or was not as involved in making the university strong.” The Physical Environment Committee is one of the shared governance committees that is staffed by both students and faculty, with SA Speaker of the Senate Rick Banks being one of two students on the roster. Banks missed the most recent meeting saying that he has a full schedule and overslept. While SA President Angela Lang is not on the committee roster, Banks said she was also supposed to be there and the committee expressed frustration at the absence of students. Special Assistant to the President Eric Grow said that Lang was not aware she was a member of the committee, and that it’s possible for Lang to be on committees through bylaws or policies without an immediate appointment. Grow said it’s because of these reasons that Lang can be on committees without her knowledge. SA’s Director of Shared Governance Mike Ludwig said that while he agrees with Lovell, it is difficult to get students to join the committees he is in charge of staffing.

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FRINGE EDITORIAL

Issue 20, Volume 56

Editorial: More student involvement requires faculty support

L&S advisors are, in fact, human

Emily Grant, Senior, Geography "I guess it would be good for the team, because now maybe they will win, but I still think the situation is kind of sketchy." Braun in 2012: I think the fans will react differently towards him, but I think his playing will be the same. Aaron Lehman, Junior, History Education “I think it’s proof that he has herpes. I don’t really care that he does. I’m sure he just has girls coming Members of both the Men’s and Women’s team jump into the pool after all over him.” winning Horizon Crown Braun in 2012: I League think he’s going Saturday to be fine. night. I don’t Post Photo by Kurt Rahe think he’s going to pull a Tiger [Woods], where all is going to screw helpingthis withpublic times stuff and tailgating. That was histogame get up. [to the NCAA Championships] Taylor Sophomore, the best thing McCoy, about having it here wasNursing that again,” McClellan said. “Last year I was "I definitely think he’s innocent. It’s really upour alumni were able to really be involved.” kind of new to the whole thing, and so this setting that people don’t think that he’s The men were considered to be the favoryear I’ve really worked hard to enjoy it with innocent." ite to win again it was the women’s gutty everyone. Braun inbut 2012: I think he’ll have an even betterMy coaches and teammates have performance thatprevious stole theyears show.because Behind he’sbeen so important for my success [on] the year then probably sophomore Emily McClellan’s heroic team overall.” is going to play with a chip onperhis shoulder. formances, women claimed their first McClellan was also part of the Panther’s Markthe Hieb, Junior, Nursing league“I title since 2001 and don’t the second 200 yard medley relay winning team of honestly really care,overall mostly because being overpaid steroidsYokosh, Diana Diel and Sarah title inthey’re school history. McClellananyways, easily wonand Becky inbreaststroke baseball is with kindan ofNCAA given at the 200 ‘A’this cut point.” Wardecke with a time of 1:40.64. McClellan in 2012: here is like, ‘Oh time ofBraun 2:08.94. The ‘A’Everyone cut time guarantees also my tookGod, home the Women’s Athlete of the he’s off. We have our star player.’ But everyone her a spot in the NCAA Championships. Year award. else will be like, ‘He probably cheated again.’” She is the only female Horizon League “She really has worked so hard this past Lauren Gwidt, Senior, Women's + LGBT Studies swimmer to achieve that accomplishment. “I don’t think it’s that big of a deal. I feel like the See PANTHERS page 5 “I have trained so hard and really wanted whole government is corrupt so sports are probably corrupt too.” Braun in 2012: “He’ll probably have a good year, “As a senator to be onstill used it previously to appoint friends or because it’syou’re past supposed him and people love him. He still hasminimum. fans.” two committees, A lot of sena- political allies to committee positions. tors are not onJacobs, two committees,” Denzel Freshman,Ludwig Undecided “Last year’s shared governance bylaws “I think it’sand good the team. We already lost said. “I’m upset I’mfor a little confused did not have a provisional appointment in [Prince] Fielder, so it would be a when committees started to meet,” on how, I would echo what Lovelldefinitely said, them, contribution if he was partjobs?” of the team.” how do we make people do their Ludwig said. “They were unable to meet Braun in 2012: “I think it will probably be a Ludwig said that there was a general because we had to tell the committee good year for him. With Fielder gone more lack of among senators, of enthusiasm the focus will be onSA him, which willchairs, ‘you have to wait two weeks.’” and that despitemake tryinghim to hold Ludwig said that’s why he added the probably playworkshops better.” and find members for various shared gov- provisional appointments, and that he ernance committees, senators were not had appointed people he was familiar or responsive. friendly with to committees, but only be“I had a shared governance workshop cause there weren’t enough people interlast week, and I sent it out to all the [SA] ested in shared governance to staff them senators, everyone in SA,” Ludwig said. otherwise. “Literally, no one showed up.” Any provisional appointment Ludwig Lang said that shared governance is makes can be overruled at any time by one of the most important things the SA SA’s executive committee, and the apdoes. pointments are always voted on at the “[SA] keeps spewing out this rheto- next senate meeting. ric that shared governance is the most Grow said that due to apathy within important thing we do, then why do we the senate these appointments are alkeep cutting it and adding other positions ways packaged and approved without any besides shared governance,” Ludwig said. discussion. Over the summer, Ludwig sponsored Chair of the University Committee new bylaws that rewrote his authority Mark Schwartz said, “We’ve been trying as the director of shared governance; it for some time to get student representapassed unanimously in the senate. tives on our committees, we have space According to the new bylaws, “The for them, we want them, and we have a Shared Governance Director has the au- hard time getting them appointed to varithority to make provisional or interim ous committees... truth be told, we have committee appointments in the interest a little bit of trouble staffing our faculty of urgency to allow committees to con- committees.” duct vital business.” Because of Lang’s recently introThis power enables Ludwig to appoint duced separation of powers executive ormembers to committees at his own dis- der, Ludwig will have to relinquish his cretion without having to wait for ap- position as shared governance director by proval at the biweekly senate meetings. the end of the month in order to maintain Grow said that it was interesting that his senate position and position as chair of Ludwig had sponsored this addition to the Union Planning Board. his power, suggesting that Ludwig had

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COMICS PUZZLES

page 12

Letters & Science advising staff face serious case overload

By Chelsey Dequaine Special to the Post news@uwmpost.com Associate Dean of L&S Administration Thomas O’Bryan sits behind his desk in a white long sleeve shirt and a colorful tie. He is aware of the reoccurring conflict between the 30-some UW-Milwaukee Letters and Science advisors and the estimated 9,000 L&S students. With advisors having such large caseloads, students are demanding more time, attention and relationships from them. O’Bryan points out that there are three types of L&S advisors: freshman, new transfer and continuing. The problem seems most common within the continuing advisors. For one continuing advisor, the caseload averages to be 800 students. “That is more than twice as large as it should be according [the National Academic Advising Association],” O’Bryan said. “It’s manageable, but not ideal.” Freshman and new transfer advisors average 300 student caseloads, but after one year, the students are passed on to continuing advisors. These advisors have smaller caseloads because of the special accommodations the students need, O’Bryan said. “There is such a glut of transfers right before classes start that the advisors can’t see all of them,” O’Bryan said. “It’s just a mess.” According to the 2010-2011 senior survey, a transfer student said they would definitely not choose UWM again. “I was given an advisor based on race rather than academics, who proved to be not only very unhelpful, but also insulted my intelligence when I finally did meet with him,” the student said. “I would never minimize anyone’s feelings,” O’Bryan said. “Fortunately or unfortunately, however you might look at it, the university does make an initial allocation of advising based on ethnicity. Some students in those ethnics groups don’t like that idea.” The senior survey also shows from 2001 to 2011, the overall positive quality in advising percentile has

See ADVISORS page 5 uwmpost.com

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LIMITED EDITION!


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NEWS

February 27, 2012

THEUWMPOST Editor in Chief Zach Erdmann

Production Editor Caitlin Loepfe

Managing Editor Mike La Count

Chief Copy Editor Brad Poling

News Editor Steve Garrison

Copy Editor Kara Petersen

Assistant News Editors John Parnon Zach Brooke

Distribution Mgr. Lucas Hubanks

Features Aaron Knapp Fringe Editor Steve Franz Assistant Fringe Editors Kevin Kaber Graham Marlowe Sports Editor Jeremy Lubus Assistant Sports Editor Tony Atkins Editorial Editor William Bornhoft Photo Editor Sierra Riesberg

UWM’s most eligible scholarships Four scholarships worth looking into

Off-Campus Distribution Alek Shumaker Business Mgr. Tyler Rembert Advertising Mgr. Stephanie Fisher Ad Designer Cathylynne Ahlgren Account Executive Zhanet Buchokova Ashley Haut Brody Hess Sr. Online Editor Kody Schafer Board of Directors Zach Erdmann Stephanie Fisher Mike La Count Tyler Rembert Kody Schafer

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.

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Start here:

Which Scholarship Are You?

Are you going to be a sophomore? Y

GPA ≥ 2.5? Y

Work full-time?

N

N

Enrolled in social work or criminal justice programs?

GPA ≥ 2.5? Y

N

Parent?

Y

YN

Declared/Intended L&S Major? Y

N

L&S Sophomore

As FAFSA draws near and students finally run out of the money they saved up working over summer, UW-Milwaukee students are reminded of the tuition they will have to pay next year. If only free money existed… oh wait - there are scholarships. UWM offers an extremely large variety of scholarships. They can range from university-wide to departmentspecific. The following is a list of scholarships that have been deemed (by this particular reporter) as the “most eligible.” Scholarships are graced with this title if they meet the following criteria: •Currently available

OR

N

Sacrificed time and personal finances to pursue a degree?

Y

GPA > 3.0?

N

N

Y

Able to write 25 pages about Africology? N

N

Life Impact

By Stephanie Schmidt Staff Writer news@uwmpost.com

Y

N

Need Money?! Y

Have significant family demands

Y

What about GPA ≥ 3.5? N

OR

GO ONLINE!

Y

Barbee Essay

•Relatively easy to apply for •Can appeal to a relatively wide audience •Is worth at least $1,000 (with one exception) •Number of awards given So, without delay, in no particular order, here are UWM’s top four most eligible scholarships: Scholarships for sophomores The Gertrude Eichstaedt Scholarship, William F. Halloran Scholarship and Walrus Club Memorial Scholarship are scholarships currently available for students who will be of sophomore status by fall 2012. Students must be currently pursing a major within the College of Letters and Science, but exclude those who are currently declared as “undecided.” A GPA of 3.5 or above is required.

Helen Badar

All three scholarships use the same application, so there is no need to fill out more than one. The deadline to apply is March 30 by 4 p.m. There is a possibility of 14-19 scholarships awarded worth $1,000. Helen Bader School of Social Welfare Alumni/Yolanda-Vega Will Scholarship This scholarship might be worth the top four spot simply because of the length of the name. Luckily it still meets the other qualifications. Undergraduate students are able to apply as well as graduate students. Applicants must currently be enrolled in social work or criminal justice programs and meet one or more of the following criteria: is employed full-time, has significant family demands and/or has

See SCHOLARSHIPS page 3

Take advantage of UWM, not fellow students

Find everything you need at UWM By Callie Koller Staff Writer news@uwmpost.com So you spilt coffee on your laptop… again, but this time it’s not being as forgiving. Luckily, if you are a UWMilwaukee student, you have access to a variety of electronic items year-round. From laptops to voice recorders, our UWM campus has you covered. If you wanted to still work from home you could first try renting one of the 50 laptops the Media and Reserve Library has on hand. Located in the lower level of the west wing of the UWM Golda Meir Library, the Media and Reserve Library has expanded from its days of harboring only 60mm film and “some video tape” to housing over 6000 video tapes, 7000 DVDs and three types of digital cameras among other things. “We base it off student needs because we understand that some students can’t

even afford textbooks let alone electronics,” Media and Reserve Librarian Beth Traylor said. They also offer headphones, voice recorders, internet cords as well as two types of calculators, which are all available to students with a valid campus ID. In the event that those are all rented out, however, there are four general access computer labs located in Curtain Hall, Bolton Hall, the library and the Union. There is also a website online that allows you to check the availability of each lab and if there are still open computers so you can make an educated decision about which lab to utilize. “We’ve generally seen just a really nice sense of respect for the equipment that’s out there,” Director of Client Services for the University Information Technology Services Beth Schaefer said. She said students have been appreciative of the resources provided by UWM and has rarely witnessed any problems with the services.

The general access labs are separate from several other computer labs, which are available only to students in their respective schools. While you are utilizing a campus computer, you can have yours fixed in the UWM Tech Repair shop located within the Bolton Hall computer lab area. Unfortunately, however, there are some people on campus who feel those resources are not as convenient as taking the personal items of others. Theft on campus has increased over 25 percent since 2009 from 260 reported thefts to 326 in 2011. This is while arrests for thefts have gone down nearly five percent from 51 in 2009 to 49 in 2011. “It’s a very condensed campus,” Evening and Weekend Manager of the Union Neal Michals said, “there are a lot of people in a small amount of space. Incidents are bound to occur.” Michals is more than familiar with theft on campus and said it is not isolated to students. “I’ve had some of my own personal items stolen in the course of my employment,” Michals said. “It’s unfortunate,

but it does happen. I’m not going to deny that.” Campus police do not feel they have as much of a problem with campus property being stolen as they do with personal items of students, much of which they say could be prevented. “The incidence of theft, although low, could be brought down significantly more if people just took a few simple steps to protect their property,” Assistant Chief of Police Gregory Habeck said. Habeck encourages the use of lockers, especially in the UWM bookstore where they are free of charge. IPhones and laptops are among the most targeted items and although campus police maintain a constant eye over the campus, they cannot catch everything. Students themselves have to take responsibility for their belongings. “Would you go to a brewer’s game and leave your iPhone sitting on your chair if you had an aisle seat and go to the bathroom and grab a hot dog and then come back 20 minutes later?” Habeck said.

See THEFT page 6

NEWS BRIEFS Washington Post Editor receives first UWM Alumni Fellow Honor The Deputy Managing Editor for the Washington Post, Milton Coleman, accepted the inaugural Alumni Fellow Honor from UWM Foundation in a ceremony last Tuesday. Coleman matriculated from UWM with a degree in music history and literature, after being selected as a recipient of UWM’s Minority Academic Achievement Scholarship Fund.

Bro-bation Six fraternities at Marquette University have been placed on probation through the fall of 2012 for alcohol-related violations. Marquette’s Delta Chi, Omega Delta, Sigma Chi, Sigma Phi Delta, Sigma Phi Epsilon and Triangle fraternities were found to have violated their own organizational policies, as well as those of the university and the Interfraternity Council, according to a statement released by the university last Monday. University officials did not elaborate on the specifics of the violations, though they did say each fraternity has the right to appeal and that further action will be taken if current behavior continues.

Down with state treasurers When it comes to how he handles his job, State Treasurer Kurt Schuller is acting like he wants to get fired – literally. The first-term fiscal officer recently urged state legislators to pass a constitutional amendment eliminating both his position and that of Secretary of State. The proposed amendment has already passed through committee and is waiting to be taken up in the Assembly. If it passes the legislature, the question would then be put to the public. In the event these mere formalities are somehow sidetracked by unforeseen developments and the office of treasurer not eliminated, Schuller has said he won’t run for reelection.

Down with John Edwards sex tapes A sex tape showing erstwhile presidential candidate John Edwards and his mistress, Rielle Hunter, was ordered destroyed last Thursday, by the North Carolina judge overseeing a civil suit between Hunter and former Edwards aide Andrew Young. The order comes as part of an agreement to end the legal battle, which has been going on since 2010. Under the terms of the settlement, Young will destroy the tape, which he’s been keeping since before the suit began, within the next 30 days.

J.K. Rowling grows ip Literary gazillionaire J.K. Rowling unveiled designs for her next book last Thursday, and it’s aimed at adults. The internationally renowned Harry Potter-creator revealed her plans in a statement released by her new publisher Little, Brown. Little else is known about the project besides that it will be Rowling’s first foray into adult fiction. Little, Brown said that additional details, including the title and publication date, will be revealed later this year.


NEWS

uwmpost.com

February 27, 2012

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UW-Mardi Gras LGBT Center Drag show rocks Union parade and Dead Man’s Carnival highlight the celebration

ballroom for a good cause

The Annual UWM Drag Show entertains for a good cause By Aubree Omachinski Special to the Post news@uwmpost.com

Post Photo by Sierra Riesberg By Justin Jabs Staff Writer news@uwmpost.com The Union Ballroom was decorated in purple, green and yellow last Tuesday as UW-Milwaukee and the Union Programming Department celebrated Mardi Gras. The event featured a parade and a performance by Dead Man’s Carnival, among other festivities. Freshman Stefanie Xiong was among the hundreds who enjoyed the wide range of activities available. Within the first hour, she had already received a free caricature by Bill Begos, had her face painted in a gold design, was finishing up her custom creation from the mask making station and was on her way to the fortuneteller. “This is the first time I’ve heard of [Mardi Gras],” Xiong said. “It’s good to just hang out and have a lot of fun.” The annual event took place on Tuesday, Feb. 21 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with the parade starting at 1:30 p.m. Only three student organizations made floats, although previous parades usually feature four to six. The rest of the crowd, lead by Union Programming Manager Linda Corbin-Pardee and the Carnival performers, joined in walking and buzzing free kazoos around the campus and street levels of the Union. The Studio Arts and Craft Centre, Print Club and Roberto Hernández Center entered the float design contest. Student organizations were invited to create floats using free materials at the Craft Centre in the weeks prior to Fat Tuesday. Student Association President and official Queen of Mardi Gras, Angela Lang, and two other student judges voted on the best float. That honor, along with a hundred dollar gold card, went to the Roberto Hernández Center. Freshman Jean Mercado designed the winning float and it took six people a week to make. The design paid homage to Mexico and Puerto Rico and included tango-flamenco dancers, maracas and masks. Fellow freshman Adilene Bonilla wore the float, which was attached to a black tank top. “It feels good,” Bonilla said of the victory. Traditional delicacies were cooked and given out to the public, such as king cake, red beans and rice, Creole jambalaya and chicory coffee. Student artwork and prints were sold and displayed on a fence just like in Jackson

Square in New Orleans. The free event featured a performance by the university’s jazz ensemble at noon and the Dead Man’s Carnival following the parade. “Professor Pinkerton” and his fellow performers combined sideshow stunts and live music. Pinkerton said he “could name on a single hand” other groups that perform with this type of unique blend. “I love the way the band interacts with the performers,” Pinkerton said. “They really play off each other.” The show had many unique acts and included lots of audience participation. One stunt by Pinkerton involved a condom-wrapped ice pick being hammered up his nose by a student. Upon removing the pick, the condom stayed, and Pinkerton threaded it through his mouth. A whip show sliced sticks in two out of a performer’s mouth and a belly dancer balanced a teapot on her head while twirling on one foot. Singers and dancers displayed their talents as well. Perhaps the most extreme act of the evening came at the end. A performer from Ohio spread a bucket of broken glass bottles on the stage and then proceeded to repeatedly jump onto them barefoot. As if that was not enough, three volunteers from the audience were asked to stand on the man as he was lying on the shards in his undergarments. It was at that point that the man began shouting, “Step on my head! Step on my head!” Junior Krysisha Conly obliged, resting her right foot on the performer’s left cheek and ear as instructed. The crowd roared in applause. “That tripped me out,” Conly said after the act. “I felt the glass crack underneath his head.” Corbin-Pardee was glad to give students a chance to “kick back,” saying that those opportunities were “few and far between.” She was also satisfied with the choice of Dead Man’s Carnival for the entertainment. “I think they’re doing great,” she said. “They’re crazy, fun and have a good college following.” Pinkerton said during the show that many of the Carnival members began as street performers in New Orleans. It was only appropriate for them to perform at a Mardi Gras event. “They brought a good feeling of what it would be like down in New Orleans,” Conly said.

A record crowd of over 1,000 attended the UWM LGBT Resource Center’s 11th annual drag show on Saturday, filling all 900 seats in the Union Ballroom and forcing some audience-members to watch the show live-streamed in the Fireside Lounge. The Annual UWM Drag Show, sponsored by the LGBT Center and the UWM oSTEM, an on campus networking resource for LGBT youth, continued its tradition of charging no admission. However, the performers accepted tips which are donated to Project Q , a Milwaukee area resource center for the young LGBT community. It serves young adults ages 12-24 and offers help and education a number of different topics. Project Q also serves as a safe space for the young LGBT community, and to some members the center is their only “out” space. LGBT Resource Center Program Coordinator Warren Scherer said in recent years the UWM Drag Show has earned “on average $1,750” per show for Project Q.

The drag show featured a fan-favorite host, Isis, and had a large array of acts put on by students from UWM and professionals from the Milwaukee area. Performers strutted their stuff to popular music by artists Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Kesha and many more. The songs were also translated by sign language interpreters. The group of professionals included a list of well-known performers such as: Madam Sparkkl, The Miltown Kings, The Brew City Boiz and Babez and Tempest Heat. Many professionals are veterans of the UWM Drag show. “We’ve been doing UWM Drag Ball for the last eight years because it is the most glorious celebration of drag in Milwaukee,” said the Miltown Kings. “It is amazing to share the stage with so many different kinds of drag performers. We also love to support the LBGTQ youth by helping UWM raise money that helps Project Q.” Regular performer and professional at LaCage “Tempest Heat” also enjoyed participating in the UWM Annual Drag Show. “I come back every year because it allows me an opportunity to showcase

my talents in an art form which many people might not get a chance to see as often in their everyday lives,” Heat said. “Spectators benefit from the show in several ways- they are for one going to be entertained! Not only by professionals like myself but by peers from the UW system. They also will be helping a wonderful nonprofit in the process.” While the show continues to entertain year after year, Scherer still has the desire to make the show bigger and better. “I wish there was a larger space on campus to hold the show…and I’d love to do something with fire,” he said. The UWM LGBT Resource Center also strongly encourages more participation from UWM students. “I’d like other student orgs to get more involved,” Scherer said. “Students are given priority, if you want to be part of the show- say they word and you’re part of it.” For any students interested in learning how to get involved with follow-up programs and next year’s drag show, information is available at the UWM LGBT Resource Center.

Photo by Sierra Riesberg

SCHOLARSHIPS Continued from page 2

made “sacrifices of time and personal finances to pursue a degree.” The deadline for applications is April 1. The scholarship is worth $1,000 and can be applied for at the same time as any other scholarship offered by the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare. Life Impact Program and Scholarship The Life Impact Program is intended for students with children. Firsttime freshman, transfer and continuing UWM undergraduates are eligible to apply. Applicants must also demonstrate financial need. Preference is given for single parents, full-time students and those with a GPA of 2.50 or better. The priority deadline is March 2. The award is worth $5,000 for fulltime students. Half will be awarded in the

fall semester and the remainder for spring. There are also benefits beyond the renewable scholarship including personal, professional and academic support, as well as special events, workshops and laptops. Barbee Essay Competition The Africology department in the College of Letters and Science offers the Lloyd A. Barbee Essay Competition to all UWM students. That is the only prerequisite. Applicants are asked to submit a scholarly essay on any “topic, theme or issue pertaining to the subject matter of Africology.” The essay should be 25 pages and double-spaced. The deadline for submission is March 15. The chosen winner will be given a check for $100, a certificate and an invitation to the Africology department’s Annual Faculty Award Dinner. The prize amount does not fit into the parameters previously mentioned, yet, for only needing to write a 25-page essay on Africology, it would appear to be a good

deal. That is the equivalent of receiving $4 per page plus a free dinner. Honorable Mention: James Martin Scholarship The James Martin Scholarship receives honorable mention due to the originality of the scholarship criteria. The student who has the highest numerical grade in Modern Physics 309 each time it is taught will be awarded $300. Recipients do not need to be physics majors. In addition to the scholarships listed here, there are hundreds more available. Scholarships.uwm.edu has a large list, as well as department websites. The department of journalism, advertising and media studies currently holds the title for the department with the most scholarships with deadlines that have not already passed. Students should also make sure to be checking their e-mails, as financial aid will send them scholarships pre-selected just for them.


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NEWS

February 27, 2012

the uwm post

President seeks new independent election commissioner

Student court denies hearing on ANEW party registration By Steve Garrison News Editor news@uwmpost.com

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This week’s Anagram Crackers Solutions

I T H A C A

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“TOO FAR“European” to WALK” FLAWS haven WHARF ounce TALKED terror PHOTON ampere

deep depose does dope dose epode epos expo expose peed peso pose poxes seed seep sexed speed speedo

This week’s Sudoku solution

A V I A T I O N

This week’s In-Word Solution

A P R I O R I

Try your hand at this week’s puzzles, turn to page 15

This week’s crossword solution L O B S T E R

PUZZLE SOLUTIONS

Although the UW-Milwaukee student court decided unanimously, with Chief Justice Anthony DeWees recusing himself, that they would not go to court over ANEW’s party registration denial, President Angela Lang said she will be looking for a new independent election commissioner. DeWees also announced in a memorandum sent to the senate that he would be seeking an election observer “to assist with the running of a fair, democratic and online election.” DeWees said via email that the election observer would have the opportunity to review documents that have been submitted to the Independent Election Committee and would be shown how the online election system works and how it is administered. Anyone is allowed to apply for the position. While DeWees said he felt he has “gone above and beyond what past election commissioners have done to ensure integrity and transparency,” he decided to create the position to “alleviate any misconceptions born from inaccurate information published in this week’s edition of the UWM Post.” The UWM Post did mistakenly report last week that the student court would not be able to make a decision regarding Van Gompel’s case because they did not have enough members to make a formal decision. After reexamining the University Student Court bylaws, it was clear that the court had enough justices seated to make a majority decision on the appeal. On Feb. 17, presidential hopeful Cassie Van Gompel received an email from DeWees, who is serving as acting independent election commissioner in absence of an appointment by Lang, rejecting her party ANEW because she had not registered the party as a student organization. Van Gompel said that she was not made aware that the party had to be a registered student organization before the party registration date, Feb. 9, and that none of the emails sent by DeWees to the student body indicated this as a requirement. Furthermore, she argues, according to the SA elections website, the first deadline listed for potential parties was Feb. 13 at noon and that there was no mention of a requirement that parties be registered student organizations. When she handed in her party registration form, Van Gompel claims that she was asked by DeWees whether her party was a registered student organization and she said she was in the process of registering, “to which the defendant expressed no further problems with the registration form,” according to the appeal. When she received an email later in the day from OrgSync denying her

party registration, she asked DeWees via email to reconsider his decision, because it was not made clear that the party must be a RSO before the party registration date. DeWees responded by saying that the IEC bylaws clearly state that parties must be registered student organizations and that the commission cannot register a party that does not meet the requirements. Van Gompel appealed DeWees’ decision to the student court, upon which DeWees sits as chief justice. The court, currently composed of three members and two vacancies, decided unanimously to not accept the case. DeWees chose not to vote on the decision, citing a conflict of interest. In their decision, the two justices, Nick McCall and Adam Norris, said that they did not believe that Van Gompel was “detrimentally reliant” upon DeWees for information about registering ANEW. McCall pointed out that the email DeWees sent out to students clearly stated “please refer to the IEC bylaws for more information or feel free to contact me at amdewees@uwm.edu.” “In my eyes, her lack of organization in not reviewing the IEC bylaws could be negligent to her cause, because if she were not reviewing the IEC bylaws, when it clearly stated, ‘please refer to the IEC bylaws for more information,’ that it was on her to review those,” McCall said. Norris said that while it was true there were no references to the fact that applicants had to have a student organization registered with OrgSync in the election material, it does say that applicants have to register their party by a certain time and having an RSO is part of that. Furthermore, because the party registration form was not submitted until 10 minutes before the deadline, DeWees had to assume the paperwork she submitted was correct. Therefore, it was the responsibility of Van Gompel to review the IEC bylaws. Van Gompel said via email that the IEC bylaws are vague and poorly written. “Students should be given the benefit of the doubt in instances when the legislature failed to specify the requirements,” she said. “The student court, who is paid by the SA, is looking out for their friends to assure a hearty paycheck in the future.” DeWees said he disagreed that there is a conflict of interest in the student court hearing appeals for a decision he made as acting independent election commissioner. “The other two justices heard the case in question, as I recused myself from the case,” he said. “It is the practice of the court to have members recuse themselves when they are named as defendants. Ms. Van Gompel’s case was heard and considered fairly and in accordance with the University Student Court bylaws.”


NEWS

uwmpost.com

February 27, 2012

UWM looking to Power in teamwork further enhance Speaker from Pentagon advocates noninternational prestige military approach to national security UWM begins talks with South Korea’s Konkuk University about bringing students to campus By Audrey Posten Special to the Post news@uwm.edu Two months after signing a deal that could bring hundreds of Chinese students to UW-Milwaukee over the next few years, the university is in preliminary talks to make a similar deal with South Korea’s Konkuk University. Interim Provost Johannes Britz said UWM was approached by KU and that officials from both universities have already visited each others’ campuses. Britz said they are now in the process of exploring all the details, including the areas students would be interested in studying. Unlike the agreement with China’s CERNET Education Development Co., the agreement with KU would involve no contracts or agents, thus cutting out the middle man, as well as considerable costs. Britz said agents typically make between 5 and 10 percent off one year’s tuition costs. Britz was unsure how many Korean students would be recruited, but said that initial numbers would probably be small, with only 20-30 students. However, he said, over time, getting even 100 students would be good for UWM. International Admissions Manager at UWM’s Center for International Education, Jen Singer, said there are already over 1,000 international students at UWM, with the number of admissions rising 30 percent over the last three years. Singer said the renewed push to recruit internationally is exciting, but that it is nothing new. “People have the impression that these deals are all that’s going on,” Singer said, “but it’s not just a spotlight on China and Korea.” Singer said UWM recruits all over the world, ranging from India to Brazil. “There is a diverse picture of the world population at UWM,” Assistant Director of International Student Admissions Brooke Thomas said. Every year UWM gains millions of dollars in out-of-state tuition from international students, but Britz said the university is also looking to gain prestige as an international institution. Britz said the deal with KU could also expand business opportunities for not only the universities, but students as well. He said the skills and experiences students gain in other countries will be invaluable when they return home and embark on their careers. Both Singer and Thomas stressed the importance of branding, or getting UWM’s name and image out to the world.

PANTHERS

Continued from page 1 year since making the NCAA last year,” Clements said. “She came into college without much college-level swimming experience and had tremendous success. After last season, we all decided she needed to swim year round and we got to see the results now.” Clements was an assistant coach for two years before taking over as head coach last season. In two years, he has won twostraight Horizon League Coach of the Year awards for the men, and after Saturday’s impressive showing on the women’s side, Clements collected his first Coach of the

“International students don’t know the difference between Milwaukee and Rhode Island,” Singer said, “so we have to try harder to get the name out.” Singer said UWM has a strategic international recruitment plan that includes placing advertisements in publications all around the world, subscribing to online services, attending recruitment fairs and tapping into professional connections. When UWM staff travel to professional conferences, Singer said they are armed with business cards and other information to give to the people they meet. Thomas said UWM also works with organizations like Education USA and Study Wisconsin, both of which help international students with college selection. Thomas mentioned that international students are also good promoters. She said they will often go home on vacation and tell family and friends about their experience, sometimes convincing others to give UWM a try. “Sometimes it’s just good to hear the student perspective,” she said. Singer said international students must attend a comprehensive orientation session when they arrive at UWM, but that the different ages and needs make devising a program difficult. In these sessions students learn about the availability of resources and health care, what their rights are in the United States, as well as required information about visas, travel and employment. Singer said another plus is that students also leave orientation with friends. According to Singer, most international students cannot be admitted to UWM without providing proof of English proficiency. Undergrads without proof can be academically admitted, but are then required to take English classes. UWM has a very good English as a second language Program, according to Thomas, and that it often helps those that are feeling a little lost. She said students often improve their English skills through volunteer work and getting out in the community. Thomas also said student organizations help many students adjust as well, but, aside from that, the CIE also holds a monthly program to see how students are doing. Each program has a different theme, discussing such things as American holidays and winter activities to do in Milwaukee. In order to fend off worry about American fast food, Thomas said students were also provided with a local food guide with information about international restaurants and grocery stores.

Year for the women’s team. Also taking home hardware was freshman Kenny Stelpflug, who was voted Horizon League Newcomer of the Year. The final event, the 400 yard freestyle, was certainly a must-see. Despite having the conference title easily in hand, the Panthers went out with a bang that had Chancellor Mike Lovell and Athletic Director Rick Costello on the edge of the pool. The team of Kyle Trelka, Sam Niesen, Mike Schalla and Nathan Welchlin combined to take the league title with a school-record time of 2:58.01. Also setting a school record was senior Brady Huemann in the 200 breaststroke with an impressive time of 2:02.42.

By Clair Sprenger Special to the Post news@uwmpost.com

Col. Mark Mykleby believes that national security issues primarily stem from home and require cooperation, as he expressed as Feb. 21’s Fireside Forum speaker. Valentine’s Day, then Fat Tuesday last week’s Fireside Forum once again was another holiday’s “hot social scene,” as Institute of World Affairs Assistant Director and forum mediator Doug Savage joked about while introducing the forum. One more forum on “Free Trade and Wisconsin Jobs” will take place on Feb. 28, followed by a wrap-up discussion the following Tuesday. Mykleby’s Crossroads opinion in the Journal Sentinel the Sunday before his forum argues that the U.S. must not allow “threat and risk” to determine actions. Instead, Americans must lead the world in fixing “global unsustainability.” This was also the focus of Mykleby’s speech. “We don’t have politics, we have ideologies,” Mykleby said, criticizing U.S. politicians for not taking effective steps, instead creating what he called “wish-lists.” Mykleby said that many strategies of-

ADVISORS

Continued from page 1 increased from 53 percent to 69 percent. O’Bryan thinks this increase is from the UWM Cattracks program, a UW System initiative, which was developed to better assess the advising. A survey is sent out to students after they have an appointment with their advisor. Advisors then look at these surveys and try to measure how they are doing and make changes based on the responses. Anne Matteucci, a broadcast major in the department of journalism, advertising and media studies, is in her third year at UWM. She says she was reassigned advisors three different times, resulting in a loss of a consistent relationship. Anne remembers receiving emails surprising her that she has a new advisor. “It was very confusing,” she said. Job sharing is something the L&S office supports. Half-time advisors feel they are helping the students by the as-

ficially exist, but that those are not effective. What he believes the U.S. needs is a “grand strategy.” The main changes that must be made, according to Mykleby, are decreasing consumption, improving education and cultivating a responsible citizenry. “Damn straight, I’m talking about utopia,” Mykleby said. Mykleby described these changes as the key to national security, even if maintaining a good military is still important. He also believes that the U.S. must lead the rest of the world in these changes. “National security isn’t just defense,” Mykleby said. “The world needs America to be its best.” Mykleby argued that historical power leverages no longer work in becoming a stronger nation. “The face of America shouldn’t be a military face,” Mykleby said. He, along with Donors Forum of Wisconsin President Deborah Fugenschuh, argued that Americans must be more educated on U.S. government, history, military and law in order to progress. “America has a very short memory,” said Fugenschuh. Fugenschuh spoke as the local respondent, emphasizing the efforts of phi-

pect of more availability. One advisor comes in on Mondays and Wednesdays to meet with students and one comes in on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Dana Lovrek, a senior majoring in classics, history and religious studies, has been at UWM for six years. She remembers that during her sophomore year it was impossible to get in touch with her advisor, who was switched last semester. Dana does not agree with the system’s constant change in advisors. O’Bryan says there are many factors and variables to each individual student’s problems, but students do have the power to make the change for themselves. “It’s like if you went to a store and you had a problem with a clerk, you would ask for a manager. That’s what students should do,” he said. A possible solution for this lack of relationship the students crave might be an increase in the advising staff. Of course, more money is needed to expand anything on campus, which could lead to higher cost of tuition. O’Bryan thinks the times advisors are

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lanthropists in Wisconsin. Efforts by philanthropists include “food security,” rebuilding topsoil, eco-friendly fish-farming and pollution prevention. In Milwaukee “we are doing a huge experiment around education,” Fugenschuh said. At all levels of Milwaukee schools, including UW-Milwaukee, philanthropists are working to increase enrollment and graduation. Attendee Andy Dimlezza asked whether the “grand strategy” would require more or less technology. Both guests answered his question, saying that technology can aid efficiency and distance people, depending on how technology is used. “That ability to care about your neighbor and know who your neighbor is,” is vital to community strength, according to Fugenschuh. Dimlezza agrees with concerns expressed by both Mykleby and Fugenschuh. As an example, he described two situations: one person building a house by themselves with a crane, and five people working together to build that house. In the second situation, which Dimlezza believes is more ideal, “at the end of the day you’re going to have a beer with those four people,” he said. UWM junior Christian Boyer did a midterm on Mykleby’s narrative and was surprised to find out who the speaker was that night. He expressed his excitement before asking a question at the microphone. “You always get more insight from the person who wrote it,” Boyer said after the forum.

most needed are during class registration and when advisors need to provide the programming for a student’s future. “I think one thing that has helped is that now all students can run their own degree on and off their PAWS system, although it’s hard to understand sometimes,” O’Bryan said, referring to the step-by-step online degree track that has led to fewer appointments. O’Bryan said that everybody has the responsibility for making sure they are getting through their own degree requirements. For the first two weeks of classes in each semester, students can attend walk-in appointments, which add an aspect of ease. Also, students are recommended to take an early start to their academic planning and make appointments weeks in advance. “The point is, in Letters and Science, anyone who is unhappy with their advisor can switch,” O’Bryan said. “You have to come in and tell us why you want to switch because we want to know.”


6

NEWS

February 27, 2012

UWM Post: Crowdsource

Ryan Braun Last week, a three-man arbitration panel threw out a 50-game suspension against Ryan Braun, clearing the way for the Brewers leftfielder to play the entirety of next season. With that in mind, we asked students and faculty what they thought of the decision, as well as what kind of numbers we should expect from the reigning National League MVP in 2012.

Emily Grant, Senior, Geography "I guess it would be good for the team, because now maybe they will win, but I still think the situation is kind of sketchy." Braun in 2012: I think the fans will react differently towards him, but I think his playing will be the same. Aaron Lehman, Junior, History Education “I think it’s proof that he has herpes. I don’t really care that he does. I’m sure he just has girls coming all over him.” Braun in 2012: I think he’s going to be fine. I don’t think he’s going to pull a Tiger [Woods], where all this public stuff is going to screw his game up. Taylor McCoy, Sophomore, Nursing "I definitely think he’s innocent. It’s really upsetting that people don’t think that he’s innocent." Braun in 2012: I think he’ll have an even better year then previous years because he’s probably is going to play with a chip on his shoulder. Mark Hieb, Junior, Nursing “I honestly really don’t care, mostly because they’re being overpaid anyways, and steroids in baseball is kind of given at this point.” Braun in 2012: Everyone here is like, ‘Oh my God, he’s off. We have our star player.’ But everyone else will be like, ‘He probably cheated again.’” Lauren Gwidt, Senior, Women's + LGBT Studies “I don’t think it’s that big of a deal. I feel like the whole government is corrupt so sports are probably corrupt too.” Braun in 2012: “He’ll probably have a good year, because it’s past him and people still love him. He still has fans.” Denzel Jacobs, Freshman, Undecided “I think it’s good for the team. We already lost [Prince] Fielder, so it would definitely be a contribution if he was part of the team.” Braun in 2012: “I think it will probably be a good year for him. With Fielder gone more of the focus will be on him, which will probably make him play better.”

THEFT

Continued from page 2

Scott Peak has worked on the campus scene for 26 years and is more than familiar with the campus. Currently the Executive Director of Auxiliary Services at UWM, Peak was the former director of University Housing, and has seen his fair share of crime. He said in order to prevent personal thefts students need to become more proactive if something looks suspicious. “It’s better to be on the safe side, and you can always apologize if someone was supposed to be there legitimately,” Peak said. “I would rather have it where people say ‘I’m not quite sure, I’m going to call just in case.’” The Union, in particular, strives to maintain a very visible presence in the Union with yellow-shirted employees walking throughout the building frequently. Just because you may not see yellow shirts in the area, however, does not mean there is not someone watching. There are undercover employees in addition to yellow shirts and badges that make rounds in the Union and keep a vigilant eye and if you are caught stealing, it may end up costing you more in the end.

Nearly all those who are caught stealing are at least issued a citation and depending on how the theft was committed, the penalty may be a lot worse. “If you enter an enclosed space with intent to steal, you will be charged with burglary,” Habeck said. “We have had a couple of those and we have arrested the people and that is a felony and they get handcuffed, booked and taken down to the criminal justice facility to see the district attorney’s office.” Stealing property worth over $2,500 is also considered a felony and could also result in jail time. If you do find yourself missing items however, you should always first check the lost and found at the UWM Police station before jumping to any conclusion. “We are the university’s lost and found, and in many cases, we are able to reunite people with their property,” Habeck said. If you do need equipment, there is the UWM Tech Store within the Bolton Hall computer lab area where you can purchase laptops and other staple electronic equipment. “I would say that the vast majority of people here are honest,” Habeck said. “The odds are with you that nothing is going to happen, but it does happen.”

the uwm post

National Society of Collegiate Scholars seeks UWM chapter NSCS official makes pitch to students at informational meeting By Zack Garhart Special to the Post news@uwmpost.com

Reaching over all 50 states in more than 300 different chapters, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS) will now make its presence known on the Milwaukee campus. As Madison serves as the state’s only university with a chapter for the honors program, UWMilwaukee has similarly adapted a chapter in hopes of offering a wide student body with the opportunity to become apart of NSCS. The society provides members an opportunity to develop their leadership skills in both academics and future career paths as it is composed of students who have already shown excellence in the classroom. Criteria for becoming a member is set by the Association of College Honor Society, and it requires that a student have a minimum GPA of 3.4 while also placing in the top 20 percent of their respective class. While students in their first and second year are traditionally invited to join, the emergence of the new chapter at UWM allowed a handful of transfer students to become eligible in applying. A number of transfer students at-

tended an informational meeting in the UWM Union on Feb. 22, 2012 to receive additional information in the process of getting involved. Catherine Provost traveled to UWM on behalf of the NSCS on Feb. 20-22 to reach out to students and entice ambitious prospective members to get the chapter through its early stages. “The chance to become a chapter founder for NSCS is very unique since it gives the member an opportunity to provide their own personal influence on the organization,” Provost said. She also said that those who are selected to be a founder will still abide by the constitution written for NSCS and also be able to leave their own legacy in the chapter. As the manager of chapter development for the NSCS in Washington DC, Provost worked with individuals at UWM, particularly from the Center for Student Development, in an effort to create a chapter on campus. Assistant Director of UWM’s Center for Student Involvement, Thomas Dake, actively participated in the meeting on campus as he was also credited by Provost as having played a major role in establishing the chapter at UWM. Dake highlighted the uniqueness of this opportunity for interested students to become

chapter founders, saying that it would be useful to put on résumés down the road. One of those students interested in the NSCS, junior Nick Robinson, attended the meeting and shared his plans for becoming involved in the new chapter. “I’m looking forward to being involved on the ground floor and to help build this thing up,” Robinson said. Yet, emphasis was put on contributing to the program regardless of his position. “If there’s someone who’s more qualified for the founder position, I’m willing to help out and take a different role.” It is that sort of mentality that the NSCS was founded on by Stephen Loflin in 1994, as he served as a student affairs professional at George Washington University. As a mentor for honor students, Loflin wanted to create an honor society for high achieving students, and his group laid the groundwork for what would become a nationwide honors program dedicated to the principles of leadership and service. After making NSCS part of a wide range of extracurricular programs on campus, the chapter at UWM will look to expand membership in hopes of furthering their goal of elevating high achieving students.

New SORC investigation concerning SA misconduct

Presidential hopeful censured by senate over bill’s language

By Steve Garrison News Editor news@uwmpost.com Senate Oversight and Rules Committee Chair Tereza Pelicaric announced at Sunday night’s senate meeting that a new investigation was being launched into claims of alleged misconduct during a United Council trip attended by Student Association officials. Pelicaric said that she would prefer to wait until SORC’s meeting on Tuesday to discuss the specifics of the incident, but said it was not as serious as the incident that took place last year. “I would love for us to function and represent the students … however, when serious concerns arise, I want to hold our leadership accountable and if there is nothing there then there is nothing to investigate,” she said during the senate meeting. Director of Shared Governance Mike Ludwig said to Pelicaric after the meeting, “I think we should make the SORC investigation as transparent as possible,” so that no concerns over the legitimacy of the investigator’s decision are raised.

SORC will meet Tuesday to investigate the claims filed and present the information at the next senate meeting. If the senate chooses, SORC will launch a formal investigation of the incident. “I wish that everyone would just behave, so I didn’t have to do this,” Pelicaric said. Senator and presidential nominee for ICONIC, Hugo Nguyen, was also censured, or formally reprimanded, by the senate for his wording choice in his first piece of legislation. In a bizarre email sent out to the senate, Nguyen said that in order to “live up to expectations” people in the senate have for him and to “make [his] first bill as exciting, fun as possible,” he decided to inform everyone about the bill, which would call for a referendum on eliminating funding for the student lobbying organization United Council. In the bill, Nguyen said that automatically charging students for UC funding, which the current contract calls for, is “easier than taking candy from a dead baby.” Nguyen also announced that he would continue to run as president, de-

spite saying earlier that he was “99.9 percent” likely to join another party. “Also, to my other fellow presidential candidates, I’m sorry for putting you in a tough spot for truly selfish reasons,” he said in the email, continuing on to say that he would use the disposable income from being president to buy a $30,000 Ducati motorcycle. “Maybe if you wanted to try something serious, you could possibly cleanse yourself from Student Association,” Senator Vince Rolbiecki responded back. “Again, buying the bike would be a great way to do so.” Nguyen’s bill was rejected by the executive committee, which sets the agenda for senate meetings. He said that he found several students in the Union who did not mind the language used in his bill, but Senator Elle Rodriguez said it did not matter. “I don’t care if you have 30,000 students who are OK with that line, I am not.” The senate session was otherwise mostly uneventful. Every piece of legislation brought to a vote was tabled for review.


uwmpost.com

SPORTS

Panthers battle back to win conference indoors

The UW-Milwaukee track and field teams pulled out victories for both the men and women this weekend, bringing home first place trophies once again at the Horizon League Indoor Championships. The men increased their streak of nine consecutive conference titles and the women four at the Watson and Tressel Training Site in Youngstown, Ohio. Going into the weekend, rankings on both sides were up in the air and very close. Several teams sat almost even as the weekend began. What’s typically a breeze became a question of, “Who wants it more?” UWM answered; both teams exceeded expectations and managed to defend their titles for the 2012 Indoor year, adding to their collection of first place finishes. At the end of day one, the women sat ahead with 55 points, 16 ahead of UIC. Along with a few first place finishes for the day, several athletes broke their own personal records, placing higher in

their events than what they were initially ranked. The men got off to a shaky start, and at the end of the first day were sitting in fourth place. However, many Panthers simply needed to qualify in their events to make finals on day two, thus their events weren’t yet scored. Day two is where the numbers really count. An intense yet inspiring pep talk from the coaches riled us up to get down to business on Sunday. Athletes all across the board managed to crank out races that hadn’t yet been seen in the 2012 season. Several Milwaukee competitors broke personal records, thus scoring more points than they were originally expected. In fact, a handful of Panthers scored in events they weren’t even supposed to make finals in, thus adding more points to the scoring tally that weren’t supposed to be there. The men won by 27 and the women 26. Coach Pete Corfeld was ecstatic with his team’s performance. “I’m impressed with our competitiveness. The women came out big from the beginning and the men snowballed once they put their minds in the game.

Compared to the other schools in the conference, you can see our differing mindset. The other teams and coaches admire that about us. It’s really satisfying as a coach, to have that going on in our squad.”

“Dancing and laughing with all the teams will be a moment to remember that caps off the end of a great season. Especially for us seniors,” senior Calanetta Burrows said. “It was the cherry on top to a great year and an awesome weekend of performances.” Facility and league records fell to the wits of the UWM track and field team,

allowing victory for both the men and women. Samia Taylor won Women’s Field Athlete of the Year and freshman Aaron Dillon won Men’s Field Newcomer of the Year. Corfeld won Coach of the Year for both teams. In a showing of sportsmanship, before awards could be given out, all the teams met in the middle as the DJ of the meet signed off by playing dance hits like “The Cupid Shuffle” and “The Electric Slide.” It goes to show that even competitors can come together after the battle has ended. What a way to finish off a fantastic weekend: to dance away with track and field athletes from across the Midwest. ”Dancing and laughing with all the teams will be a moment to remember that caps off the end of a great season. Especially for us seniors,” senior Calanetta Burrows said. “It was the cherry on top to a great year and an awesome weekend of performances.”

Panthers easily dispatch Valparaiso in senior Alex Klawitter’s last home game Klawitter’s presence has been instrumental in development of young Panthers team

Lone senior Alex Klawitter was honored before UWM win over Valpo Saturday afternoon. Post Photo by Sierra Riesberg By Eric Engelbart Staff Writer sports@uwmpost.com

On Saturday, the UW-Milwaukee women’s basketball team wrapped up their regular season schedule at home against Valparaiso. The Panthers were coming off of a victory over Butler on Thursday, and were looking to finish the season on a high note and they did as they downed Valparaiso 50-31. The game was the swan song for lone senior Alex Klawitter, an intelligent and gifted player who has provided leadership for this year’s young Panthers team on and off the court.

Klawitter walked onto the Panthers roster as a non-scholarship player her freshmen year, after being coached by her father Tom at the high school level for powerhouse Janesville Parker. Klawitter knew that she possessed the outstanding work ethic and was determined to play basketball at the collegiate level. She was accepted into the university as she was Parker’s class valedictorian. In the midst of working hard on the basketball court, Klawitter also managed a 3.92 GPA and is graduating this spring. How did Klawitter manage to excel academically and on the court? “I don’t sleep much, but it’s worth it.”

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Panthers make history with win over Ball State

Milwaukee earns their seventh victory of the season in exciting fashion

Both men and women track and field teams take Horizon League championships By Erika Hanson Staff Writer sports@uwmpost.com

February 27, 2012

Panthers coach Sandy Botham spoke in detail about how valuable Klawitter has been to the Panthers. “I don’t think you will ever see a woman who works as hard as Alex. Not only does she work hard on a consistent basis on the basketball court, she also holds a 3.92 GPA,” Botham said. “Alex has played a critical role because she comes every day ready to work, and that’s the kind of role model you need as an upperclassmen. “She’s become more assertive, more of a communicator, more confident and has taken a leadership role for our team. As a lone senior, her assertiveness and communication has been key this season.”

Klawitter graciously reflected on her career after the game. “It’s been awesome for me, I can’t describe it. I feel so blessed. It’s been a wonderful experience that I’ll never forget.” Klawitter was inserted into the starting lineup for Saturday’s game, and her performance did not disappoint. In front of a crowd packed with fans from her hometown of Janesville, she helped the Panthers knock off the Crusaders . With the win, the Panthers moved ahead of the Crusaders in the conference standings. The 31 points scored by Valparaiso was the fewest that the Panthers allowed in team history. Forward Sami Tucker led the Panthers with 13 points, while also hauling down six rebounds. Angela Rodriguez scored 11, while also dishing out six assists. Klawitter hit two critical three pointers in front of her adoring audience. During the game, freshmen point guard Kiki Wilson broke the single season rookie Panthers’ assist record. Perhaps good old fashioned home cooking has been just what the young Panthers’ team needed prior to Saturday’s game. “Last night, my mom came over and made all of us spaghetti and meatballs, my favorite food,” Klawitter said. “The coaches and players all hung out as a team playing games and laughing.” Klawitter is a player who has the intangible ability to bring people together. Her positive attitude and cheerful personality have set the tone for a young Panthers team that is sure to benefit from what they’ve learned from her in years to come.

Freshman Chelsea Bailey looks to drive home an ace Saturday vs. Ball State. Post Photo by Sierra Riesberg By Nick Bornheimer Staff Writer sports@uwmpost.com The UW-Milwaukee women’s tennis team earned the doubles and took three singles matches to bypass Ball State 4-3 – the first time the Panthers have been able to earn a signature win over a powerhouse program. Milwaukee’s Kristin Kurer won in straight sets, 6-2, 6-1, but it was not as simple for the rest of the squad. Every other girl found themselves in a deficit after their first sets, but Christina Colarossi and Maddy Soule were both able to rally and take each of their final two sets, giving the Panthers (7-3, 2-0 Horizon) a historic victory over Ball State (4-5). “This was our best win since I’ve been here,” Milwaukee coach Sean McInerney said. “I think we did exactly what we were capable of doing. They worked their butts off and found a way to win.” Colarossi and Soule, who individually battled from behind to earn victories in singles, worked together to capture an 8-2 victory in doubles play. Kelly Fritz and Kurer were down 5-2, but stormed back to grab an 8-5 victory and give Milwaukee the 2-1 nod in doubles. “We knew this was going to be a challenge, and it was,” McInerney said. “Ball State is a great team and we were able to win. I’m so proud of how we competed today.” The Panthers were able to sweep Valparaiso Friday night, winning all three doubles matches and all six singles matches, helping Milwaukee to a victorious weekend and increasing their winning streak to three matches. The Panthers look like serious contenders in the Horizon League, but McInerney understands that the season could unfold in a number of different ways. “It’s like basketball this year for the men: there are a bunch of teams that could make a run at it. I think our remaining schedule is extremely tough. There are five or six more ‘Ball States’ on the schedule.” The Panthers continue out-of-conference play next weekend, hosting Northern Iowa Friday at Le Club Sports Club before traveling to Northern Illinois for a Saturday bout.


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SPORTS

February 27, 2012

the uwm post

The Panthers road to glory

NCAA basketball dreams turn into something much Panthers start at Klotsche, must march through Valpo more than a game By Alex Wendland Staff Writer sports@uwmpost.com The UW-Milwaukee Panther men’s basketball team closed out the regular season on a four-game winning streak. This included two wins against their Chicago rivals, UIC and Loyola, in the final weekend of the regular season. Going into Saturday’s game against Loyola, the Panthers only knew that they would host a first-round contest in the Horizon League Tournament. By the time the Panthers tipped off, their options shook down to two: lose to Loyola and host Green Bay, or beat Loyola and host UIC. In the end, the Panthers held off a strong secondhalf comeback from Loyola and left Chicago with a 78-69 victory. “It’s nice to get another road win and build some more momentum going into the tournament,” Milwaukee assistant coach Chad Boudreau said after Saturday’s victory. The UIC Flames are the ninth seed of ten teams in the tournament, but the Panthers cannot afford to take them lightly. In their first meeting this season, the Flames gave the Panthers all they could handle and took the Panthers to overtime. The Panthers emerged with a two-point victory, but the match-up goes to show that any team can win on any given night in the Horizon League. “UIC is a well-coached and talented ball club,” Boudreau said. “Our underclassmen have been in this situation before, though. We’ll be ready.” While the Panthers’ core remains intact from last year’s regular season championship team, many of the role players are new to the intensity of the

Horizon League. Two of the Panthers’ five top players in terms of minutes, Paris Gulley and James Haarsma, are newcomers to the team (Haarsma was on the team last season but sat out as an incoming transfer student). The Panthers’ leadership will look to continue their return to form as Tony Meier appears to be playing at full strength for the first time this season. Meier scored 26 points and played 36 minutes in Saturday’s win at Loyola. Saturday was also a career milestone for Meier as he eclipsed the 1000 point mark. Kaylon Williams has been fighting through tendonitis in his knee while maintaining his position as the floor general for the Panthers. Williams is currently sitting at eighth in the nation in assists per game and has accumulated 28 assists in the past three games. Included in Williams’ stretch is a heroic 10 assist performance on senior day against Fairfield. Williams entered the game at the first media timeout after receiving treatment for the flu and added six points and four rebounds to go with his 10 assists. Assuming the Panthers get past UIC, the road only gets tougher as the remaining teams travel to Valparaiso. Milwaukee would likely go up against Butler in their home state, Indiana. If the Panthers could get past the Bulldogs, they would play the hosting Crusaders who will have been idle for over a week by then. If the Panthers were to defeat the Crusaders and make it to the finals, the highest remaining seed would host the game to decide which team will represent the Horizon League in March Madness. Thanks to a scheduling conflict

T IT’S

with the U.S. Cellular Arena, who scheduled Disney on Ice for the same day as the first round of the tournament, the Panthers will be hosting their first round game at the Klotsche Center on Tuesday. If the Panthers wind up hosting the conference championship, the game will be played at the U.S. Cellular Arena. With the limited seating available at the Klotsche Center, the game will be a more intimate experience than anyone in the league is used to. For the first time since the men’s team started playing games at Klotsche again last season, they’re playing a game on campus that truly means something. “The team would love to have all the students come support us on Tuesday,” Boudreau said. “Let’s pack Klotsche!” The Panthers host the UIC Flames in the first round of the Horizon League tournament on Tuesday, February 28 at 7 p.m. at the Klotsche Center.

POST PICKS: PANTHERS HORIZON LEAGUE OUTCOME PREDICTIONS LUBUS: Loses to Butler, 1 win ATKINS: Finals Atppearance 3 wins BORNIHEIMER: Loses to Valpo in Semi’s, 2 wins WENDLAND: Loses to Valpo in Semi’s, 2 wins ENGLEBART: Finals Appearance, 3 wins PRATT: Loses to Butler, 1 win FRANZ: (Fringe): Wins the title game, 4 wins

HE

BREW CITY BRUISERS

SATURDAY, MARCH 10 AT 6PM THE BOUTS START AT 7PM

March is Heroine’s and Hellion’s month with Union Programming! Come with us to see female athletes push and shove each other for points in this sure-to-be-awesome Roller Derby event! Fee includes transportation and entrance to the bouts! $10 students/ $22 campus community /$25 general public.

Sign-up Deadline: Monday, March 5th $10 non-refundable fee due at sign-up.

Contact 414.229.5513 or actrips@uwm.edu with questions. Sponsored by the Adventure Center & the Women’s Resource Center. The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is committed to equal opportunity in its educational programs, activities and employment policies for all persons regardless of race, color, gender, creed, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, marital status, Vietnam-era veteran status, parental status and pregnancy. For accommodations, or questions regarding this statement, contact the program coordinator at 414.229.5513 or actrips@uwm.edu

Two friends’ love for the game of basketball has grown into something much bigger for their hometown By Tony Atkins Assistant Sports Editor sports@uwmpost.com In life, opportunities are presented to you in many different forms and fashions. Some you can capitalize on, while others slip through your fingers. Opportunities are more frequent for some, rare for others, while some have refused their opportunities entirely. For many that are not afforded that great opportunity, their dream ends there. In other cases, these people take it upon themselves to create their own opportunities and build a platform for themselves and the people around them. That was just the case with Mission10Eleven, a non-profit youth organization that focuses on career building, harboring and mentoring young Milwaukeeans and young people in general as they embark on the journey of life. Ironically, it all began as friends Alex Clarke and Dumaine Reid met back in 2009 on a basketball court and discovered chemistry as friends through the game itself. Being really serious basketball players, both Clarke and Reid made goals for themselves to make a college basketball team in 2010 heading into 2011. The two would begin rigorous training and hard practices in the coming months to try and make their goals. During that time, the two established a pact that would follow them for the rest of their lives. That was Mission10Eleven, named for the years that the goal was to be realized. Over time, that dream didn’t come to fruition as both didn’t get on to a college club, but during that time, something much greater happened. Mission10Eleven became a movement in urban Milwaukee as online buzz generated via Twitter and Facebook. People actually began wearing hooded sweatshirts and tees with the organization’s logo on it. What began as a goal between two friends had become something much greater. Mission10Eleven became a movement in a crime-laced city that

needed a positive beacon of light shining from within. “It’s a blessing for everything to come to get together like it did. We put a lot of hard work into it, Maine and I,” Clark said. “Especially Maine, he really is going with his dream and I’m right behind him every step of the way.” Mission10Eleven has been more than a symbol within Milwaukee however, they draw up quite a number of events for the young and old alike to get out and enjoy at local youth centers. Their highly competitive basketball tournaments serve as platforms for Milwaukee’s prep basketball talent and for colleges to come out and see potential prospects play against one another. “It’s a blessing,” Reid said. “Sometimes it’s a curse, but at the end of the day, we put in hard work to give back to our city and the city shows love back to Mission10Eleven. These last three years have been amazing.” All of that brought upon the Lakeside Scholars, a prep school team that will be hitting AAU in the coming months representing Mission10Eleven. Along with this team, Mission10Eleven has created a writing team and is working towards creating their own after school programs with ATG Academy. The Lakeside Scholars will take to the courts again in the All-Wisconsin Men’s Basketball Invitational in March. This event will be hosted by Mission10Eleven and will host all assembled teams in the UW System. It will also host any other challengers that are willing to take on the Scholars in the tournament. Registration is available now until March 6 on Mission10eleven.org Two friends who met playing basketball may have created a beacon of hope for an inner-city riddled with violence. All of this grew from dreams of making a college roster. While Clark and Reid may not have gotten to that platform in 2010 or 2011, they surely have created something much more meaningful for the city that will last a much longer time.

The claws are coming out

Paws vs. Claws competition begins between neighboring universities By Callie Koller Staff writer sports@uwmpost.com Running gets personal between UWMilwaukee and Concordia University as the neighboring universities begin training for a 26-mile-385-yard face off along Milwaukee’s lakefront. Paws vs. Claws, the name based off the intimidating clutches of UWM’s panther and Concordia’s falcon, is a competition that challenges staff and students to join the running team their respective universities and compete in the 32nd Annual Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon on Sunday Oct. 7 later this year. Experienced runner and UWM Chancellor Michael Lovell explained how the event got started. “The president of Concordia University contacted me,” Lovell said,

“and the Lakefront Marathon runs through both campuses and he said it would be interesting to have a challenge between the two campuses and to really bolster a sense of community both around being a healthier campus but also have some friendly competition.” Director of Strategic Communications for UWM’s School of Education and Lead Coordinator of the Paws vs. Claws competition, Helaine Hickson, said the turnout has ranged from people in their early 20s to seniors in their early 70s, over 60 percent of which were not marathon veterans. “I’ve been completely humbled by how many first timers we’ve gotten to commit to this,” Hickson said, who first began running herself only a few years ago. She said she can relate to those who may be intimidated by running.

Read the rest of this story online, at uwmpost.com


Reuniting the Ring

An exuberant Turner Hall experienced The Promise Ring’s return to stage By Samantha Radle Staff Writer fringe@uwmpost.com No atmosphere was livelier than that of Turner Hall on Friday, the night of Milwaukee legends The Promise Ring’s triumphant return to home. The crowd was a mixture of twenty-somethings, too young to have experienced the band’s reign over the city’s music scene in the mid-‘90s, and thirty-somethings reveling in the familiar atmosphere. As one of the most beloved bands ever to emerge from the city, it’s no surprise The Promise Ring managed to sell out Turner Hall, which remained comfortable and airy despite the crush of people. Opening was The Celebrated Workingman, a local band whose rich melody and meander-

ing guitars managed to pacify the crowd as it waited, clutching PBR Tallboys and gradually migrating closer to the stage. The anticipation was almost tangible and when The Promise Ring finally took the stage, they launched into their set without introduction, as naturally as if they’d never left us at all. There remained a sense of down-to-Earth camaraderie as the crowd collectively bobbed its head to songs pulled from all corners of the band’s discography, starting off with favorites from 1999s Very Emergency and ricocheting between classics like “Red and Blue Jeans,” “Nothing Feels Good” and “Make Me A Mixtape.” With a band like The Promise Ring, every song is a crowd favorite, and the crowd seemed to be in a sort of euphoric trance, half-smiles unconsciously play-

ing across their features as they seemed to sing along to nobody but themselves. Likewise, the band couldn’t seem to wipe the grins off their faces. Memories and nostalgia dimmed the garishness of the overly enthusiastic lights, and Davey von Bohlen thrashed around the stage with more energy than someone half his age. Though clearly on the verge of losing his voice, von Bohlen left no holds barred for his hometown audience and clearly gave it his all, pausing only occasionally for self-deprecating remarks, good-natured digs at bassist Scott Schoenbeck and his bright red Die Kreuzen shirt, and random non-sequiturs. The band played a fantastic set of over 20 songs in two hours, and yet surely the crowd would have stuck around if they’d decided to play twice as long. They inevitably came

Fresh flowers ahead

Milwaukee artists cross new boundaries By Graham Marlowe Assistant Fringe Editor fringe@uwmpost.com In the crowded elevator that is Milwaukee’s music scene, even the most experimental listener can usually find what they’re looking for in some capacity. For those brave enough to trudge through the bureaucracy of obtaining a music composition degree, leaving the padded cell of a university has its ups and downs when organizing performances. Out of likeminded frustration, recent UW-Milwaukee master’s recipients Steve Gallam and Blake Manning cofounded Milwaukee Area Composers & Artists roughly two years ago to help promote and produce the performance of local art. For their show on March 2, the duo will team up with producer Mike Hodzinski and Brian Rott (founder of theatrical collective The Quasimondo) for MAC&A’s 4th collaborative showcase. This CD release show will feature electro-acoustic, chamber and improvisational musical formats, along with other acts like percussionist Mike Neumeyer. Although the founders’ home base of Bay View gives their work

a distance from the campus community, this latest performance shows how they enjoy crossing boundaries. The four of them sat down with the Post to discuss their place in the Milwaukee scene: UWM Post: As professional composers, what do you feel Milwaukee offers that other cities don’t? Blake Manning: Well, in Milwaukee there’s no set scene, you can find a little bit of everything. The city’s always finding itself. When you go to Chicago, it’s “oh, hey…there’s a huge blues scene” and you know about it. Post: Do you feel the city’s diversity works against or for you? Steve Gallam: It does help to give yourself little compositional boxes to help you write music. On the flipside, there really is a lot going on in Milwaukee, so it’s hard to get heard in a city that’s big enough to be big but small enough that people can’t be aware of everything that’s happening. Mike Hodzinski: With something like this, sometimes you find yourself doing a lot of explanation – in the flyers, at the gig itself – to people, and then it becomes work for them. So as cool as it may be, that’s always worked against us.

BM: A lot of composers end up going back to academia, because they can’t find work. The university is like a fortress, and oftentimes they only allowed performances to be on campus, and we don’t feel we need their protection. It shouldn’t have to be behind closed walls where they grade us on it. We’d like to get it to where we feel it should be socially. Post: Like other universities, there seems to be a disconnect between Peck School of the Arts and surrounding community at times. Is there some bureaucracy to deal with? SG: Punk was the music of subversives for 30 years, yet there’s nothing more underground and subversive today than modern chamber music. We need the visual artists to come out more and participate in what we’re doing. They’re subversive in their own way, but visual artists can sometimes jump through those hoops. BM: There’s also the element of cultural perception in dealing with art forms. [The establishment] isn’t allowing anything else from the outside. Society underneath that wants to express what they know, their new ideas.

back for a lengthy encore, finally sealing their set with “Forget Me” to the great delight of the crowd. Von Bohlen, of course, is Milwaukee music royalty, guitarist for seminal Chicago band Cap’n Jazz and currently the frontman of the highly-acclaimed Maritime, of which drummer Dan Didier is also a member. Almost any description of The Promise Ring includes the word emo, a word that causes most serious music fans to shudder, but one can only assume it had a wildly different meaning back in the band’s heyday. Their music is an irreproachable mixture of irreverent catchiness and serious, meaty talent, something that’s become all too rare – there was a glorious time when “emo” meant Rites of Spring and Sunny Day Real Estate, not My Chemical Romance

and Fall Out Boy. Not that genre labels mean much; definitions evolve and nuances predictably crop up, but there’s a real sense of loss at the unfilled gaps left by those former bands. It’s hard to say why The Promise Ring waited 10 years to reunite. Obviously they’ve all been busy with other projects, but seeing them live really highlighted their charismatic stage presence and undeniable energy. They play so naturally together. It’s interesting to think of what would happen to Milwaukee’s music scene if they reunited for good, but things as good as The Promise Ring are perhaps best taken in measured doses, to be savored occasionally, leaving room for others to grow into their shoes and their legacy to settle even more firmly.

But they’ve set up a wall for pop culture… They don’t want you infiltrating or ruining it in any way. SG: I don’t want to criticize an organization like Present Music, but they’re established. They come close to what we’re doing, but they don’t have the local element. They’re always bringing in music from, like…John Adams, stuff with a national audience. Post: So does the MAC&A audience give you some freedom you otherwise may not have? SG: I grapple with that a bit because while exploring extended technique of the soprano sax in front of audience might be truer to the message I’m putting across, most people would walk out. So there’s a bit of give and take with the audience. But let’s not forget that Mozart wrote chamber music for parties, for people to get sloshed and enjoy this great music together.

terms of documentation, but the document itself – when it gets recorded – goes online and whatever. What we’re doing is trying to make a scene. If everything went digital, Summerfest would just be streamed online. People want to go because of the live experience, and you can’t exactly download that. The other thing is… concerts didn’t end when the Gramophone came out. People still went to see concerts, theatrical productions, happenings. For people who think the concept of concert hall music is antiquated, where do they get that? The bars are ridiculous and belligerent but where can you combine that belligerence with stateliness? That’s what we’re trying to do. BM: At the same time we don’t want to bombard the audience with insanity. I think insanity goes hand in hand with comedy, so when you’re gonna throw some crazy sounds or visual theater at people you’ve gotta make it light sometimes. That was my problem in the university setting – everything was so heavy and so serious. MH: When people don’t see an element of self-deprecation from you now, they get skeptical, and that’s not always the best first impression. We take what we do seriously but we don’t project that seriousness onto other people. The rest is just silly antics and filler. [Milwaukee Area Composers & Artists will host their 4th showcase on Friday, March 2 at the Marian Center. The show runs from 7:30-10 p.m. and is $5 at the door. CDs of the last event’s performance(s) will also be available.]

Post: I think the freeing of content has really changed the way we value the arts. For instance, [Steve and Blake] hold a master’s in composition but a lot of people will ask, “What are you doing with that?” Brian Rott: Among our generation, there’s just no appreciation for the educated arts, for “high art” or whatever. You look at the theater, the music that’s playing around town and think, “Why can’t you enjoy modern composition like a rock concert?” And further, why don’t new art and new music co-mingle more often? It just makes perfect sense for them to be together. SG: Things may be going digital in


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February 27, 2012

fringe

the uwm post

Succeeding through noise Sleigh Bells turn up the volume on Reign of Terror

By Steven Franz Fringe Editor fringe@uwmpost.com It’s difficult to tell whether Sleigh Bells are kidding anymore or not. They exist in a music industry which, even at the indie level (of which Sleigh Bells can less and less realistically consider themselves a part; this was, after all, a band “discovered” by M.I.A., with regular airplay on MTV), is becoming more and more obsessed with its sheen, the plasticine aesthetic that coats the fact that there’s really nothing there. And more than most other bands, Sleigh Bells are about their exterior, their image, the projected likeness of the coolness they supposedly exude. This is a problem. Sleigh Bells often fall into the same trap as blog starlet-turned-media-blister Lana Del Rey: that is, as much as they’d like to portend to be making a statement about their coolness, about the image they’re supposed to maintain in order to receive a shred of credibility in a fleeting, looks-obsessed culture (this is nothing new), they nonetheless absolutely love the fact that they look and feel and act the way they do. Lana Del Rey can dress like a Quaker version of Bridget Bardot and cake on her makeup to look fake and puff out her lips to make them look fake to try to dig at pop sexuality, which she does; the image is what sells her music, which is what she wanted to begin with. And Sleigh Bells can wear dark shades and drape themselves in an Urban Outfitters catalog all they want, acting as if, like a mid-‘90s pop punk band, the emptiness of the image is the point; the emptiness is what sells them, and at this point, two albums in, they’re perfectly fine with that. Maybe their success is the proof of the theorem, and maybe the sly satire inherent in a band that first sold their music-as-image to a tight-knit group of pseudo-intellectuals who were willing to get the irony (because they love that stuff) is just being lost on the public at large. But since there’s really nothing behind the slick exterior but a collection of extra-violent teen-idol puppy love songs, the legitimate question is whether you’re left with anything at all worth sitting through once the emperor’s nakedness has been exposed. Luckily for Sleigh Bells, it’s such compelling nakedness. Bruising, thrilling, bone-rattling nakedness. Reign of Terror was initially billed as a change in pitch, a musical curveball that deepened, matured and expanded on the crushingly punishing guitar-driven bubblegum of 2010’s Treats. This is fairly patently false. That’s okay. To reinforce this

point, Reign of Terror instead starts off with the vaguely mistitled “True Shred Guitar,” a two-minute, 21-second track of which precisely 71 seconds are a song of any kind (the rest is an apparentlylive recording of crowd noise and singer Alexis Krauss asking if we, the listeners, are ready – answer: sure, why not) and absolutely none is shredding guitar, the place of which is taken by a few amateurish, distorted treble whinnies. To be honest, it would be disappointing if Sleigh Bells had substituted the stupidly simple but punishingly loud heavy metal riffs of Treats for something more nuanced, more technically proficient, more adult. Instead, Derek E. Miller’s idea of texture is fuzz so distorted it would tail off for a solid minute if he let the note play, and his idea of nuance is to layer the thing so huge and fat that it becomes the guitar equivalent of dropping Infinite Jest onto the floor from 10 feet up; he could play like Eddie Van Halen and you wouldn’t be able to tell one note from the other. It’s a guitar sound so gigantic that you can barely hear Krauss coo seductively beneath it – there is no “Rill Rill” on Reign of Terror. It’s the process of maturing by retreating into the most adolescent space imaginable. Her voice is weak to begin with; she could bellow like an opera singer and you wouldn’t be able to hear her. If anything, this just reinforces the delightfully juvenile roar of the guitar. But the vicious totality of the wall of guitar also (probably unintentionally) serves to mask songwriting that, through the guise of Krauss’ little-girl pipes, belies a sort of pubescent discomfort, a societal anger awash in imagery of guns and death (“You make the shotgun spray,” she sings on “Crush,” while during “End of the Line” she speaks of a time “when the birds are bleeding”) that mostly take the form of songs about relationships and youthful unrest, a kind of “Beat on the Brat” for the age of the hipster. Okay, fine. But even if there’s supposedly something inherently ironic about lyrics about suicide and burning the world down being sung, with added xylophone effect, as if they were The Penguins’ “Earth Angel,” the irony folds in on itself when packaged in the form of pounding industrial rock that Skinny Puppy could probably lay claim to if they tried, a sound that fits the content perfectly. After the failure of the irony beneath its own packaging and the band’s bourgeois veneer of modern MTV, leaves just the one thing: stupidly bruising, blunt-forced, powerchord guitar. And when did that ever stop being cool?


fringe

uwmpost.com

February 27, 2012

11

Now showing at a Some (Fun.) Nights theater near you Fun. recreates its signature sound on its sophomore album

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

By Kevin Kaber Assistant Fringe Editor 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. Seven Songs for Malcolm X (Monday, 7 p.m.)

Malcolm X, one of the greatest leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, is the subject of this documentary collection of interviews and testimonies from those that knew him and those that were influenced by him. Born Malcolm Little, the to-be prominent activist was subject to racism, lived in foster homes and was sent to jail while growing up. After becoming a member of the Nation of Islam, Malcolm X became an infamous spiritual leader throughout the Civil Rights Movement. His tendencies for violence and broad influence ultimately led to his assassination in 1965. Seven Songs includes recollections from Malcolm X’s widow, director Spike Lee and UW-Madison professor Patricia Williams, and wraps up the Union Theatre’s Black History Month program. The Other F Word (Wednesday, 7 p.m.) Fathers have never been a universallydecent subject amongst the punk counterculture. So what happens when the leading men of punk rock become fathers themselves? Director Andrea Blaugrund Nevins explores this interesting subject in The Other F Word. Following Jim Lindberg,

former vocalist of one of punk rock’s most influential bands, Pennywise, Nevins explores the routine of the punk rock dad (à la Lindberg’s own book, Punk Rock Dad). Along the way, Nevins interviews other notable fathers of the subculture, including Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea, Tony Hawk and Mark Hoppus of Blink-182. The Giants (Les Géants) (Friday, 9 p.m.; Saturday, 7 p.m.; Sunday, 7 p.m.) Like other tales of adolescent misbehavior and reflection (Stand by Me, The Outsiders), The Giants forms a similar story from across the Atlantic. Zak and Seth are left on their own for the summer as their mother is swept away for an obscure workrelated reason. The two burn through their summer allowances and, along with a newly made friend, Dany, are left to rent a room in their grandfather’s home to a drug dealer. The classic plot amplifies every adolescent’s dream: a vast backyard (which is beautifully captured by former-painterturned-director, Bouli Lanners) in which they can do as they please.

Is funny enough? David Wain’s Wanderlust can’t find its heart By Steven Franz Fringe Editor fringe@uwmpost.com The genius of David Wain’s 2001 coming-of-age satire Wet Hot American Summer was that amid the film’s surrealism, knowing winks to film genre and retro-obsessed nostalgia were genuine moments of human connectivity, devoid of jokes, allowed to lovingly unfold with little interference that would otherwise interrupt the truism of the sequences. (The chief example here being the gay sex sequence between Bradley Cooper and Michael Ian Black, which appears from nowhere and is shot with patient heat). The basic understanding was that Wain’s brand of absurdism, bred on MTV’s The State and cultivated in the sketch comedy troupe Stella (along with Black and Michael Showalter, two other State veterans), really can’t function as a means of expressing real, deep emotional truth; it’s silly, it’s weird, it’s random – and it’s certainly funny – but it’s not particularly honest. Wain needs to step outside the silliness to find the center of the film, which here he fails to do. One of the most important sequences in Wain’s new Wanderlust involves Linda’s (Jennifer Aniston) confession to her filmic husband George (Paul Rudd) that she finds his behavior irritating, that his incapability of pausing for a second and toning down his jokes is driving a rift through their ability to honestly communicate. The scene marks a turning point in the film, after which George and Linda’s relationship drama is allowed to unfold, she finding her feet in the commune (or, in the politically correct ter-

minology of the hippies there present, “intentional community”) at which fate has dictated they arrive while he slowly distances himself from everyone around him. Unfortunately, the film itself fails to follow Linda’s own advice. As opposed to Wet Hot American Summer, there’s rarely a moment in Wanderlust that isn’t being interrupted by some moment of attention-grabbing silliness, which, while funny, prevents a potentially touching story of economic reevaluation and humanist compassion from ever finding its heart. Flanked by an all-star cast, as is normal for Wain films, that includes The State veterans Kerri Kenney-Silver, Ken Marino and Joe Lo Truglio (along with his penis, which unfortunately steals every scene in which it appears, which are many), along with Alan Alda, Malin Akerman, Justin Theroux and others, Rudd and Aniston rarely fail to be funny, for which the film can be commended. It’s often uproarious: in one sequence, a disastrously high George has a conversation with a human-sized talking fly, which assures him there are no hard feelings for a fly he swatted in an earlier scene. The basic plot of the film involves a Lost in America­-like rejection of corporate authority, as George and Linda, fresh off the former’s firing from an FCC-investigated film and the rejection of his brother’s (played by Marino) condescending offer of a low-end job, use a small Georgia commune called Elysium as a means to find themselves. (One of the film’s other failures involves its inability to say anything useful about the economic situation in which it takes place, aside from the repeated use of the phrase “even in a

recession.”) They get back on their feet, take time off from the economic demand of New York City and rekindle their relationship, but unfortunately perennially unemployed Linda wants to stay while George, being the breadwinner, feels the urge to return to his role in corporate America. Wanderlust misses many, many opportunities to say something honest or useful about either its protagonists, their economic universe or the communal life that composes the bulk of the film’s running time and most of its potshots. Mostly it prefers a type of disappointing ambiguity that comes across almost entirely as a copout. It feels bad about completely demonizing corporate life, so it sides half heartedly in a few scenes with George out of grudging compassion, and the only real opinion it chooses to muster about the hippies (a mistake; they function excellently enough as cartoonish foils for George and Linda) is in its decision to have one of them ignobly reject his principles for his own economic prosperity. But if anything, Wanderlust puts aside a particularly slow start to pile on joke after joke after joke, and while its attempts at emotional resonance never pay off the way they should, its punchlines almost always do. (In one sequence, all three members of Stella appear, uncredited, as a news team that makes incessant jokes about their desire to see a female reporter’s chest). So while Wanderlust is difficult to appreciate as a complete film, its rapid-fire hysterical nonsense makes it endearing nonetheless.

Fun.’s sophomore album, Some Nights, is a theatrical approach to conquering numerous influences. By Kevin Kaber Assistant Fringe Editor fringe@uwmpost.com Fun. has never been a conventional band. The blend of glam and pop-rock with just a pinch of R&B amazed fans a few years back with Fun.’s debut, Aim and Ignite. After disbanding from the indie-pop band, The Format, vocalist Nate Ruess formed Fun., which consists of an expansive instrumental set to meet Ruess’s own expansive vocal range. Fun.’s sophomore effort, Some Nights, continues right where they left off. But besides creating an immediately catchy album with its own established signature style, the band has minted Some Nights with a different approach. Opening the album is an introductory song that listeners will immediately recognize as theatric. In fact, the theatrics of the album are on par with a Disney cartoon, albeit with a Freddie Mercury-type lead character. Because of its theatrical values, Some Nights has at least a somewhat story, but it’s nothing deeper than a hopeless romantic in search of a lasting relationship in an otherwise drab existence (think Disney). Regardless of the fact that the lyricism and concepts are chuckle-worthy, Fun. retains its incredible catchiness throughout Some Nights. As with previous songs like “All the Pretty Girls,” “Walking the Dog” and “At Least I’m Not as Sad (As I Used to Be),” Fun.’s sophomore album’s titular track perfectly exemplifies what the band can do.

With a pulsating bass drum driving the track to a Ruess-heavy chorus, “Some Nights” is almost reminiscent of certain Michael Jackson songs. However (and somewhat annoyingly), Ruess and company utilize auto-tune heavily throughout the album. It’s rather frustrating knowing that Ruess is capable of achieving a range of pitches, but it should be noted that the use of auto-tune and the heavy theatrical qualities of the album have been inspired by none other than Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. West’s own producer transcended genres to produce Some Nights, which is obvious when comparing it to Aim and Ignite. That’s not to say any of the Kanyeinspired methodology is a bad thing. The combination of the two struck a great balance on Some Nights, but it’s probably safe to say that the combination has had its fair share of failures as well. In fact, the only truly unfortunate track is “It Gets Better.” In an astonishing irony, the track begins with Ruess chanting “What have we done?/Oh my God/This is really happening…” before a “Hey Mickey!” stylized chorus of “it gets better” against a slew of electric instruments. Luckily for us, the song’s claim is correct. For the most part, Some Nights is an accomplished album. The shear amount of influences on the album is difficult to perceive as a decent combination; however, Fun. somehow pulls it off properly. Fun.’s truly original music-making is a success in its own and the band will, for some time at least, be an unexpected triumph.


the uwm post

12 February 27, 2012

EDITORIAL

LETTERS

TO THE EDITOR

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.

More student involvement requires faculty support Faculty need to create an environment where the student government is valued

As long as student government has existed, students have surely been berated for not participating in it. From low turnout in elections to senate vacancies, the UW-Milwaukee Student Association is no exception. While UWM students are partly to blame for their uninspired government, the heart of the problem lies in the lack of a cohesive campus environment that educates students on how the SA matters and encourages them to get involved.

The Student Association is invisible because its existence, let alone its importance, is rarely if ever mentioned in our academic life at UWM.

When students from all over Wisconsin and the Midwest come to UWM, they seek a college degree in their selected field that they hope to work in after graduation. Many stu-

dents dedicate their time to class exams, friends and a part-time job they may have. They don’t come to the university looking to make a difference on campus, and they shouldn’t be blamed for this. However, if the faculty and staff make an effort to create more awareness of things like shared governance committees, senate vacancies and SA elections, students will be more likely to have an active role on campus. The Student Association is invisible because its existence, let alone its importance, is rarely if ever mentioned in our academic life at UWM. If the leaders of this university want to see more involvement, they should work at creating a campus environment where involvement is truly valued. The fact is that the student government on campus does matter. Not only does it affect things in the short term, such as voter ID and parking, but the Student Association also has a great deal of influence in the direction and progress of UWM as a premier urban research university. The amount of prestige and national recognition the university continues to gain will reflect on the distinction of the degrees graduates leave with. Alumni will have a degree from UWM for the rest of their life; therefore, it’s in the interest of every student to have a voice in making sure their university progresses forward. The public education that students receive at UWM should include, in some fashion, the importance of the

unique system of shared governance set in place in Wisconsin universities. A brief discussion about the issues surrounding campus could easily be had in any political science course, and course instructors in any field of study could remind students to vote in the upcoming SA election. When UWM puts on events, such as Pantherfest, it’s not simply an attempt to provide entertainment for the students. It’s an effort to create a sense of community so that people feel connected to their school. While school administrators can’t plan out your entire social life for you, they make an effort to foster a sense of school pride and community. The same can be done with the SA. The faculty can’t force students to vote or the join a committee, but they can work to create an environment where student involvement is valued and elections are important. While the passion surrounding issues on the federal level is always high, local government is where the voice of one individual really can make a difference. Students can voice their opinions on issues like flexibility within the UW System, whether an on-campus stadium is a viable option and if UWM should remain an access university or if it should become more exclusive. Students should not be let off the hook, however. The past semester demonstrated that very damaging things can happen when students fail to pay attention to who they’re electing to lead them.

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. After reading “Who will watch the watchmen,” and “Old habits die hard in the Student Association” in the current issue of the UWM Post, I feel it necessary to address some concerns that have been voiced about the integrity and transparency of the 2012 Elections Process. I would like to reiterate the fact that the Chief Justice is not the Independent Elections Commissioner, but merely a “stand-in” until a commissioner has been appointed and confirmed by the Student Association Senate. I have been the “stand-in” commissioner since my appointment to the position of Chief Justice in June 2011. Since then I have had the opportunity and privilege to conduct one whole election, the freshman election. Beginning in December, since an Independent Elections Commissioner was not appointed, I began to carry out the duties of the Independent Election Commissioner. I created the party registration forms and made them available on OrgSync on the last day of class during the Fall Semester, as is prescribed in the IEC Bylaws. The aforementioned Party Registration Forms were due to the court office, Union 379, by noon on February 13, 2012. I received five party registration forms via OrgSync, and was able to successfully register three of the five parties. The two parties that I was unable to register were: ANEW and Realigious. These two parties were denied registration because they failed to meet the requirement set forth in Article IV, Section 3, Sub. F of the IEC Bylaws – that “Parties must be Registered Student Organizations.” Particularly, in respect to the ANEW Party, I spoke with Tom Dake from the Center for Student Involvement (CSI) to inquire about their current status as a registered student organization (RSO). According to Tom Dake the ANEW Party was not an RSO. It was at this time that I made the decision to deny ANEW’s registration. Subsequently, Cassie Van Gompel filed a court case with the University Student Court – a case which I have recused myself from. It is my belief, as I have also told Ms. Van Gompel, that “the commission cannot register a party if it does not meet the requirements to be a party at the time of registration.” If the Senate wishes to allow students to register parties that are not RSO’s I would recommend that it change the IEC Bylaws, until that time no party will be registered without being a RSO. As the acting or “stand-in” IEC Commissioner and the Chief Justice of the University Student Court, I must adhere to the laws passed by the Student Association. I was appointed to this position to act impartial and to carry out a fair, democratic and online elections process in the absence of a commissioner, I have met this responsibility and I will continue to meet it so long as I am in this position. Lastly, it is important to address any concerns about the election and its legitimacy. I feel as though I have gone above and beyond what past election commissioners have done to ensure integrity and transparency, that being said it is not enough. Therefore, I encourage anyone who wishes to be an election observer to email me and to assist with the running of a fair, democratic and online election. I am open to any ideas and would like to have as many eyes on this election as possible. At the end of the day the candidates who are running work very hard to win these elections, I don’t think it would be fair for there to be any questions about the winner’s legitimacy. Please feel free to contact me with any questions about this memorandum by telephone at 414.229.5295 or via email at amdewees@uwm.edu AMD

FEATURED PHOTO

Campus ambassador Mike Albrecht shows students how to find and apply for scholarships


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OP-ED

Five steps for women Musical wasteland to stay healthy Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin encourages women to stay safe, healthy and strong by taking the following five steps to prevent disease and promote health and wellbeing By Meghan Benson Special to the Post editorial@uwmpost.com 1. Schedule your annual health visit with Planned Parenthood or your primary health care provider. Your healthcare provider will discuss your health concerns with you, recommend appropriate health screenings based on your history and risk, provide information on disease prevention, and offer additional resources for your health and wellbeing. Don’t have a primary health care provider due to lack of health insurance or inability to pay? Planned Parenthood can provide you with affordable reproductive health care even if you are low-income or uninsured. 2. Get the screenings recommended by your health care provider. If you are sexually active, be sure to get tested for sexually transmitted infections. Many STIs are easily curable or treatable, but left untreated, can lead to more serious problems, including infertility. Women should also have regular breast and cervical cancer screenings. STI testing, treatment and breast and cervical cancer screening are available through Planned Parenthood. Additional screenings, such as those for blood pressure, cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes and other diseases and conditions may also be recommended. Following your health care providers’ recommendations for these screenings will increase the chances of early detection and treatment. 3. For all women of reproductive age, it is never too late to make a reproductive life plan, including if and when you might want children, how you will prepare for safe and healthy pregnancy and childbirth, who will help and support you as a parent and how you will prevent unintended pregnancies. If you are not ready to get pregnant yet, in between pregnancies, not planning to have children or are done having children, there are many safe and effective methods of birth control to choose from, and almost all of

these methods are available through Planned Parenthood. 4. Stress can impact your health, including your sexual and reproductive health, in many ways. It may have physical effects ranging from headaches to ulcers to lowered immune defenses. It may impact your relationships with others or your ability to be successful at school or work. Minimize stress by learning improved coping skills, such as breathing exercises, meditating, physical activity and how to better communicate your needs to those around you. Striking balance among the different parts of your life – such as family, friends, work or school – and taking time for yourself and the activities that interest you can also help reduce stress. Building and maintaining healthy relationships, especially intimate relationships, will prevent the stress that results from an unhealthy or abusive relationship and provide you with support to minimize stress in other parts of your life. 5. Take preventive steps to protect your sexual and reproductive health. If you are sexually active, talk with your partner about safer sex, use condoms or dental dams to prevent transmission of STIs, and make sure you and your partner get tested for STIs before becoming sexually active with each other. All sexually active individuals should receive the Hepatitis A/B vaccine to prevent the sexual transmission of these viruses, and anyone age 26 and younger should receive the HPV vaccine. HPV is the virus associated with cervical cancer as well as other types of cancer, including vulvar cancer, vaginal cancer, penile cancer, anal cancer and oral and throat cancers. For more information or to find a Planned Parenthood near you, go to ppwi.org or call 800-230-PLAN. Meghan Benson Director of Community Education Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin

Dancing with the stars

Chicago International Salsa Congress 2012: Latin dance legacy continues at UWM By Krislyn World Special to the Post editorial@uwmpost.com UW-Milwaukee students traveled to Chicago from Feb. 16-19 to volunteer for the 11th Annual Chicago International Salsa Congress for the experience of a lifetime. These students are members of the Latin dance organization, “Ahora!” As part of the mission statement of this organization, their goal is to learn and share the authentic dances of the Latin culture with its members, the campus com-

munity and greater Milwaukee. Their mission also includes volunteerism. It is because of their willingness to contribute their “labor of love” to the collective fleet of volunteers, who travel to Chicago annually to lend their talents, ideas and time that, they will explode not only in dancing ability, but networking, travel and leadership for their organization. As an adjunct faculty member, I also attended the Chicago Salsa Congress as a professional development award recipient. In 2011, I was awarded two professional develop-

February 27, 2012 13

national acts. I am talking about the lack of eclectic music being put out by our own resident musicians. I respect anyone that is making an effort to create any form of art and/or entertainment, no matter what the style. With that, I have to say that heavy metal and cover bands are not my cup of tea. I have nothing against them; I just can’t get into them. As a musician that always seems to have band mates coming and going, I often go to sites like Milwaukeerocks.com and craigslist to seek out other potential players. Ad after ad is almost always geared toward these two genres. It’s like we’re stuck in a time warp where the soundtrack is made up of music I outgrew in middle school or songs that others made famous, ten or more years ago. I understand that lots of people like heavy metal. In addition, many musicians like the chunk of change that can be made by playing cover songs that many people know. But it’s puzzling to me how so many local venues feature these same types of sounds, over and over. We live in a university town. These historically are the most eclectic and vibrant scenes where people are hungry to seek out new and original music. They are usually the hubs where you can find cutting edge variations of music played by people that do it for the sheer passion and love of it. UW-Milwaukee and Milwaukee in general have intelligent, creative people. Don’t people want to form bands anymore? Or, are we so involved with all of the latest

technology and cookie-cutter crap that not many people want to be involved in anything artistic and pure? Just as the more notable scenes such as Greenwich Village in the ‘60s, New York in the ‘70s and Seattle in the ‘90s happened, there are interesting things going on in cities throughout the country, today. I just don’t see it in Milwaukee and it makes no sense. To Milwaukee’s credit, my observations aren’t completely true. I am aware that there are some interesting things going on musically. Venues like the Cactus Club, Club Garibaldi and a few others constantly feature local and national acts that are doing some cool, unique things. They just never seem to get much press and are almost secrets for people that are “in the know.” A number of great local, original bands have kept Milwaukee form being a complete musical washout. Kudos to these bands that include The Wildbirds, The Celebrated Workingman, The Ragadors and others. Bands like these, along with underground hip-hop, demonstrate that there are pockets of interesting things going on. I just don’t think that it’s at the level it should be for a city of Milwaukee’s size. More should be brought to the forefront. For God’s sake kids, get up and start making a scene with the talent that I know is out there. And bring on the hate mail. I expect it.

If you haven’t been buried under a pile of homework so thick that it has prevented you from watching your precious Daily Show or Colbert Report or even (gasp!) watching a network news program, you’ve probably heard something about the Affordable Care Act recently. The Act has a lot going for it, including provisions that help people suffering from mental illness get access to the help they need, expanding coverage to a larger range of low-income people and allowing young people to remain on their parents’ insurance until they are 26 years old (if you haven’t directly ben-

efited from this last one, I guarantee that you know someone who has). In short, this act helps a lot of people. It’s the stuff that helps women specifically that has bigots up in arms. Insurance companies use things called pre-existing conditions to justify raising premiums, or costs, to people who need health care. A pre-existing condition can be anything in a patient’s medical history that makes him or her more likely to be unhealthy (and therefore costly to the insurance company) in the future. Basic stuff right? But did you know that, before the Affordable Care Act became law in 2010, insurance companies could hike up fees for women by claiming that they had pre-existing conditions like pregnancy or having been the victim of rape or domestic abuse. Women have been routinely punished for giving birth or for being brutally attacked or violated by the issuing of higher premiums. This gender taxing went on until the Affordable Care Act made that illegal. Now religious organizations are trying to castrate the Affordable Care Act by dismantling the other part of the legislation that helps women stay healthy: the provision that mandates that birth control be part of all insurance plans except for those of houses of worship. Representatives from universities,

charitable foundations and hospitals that are religious by association, but serve and employ people from all faiths and backgrounds, think that they should be exempt from this law. This is, to put it bluntly, ridiculous. If a hospital is named after a Catholic saint, there is an outspoken minority that thinks that it can impose religious anti-contraception rhetoric on their own employees and clients (Saint Anne is no doubt rolling in her holy grave). Never mind that the pill also serves numerous medical purposes aside from preventing pregnancy. Most oral contraceptives contain progestin and estrogen, which can treat dysmenorrhea, endometriosis, ovarian cysts, mittelschmerz, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, PMS, uterine tumors, anemia, chronic breast pain and even acne. We are talking about a drug that can prevent several types of cancer and effectively treat other life-threatening illnesses. For women who have endometriosis, taking the pill can actually help keep them fertile by preventing further damage to their reproductive organs. Clearly the pill is more than birth control. It is vital medicine for countless women. Luckily we have a president who recognizes that and has been defending the Affordable Care Act as best as he possibly can. I just hope he doesn’t back down on this fight.

ment awards. Both awards were grants used for the research of Afro-Latin dance and implementation to World Movement Traditions courses: Salsa I and II. The first grant facilitated travel and study in San Juan, Puerto Rico, for the Puerto Rican International Salsa Congress 2011. This particular congress or “congresso” is considered the “mother” congress. Salsa congress did not exist before this particular congress. Salsa is considered the national dance of Puerto Rico, but this dance is loved by countries and people of all nations. Puerto Rico consists of three distinct cultures, commonly referred to as “roots.” These roots are of Taíno Indian, Spanish and African descent. The Puerto Rican International Salsa Congress offered Latin dance immersion and cultural excursion. The schedule consisted of workshops from Latin dance instructors

and performers from all over the world. These workshops occupied the morning with mind boggling dance routines, meeting international dance partners and lectures in Spanish only. The agenda for the afternoon consisted of emerging artist exhibitions made up of local talent from salsa academies throughout the island and international emerging artist, as well. The early evening consisted of the Salsa World Open, where live music was played and semi-professional and professional ballroom salsa dancers put “Dancing with the Stars” to shame. The caliber of dance and dancer that competes on this level is considered the best of their city or country. This particular congress offers certification in Puerto Rican folkloric dances, such as bomba and plena. These dances have a very distinct African and Caribbean Influence. Other certifications offered include Puertorriqueno

Salsa and International Ballroom Judging. I hold two certificates now in Latin dance. My professional development has expanded immediately, allowing me to judge the Salsa World Open as a junior judge in 2011, and qualifying me to judge at the Chicago Salsa Open 2013. ICSC is modeled after the International Puerto Rican Salsa Congress. ICSC presented recording and performing artist from Columbia, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Japan and Milwaukee. They presented the very best that the salsa world has to offer, such as Tito Nieves from Puerto Rico. Most of these artists played from 12 a.m. to 3 a.m. The dance and rhythms included salsa, cumbia, bachata, rumba, cha cha, casino rueda, samba and mambo. Though happily exhausted, practitioners of Latin dance came and left with a common goal…to share.

Milwaukee music scene lacks eclecticism

By David Rangel Staff Writer editorial@uwmpost.com When I spent a few years living in southern California, there were many instances where I had to explain to people that the Milwaukee area is not solely made up of farms and breweries. To the contrary, Milwaukee is a progressive, cosmopolitan city with lots to offer. Milwaukee can compete with almost any city of its size in the way of art galleries, museums, dining and other forms of entertainment that city dwellers usually seek. What Milwaukee surprisingly lacks, however, is a thriving music scene. I’m sure many people will take issue with the above statement. After all, we have Summerfest, which to me is the best outdoor music festival in the country. But I’m not talking about the music of Summerfest, The Rave, The Pabst Theater, Turner Hall or any other venue that feature prominent,

Politics over polyps Religious groups oppose cancer prevention for women By Natalia Koss-Vallejo Special to the Post editorial@uwmpost.com


14 February 27, 2012

COMICS Primal Urges

Andrew Megow

I Like Your Shoes

She Said, He Said

the uwm post

Carol Brandt

Kat Rodriguez

Julianna Marrie Fink

m o c . t s o p m w U


PUZZLES

uwmpost.com

THEUWMPOST CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Cools down, in a way 5 Sell illegally 10 Fight 14 Take-out window word 15 Protective covering 16 Tempo 17 Garden tools 18 Pretext 19 Circle segments 20 Shoe store’s insanely big sale? (2 wds.) 23 Exist 24 Pretty young person 25 Mined metals 26 Sister 27 Donkey 28 Pair 31 Neck part 33 Foot part (2 wds.) 36 Is unwell 37 Metallica doing yoga? (2 wds.) 40 Molten rock 42 Appealing forcibly to reason 43 Expresses oneself 46 Kit of parts 47 Pro’s opposite 50 Lingerie item 51 Turn reddish brown 54 Marry secretly 56 Command to fido 57 Valuable St. Louis attraction? (3 wds.) 60 Work hard and long 62 A small wood 63 Not horiz. 64 Greek god of love 65 Facilitates 66 List-ending abbr. (2 wds.) 67 Peel 68 Exhausted 69 Medicine amount

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

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SUDOKU

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February 27, 2012

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Jonas Wittke, 2012

DOWN 1 New York city 2 It comes after the verse 3 Puts up 4 Japanese dish 5 Heroic tale 6 Incrustation of filth 7 Tryptophan, for example (with “acid”) 8 Unvictorious party 9 Unadjusted, maybe 10 Inn 11 Overly worried 12 Amount gathered over time 13 Feels ill will toward 21 Doctor 22 “Be quiet!” (var.) 29 “I’m not looking forward to this” 30 Auditory 32 Rave’s partner 33 Cereal ingredient

34 Lennon’s gal 35 Ova 37 Flight 38 Spelldown 39 Chipped in? 40 Steakhouse menu option, maybe 41 Presupposed (2 wds.) 44 Time period 45 Rises suddenly 47 Snap out of it (2 wds.) 48 Musical productions 49 Candy bar maker 52 Like some metal 53 Not these 55 Had a life 58 Baker’s need 59 Big party 61 A hallucinogen

solution found on page 4

solution found on page 4

ANAGRAM CRACKERS INSTRUCTIONS: Unscramble the letters below to spell out everyday English words. When you’re finished, unscramble the circled letters to find the missing word from the quip!

SWALF

––––– WRAFH

––––– KLATED

–––––– PHOONT

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Q: Why do birds fly south for the winter? A: “Because it’s ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___”

to

solution found on page 4

Know something we don’t? Send tips to news@uwmpost.com

IN-WORD Find as many words as possible using only the letters from this week’s IN-WORD. Words must be four or more letters long. Slang words, proper nouns, and contractions are not permitted. Only one form of a verb is permitted. Words that become four or more letters by the addition of “s” are not permitted.

EXPOSED

Can you find 18 or more words in “EXPOSED?” Our list can be found on page 4.

solution found on page 4


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February 27, 2011

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