Wisconsin school of business magazine

January 2013Issue 17

Featured article: Brazil’s Time to ShineSoccer, Samba and Economic Strength

(p.14)

Fed by Ian’s Pizza

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Hi everyone,

Welcome back to campus! Hopefully, the long break gave you all an opportunity to recharge and prepare for a new semester. I would like to welcome b.Line members that have accepted leadership positions within the organization for the Spring 2013 semester—Jessie Wardlow (President Elect), Hyo Bin “Joe” Im (Company Research Analyst), Audrey McKenzie (Membership Relations Coordinator), Ellen Piechowski (Membership Relations Coordinator), and McKensie Barmore (Marketing Director). Congratulations, I look forward to working with each of you. The foundation of b.Line is build off of dedicated members that are constantly striving for perfection, and I can’t wait to witness the accomplishments of the next generation of b.Liners. Don’t forget to “like” us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter (@bLineWSoB) and check out the blog on our website (www.blineonline.org). If you have any feedback, please email me at blinemagazine@gmail.com.

Thanks and On Wisconsin!

Jenna Muellerb.Line President

A Letter from the b.Line President

MEET THE

Funding

ExEcuTivE boArd

WriTing/EdiTingdEsign

b.Liners

MArkETingAlexis RubensteinAli WeinerAmanda KestenAmanda RossoAustin WilliamsBrendan DuffnerDana SchellerDevin CavanorErica Sloan

Lindsay KirznerLongda JiangMadeline McDonnellMike HaarlaSarah AustinYimeng Li

Haley HensenHannah HarrisHyo Bin ImKevin VollmerNikita Lee

Samantha StubitzWill HubertyAudrey Mckenzie

Ellen PiechowskiEllie RohlfEmma ShepardErica Engstrand

Blair BodenBrian ThueBrianna WitteErica Eisenberg

Jessica WardlowLauren GoralnickLisa ErlauerMadeline Guilfoil

Maya ReinholdzMckensie Barmore

Amy WalshBrian LauscherCody Peck

Dongsoo LeeEmily FlomJack Miller

Jessica SmithPeter McCannSara Klose

Jenna MuellerSusie KorzecBen Falk

Amanda KestenBrianna WitteDavid LouxJoe Docter

Georgie EngstrandHaley SwansonHannah KleinJenna BellJenny PedrianiKaitlyn TierneyKatie ParkerKatie VinjeKelli Kettell

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Table of Contents

Featured Articles

In every issue

4 Student Advice: Dear Bea Line

5 Steps 2 success: Network your way to ceo

8 Alumni: where are they now? John Morgridge

9 Student Org Hightlight: Multicultural Business Student Association

10 Professor Research Highlight Amber Epps 24 Top 10: Ways to survive a wisconsin Winter

26 Entertainment Page

6 Career advising

12 Business implications of hurricane sandy

14 Brazil rising

18 spotlight on student jobs

16 a year in review

20 Election results and economic conditions

22 ALC Case Competition

23 Showrooming: Just a Trend or the Future of Shopping?

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How Hurricane Sandy Affected Business

Cover Story: Brazil Rising

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Dear Bea LineStudent Advice Column

By: Ellie Rohlf

Dear Anxious in Madison, You came to the right place. I have some great tips for you to follow, and I can guarantee you success in your interview.

Best of Luck,Bea Line

Dear Bea Line,

Help! I have a big interview coming up, and I’m so nervous! Can you give me a few tips so that I can make my best impression and nail this interview?

Sincerely,Anxious in Madison

Arrive on time. This means 5 to 10 minutes early. Allow additional time to use the restroom, get refreshed and double-check your appearance.

Allow enough time for travel. If you are driving yourself, be sure to have accurate directions for travel and parking and have the recruiter’s contact information with you.

Be completely prepared before entering the interviewer’s office. Prepare an interview folder/port-folio to take to the interview that includes a pen, paper, extra copies of your résumé, a list of refer-ences, a copy of your official or unofficial transcript, and special projects or reports that might be of interest to the recruiter.

Dress formally and avoid extremes. Remember, your first impression on the recruiter goes a long way toward getting a job.

If the recruiter offers his/her hand, shake it firmly. Wait for the recruiter to sit down or offer you a chair instead of seating yourself.

Speak clearly and maintain appropriate eye contact. Show interest and enthusiasm. Be sure to thank the interviewer and follow-up with a thank you note. Leave a positive impres-sion on this person because they might be of assistance to you again in the future.

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Steps 2 Success - Network Your Way to CEO

Linked in People Jobs Answers Companies

Profile

Edit My Profile View My Profile Edit Public Profile Settings

Step One: Get a LinkedIn profile, and polish it!

Step Two: Go to as many business school events as you can – even though you don’t think you have time, it’s worth it

Step Three: Join Clubs and Organizations

Step Four: Ask parents, relatives, and older friends to connect you with people in your field

Step Five: Keep Your Key Connections Fresh

Bea LineAccording to John Guare’s Six Degrees of Separation, any two people on the planet today are connected by only six mutual relationships. In the business world, this means that you’re only six connections away from any job you want!

• Having a profile picture is vital• Ask for recommendations from co-workers and bosses (exchanging recom-mendations’s with a friend you work(ed) with is an easy way to do this)• ‘Follow’ companies & groups you’re interested in• Set up an appointment with the BCC to polish your resume and include each of your experiences on your LinkedIn profile• Connect with friends, family, co-workers, and recruiters!

• Research the company and speakers before hand • Pre-plan a few talking points/questions and meet the speakers/recruiters after • Get their business cards and send a follow-up email Suggested events include: • Employer Info Sessions/Meet & Greets • ALC Speaker Series • Case Competitions • Volunteer Events

• You’ll be surprised how the connections you make with peers can pay off, especially older students• Pre/post meeting chit-chat can be invaluable in picking up the inside scoop on what’s going on and how to be successful in the business school and in your job

• A simple 10-15 minute phone call with someone working in your field is huge Talking points may include: • Their “story”/career path • Likes/dislikes about their job • Advice they have for someone starting out in the field • A few company/industry specific questions• Always follow up with an email and LinkedIn connection

• Touch base with your most relevant connections at least annually• A quick email asking a simple question will do, but a phone call with contacts you know more personally is ideal

by: David Loux

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Previously divided into the Business Career Center and Undergraduate Academic Services, the two have combined to house advisors from both areas. Now students can obtain both career and ac-ademic advising in one convenient place. Located in room 3150 of Grainger Hall, the center is open Monday through Friday from 8:00am- 4:30pm.

To accommodate students’ hectic schedules, the center has made advising stress-free; admit-ted business students can simply stop by the third floor at their convenience for advising. From 11:30am - 1:30pm the center is open for 15-min-ute drop-in sessions, during which students can meet with the first available advisor without having to make an appointment. Thirty-minute appointments are also held from 8:30am - 3:30pm. Students who wish to make an appointment in advance can do so via Bucky Net. Pre-Business students may also stop in from 10:00am - 4:00pm. The advisors are eager to help and have so much to offer.

From course selections to study abroad plans, academic advisors will provide students with advice as to which classes would best suit their respective future career goals. They can point stu-dents to beneficial academic and campus resourc-es, and more importantly will ensure that students

Upon Speaking with Kathleen Rause, a career advisor in the

advising center, she stressed that students “think about their future

careers now so that they can start developing strategies to achieve

their goals.”

Upon arriving in Madison for the fall semester, students usually find their email accounts exploding with information about all that occurred on campus while they were gone.

For many, it’s nearly impossible to keep track of all the great opportunities that are avail-able at school. Thus, we at b.Line have chosen to shed light on a key asset of the business

school: the recently updated BBA Advising Center.

Career Advisingby: Erica Engstrand

are on the right path to graduating.

As for career advising, students can be sure to learn the proper ways to prepare for their future careers. They may also acquire assis-tance on their resumes, cover letters, and even their interview skills. Additionally, the career advisors can further student knowledge about researching career opportunities, accepting and rejecting employment offers, and more.

Upon speaking with Kathleen Rause, a career advisor in the advising center, she stressed that students “think about their future careers now so that they can start developing strategies to achieve their goals.” The earlier students do so, the sooner they can begin to consider proper employment positions as well as pro-spective internship opportunities. Advisors are also available to help with networking strate-gies and career options concerning students’ majors.

Students should consider visiting an advisor as soon as possible. Taking a short amount of time for a drop-in session could end up saving a great deal of time in the long run and can most importantly help students to prepare for

their future endeavors.

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1100 Grainger Hall, host to countless lectures, classes and events, carries the name and legacy of one of the most renowned UW Madison alumni. Recognizing an icon of success, the naming of Morgridge Auditorium honors the generosity and embodiment of WSoB values of John Morgridge. Morgridge received his BBA in 1955. He then earned his MBA at Stanford University. He also received an award for a distinguished business alumnus in 1991 and an honorary doctorate degree from UW-Madison in 1994. Aside from numerous philanthropy initiatives, John and his wife Tashia Morgridge have made substantial donations to the university. They are members of the UW Foundation, The Wisconsin Alumni Association, and the Bascom Hill Society. “Longtime champions of UW–Madison, the Morgridges take every opportunity to extol the university’s virtues and contribute to its future. Evidence of their generosity can be seen throughout campus, from Grainger Hall to the lakefront and the Red Gym, where the Morgridge Center for Public Service is now housed. In 2004, the couple gave the university $31 million to complete and renovate the Education Building,” (Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery). The Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery, established in 2004 by a proposal from Wisconsin governor Jim Doyle, is a research enterprise “to strengthen the state’s position in science and technology, and revitalize the economy with new jobs and investments.” The Morgridges gifted $50 million, the largest individual donation in UW history, in April 2006 to create twin institutes, one private, the Morgridge Institute for Research; and the other public, theWisconsin Institute for Discovery. The institution was built with the vision of developing educational programs to improve public health by encouraging engagement in scientific topics such as stem cell research. The vision and extensive donations by John Morgridge are felt by the people involved with the research. “The work experience at Morgridge Institute for Research is unique. Thanks to the gift from John Morgridge, the State of Wisconsin and WARF, we have the opportunity to work with the public institute, Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, under one roof. It's like work together as one family,” said marketing intern Longda Jiang. In addition, they donated $1 million to jumpstart construction of the UW School of Business. They also contributed to the $85 million donation in 2007 by a group of alumni, the largest in UW Madison history, to preserve the name of the Wisconsin School of Business for 20 years. More recently, the Morgridges established a scholarship fund for college bound students. “One of the Morgridge’s most recent and ambitious projects, the Fund for Wisconsin Scholars, is focused on increasing the number of college graduates across the state. This permanent endowment, begun with their initial gift of $175 million, provides need-based grants for high school graduates to attend Wisconsin’s public two- and four-year colleges and universities,” (Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery). In 1988, John Morgridge joined as CEO of the young Cisco Company. He grew the company from $5 million to $1 billion in sales, and employment from 34 to 2,250 employees. In 1990, he took Cisco public, was appointed chairman in 1995, and chairman emeritus in 2006. According to Cisco’s executive bios, “Morgridge helped set the culture of Cisco as one of innovation, empowerment, frugality, and giving back. As chairman emeritus, he continues to champion a range of education and corporate citizenship initiatives, and he is a guiding force behind the company’s long-term commitment to focusing on basic human needs, responsible citizenship, and access to education.” A true legacy to the university, the success of John Morgridge demonstrates the vision for alumni established by the values of UW-Madison. His generosity can be reflected in the opportunities for students to have the resources and inspiration to be innovators of the future.

Alumni Spotlight: John Morgridge

By: Samantha Stubitz

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Alumni Spotlight: John Morgridge Multicultural Business Student Association

STUDENT ORGANIZATION HIGHLIGHT:

The Multicultural Business Student Association (MBSA) is the only business school organization with a focus on diversity. Composed of about 25 members during the fall semester of this year, and led by co-presidents Brian Choi and Omer El-Sanjak, the organization aims to make an impact through the diversity of its members. “We are all students interested in business who have come together to leverage our different talents and backgrounds in order to grow together,” said Choi in an interview this past December. “We frequently host company recruiters. In the past we have had visits from large corporations such as Google, Target, and Proctor & Gamble.” The MBSA also hosts interview and résumé workshops, networking events at the Nitty Gritty, and for pre-business students specifically, meetings with university directors who provide helpful tips for a successful application to the business school. Additionally, the MBSA provide a mentorship program for those members who are interested in mentoring a younger student or becoming a mentee, further fostering the tight-knit bond of the group. Giving back to the community is another main focus of this organization. Recently, MBSA members volunteered to help staff an event at the Museum of Modern Arts. Beyond that, the organization typically par-takes in a campus clean-up effort 2-3 times a semester. Though serious about providing professional development and volunteer opportunities, the MBSA also makes time for fun. “We try to host social events at least 3 times a semester where we will go out to eat, go bowling, or something of the sort,” Choi comments. “With such a tight-knit group, we always have a good time.”

In order to become a general member, one must pay $20 for a single semester or $30 for the entire year. General members must also attend half of the speaker events offered, 1 volunteer event, and 1 social event each semester. The organization generally consists of about 20-30 students each year, but has an initiative to expand. “Our organization is somewhat limited in how large we can grow because we have a relatively low percentage of students at UW-Madison with diverse backgrounds.” However, the small size of this student organization may lend to it’s overall success. “We’re not a huge organization, but that has allowed us to grow closer than most; we’re like a family.”To learn more about the Multicultural Business Student Association, go to http://win.wisc.edu/organization/mbsa or find them under the Student Organizations tab.

by: Hannah Harris

M B S A

“We are all students interested in business who have come together to leverage our different talents and backgrounds in order to grow together”

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Professor Research Highlightby: Amanda Maenner

Amber Epps

Q: Tell our readers a little bit about yourself and why you chose the Consumer Behavior realm.

A: I grew up on a farm in a small town in the Midwest. Throughout your life, you never really know how your experiences and interac-tions are preparing you for the life you are going to lead, but like so many others, seemingly unrelated events provided a foundation for my current career. Specifically, my decision to study and teach Consumer Behavior is a natural extension of my inherent curiosity. I’ve always enjoyed thinking about the complex choices that people make and un-derstanding why they behave in both ordinary and extraordinary ways.

Q: Tell us about your career path. What brought you to UW-Madison?

A: I majored in Business Administration and Economics during my undergraduate program. During my senior year in college, I took a Marketing course, and it sparked my interest. With little background in the subject and an intention to work in the field of marketing research, I pursued a master’s degree in Marketing at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The faculty there immediately pulled me into doing academic research and invited me to teach multiple discussion sec-tions of the ‘Introduction to Marketing’ course. Given that academic research involves studying problems that you are passionate about at the forefront of the field, extensive reading across disciplines, and in-depth fieldwork with consumers, I was sold from the beginning! At that point, I decided to continue on for my Ph.D. I could not be more delighted that my path led to UW-Madison. What attracted me most to the WSOB were the outstanding faculty, research environment, and students.

Q: What is your favorite aspect about teaching? Do you have any memorable in class moments as a professor?

A: My favorite aspect part of teaching is the students! I love the interaction both inside and outside of the classroom, and often keep in touch with alumni as they start their careers. You should ask the students about memorable class moments; I have hundreds.

Meet Amber Epp, a bright and passionate Assistant Professor of Marketing at the Wisconsin School of Busi-ness. Currently, Amber teaches Consumer Behavior (Marketing 305), a favorite among marketing majors.

Her interests also lie in services marketing, marketing management, and her own extensive research. Read below to learn more about Amber’s career path, fascinating research initiatives, perspectives on consumer

behavior trends in the United States and love for Wisconsin cheese!

Q: What is your favorite part about teaching Consumer Behav-ior? And what is your favorite unit in Marketing 305?

A: The best thing about teaching Consumer Behavior is that it draws on so many different disciplines. It’s fun to be able to integrate and apply theories from psychology, economics, sociology, and cultural anthropology to help explain consumers’ actions. I enjoy most of the units I teach, but my favorites are Learning & Memory, The Self, Family Decision Making, and Cultural Influences. These topics over-lap with my own research, and I like to hear the students’ perspectives during our discussions.

Q: What kind of research have you participated in the past, and are you currently conducting research now?

A: My research focuses primarily on collective or group behavior. In particular, I am continually fascinated by how brands get caught up and embedded in the everyday and special traditions that character-ize family life. Examples of this might include the way the Nintendo Wii is central to family gaming or how Starbucks connects sisters through their Saturday morning coffee ritual. My interest in this topic began when I noticed that, historically, marketing practitioners and academics have devoted a substantial amount of time to understanding consumer identity, and rightly so, because research suggests that ‘who we are’ shapes all kinds of consumer behaviors from decisions about which brands we buy to how we interact online. However, much of the prior research focused on individual consumers, despite that family identity also can dramatically influence our consumption behavior. Family identity is a collective construct, defined as the qualities and attributes that make us a particular family and distinguish us from oth-ers. As such, I tend to study a family’s unique traditions, stories, and interactions using a variety of methodological approaches including ethnography, depth interviews, case studies, and narrative analysis.

Many of the questions that have garnered my attention relate to how the interests of various coalitions within a family (e.g. siblings, cou-ples, parent-child, and so on) overlap and depart from one another to affect group-level outcomes such as decision-making, goal-building, and identity management. Considering how coalitions challenge one another helps explain paradoxes such as how objects remain symboli-cally powerful even after we discard them, when irreplaceable objects can be replaced, and why families sometimes stop doing activities they consider sacred. In addition, these interplays offer innovative ways of thinking about family decision making. The new imperative for marketing managers is to enhance satisfaction by strategically de-signing offerings to help families navigate an array of network goals. That is, we should begin with an understanding of what families are trying to accomplish and then create products and services that capture the complexity necessary to help them achieve their goals.

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Convenience and Luxury - Come Live at the Park Regent!

Park Regent is located in the heart of campus within walking distance to everything. These spacious apartments come fully furnished with a leather couch, wall mounted flat screen, end table, breakfast bar with bar stools, desks, California style closets and choice of twin, queen, or bunk bed! Our large kitchens have dishwashers and built in microwaves. Experience the convenience of a laundry room on every floor, a study room, vending machines, elevator access, and an underground parking garage. Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop and Qdoba Mexican Grill located on the first floor. Stop in today, only a few apartments are left for 2013-2014!

1 bedroom: $1265

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Stop into our open house at 4 N Park St 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday for a tour.Questions? Call 608-285-8690 or email jenniferl@rentfmi.com.

www.rentfmi.com/property/parkregent

My work draws on actor-network, narrative, materiality and identity theories that align with a consumer culture perspective. My research has been published in the Journal of Consumer Research and the Journal of Marketing, among others, and I have co-authored book chapters on qualitative data analysis and family behavior. In my current projects, I begin to address how brands survive the challenge facing many families of ‘doing family’ through technologies, as events such as divorce, military service, or commuting for work force us to practice family life across distances. I’m also working on a project with one of our doctoral students, Sunaina Velegaleti, about how families make choices about outsourcing parenting. Services exist for everything from teaching your child to ride a bike to taking your kids on college tours. These emergent services blur the boundaries between family and the marketplace, and prompt new questions about what is acceptable to outsource and how families make these sometimes contentious decisions.

Q: What kinds of consumer behavior trends are impacting the United States right now?

A: There are several important consumer behavior trends worth noting. I think our multi-screen universe has had dramatic impacts on consumer behavior in recent years. Being able to interact with consumers across platforms has changed the way we study consumer behavior, evaluate ad buys, and engage with consumers in their every-day lives. A related trend is the rise of gaming. There is a TED talk by Seth Priebatsch that provides some interesting food for thought among marketers about how consumers respond to gaming and that builds upon the social layer we’ve established (http://www.ted.com/talks/seth_priebatsch_the_game_layer_on_top_of_the_world.html).

Finally, there are several trends related to changes in family life that have captured my attention. I mentioned the trends toward long-distance families and outsourcing care in my ongoing research, but at a very basic level, we have so much diversity in families today that companies regularly overlook.

Q: What do you like best about Madison? What are your favorite things to do in Madison?

A: In addition to the campus and WSoB, Madison is a great place to live. The city stands out on its food selection alone, not to mention the assortment of amazing cheeses available! My husband and I often ex-plore new local restaurants scattered throughout the neighborhoods in Madison. I also love the outdoor culture here. We live near the Glacial Drumlin Trail, so it’s a regular spot for us to go for a bike ride or take our dog Bailey for a long hike. In the summers, we also like to kayak at Lake Wingra or hit the Union Terrace for a concert.

Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

A: I hope to be doing more of the same in 10 years! This is an engag-ing, supportive, and productive environment for both teaching and research. I would like to continue working with students (undergradu-ates, MBAs and doctoral) and envision taking on more roles within the University and School at a broader level.

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“The degree of destruction is not

always easy to anticipate because it depends on the exact locations impacted

and the severity of the storm.”

by: Haley Hensen

On October 22nd, 2012, a loosely organized collection of showers and thunderstorms began forming in the western Caribbean Sea. Little did anyone know that in just seven days, these small storms would inten-sify into a full blown hurricane and wreak havoc on the eastern coast of the United States. It took two full days after the storm system was detected for meteorologists to be able to predict its potential destructive impact, leaving less than a week to notify and mobilize affected resi-dents. Jordan Gerth, a research meteorologist within the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Studies, explained, “The degree of destruc-

tion is not always easy to anticipate because it depends on the exact locations impacted

and the severity of the storm.” Many home and business owners followed

orders to evacuate without any idea of what they’d return to. Accord-ing to Gerth, on October 24th the storm intensified into a hurricane with winds reaching over 74 mph as it hit Jamaica. A day later, what

was now deemed “Hurricane San-dy” hit Cuba before trekking north-

ward toward the States where it finally hit New Jersey on October 29th.

Although the storm system lost some momentum before hitting the States, it still managed to cause significant damage in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Delaware, and surrounding states. While Hurricane Sandy pushed inland and subsided by October 31st, it left in its wake at least 74 people dead, entire coastal areas under water, and power outages in more than 8.5 million homes and businesses according to New York Daily News. Initial relief efforts were focused solely on the

safety and well being of people in the affected areas. As days passed after the storm, however, more time and energy was focused on the hur-ricane’s impact on the economy.

Hurricane Sandy hit the United States during a particularly interest-ing time of the year for our businesses and overall economy. With the holiday season fast approaching many companies, especially retailers, were wondering how they’d fare in the coming months. Pressure began mounting in the weeks after the storm. The Boston Globe reported, “the supply chain is backing up when retailers normally bring final shipments into stores for the holiday shopping season, which retailers depend on for annual profitability.” Rather than managing a surge in demand, retailers were facing cancelled orders, fractured supply chains, and submerged stores, warehouses, and inventory.

According to The Associated Press, some of the nation’s biggest stores were expected to lose billions. Those losses were predicted to extend into the holiday shopping season during which many retailers typi-cally make up to 40 percent of their revenue. After a natural disaster like Hur-ricane Sandy, retailers face two waves of loss. After the initial impact of physical dam-ages, they must also deal with a consumer mind frame of scaling back. Maria Heide, a Marketing and

“While supermar-

kets, chain drug stores, mass merchants,

and home supply stores did particularly well in the weeks following the storm, clothing chains, department stores,

and jewelerssuffered.”

The Aftermath of Hurricane Sandy Business Implications of the Destructive East Coast Storm

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The Aftermath of Hurricane Sandy Business Implications of the Destructive East Coast Storm

Retail Management Lecturer within the School of Business, comment-ed, “If customers are spending money, they’re going to be spending it on rebuilding, not clothing.” This explains why some sectors fared far worse than others. While supermarkets, chain drug stores, mass mer-chants, and home supply stores did particularly well in the weeks fol-lowing the storm, clothing chains, department stores, and jewelers suf-fered. Financials reported in early December, after the effects of Black Friday, showed just how impactful the storm was on these retailers. Terry Lundgren, CEO of Macy’s, was reported in The Wall Street Jour-nal saying, “Despite the largest-volume Thanksgiving weekend in our company’s history, we were not able to overcome the weak start to the month, which included the disruption of Hurricane Sandy.” Macy’s, like other retailers, saw a drop in November same-store sales for the first time in years.

Hurricane Sandy also hit small businesses hard. According to The Wall Street Journal, the Small Business Administration is-sued more than 59,000 disaster relief loan applications to businesses in New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut alone. Owners of small firms were seeking these low-interest loans to cover economic and physical damages. As small companies worked to rebuild their businesses, they dealt with low funds, gas shortages, lengthy insurance claims, damaged facilities, and inventory problems. Professor Heide explained, “It’s especially hard on small businesses because the money is coming out of their own pockets. Corporate chains can shift mer-chandise, but independents aren’t able to do that.”

Some small businesses were faced with layoffs, logisti-

cal reroutes, and even delays in their grand openings. With the loss of power, small firms without locations in other parts of the country were unable to communicate with their supply chains for days. To make matters worse, The Wall Street Journal further explained that in the shipping industry, a storm like Hurricane Sandy is classified as a “force majeure,” meaning the cost of damaged goods falls on the owner, not the shipping company. Facing the magnitude of these costs and compli-cations, small business owners were worried consumers would be back in the market before they were. Many companies were unsure they’d be able to handle customer requests and feared they’d never recover.

The effects of Hurricane Sandy are still playing out. Only time will tell the overall impact it had on the economy. While the storm initially took a toll on retailers and small businesses alike, the economy may not suffer in the long run. It is predicted that a balancing effect will occur

overtime. Analysts from The Associated Press stated, “any economic growth lost to the storm in the short run will likely be re-

stored once reconstruction begins.” Maria Heide also commented on this balance, saying, “it’s interesting

that a hurricane like this can actually be positive in the rebuilding phase.” Businesses and homeown-ers can only hope this is the case in the months to come.

All photos provided courtesy ofMelissa Gigliotti.

“It’s especially

hard on small busi-nesses because the mon-

ey is coming out of their own pockets. Corporate chains can shift merchandise, but independents aren’t able

to do that.”

14

Brazil’s Time To ShineSoccer, Samba, and Economic Strength

by: Kevin Vollmer

So How DiD THey Do iT?Brazil’s economy is growing at a blazing 7 percent per year, three times faster than the USA. Brazil’s GDP is set to pass Great Britain and France within the next few years. Its growth stems from an improved, self-depen-dent economic policy, riding the wave of globalization, as well as from having a plethora of valuable natural resources at its disposal. It is the lead-ing exporter of commodities such as iron ore, chicken, orange juice, sugar, coffee, and tobacco. Recent offshore oil discoveries (some believe them to be the world’s largest reserves) have raked in huge revenues for the state-owned oil company Petrobras. Brazil is also a major exporter to China, building off of their growing middle class and increased needs for energy.

Brazil’s famous former leader was a metal worker named Luis Inácio da Silva. Nicknamed “Lula” (“The Squid”), he attacked the wealth disparity between Brazil’s rich and poor. Through a monthly monetary stipend aimed to assist sending children of low-income families to school and doctor’s appointments, the nation recently saw 21 million citizens rise from poverty into the middle class. This brought with it a wealth of new consumer spend-ing power. It also led to an incredible 77 percent public approval rating for da Silva, who President Obama called one of the world’s most popular politicians.

Brazil has poised itself to shine for years to come with a unique combina-tion of strict banking regulation and open credit. Andrei Gonçalves, Mas-ter’s Student in Quantitative Finance in the Wisconsin School of Business and a native Brazilian, explains that “…while the US was saving some of its financial institutions, like AIG, the Brazilian government was able to reduce taxes on motor vehicles and there was no major cut in credit since the government controls two of the largest banks in Brazil.”

Historically, each time Brazil made great economic advances, it would soon be stifled under the weight of corruption and red tape. Brazil has been called the “country of the future” since the 1950s to describe this continuous growth and decline. State-led growth plans during the past decades, including the construction of a centrally located, futuristic city in Brasilia, never created sustainable growth and cost billions of dollars. Gonçalves explains that, “…the Brazilian economy was really unstable until 1994, when the currency that is currently in place (Real – R$) was first introduced.” Brazil today shows many positive signs of its capability to maintain momentum and continue sustainable growth.

Just as China stamped itself as a world superpower with its impressive display in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Brazil now prepares for its own grand spectacle. Brazil will host the 2014 World Cup as well as the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. But the world has already begun to take note; this rising BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) nation has a larger GDP than the rest of South America COMBINED, and while most of the developed world went through a Great Recession, Brazil kept booming.

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energy inDepenDence

Brazil also operates under a much more self-dependent model for powering its nation. Over 80 percent of the nation is fueled by hydropower. Biodiesel is also a massive industry for Brazil. The nation reached energy indepen-dence in 2006, with ethanol as a key driver in reaching this impressive status. Cars operate under a flex-fuel status to accept ethanol, gasoline, or premium gasoline. Military regimes in the 1970s lured sugar cane farmers into ethanol production by providing handsome subsidies, and when those subsidies eventually ended the industry focused on being more cost-effec-tive to maintain an attractive option for fuel. This thriving industry, along with massive domestic oil reserves, is what powers Brazil today.

A pASSionATe MoDern culTure

Brazil’s culture stems from a modernizing, diverse population of over 180 million people. Miscegenation of people from native, African, and Portu-guese ancestry throughout Brazil’s history has created a society that was never divided into “white” and “black”. The famous week long Carnival in Rio is considered to be the largest celebration on the planet, highlighted by incredible colors, dancing, and the energetic rhythms of samba music. That comes in stark contrast to the relaxation of another popular Brazilian music genre, bossa nova (listen to the song “The Girl from Ipanema” for a great example). Brazilians look for opportunities to relax and enjoy themselves, and with the beautiful beaches and warm temperatures throughout most of the nation, it is hard to blame them! For a delicious meal, try the national dish called feijoada, a delectable stew of pork, rice, and black beans.

In terms of work culture, relationships are important but punctuality is not. Don’t be surprised if a meeting is delayed or even cancelled without prior notice! Respect for authority is expected in this group-oriented culture. Also, communication is often full of emotion and energy, as Brazilians send messages through body language and gestures. “Brazilians are, in general, creative and tend to be very communicative,” says Gonçalves.

SHining in THe worlD’S SporTS SpoTligHT

A rich futebol legacy has for decades been what first comes to mind when people think of Brazil. The men’s national team is the only in the world to have competed in every World Cup, and has won an unprecedented FIVE

World Cup titles. Their 2010 World Cup performance was disappointing, however, as the Brazilians were eliminated in the quarterfinals. In addition to soccer, Brazil has become a powerhouse in men’s and women’s volley-ball (on both the court and sand), as well as the unique Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Brazil won 17 medals in the 2012 London games, highlighted by gold med-als in Men’s Rings, Women’s Judo, and Women’s Indoor Volleyball.

Infrastructure, communications, stadium construction, and forced eviction highlight some of the most important actions occurring in Brazil as they prepare for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics. Many worry the relaxed Brazilian workforce may not have everything ready by the time these events are held. Air transportation upgrades are moving at a slow pace, but the progress of stadium construction is acceptable for now. Brazil surely knows it cannot afford any slip-ups as it truly enters the world stage.

iS THe Sky THe liMiT For BrAzil?Brazil still faces many challenges as it strives to earn the world’s respect as a new economic power. First is continued danger in Brazilian slums ruled by drug traffickers. These dangerous favelas sit particularly close to many of the venues soon to be utilized in the upcoming World Cup and Olympics. In addition, 90 percent of the country’s roads remain unpaved, and public transportation is underdeveloped. However, the upcoming major sporting events have the power to address many of these problems.

“Our car traffic system is completely overwhelmed and our metro system is not even close to what can be found in countries like France and Eng-land (not mentioning the air traffic or the roads).” Gonçalves remarks. “The World Cup and Olympics have the power to bring public and private invest-ments in the infrastructure of the country and that is exactly what the major benefit of hosting these events is.”

Continuing wise economic, infrastructure, and development decisions, tackling violent drug lords, and growing the middle class will enable Brazil to not only thrive, but to dominate as a world power and model of a nation that has risen into elite status.

COURTESY: CBS NEWS, 60 MINUTES, The Independent,BBC News, and the Washington Post

Photos by: Karen Sanchez

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Live Stream of Baby Hawks on Campus

May 2012

Although this isn’t the first time these Hawks made an appear-ance on a Live Webcam, many viewers from around the world tuned in to watch the daily lifestyle of three Baby-Red Tailed Hawks and their offspring in March 2012. Since then, this live webcam stream has become somewhat of an internet sensation, gaining over 200,000 hits in 60 different countries outside of the United States.

Interesting Fact: Baby Red-Tailed Hawks are called Eyasses.

2012 played host to a number of noteworthy events, both locally in Madison and around the world. Here, b.Line takes a look back at some of the most significant moments from

the past year. Enjoy!

A year in review2012

London Olympics

July to August 2012

On Friday, July 27th, the American Olympic team joined athletes from around the world to celebrate the Opening Ceremony of the Summer 2012 Olympics. Although the athletic competition was fierce, the United States prevailed in the world medal count, taking home a total of 104. In addition, Gabby Douglas became the first African-American gymnast to win gold in the ‘Individual All-Around’ competition.

Interesting Fact: The London 2012 Olympics mark the first time in history that every competing nation had a female competitor.

“What Makes You Beautiful” sheds American spotlight on One Direction

February 2012

In February 2012, British boy-band One Direction’s hit single “What Makes You Beautiful” debuted throughout America, making it the most popular debut for a British act since 1998. Since then, One Direction has sold over 3 million copies of their CD Up All Night.

Interesting Fact: Through this past December, One Direction had sold over 15 millions albums.

The Hunger Games Debuts in American Theaters

March 23, 2012

In late March, fans from all over the world rushed to theaters to see The Hunger Games, a sensational science fiction film that spawned from a series of novels dating back to 2008. In numbers, The Hunger Games collected almost $67.3 million dollars on opening day and $685 mil-lion dollars throughout its duration in theaters around the world.

Interesting Fact: Lenny Kravitz was cast without an audition after Gary Ross, the direct of The Hunger Games, reviewed his per-formance in Precious.

100 Years since the Titanic Sank

April 12, 2012

Nearly 100 years ago, the Titanic set sail from Southampton, UK as the world’s biggest ocean vessel at the time. Unfortunately, the ship sank on April 12th, 1912 after colliding into an iceberg.

Interesting Fact: A First Class ticket in the Parlor Suite was valued at £870 going one way. With inflation, that ticket would cost $83,200 today.

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Hurricane Sandy destroys many East Coast Communities

Late October, 2012

While many people around the country were getting ready for Halloween festivities, many communities on the East Coast suffered tremendous loss in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. According to the U.S government, local economies have suffered a loss of almost $65 Billion, making this catastrophe the second biggest natural disaster ever to hit the East Coast. Although the

storm began as a Category 1, it quickly morphed into a much more destructive natural disaster as a Category 2 storm.

Interesting Fact: Category 2 Storms are characterized by winds that excel at approximately 96 – 110 miles per hour.

Mass Hysteria Spreads over misunderstanding of the Mayan Calendar

December 21st, 2012

The Mayan Calendar predicted that Kukulkan, a snake god, would return to earth and spread spiritual enlightenment and philanthropic consciousness to the world. In the past, NASA scientists predicted that a planet named Nibiru would collide with Earth in May 2003, but since then, they had not discovered any conclusive evidence that the world was going to end on Decem-ber 21st of last year.

Interesting Fact: Contrary to popular belief, December 21st, 2012 marks the end of one Mayan Calendar and the beginning of another.

Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen rock through Madison

November 5th, 2012

On the day before the 2012 Presidential Election, Bruce Springsteen and Barack Obama joined forces to provide a jam-packed rally on Capitol Square. Amongst an audience of nearly 18,000 people, Springsteen opened with his classics “No Surrender” and “Land of Hope and Dreams.” Afterwards, Obama gave a speech addressing the tragedies of Hurricane Sandy and his Presidential Campaign.

Interesting Fact: President Obama and Bruce Springsteen were also scheduled to rally in Columbus, Ohio and Des Moines, Iowa in the same day.

Malarkey becomes Merriam Webster’s Word of the Year

October 11th, 2012

“With all due respect, that’s a bunch of malarkey,” replied Joe Biden during a heated argument in the Vice Presidential Debates of 2012. Though he may have been pre-occupied with emphasiz-ing his stance on foreign policy, Biden probably didn’t anticipate that his use of the word “Malarkey” would propagate a 3,000 per-cent increase in page views for the word on Merriam Webster’s online website in one day.

Interesting Fact: Merriam Webster’s website gets about 1.2 billion views per year.

‘Gangam Style’ becomes most watched Youtube Video ever

November 25, 2012

816 Million: The number of views it takes to break the record that was set by Justin Bieber’s music video for his own hit single “Baby.” On November 25th, 2012, PSY received an award acknowledging that his “Gangnam Style” video had become the most watched YouTube video ever. In addition, Guiness World Records also recognizes it as the “Most Liked” video on YouTube, amassing nearly 5.4 million ‘likes’ since its debut in July.

Inter-esting Fact: PSY recently signed with The Island Def Jam Music Group, an American Record Label that represents famous singers and songwriters such as Justin Bieber, Mariah Carey, and Kid Cudi.

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There is a wide array of part-time jobs that students can find in Madison. I asked several students who are working part-time jobs on and off campus a few questions about their job. I wanted to find out where students could find part-time jobs and see what kind of work students are doing to help pay for tuition or even just to make a little extra spending money.

1. Where do you work?2. What do you do at your job?3. How many days/hours a week do you work?4. How did you hear about this job?5. Why did you decide to get a job?6. Is it off campus? Do you need a car, take the bus, etc.?7. How long have you had this job?

by: Emma Shepard

Student Part-Time Jobs

1. Rheta’s Dining Hall2. I serve sandwiches, help chefs prepare food, and make sure the dining hall is clean3. 3 days/7 hrs. per week4. I received an email sent out looking for employees5. I wanted to make extra spending money6. It’s on campus at Chadbourne Residence Hall7. I have only been working there since the end of October of 2012

Kathryn Doody

Emily Parkinson1. Waisman Early Childhood Center2. I am an assistant teacher in a pre-school classroom3. 1 day/3-8 hrs. per week4. I found this job by browsing the UW job center5. I wanted to be able to pay for things like food and not be completely reliant on my parents6. It is on campus, but near the hospital - I take the 80 bus to get there7. I have been working there since October of 2011

Cayla Maher1. Memorial Library2. I work for a librarian on recording book records, withdrawing, remarking books, etc.3. 3 days/10 hrs. per week4. I found this opening on the Wisconsin libraries website5. I got a job for extra spending money, money for groceries, and more work experience6. It is on campus at Memorial Library7. I have been working there since the beginning of the fall 2012 semester

Charlie Frahm1. Lowell Center2. I am an office custodian3. 15 hrs./week4. I found out about this job through advertisement by the facility5. I wanted extra spending money6. It is on campus and it is located on Langdon Street7. I have been working there for two semesters

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Melissa Etrl1. Wisconsin State Capitol 2. I do office tasks and mailings for Senators3. 12 hrs. /week4. I received this job because of a previous internship5. I wanted extra spending money and I get to work on homework while I’m at work6. It is off campus but I usually walk there7. I have had this job since the fall of 2011

Martha Ryzner1. Personal Care worker for a 28 year old quadriplegic through a care agency called Community Living Alliance2. I feed the client, dress the client, and perform tasks such as grooming, catheter care, strengthening exercises, range of movement, and more3. 2-4 days/10 hrs. per week4. I heard about this job through an instructor I had at MATC last summer5. I wanted a job for more spending money and experience in a field that I am interested in working in6. It is off campus and I drive my car7. I have had this job since August of 2012

Katie Ousky1. Crossroads Café in the Education building2. I make drinks, work the register, restock, and more3. 2 days/6 hrs. per week4. I heard about this job from a friend who works through the Union5. I wanted more spending money6. It is on campus7. I have been working there since September of 2012

Taylor Cappitelli1. American Eagle Outfitters2. I am a cashier, work fitting rooms, and help with overall customer service3. 8 hrs. /week 4. I applied to many places at the mall in my hometown5. I wanted to be more financially independent from my parents and have extra gas money and spending money6. It is off campus and I drive my car7. I have been working there since the summer of 2011

1. Works for a family in Middleton2. I work as a nanny3. 4-5 days/20 hrs. per week4. I found this job on the UW job center5. I wanted a job to help pay tuition6. It is off campus in Middleton and I drive my car7. I have been working there since the summer of 2010

Elisha Boschuetz

Miles Brown1. Gordon Dining and Events Center2. I am a food service person and a dishwasher3. 15 hrs. /week4. I found this job because of an email looking for employees5. I do it for the love of money6. It is on campus and it is located on Dayton Street7. I have been working at this location since September 2012, but have been with the same company since the summer of 2010

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If the United States’ current economic condi-tions had been different, would the outcome of the 2012 Presidential Election have been altered? If they had been similar to what they were at the time that George W. Bush was elected in 2000, would Obama still have won? It is unclear what the exact connections are be-tween the results of an election and the econom-ic conditions at the time, but there is certainly a correlation between the two.

Connection Between Election Results and Economic

Conditionsby: Audrey McKenzie

It is typically most dependent on the unemployment rate, the stock

market, and the inflation rate.

“Generally, if the unemployment rate is above 5 or 6 percent the incumbent

is not re-elected.

“Generally speaking, there has been a very strong connection between the state of the economy and whether or not the incumbent president is re-elected. It is typically most dependent on the unem-ployment rate, the stock market, and the inflation rate. The issues of unemployment and inflation are easiest for voters to understand because they are reported so frequently, therefore they tend to be the factors with the greatest influence on the election,” noted Barry Burden, Professor of Political Science here at UW. As reported by researchers from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of California-Santa Barbara, many individuals believe that both the state of the national economy, and their own individual economic well-being are dependent upon the candidate that takes office. However, most economic voting studies have found that sociotropic voting is much more common than egocentric voting. This means that voters tend to utilize evaluations of the economy’s performance as indicators of how they should cast their votes, rather than basing their decisions off of their own financial circumstances. However, sociotropic voters often believe that the state of the

national economy can be a strong indicator of whether an incumbent will generate the results they desire to positively influence their own personal economic situations. As a result, most voters have a tendency to vote for the candidate which they believe will be able to

provide the most favorable economic outcome overall. “If the final job reports had not come in with the results they did, and if unemployment had not continued to fall, Obama would have been in trouble,” explained Burden. “Generally, if the unemploy-ment rate is above 5 or 6 percent, the incumbent is not re-elected. Although the unemployment rate was high for a president to be re-elected, it had dropped significantly. Sometimes the incumbent gets the benefit of the doubt and receives a pass. Before the elec-tion, most of the economic forecasting models had predicted Obama would win with around 51 percent of the vote.” Despite the projections, many were still shocked by some of the more surprising outcomes of the election, such as the way it played out state-by-state. UW Economics Professor, Dr. Morris Davis, noted that “[the Republican party] should have easily won this past election. For example, Obama took Wisconsin, a state that voted for (Republican Governor Scott) Walker twice.” As can be seen in past elections, during times of economic pros-perity, slightly more conservative candidates tend to be supported and elected, and during times of economic downturn, voters tend to show their support to candidates with more progressive tendencies. This theory seems to have been proven accurate again in the most recent election. Additionally, in the time since Obama was first elected in 2008, the financial community has become more trusting of the admin-istration’s ability to handle the nation’s fiscal issues. Obama had no background in business or the private sector, and immediately seemed to recognize the importance of appointing economic advi-

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sors that held credibility in the financial community. Over time, Wall Street became more comfortable with Obama, and recognized his efforts to advocate for important monetary issues. Although approval has increased significantly since Obama took office, there are still many voters who are concerned about his eco-nomic policies. Dr. Davis reported that he “[feels] like over the past 12 years, we’ve taken a big step backwards in terms of regulation. Regulation and government spending isn’t always bad, but it seems like the federal government has instituted a set of policies since 2000 that are at best controversial, and at worst dumb.” Burden noted that “as you get close to an election people tend to polarize their views. After the election, Democrats seemed very optimistic, while Republicans did not. These feelings are not neces-sarily grounded in reality, just that the voters believed their party or candidate had the right approach.” The economy’s performance and various economic condi-tions have certainly had a strong effect on the most recent presiden-tial election. It is clear that voters tend to feel the candidate who wins will largely dictate the performance of the economy and in re-sult, affect their own financial situations. This belief, held by many voters and combined with various other aspects of the economy today, certainly contributed significantly to the voting behavior of Americans in the presidential election, and thus, the re-election of President Obama.

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ALC Case Competition By: Hyo Bin Im

The Accenture Leadership Center (ALC) is a part of the Wisconsin School of Business that provides opportunities

for undergraduate students to develop their leadership skills through a series of events and case competitions. The ALC opened in 2006, and six years later, on December 8th, 2012, the leadership center hosted its seventh ALC Case Competition.

At 8:15 on the morning of the competition, participants gathered in room 1295 of Grainger. While enjoying free breakfast provided by the ALC, a representative explained the directions of the case competi-tion. During the daylong event, each team was given two and a half hours to prepare a presentation based on the assigned script. After making a PowerPoint, each team presented for 14 minutes, answered questions from each judge for 5 minutes, and waited for 11 minutes for the judges to discuss and compile a team score. At the end of their deliberations, two of the five judges gave 15 to 20 minutes of feed-back on each team’s presentation.

This year’s case was about Veridian, a company that recently went public. There were four questions about the case. Each team first needed to analyze the leadership practiced in the company, then list the advantages and disadvantages of selling the company. Next, regardless of the decision, they had to decide a fair price for purchase. Finally, each team had to formulate an action plan for the decision.

At the end of the competition, Margaret Kruger, Keandra Brion, David Zak, and Justin Jaeger had the honor of placing first. They knew each other from a business student organization Alpha Kappa Chi. “My MHR 365 professor suggested that I participate in the com-petition,” said Keandra Brion.

Asked what the biggest challenge in this case competition was, Margaret Kruger replied that, “presenting in a thorough and concise way under a time crunch was really difficult.” Regarding values that are earned through this case competition, David Zak said, “I developed a skill to work in a team under a time limit.”

The 7th ALC Case Competition was a great opportunity to build leadership skills in a professional environment. Justin Jaeger, a member of the first place team, encouraged those who were not able to participate this year to “try it out in the future.” “It was a really great experience,” he said.

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Competition By: Hyo Bin Im Showrooming is the result of the large gap between customer

expectations of customer service and the financial ability of the retailer to provide that great service. As the retail industry has become more focused on providing items in bulk and in variation, it has been detrimental to the quality of customer service. A 2011 national survey concluded that 59 percent of consumers admitted to being subjected to poor or average service in department stores. The survey also found that roughly 40 percent of all consumers in 2011 were not planning to buy online, but decided to do so after suffering from poor customer service in their retail experience. Showrooming allows consumers to browse and decide which products to buy by seeing them in person without any pressure to purchase in-store or worrying about the com-mission of a salesperson. With showrooming, consumers have the ability to go online and use deals and promotions to save a buck or two on certain products.

There are benefits to companies that utilize showrooming tech-niques. Think of it like a bridal registry. Showrooming allows consum-ers to browse and choose the desired products at one store and then

Showrooming, which by definitions is the practice of examining merchandise in a brick and mortar retail store without purchasing it there, and then shopping online to find a lower price for the same item, has become a recent fashion phenomenon. The practice has been gaining popularity for years, as online

shopping has become the preferred method by consumers in the United States. Commonly referred to as ‘brick and mortar retail,’ showrooming typically has a negative connotation in that it is only utilized for un-

purchased inventory. However, showrooming has recently become a convenient trend that consumers are more apt to use than in-store purchasing.

ShowroomingJust a Trend or the Future of Shopping?

by: Ellen Piechowski

can pick up their goods at a different location, which is ideal in this immediate gratification era. This is helpful for wedding gifts, picking up necessities for college students who attend school far from home, second homes, etc.

Since this recent trend of showrooming has become popular, retail-ers are thinking of new methods to appeal even more to online shop-pers. Companies are organizing inventory around pseudo layouts that prompt consumers to think of the whole picture versus itemizing a list of products. These companies are also promoting deals and savings if a consumer shops online. This allows many companies to reduce the need for a large quantity of highly trained staff with a knowledge specialization of products.

Showrooming was infamous for its reputation among consumers as only featuring ‘extra’ items; however, the tides are turning and show-rooming is becoming the most economically practical technique in modern society. Utilizing the benefits of online shopping, consumers are now realizing that the previous methods of in-store purchasing are outdated. Showrooming is the newest and most modern way consum-ers are shopping in the 21st century.

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1 Invest in quality clothing: From boots and coats to scarves and mittens, your walk to class will be much easier if you buy some really rugged, weather-tested clothing. Don’t worry about looking good because it is worthless to “look good” if you can’t feel your fingers or toes.

2 Plan ahead: Check the weather forecasts every morning as well as before any occa-sion where you will be spending time outside. If you are driving, make sure to save time to warm up the car and clear off snow and ice.

3 Embrace the season: Sled down Bas-com Hill. Build a snowman or maybe a snow-Bucky. Perhaps construct your own snowy study fortress for those nights where College Library gets too busy to even think.

4 Find indoor fun: Union South has a variety of indoor entertainment op-tions, including bowling, pool, rock climbing, and live music. Enjoy great music concerts, as well as shows at the University Theatre and Overture Center. Get inspired by the beautiful (and totally free to view) artwork at the Chazen Museum

5 Gather a group together: Get creative with friends. Learn a card game and play for hours on end. Bake a cake together. Have a James Bond movie marathon. The pos-sibilities are endless.

6 Hot cocoa and soup: ‘Nuff said.

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By: Kevin Vollmer

7 Take photographs: Winter scenes on campus are among some of the most stunning around. See if you can capture that perfect shot! No Instagram necessary.

8 Dress in layers: It is definitely a good idea to have layers ready to handle the extreme temper-ature swings between walking outside and sitting in lecture.

9 Visit the indoor Farmers’ Market: Every Satur-day from now until April the indoor market at the Monona Terrace will be open. There, you can purchase great local meats, eggs, cheese, jams, picked and fresh veggies, baked goods, and much more!

10 Cheer on the Badgers: Watch great winter sports action. The men’s and wom-en’s basketball and men’s hockey teams battle in the Kohl Center. Also, women’s hockey takes to the ice in the brand new La Bahn Arena. A Badger win is sure to warm you up!

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For Your Entertainment

Answers can be be found on bLineonline.org!

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A b.Line Orginal Comic By: Brian Thue

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b.Line staff would like to thank the following:

The Business Career Center (BCC)Steve SchroederLois FladLoren KuzuharaMarty Blalock

Cover Photo:

Funded in part by the AssociatedStudents of Madison. ASM doesnot necessarily endorse the beliefsor actions of the organization.

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