Vol.

3
BUSINESS MAGAZINE 2009
Straight to the Bizz

What’s Inside?

Financial Crisis of 2008

Major Perspectives
UW Athletics
Embarrassing Internship Stories
 11

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 STUDENT ORGANIZATION HIGHLIGHT:
Badger Business Buddies
A brand new admissions process to the Wisconsin School of Business brings
about many admission questions from undergraduates, especially freshmen.
Many students wonder about the new process and requirements that need to
be met to apply to the School of Business. Other students are unsure of student
organizations, tutoring programs or study areas within Grainger Hall. Badger
Business Buddies, an organization that branched off from the Students in Free
Enterprise (SIFE) organization, is a program designed to help inquisitive pre-
business students obtain answers to questions regarding the Wisconsin School
of Business.
Badger Business Buddies strive to match pre-business students with
upperclassmen to establish a long-term mentoring relationship. The
organization is headed by an executive board of 10-12 School of Business
students. The executive board is responsible for matching the mentors and
mentees based on major and interests. The mentors and mentees build their
relationship by getting to know one another through meetings and discussing
various topics such as school, admissions and campus life. Any undergraduate
student interested in business as a major is welcome to become a mentee.
Mentors in the program share their experiences in the School of Business and
give advice to underclassmen in an attempt to better prepare pre-business
students for the rigors of the School of Business. Mentors also feel it is
important for underclassmen to be aware of how to sequence classes. For
example, an experienced business student can advise his/her mentee about the
CONTACT US AT blinemagazine@gmail.com
by: Lauren Tellock
work load of particular classes to help them create a successful schedule. Also,
a mentor can help his/her mentee with questions regarding classes, professors
and resources in Grainger Hall such as the Business Learning Center. Buddies
get together as often as they would like and are encouraged to attend special
events hosted by Badger Business Buddies.
Badger Business Buddies strive to match
pre-business students with upperclassmen to
establish a long-term mentoring relationship.
Badger Business Buddies holds beneficial events for underclassmen. Last
fall, the organization teamed with the Undergraduate Academic Service (UAS),
Business Career Center (BCC), and Accenture Leadership Center (ALC) to design
a scavenger hunt throughout Grainger Hall during “Wisconsin Welcome Week.”
For the hunt, underclassmen had to find key locations within Grainger Hall.
The scavenger hunt led students to places such as the BLC and the ALC, where
treats awaited the hunters upon arrival. The scavenger hunt concluded with ice
cream and rewards for participants.
Badger Business Buddies also holds a seminar series on the first Wednesday
of every month. Some seminar topics include meeting mentors and picking
classes. During the class seminar, buddies can discuss courses and compare
professors. Also, students have the opportunity to pick the brains of School
of Business faculty members during one of the seminars. Badger Business
Buddies hopes to expand events and continue to grow as an organization in the
future.
Any admitted business student with interest in giving back to the Wisconsin
School of Business community can be a mentor for Badger Business Buddies.
Mentoring is a perfect opportunity for business students with busy schedules.
Mentoring allows a flexible time commitment and requires easy tasks. Kyle
Oiness, a member of Badger Business Buddies’ executive board, highlights
a major benefit to being a mentor. “As a mentor, finding answers and giving
direction is very easy. Mentors already know where to go and who to see
within the business school.” Also, any student interested in taking more of a
leadership role can join Badger Business Buddies’ executive board. The board
meets every Wednesday at 8 p.m. Current projects the executive board is
working on include seeking corporate sponsorships and creating new events
for the organization.
Mentoring is a perfect opportunity for
business students with busy schedules.
Joining Badger Business Buddies is rewarding for all involved, from the
executive board to the mentors and mentees. The executive board and mentors
are able to assist mentees and the School of Business by strengthening the
potential of prospective students and exposing useful resources in Grainger
Hall. Mentees benefit from having a centralized resource and a mentor
is always merely an e-mail or phone call away. Worries involving class
enrollment, exams and Madison in general are just a few issues that can be
promptly addressed for involved mentees. When the spring semester sneaks
up, underclassmen will be more than prepared to take on new classes and
submit applications to the Wisconsin School of Business thanks to Badger
Business Buddies.
1
 HELP! I Need a Ca
r e e r I d e a !
I know what you’re thinking. It’s already second semester, I haven’t found a
job or an internship yet, and the economy is shedding jobs like dead skin cells
after a really bad sunburn. Time to panic? Yes! No, just kidding. Even though
finding a job right now may be much harder than in the go-go years of the late
90s, there are still plenty of options to consider. If you’re like many of your
undergrad peers who are still looking for an idea for what to do with yourself
after graduation, then keep reading. If you’re one of the lucky ones who have
found a job, stop gloating, the rest of us are jealous.
The b.Line sat down with Jake Martin, a recent Wisconsin School of Business
grad, to see what he is up to in these days of economic turmoil.
b.Line: Now that you’re out of school, where are you working and how did you
end up there?
Jake: I’m currently working for a Habitat for Humanity affiliate in a northern
Chicago suburb as a full-time AmeriCorps Volunteer.
b.Line: What exactly is AmeriCorps?
Jake: The best way to describe AmeriCorps is that it is like a domestic Peace
Corps program. AmeriCorps members work with non-profit organizations
across the U.S. in every field imaginable. AmeriCorps members are given a
living stipend to help defray living expenses so that you can focus all of your
time on being a full-time volunteer. Plus, you receive an education award of
about $4,000 at the end of your service that can be put toward current student
loans or future student loans. One nice aspect of AmeriCorps versus Peace
Corps is that it is only an 11-month commitment (instead of 28 months in Peace
Corps) so if you’re looking for a fun, meaningful gap year between undergrad
and your career or grad school this is a really great option.
b.Line: Why did you choose to work for Habitat for Humanity?
Jake: To be honest, I knew very little about Habitat for Humanity, or about
building houses for that matter, before I started working for them. However, this
past summer while I was job hunting, I had some extra time on my hands, so I
decided to start volunteering. Fortunately, there is a Habitat affiliate right here
in Madison, so I started volunteering with them two to three times per week.
The Habitat employees started to recognize me after a few days and mentioned
to me that I could help build houses full time if I signed on as an AmeriCorps
member. Ultimately, I chose Habitat because I liked the work and I loved the
mission of the company.
2
by: b.Line Staff
b.Line: How exactly does Habitat for Humanity work?
Jake: One of the biggest misconceptions about Habitat for Humanity is that
it is a give-away program. It’s not. The goal of Habitat is to get people out
of crowded or unsafe living conditions while also helping to create some
financial stability through home equity. Habitat homeowners actually buy their
houses. However, Habitat helps to make it as affordable as possible by utilizing
volunteer labor and providing a 30-year loan at 0 percent interest. Habitat
is able to finance this loan because the house is typically paid upfront by
corporate sponsors and individual donors. One interesting fact is that Habitat
has just completed its 300,000th house globally and is shooting for 1 million.
b.Line: What is your role as an AmeriCorps volunteer for Habitat for Humanity?
Jake: I am a volunteer crew leader. My job is to teach and lead groups of
volunteers. I demonstrate how to carry out the task at hand and supervise
the volunteers to make sure that the work is being done safely and properly.
I work year round and help to take about 10 homes from groundbreaking to
completion.
b.Line: What would you suggest to a current undergrad that is looking for
something to do this coming year?
Jake: If you’re confused about which direction your life is headed, or you just
want to take a year before you jump into corporate life or more schooling, then
relax. Take a year to figure out what you want and do something meaningful in
the process. Whether that means AmeriCorps, Teach for America, Peace Corps
or any other full-time volunteer program, go for it. I can’t tell you how many
volunteers have come up to me at the end of the day and said how much they
wished they had done something like this before they had started their career,
their family and the rest of their life. Right now you have the benefit of youth.
Use it while you still can.
To find out more about AmeriCorp and Habitat for Humanity, contact Jake at:
jakemartin17@gmail.com.

T wo Badgers, Ted Durkee and Brandon Gador,
united with a green vision that is the basis
for their new business, Powered Green. Powered
Green is a Madison-based company that provides
individual wind energy sponsorships for $16. Each
sponsorship pays for new wind turbines to generate
the amount of energy a typical laptop computer
uses in its lifetime. This initiative directly supports
new wind turbine projects, prevents millions of
pounds of carbon dioxide emissions and helps
to reduce our dependence on polluting energy
sources. Included with each sponsorship is a
recycled aluminum emblem called an Energy Seal
that can be placed on the outside of a laptop that
represents the sponsorship and allows individuals
to show their support for renewable energy.
Durkee is currently completing his fifth year at
UW-Madison, majoring in mechanical engineering.
His partner Gador is a first-year alumnus who
graduated from the Wisconsin School of Business
with a degree in marketing. The guidance and
opportunities these small business owners received
while studying at the University of Wisconsin-
Madison assisted them in pioneering their business
and is now the catalyst powering their success.
Brandon Gador:
On recent success and what
powers the future
Powered Green: The Idea, the Reality
It all started with an idea Ted had to install small-
scale wind turbines on telecommunication towers.
The approach was an attempt to eliminate a lot
of the upfront costs of installing the turbines
to generate electricity. Ted ran the structural
feasibility through the engineering department at
UW-Madison, and I ran the financial feasibility in a
venture creation class that the School of Business
offers. We both concluded that the idea was not
feasible, but it laid the seeds for what is today
Powered Green.
We were then stuck on this notion of providing a
If you are interested, visit Powered Green’s Web site at www.poweredgreen.com.
Powerful Education turned...
by: Kimm VanDen Heuvel
visible representation for something intangible
within the green movement.
A lot of students on campus have laptops that are
out in public in coffeehouses, libraries, etc. and
people already put stickers on their computers
to identify themselves. We instantly saw the
connection in offering students an opportunity to
make a difference on an individual level through
their laptop. In this way, students can make a
difference with something they already have.
How UW-Madison Powered their Success
There is no book or one resource out there that
is full of answers on how to start a company.
Thankfully, being involved in entrepreneurship on
campus I had been exposed to a lot of the issues
in dealing with forming a company. Through my
classes, I had met and talked to many different
entrepreneurs in the area, and they became
amazing resources over the last year.
We contacted many of the guests in my classes
for an assortment of advice as we were getting
started, and their guidance was instrumental in
helping us get going. When they were starting their
businesses someone helped them, and returning
the favor by helping another is just a major part of
entrepreneurship I feel.
CONTACT US AT blinemagazine@gmail.com
It’s that network of entrepreneurs helping each
other out that makes this an amazing experience.
Powering Their Future
It has always been about the energy and making
the largest impact possible. It is our goal to provide
as much renewable energy that would be equivalent
to powering a community of 6,000 homes in the
first year.
Laptops are just the Beginning
Our initiative also works nicely with large
corporations’ efforts towards investing in
renewable energy. We are currently in talks with
several companies who are interested in Energy
Seals for their company’s laptops.
We see our efforts with large companies as
important as the individual sponsorships. The
larger the company, the more wind energy they
are sponsoring and having overall a greater effect.
In the end, these large companies are going to be
a major driving force in this transition to cleaner
energy sources.
The Bucky Advantage
It wasn’t until I took my first entrepreneurial
class with Phil Kim in MHR 422 that I realized
starting a business right after college was a viable
opportunity. I was immediately hooked on this idea
of becoming an entrepreneur, and Phil Kim opened
my eyes to the opportunities out there besides
accepting a corporate job out of school.
The entrepreneurship program is truly amazing
because it really gives you a look into what it takes
to develop an idea into an actual business. In class,
they bring in entrepreneurs from around the area
and allow them to share their stories. I was hooked.
Taking this leap after college is actually feasible
because of those experiences in class that
provide you with the tools to be successful, along
with being able to surround yourself with local
entrepreneurs. If it weren’t for Phil Kim’s classes
and guidance over the last year, Powered Green
would be a completely different story. Get involved.
Be proactive. Utilize all resources within the
Wisconsin School of Business to power your future.
3
 Study Abroad:
Paris
A Summer in
by: Jenna Lenz
This time last year Sara, an accounting and English
major; Whitney, an international business and
marketing major; and Jessy, an actuarial science
major, were complete strangers. However, after six
weeks together in Paris last summer, the trio had
many stories to tell and much to laugh about when
I met with them recently.
Why a summer program?
The girls chose to participate in a summer study abroad program for
various reasons. The principle reasons behind their decision were their
desire to not miss an entire semester of classes, which would postpone
their graduation, and the reduced cost. As a huge Badger fan, Whitney
couldn’t bear the thought of missing football games at Camp Randall or
basketball games at the Kohl Center!
Why Paris?
Sara and Whitney had both visited Paris before and enjoyed their time in
the city. They both speak French and wanted an opportunity to improve
their language skills while still having the option to revert back to English
when necessary (many of the people they met recognized they were
American and wanted to practice English with the girls.)
Was there a language barrier?
The class, Negotiations, the three took was taught in English, so there
was not a problem with their schoolwork. However, a lot of their fellow
students were not native English speakers so some phrases we casually
use were misinterpreted.
Outside the classroom the trio encountered a few more problems. For
4
example, when they went to the store to purchase a phone card, they
were given a pack of cigarettes. It also took a few tries to get stamps that
would get letters “across the ocean”.
What about cultural differences?
In general, everyone was very laid-back. There was no rush to be
anywhere on time (including class) and long lunches were an everyday
occurrence. Different stores, such as the grocery store, were closed on
Sundays (and occasionally Mondays), which created a problem in the
beginning. The passion for soccer was also very evident. Being in Europe
during the Euro Cup, the girls saw an outpouring of support for each
country’s soccer team. Everyone was engrossed in the Cup and matches
could be seen during class time. People were always decked out in their
respective country’s colors and the bars were crowded with screaming
fans.
How were classes?
As previously mentioned, the three of them took Negotiations, a MHR class
that was taught in English. It only met twice a week so there was plenty
of time to travel. The material was not difficult (the girls knew this before
arriving in Paris because of the course reviews that are available in the
Study Abroad Office.) In general, the class work consisted of simulations
of negotiations. The students had to role play and stand in the shoes of
people from different parts of the world. Additionally, Whitney and Jessy chose
to take MHR 300 online while traveling.

What about the housing situation?

The girls stayed in student housing with other U.S. students for six weeks. The
dorm rooms did include a kitchenette and a private bathroom so there weren’t
many complaints! Unfortunately, they were not very close to the campus but
the public transportation was easy, clean and affordable to get to class.

What are your favorite memories?

Interestingly, their most memorable experiences were not the big sightseeing
trips other travelers cherish. Instead, they loved sitting by the Eiffel Tower with
raspberry Champagne and chocolate one afternoon and strolling down by the
river on beautiful days. Jessy, a big Chopin fan, gushed about the private tour
she received of his museum. They also have fond memories of, what else, food
–especially flower-shaped gelato and fruit crepes.

What did you miss from home?

They missed “American” food – McDonald’s (it’s not the same in Paris) and
Oreos. Not surprisingly, they also felt lost without a cell phone. Their phones
were locked once they left the U.S., so the three had to rely on pay phones to
call family or arrange outings with friends.

Where else were you able to go?

Even with a short summer program, the girls still managed to travel a lot. There
were trips to London, Amsterdam and Germany. Whitney also took a couple
of weeks after the program had ended to do the traditional backpacking trip
around Europe. She visited many places, including Berlin, Munich, Venice, Rome
and Madrid.

How has this trip changed you?

Before traveling, Sara and Whitney were under the impression a lot of the world
had a negative attitude toward Americans. However, they quickly learned if
they were willing to reach out to people, they received a friendly response.
After seeing many historical sites, they had a new appreciation for many of the
things they had been taught in history classes over the years.

Finally, what advice can you give to other students?

Go out and explore. The worst thing you can do is sit in your room. All three
girls struggled in the beginning as they tried to adjust to the new environment.
Only after getting out of their rooms and discovering what Paris had to offer did
they start to feel more comfortable and have fun together.

Make friends. This goes hand in hand with the first piece of advice. You can’t
be afraid to talk to people, whether it’s someone in your class, the waiter or
the person living next to you. Jessy even made a friend, and eventual travel
companion, while meandering through the cemetery!

Don’t be afraid to spend money, but do it wisely. Chances are it’s going to be a
long time before you get to experience a foreign city again. Don’t get so caught
up in the prices, just enjoy yourself while you can. However, be smart about
what you do and how you spend your money. If you go out every night, you will
soon find yourself broke (drinks were very expensive, roughly $10 each).

CONTACT US AT blinemagazine@gmail.com 5
 embarrass nnternship
g
stories i It was the first week of a finance
internship I had this summer in
Madison. The dress at this com-
“It was a typical night out on the town in Chicago with my internship coworkers. We were out pany was business casual and I was
with a few of our bosses and we decided to go to a karaoke bar. One of my friends decided it wearing a short/medium length skirt
would be funny if we sang “I’ll Make Love to You” by Boyz II Men to our boss. So we entered (it was smoldering hot outside and
our names, and when it was our turn I looked around for my friend, but she was nowhere to be the company’s air conditioning was
found. I figured I had nothing to lose, so I sang it by myself. I’m definitely not a singer, and it finicky at best, cut me some slack.)
was awful! Yeah, they wouldn’t let me do karaoke for the rest of the summer!”- AJ Stoll There was a long glass window that
separated the finance side of the office
This summer I interned for a production company in Hollywood, CA. from the accounting department. I
One week the assistant there went on vacation and I was responsible thought this window was tinted, and
for all of his duties.  Before I had finished work, I left quickly to run an I was the only one on my side of the
errand and when I returned, I realized I had accidentally locked myself window. I was extremely sore from
out.  My briefcase was inside that contained my cell phone, keys and an intense workout the day before so
wallet!  All of the computers were still running and I hadn’t finished I decided to do some quick stretching
a couple of end-of-the-day tasks! Panic set in.  I desperately looked exercises. I didn’t think anything of it
around for a solution, refusing to lose face by getting the lot’s security until I walked past the break room on
to contact my boss.  I began to pace outside of the office when sud- my way to the bathroom and overheard
denly I looked up and noticed the small window to the office bathroom two men, one of whom was my boss,
was cracked open, but it was too high up to reach!  Being resourceful, talking about how much they enjoyed
I looked around for something to boost me up.  Bike.  Too unstable. the scandalous free show I had just
Potted plant.  Too short. Suddenly, I spotted a trash can across the given the accounting department. Ap-
“I was working for a parking lot and when it looked clear, I ran over and grabbed it.  I parently the view through that window
cage-free egg com- brought it back, flipped it over and hoisted myself up- barely reaching was crystal clear. - Anonymous
pany, but I was under the ledge.  I then mustered every muscle in my upper body to do a pull
the impression that up, un-crank the window further and lift my body through.  My legs
my “sales internship” were flailing for a few seconds, and I prayed the lot’s security wasn’t
meant I would be doing making its rounds.  As I crashed headfirst to the floor, barely missing
office work with sales. the toilet, I burst out laughing and tears streamed down my face.  I
Instead, they sent me quickly ran outside, flipped the trash can back over and kicked the
to their production trash back in.  After finishing up my duties, I locked up the office and
facilities for two weeks coolly walked away.  No one from the office knows of that afternoon’s
in Indiana, and the first events and when the assistant returned and asked if everything went
night I learned how to smoothly, I couldn’t help but smirk as I said, “yeah, no problems what-
load and unload chicken soever...” –Nicole Belisle
off a semi-truck for
eight hours! To top it off we couldn’t do this during
the day because it was too hot for the chickens, so I interned this summer at a magazine in Chicago. I did writing and marketing
we had to unload them during the night from 9 p.m.-5 related activities almost exclusively, but one day the person who normally handled
a.m. We had to wheel all of the chickens off the truck the front desk and answered the phones was sick and my boss asked me to fill in.
and then pull them from their cages and throw them I didn’t have a very good handle on all the different administrative tasks and defi-
over a fence into a pen. There would be some of them nitely didn’t understand all the buttons for the phone and door. The CEO stopped by
that were dead because they got trampled by the the front desk and told me that if anyone called for him, tell them he wasn’t there
other chickens. So you had to pick up the dead chick- and to email him or leave a message. So, not five minutes later somebody called
ens and throw them to the side. Not quite what I had asking for the CEO and I said, “he’s not here right now but he said you can just
envisioned for my first day of work.” – Anonymous email him or leave a message.” The person on the other end of the line responded
with, “Well, how in the world would you know that if he isn’t there? I’ll just call
his cell.” It turned out to be an important business partner and needless to say I
It was my second day at my internship this wasn’t asked to answer the phones again. –Jake Fowler
summer at a New York marketing firm. We
had a meeting in a conference room to discuss the first project we were going to be working on. There were six other interns, two project manag-
ers and the main boss of the company sitting around a table. I was the last person to walk in the room and it was completely silent. I rushed
into the room, set my notebook on the table and bent down to sit in my chair. As soon as I started to bend down, I “broke wind” extremely loudly.
There was a moment of dumbfounded silence before the boss broke out in laughter. I tried to laugh along but I turned all red and used the “Happy
Gilmore” line, “I’m just easing the tension baby, just easing the tension.” The rest of the summer everyone lovingly called me wind. -Anonymous

6
Queries
Theories ‘n’
A section designed for you! Instead of reading what your authors think is important, you have the opportunity to read what you want to hear.
Do you have a question about the Wisconsin School of Business, classes, involvement, campus life, the “real world”, etc? If so, please email
your “queries” to blinemagazine@gmail.com and our staff will give their “theories” about your questions.
Q
What do the X and O really mean in the front of Grainger??
The letters are solar powered and were designed by artist R. Stuart Keeler
through the Wisconsin Arts Board. They actively scroll money market
information from the NYSE, NASDAQ and up to 23 global money markets in
languages of business and commerce, also serving as a time zone clock.
No, the X and O are not symbols for hugs and kisses, they are intended to
represent neverending forms that radiate information and power, according to
Keeler. The use of the circle goes back in history and its whole, cyclical form
serves to symbolize the continuity of information and sharing in the world
today. The X references the architecture of the building as well as charts,
graphs, and data collected in a business context. The work is alive and in
motion– the same as the X and O forms which conceptually are never ending.
Q
How much did the new addition to the Wisconsin School of
Business cost?
The new addition cost a grand total of $40.5 million. The funding was made
up of 75 percent gifts/grants and 25 percent state funds. A $20 million gift,
one of the largest in the history of the university, was given by The Grainger
Foundation. In addition to the $20 million Grainger gift, $10.5 million in gift
funds and $10 million in general fund-supported borrowing will complete the
project budget.
CONTACT US AT blinemagazine@gmail.com
by: b.Line Staff
Q
How do I change my major?
It’s actually quite simple. There is a form on the Undergraduate Academic
Services website (www.bus.wisc.edu/undergrad). On the left hand side there
is a link called FORMS. On this page you will find a form called Business
Major Declaration Form. Fill out that form and submit it to the UAS office (3150
Grainger).
Q
If I’m not a business student yet,
how can I get a business advisor?
If you have an assigned advisor outside of the Wisconsin School of Business,
go to the Undergraduate Academic Services office (3150 Grainger) to arrange a
meeting and get assigned a business advisor.
Q
How often should I meet with my advisor?
It is recommended you meet with your advisor at least once per semester. To
schedule an academic advising appointment, call (608) 262-0471 or stop into
the Undergraduate Academic Services (UAS) office on the 3rd floor of Grainger
(3150). Advisors do not schedule appointments via email.
As you can imagine, there are certain times during the semester when there
is a high demand for business advising. During some of the busiest days last
semester, the advising office was helping 75+ students during their 4-hour
walk-in advising. The first peak time that the UAS office becomes very busy is
during the beginning of the semester. The first few weeks of the semester many
students have questions about class enrollment and scheduling. There is also
a high demand for academic advising the weeks before and during enrollment
for the following semester. This is a time when you may want some guidance as
to your course sequencing. Try to plan ahead and schedule an appointment for
mid-semester because time slots fill up quickly!
7
 Laying the Foundation for 20 Years:
The Business Learning Center Celebrates
Its 20th Anniversary
by: George Ryan
Initiatives are routinely taken in the business world with the intent to improve
upon something, such as efficiency or consumer relations. The Business
Learning Center (BLC) received an initiative 20 years ago and has since
expanded and flourished into something the Wisconsin School of Business can
be proud of today.
The Wisconsin School of Business founded the BLC in 1988 as part of the
Madison Plan, former Chancellor Donna Shalala’s campus-wide initiative
to increase the diversity at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. It was the
responsibility of the BLC to increase the number of minority students in the
School of Business.
James Hickman, the dean at that time, wanted students to have support in
college quantitative courses, especially for those who came from a high school
with a weak mathematics program. Hickman determined quantitative courses
8
such as accounting, economics, business statistics, and finance were barriers
to students’ admittance, and eventual success, in the School of Business.
The BLC began working with students in the fall semester of 1988 under the
direction of Brenda Pfaehler. With a staff of only four, the BLC started with 202
undergraduate and graduate students in several different courses. The BLC
office hid on the top floor of Bascom Hall down a long hallway in the rear of the
building.
At that time, the School of Business outgrew its space in the Commerce
Building (now Ingraham Hall). The overflow from the Commerce Building-
including some business professors’ offices, the secretarial office and the
Business Library-were placed in Bascom Hall.
When the School of Business moved to Grainger Hall in the 1990s, the BLC
received a prime location in room 2240 on the second floor by the Business
Library. This visibility made more students aware of the resources provided by
the BLC and the number of students participating in the BLC program grew over
the 20 years since its conception.
While underrepresented students were the targeted population, the BLC is open
to all students on a space-available basis. Any student who is interested in
utilizing the service of the BLC is admitted.
Currently under the direction of Judy Cary, the BLC mentors roughly 800
students per semester in courses such as Accounting 100, Economics 101
and 102, Finance 300, Business Statistics 303 and Finite Mathematics 210, as
well as several others. By providing Cary with their schedules, she is able to
accommodate most students’ schedules and place them in small groups that
meet twice a week throughout the semester.
These groups, taught by a TA, are directly related to the specific courses
the students are enrolled in and are completely free to all students. Cary
emphasizes students should regularly attend classes to ensure a strong
foundation. This basic framework allows them to understand more complex
problems and will allow them to be successful in higher-level business courses.
Additionally, the BLC TAs hold office hours to provide individual support to those
who desire it. These office hours are held in 2240 Grainger.
...completely free to all students
The candidates for TA positions in the BLC are evaluated by Cary and
must display not only course skills, education and experience, but also a
compassionate, professional demeanor. Those chosen as TAs by Cary maintain
a comfortable, yet effective environment to best facilitate learning for the
students. Also, the TAs use several strategies to cater to the different learning
styles and abilities the members.
Chris Luckmann, who used the BLC as a student in Accounting 100, is now
one of the TAs for the Accounting 100 study groups in the BLC. “When I used
the Business Learning Center as an undergrad, the sessions gave me more
exposure to the material from a different point of view. Now, as a TA in the
learning center, it is a great opportunity to give the students the same benefits I
received as an undergrad.”
The BLC TAs work closely with the professors and teaching assistants for the
individual courses the BLC supports. This interaction develops an excellent
channel of communication that gives the students the most efficient and
comprehensive support and best allows them to succeed. Professors for
courses supported by the BLC are strong advocates of the learning center
and especially want their students to excel. In the BLC’s early years, many
professors even asked for the BLC to be expanded to accommodate more of
their students, because they saw the students partaking in the study groups
were doing better in class.
Even though athletes have their own study center, several athletes who were
business majors have used the BLC to their advantage to be successful in their
business classes. For instance, Ebba Gebisa, the former UW women’s basketball
team’s top free-throw shooter (2002-2004), attended BLC group sessions.
Additionally, the former UW men’s hockey team’s goaltender Graham Melanson
(aka “Golden Graham”, 1999-2001) was a BBA Finance major and used the BLC
for several of his courses in the School of Business.
In addition to providing students with study groups throughout the year, the
Business Learning Center has also conducted another retention activity during
its existence: the Math Review (or as the students called it: Math Camp). The
Professors for courses supported by the BLC
are strong advocates of the learning center...
CONTACT US AT blinemagazine@gmail.com
BLC initiated this so-called Math Camp in 1993 and coordinated the Math
Review for incoming MBA students from 1993 to 2004. This week long, 9 a.m.
to 4 p.m. program reviewed mathematics concepts to prepare students for
graduate, quantitative-based business courses. One student found this course
so beneficial that he postponed his honeymoon until after the Math Review
session. Talk about dedication to the pursuit of an education.
Furthermore, the business academic component of the PEOPLE Program
has operated out of the Business Learning Center since 2003. This program
introduces accounting, management, marketing, economics and finance
concepts to 20-30 high school students from Wisconsin who attend classes
in the morning and participate in internships in the afternoon at Madison
businesses.
The BLC is a resource dedicated to helping students succeed in their academic
endeavors. The mission of the BLC has not changed since day one. Its
purpose is to help students excel by providing ancillary academic support in
quantitative-based, business-related courses.
On behalf of the b.Line staff, I would like to congratulate the Business Learning
Center and those involved for being so successful over the past 20 years. We
hope this success continues into the future.
For further information, stop by the BLC office in 2240 Grainger or visit the BLC’s
Web site at http://www.bus.wisc.edu/blc/.
9
 The Effects of Grainger Artwork
by: Michael Sambar

10
 U W At h l e ti c s G e t D o w n to B u s i n e s s
by: Scott Schoenwaelder

“Show me the money!” Tom Cruise says this in his

classic movie, “Jerry Maguire,” and some people
might think this movie portrays everything that
is sports business. But in reality, there is more
to sports business than Hollywood reveals. Right
here on our campus, UW Athletics works tirelessly
every day to carry on the storied tradition of
Wisconsin sports. There is a lot of work that goes
on behind the scenes many diehard Badger fans
never consider when screaming their lungs out at
the games. Such activities include: selling tickets,
marketing, promotions and taking care of the
players. Adam Ahearn, the Assistant Director of
Marketing and Promotions, and his team work just
as hard as the athletes on the field to make sure
everything runs smoothly. “[The thing I like most
about my job is] getting to work in a high-profile
and fast-paced environment,” Ahearn said.

The UW Athletics office is located in Kellner Hall,

the administrative building attached to Camp
Randall, and this is where the magic of Badger
game day begins to take shape. One of the main
tasks taken on by the UW Athletics office is ticket
sales. Different types of ticket packages are offered
including individual tickets, season tickets and
group tickets, and each package has its own unique
marketing plan. Season tickets are sold over longer
periods of time and have a more structured plan.
This is done mainly by e-mails, direct mail or other
forms of internet-based efforts. Individual ticket
sales are not as consistent as season ticket sales
and are marketed mostly on uwbadgers.com.
Promotional events are important to growing a fan
base and keeping existing fans coming back for
more. One initiative in particular Ahearn works on
is called “Generation Next.” This program aims at
young kids to try and create the next generation of
Badger fans. They have events such as “Kid’s Day
at the Kohl Center,” which allows kids to enjoy a
day at the arena and meet some of the men’s and
women’s basketball players. Events like these are
also a great way to get families to come to UW
Athletic events.
Another successful promotion UW Athletics
conducted last year was for the women’s hockey
team called, “Fill the Bowl.” The goal of the
promotion was to fill the lower 100 seating level
at the Kohl Center and break an NCAA attendance
record for women’s hockey. Second Harvest Food
Bank sponsored the event and donated $1 for each
person in attendance. Along with this generous
donation, fans were encouraged to bring a food
item to donate. UW Athletics met their goal of
filling the bowl while setting an NCAA attendance
record of 5,377, donating nearly $6,000 to charity
and collecting eight barrels of food. “It was a
tremendous success,” Ahearn said.
Many smaller, more intricate details need to be
planned and organized by UW Athletics to make
Badger sporting events such special occasions.
Every song that plays over the loudspeakers, every
picture that comes up on the jumbo screen, and
all other miscellaneous aspects of game day are
tediously thought out by UW Athletics staff. What
would football games be without the student
section race or basketball games without the kiss
cam?
UW Athletics met their goal of
setting a NCAA record of 5,377
fans in attendance, donating nearly
$6,000 to charity, and collecting
8 barrels of food.
UW Athletics wants games to be as fun and safe
for students as possible. One of their main goals is
to create customer satisfaction. Student football
ticketholders are sent emails after every game
and asked questions about what they liked/
disliked about their experience. These surveys
are taken seriously, although there is usually
only a 10 percent response rate. The surveys are
reviewed after every home game and presented
at a football operations meeting. Any changes are
then discussed and implemented. For example, the
seating policy at football games was changed back
to the old policy this year after students complained
and it was clear the new seating procedure wasn’t
efficient.
Every successful business needs to take care of
its employees, and if you think of UW athletes
like employees, UW Athletics does exactly that.
They offer the athletes the Champs (Challenging
Athletes Minds for Personal Success) Life Skills
program. The five components of this program are
commitment to academic excellence, commitment
to athletic excellence, commitment to personal
development, commitment to career development
and commitment to community service. The UW
Athletic Department deems it crucial for athletes
to excel in other areas beyond sports and to think
about life after sports. Athletes also receive special
academic services, like tutoring programs, to help
them balance school and athletics.
Making Badger game day so unique is obviously
a lot of work, but the reward is definitely worth
it. “Seeing a sold out arena or venue with a lot
of Badger fans having a good time [is the most
rewarding part],” Ahearn said. It isn’t all fun and
games working for the Badgers, however. UW
Athletics runs like any other business and needs
dedicated business professionals to operate
effectively. Ticket sales, promotions, advertising
and human resources are all integral parts of the
business that sometimes get overlooked. So next
time you’re singing “Sweet Caroline” with your
friends in the student section at a football game
be grateful for the people behind the scenes, and
remember: when it comes to UW Athletics, Bucky
means business.

CONTACT US AT blinemagazine@gmail.com 11
 O n l y K n e w…
If I
The Buried Treasures Inside Grainger Hall
GRAINGER HAS THREE VERY USEFUL RESOURCES TO HELP YOU
LIGHTEN YOUR HEAVY LOAD.
Lockers: Hundreds of lockers are available each year for undergraduate and
graduate business students on the 1st and 2nd floors of Grainger Hall. These
lockers are a great way to give your back a rest and get rid of some of those
extra books you may not need for the night. If you are interested in getting
assigned a locker, please contact Nancy Thompto at nthompto@bus.wisc.edu.
In your locker request, please include your name and desired semester(s) for
use of the locker – fall, spring, summer or full academic year.
Laptop Rentals: Maybe you don’t feel like bringing your laptop with you
to class everyday, or maybe you prefer a portable computer so you can get
work done in the quiet part of the library. If so, you might find it helpful to
know laptops are available to rent for up to three days at the front desk in the
Business School Library.
Textbooks on Reserve: If you’re tight on money, or simply don’t like carrying
your textbooks around, the UW Business School Library may have some of your
books on reserve available to checkout for up to two hours! Some books are
required to stay inside the library, but either way, it is a convenient service and
especially useful when you just have a short homework assignment.
BUSINESS SCHOOL RESOURCES TO HELP YOU IN YOUR CLASSES:
Librarians: Have you ever had trouble researching a specific topic and you
didn’t know where to turn? In the Business School Library, at the reference
desk, there are specific people dedicated to helping students seek out topics
they are having trouble finding information on! The librarians can be a great
source of information by providing you with helpful search techniques and
informing you about all the databases and subscriptions you have private
access to as a UW student! Librarians are available Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-
10 p.m., Friday 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday 1 p.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday 1 p.m.-10 p.m.
12
by: Denise Fesik
Business Learning Center (BLC) Sessions: The Business Learning Center
provides students the opportunity to get extra academic support through BLC
sessions where lecture concepts are reinforced, homework help is provided and
preparation for exams takes place. These BLC sessions are definitely worth the
50 minutes per session compared to the time it would take you to teach yourself
the concepts outside of class! Many of the instructors have taught a specific
class for several years so they really cater the session toward preparing you
for the exams. The BLC is located in room 2240 of Grainger Hall. Stop by and
complete a short form that will help place you in a session convenient for your
schedule.
HELPFUL BUSINESS SOFTWARE/DATABASES ON LIBRARY
COMPUTERS:
There are several programs on select computers in the Business School Library
that are helpful when writing papers and preparing other class projects. Part of
our tuition money goes toward purchasing these software/database packages,
so we should definitely be utilizing these helpful programs that are right at our
fingertips! Three of the least known and most helpful databases are:
Simmons Market Research Bureau (SMRB): This program is a huge
database that allows you to search through data on consumer buying patterns.
SMRB is very flexible so you are able to search by product type, brand,
demographic, form of media and numerous other variables. This program
is installed on only one computer in the library and would have made my
Marketing 300 project 100 times easier!
RefWorks: Does creating your works cited page take you almost as long
as actually doing the research? If this is the case, RefWorks is the perfect
program for you! This program allows you to format bibliographies and
citations automatically while you research, create and organize a personal
research database online you can access it from any computer in the library!
RefWorks can save you a lot of time and has the ability to instantly format your
citations into over 400 bibliographic styles!
OneSource: Whether it’s for a prospective job interview or a class project,
OneSource is a great database for doing research on particular industries and
on companies expanding across the globe. With information on over 16 million
U.S. and Canadian firms, as well as the top 100,000 international companies,
this database can serve as a great resource to you! OneSource also provides
information on industry trends, analysts’ reports and information on 18 million
executives.
Refworks and OneSource can be accessed through the computers in the
undergraduate lab and Business School Library, but also from the comfort of
your own home. To view a list of helpful databases available to UW-Madison
students, log on to http://business.library.wisc.edu/resources/databases.html
where a brief description of each database is provided.
THE BUSINESS CAREER CENTER (BCC):
The Business Career Center, located in room 3290 of Grainger Hall, is one of the most helpful
resources contained in the Wisconsin School of Business! This office is staffed with knowledgeable
people who are excited and enthusiastic about helping you find a job, achieve your career goals
and refine your interview techniques. The BCC offers several beneficial services that can truly give
you a competitive advantage—which is especially important with today’s challenging economy and
competitive workforce. Here are some of the resources available:

BuckyNet: This online system is one of the most efficient ways to search for full-time, part-time
and internship opportunities! Look at hundreds of position postings across the country, while
posting your resume and allowing employers interested in UW-Madison students to contact you
directly about position openings! BuckyNet also has other useful features, like the ability to find out
when different companies will be interviewing on campus or delivering their information sessions.

Resume and Cover Letter Drop-Off Service: Wouldn’t it be nice to have your resume critiqued
by a professional in your field?

The BCC offers a fast, convenient drop-off service for undergraduate and prospective business,
Certificate in Business, Master of Accountancy and Master of Science students. Students can
drop off their resume or cover letter at the BCC counter anytime throughout the day and it will be
reviewed and ready for pick up 24 hours later!

Sample Resumes/Cover Letters Guide: Over the years, the BCC has collected School of
Business students’ resumes and cover letters and compiled them into one very helpful collection!
The resume sample book is conveniently sorted by major, making it very easy to get ideas from
peers who have had similar experiences. The collection of resumes and cover letters can also be
found online at http://www.bus.wisc.edu/career/student/jobsearchprep/.

Spice Up Your Weekly Poker Game: Terrified of those mind stunting interview questions you
could quite possibly be asked? Pick up a special deck of cards from the BCC and begin enhancing
your interviewing skills! This valuable deck of cards contains strategies for answering today’s
most challenging interview questions, closing questions to ask your interviewer and even tips on
how to make a powerful first impression—essentially an interview survival kit in one compact card
deck.

Mock Interviews by Major -- Practice Makes Perfect: All the internship experience, excellent
grades and leadership roles mean next to nothing if you can’t successfully pass an interview. The
BCC provides students with the opportunity to practice their interviewing skills with business
professionals in your major. This is a great opportunity you should not pass up! The tips, strategies
and advice you receive are invaluable!

Business Cards (50 free business cards): Are you looking for a simple, free way to connect
with business professionals and have them remember you? The BCC provides business students
with the opportunity to print 50 customized business cards each semester! A template is available
online so you can either print them from your home or from the BCC. Whether attending a career
fair, a professional dinner or even a non-professional event, these cards are a fast and efficient way
to give out your contact information and leave a professional impression.

CONTACT US AT blinemagazine@gmail.com 13
 Top
most
Ten annoying
roommate habits by: b.Line Staff

#10 Putting the toilet paper unrolling from the bottom –

just a little thing, but super obnoxious!

#9 Even worse: not even bothering to put the roll of toilet paper on the holder. Is it
really that hard to load the roll onto the spring rod? It will take 5 seconds, I promise.

#8 Seriously, are you talking that loudly at 2:00 in the morning?

Take it down a few decibels, por favor!

A mounding pile of dishes in the sink, on the counter, on the kitchen table, coffee
#7 table, etc. left for so long they become crusted together and emit a terrible odor.
AND THEN...your roommates deny the dishes are theirs!

#6 Is a 45-minute shower necessary?

You have sufficiently drained the entire hot water heater!

#5 Finding your milk you bought yesterday is completely gone.

Are you really a human garbage disposal?

#4 If you live with a couple, you will identify with this one: kitchen groping!

#3 Thinking they are the exception to all house rules. Hate to burst your bubble, but
you are not the center of the universe – only in your mom’s eyes!

#2 Two words: drunk puking

#1 Finding your roommate’s grease-ball boyfriend using your hairbrush! Eew!

14
What’s a Widget? an etymological study
by: Andrea Webb

Etymology: the study of the origin of words and how they have changed over time. Let’s do a little informal etymological
investigation with the word “widget”. Although the following analysis is by no means scientific, just take it for what it’s
worth. You may have heard of a widget when reading an economics book or in business lingo, but the term has definitely
evolved over time.

A widget traditionally referred to any type of device, product, machine, etc. that can be used for hypothetical illustrations.
Its purpose was to use a theoretical thing to explain a phenomenon instead of having an actual product interfere with an
illustration. An economics professor pointing at the chalkboard with a supply and demand chart might say, “As the price of
widget A decreases, the demand for widget A increases.”

So, what does a widget actually look like? Well, as you can imagine, every person in the world likely envisions a widget
differently. Can a widget ever really have qualities? In the past, you’d probably say no, but it seems the term has been given
qualities by Internet and technology users.

Now, with the infiltration of blogs and the Internet, we find the widget has taken on a more tangible meaning. It can refer to
any application you add to an Internet site. For example, it can be any special gadget or link you put on a personal blog that
can be used to customize a Web site. Even with this explanation, I think many people still find it difficult to really grasp the
concept of what a widget is. The truth of the matter is, a widget is a something that is ridiculously hard to define.

The term has changed drastically from merely a hypothetical thing and now has developed into something we can physically
see and use. Who knows where this widget concept will evolve to next? Maybe we’ll be using it as a verb in the near future.
Ten years ago, if you said, “I’ll facebook you” to someone – people would have thought you were crazy. Maybe 10 years from
now you’ll be saying “I’ll widget you” and everyone will know what you mean.

Entertainment Page Answers

MGM: Lion, Walt Disney: Mouse, Target: White Dog, Fruit Stripe Gum: Zebra, The Hartford: Deer
Owl, Fruit Loops: Toucan, Energizer: Bunny, Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes: Tiger, Geico: Gecko, Lacoste: Alligator,
Lunesta: Butterfly, NBC TV: Peacock, Budweiser: Clydesdale, Cheetos: Cheetah, Pacific Life: Whale, Tootsie Pop:
Taco Bell: Chihuahua, Aflac: Duck, Nasonex: Bumble Bee, Charmin: Bear, The “old” WB: Frog, Hollister: Seagull,

ANIMAL MASCOTS

10. Kohls
9. Target 9. Oros
8. Gold 8. Knetter
7. FDIC 7. Ely
6. TARP 6. Reagan
5. Kroc 5. CV
4. Core Competency 4. China
3. Collateral 3. Kodak
2. Paulson 2. Philadelphia
1. Think 1. Trump
Vertical: Horizontal:
CROSSWORD

“People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously. This is how character is built.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

CRYPTATION

CONTACT US AT blinemagazine@gmail.com 15
 Kimm’s
Korner
by: Kimm VanDen Heuvel
Photos Courtesy of NBC Studios

UW Madison Marketing
Alum turned
Stylist Extraordinaire

As students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, we have access to a

Gail Scissorhands
multitude of resources that will enhance us intellectually and socially. Our
classroom experiences only account for a portion of our college career as we
In 2007, Soifer went on a business trip to reality TV paradise. A friend
learn the most valuable life lessons through personal trial and error, ultimately
convinced her to drive to Chicago to audition for Bravo TV’s reality hit show,
bringing us greater success in the future. It is important we don’t lose sight of
“Shear Genius.” The show features the artistic abilities of twelve talented hair
our motivations and dreams and realize our degrees serve a greater purpose: to
stylists from across the nation. Contestants are immersed in a hair-cutting
be a vehicle to our select final destinations.
battlefield and judged by an expert panel that eliminates one contestant each
episode. The victor receives $100,000 from Nexus hair products and the
Soifer M.D. Turned Marketing Guru
opportunity to style Allure magazine’s feature fashion spread.
Gail Soifer is a 2005 School of Business alumnus. As an eager freshman at
UW- Madison in 2001, Soifer originally declared biology as her major. However,
the summer before her junior year, Soifer retired her microscope and test tubes “I have never been so
as she experienced a change of heart. She quickly applied to the School of
Business, was accepted, and declared marketing as her new major. Despite
scared in my life.”
her hasty switch, she was able to graduate in a timely four-year manner while
acquiring a certificate in religious studies along the way. Soifer was eliminated in episode five when contestants were dually challenged
to create an easy style for a surfer dude as well as custom-cut fashion wigs for
Crossroads—Marketing Boulevard vs. Cut, Color, Highlight Junction balding females. Soifer fondly recalls her favorite shear challenge that required
contestants to create a glamorous look for their clients to make them red carpet
After earning her degree from UW-Madison, Soifer decided to further her worthy. Her least favorite challenge required contestants to be blindfolded
education by pursuing her long-time passion for cosmetology. She received while they cut their client’s tresses. “I have never been so scared in my life,”
top-notch training at an Aveda Institute and later received expert direction from Soifer said.
Sebastian professionals in the art of updos, along with TIGI Collection training.
To Infinity and Beyond
“Find Your Passion” Soifer has high hopes for the future as she returns to her successful salon in
Currently, Soifer is self employed at Salon Lofts in Columbus, Ohio. She works Columbus, OH. In 10 years, Gail sees herself running a successful salon. She
in the salon as a manager, stylist and make-up artist and her daily undertakings also hopes to be a top educator for a product company she has pioneered and
include: managing clientele, placing product orders and working on marketing marketed.
and promotions.
16
Praise to Thee, our Alma Mater
Soifer looks back on her four-year Madison adventure with great nostalgia.
“My experiences at UW-Madison helped me to succeed by giving me a very
broad education. I was able to take classes in all sorts of areas ranging from
business, religious studies, biology and art.” In addition, Soifer praises the
translation of classroom coursework to real world entrepreneurship. “The
marketing classes at UW are awesome. Each day I find myself using ideas
taught to me by professors in daily business activity.”
“The most valuable life lessons are
learned through trial and error.”
CONTACT US AT blinemagazine@gmail.com
Alumnus Advice for All
So what advice does Soifer have for current UW students? “Find something that
you love to do, that makes you feel good—get outside more, volunteer, or get a
part-time job you actually like! FIND YOUR PASSION.”
There is no greater time than this moment to follow your passion. Figure out
what gets your adrenaline pumping, and figure out how to combine career with
passion. If you are able to intertwine the two, success will be on the horizon.
And if you’re lucky, your passion may soon become a challenge-orientated hit
reality show like “Shear Genius.”
17
 The Good, the Bad and the
by: Peter Olesen

$
The financial crisis of 2008 can be best defined in one word: volatility. Since the so called “credit crisis” (see side note) began in August 2007, we have seen the
Dow Jones industrial average peak at an all-time high of 14,164 points on October 9, 2007 to an intraday low of 7,552 points on Novermber 20, 2008 (yes, that is a
loss of nearly 47 percent in one year.) The markets have been so volatile in September and October that the Dow Jones has moved more than 1 percent up or down
in a given day 80 percent of the time. These are unprecedented levels of prolonged volatility – in 2007, movements greater than 1 percent only happened 22 percent
of all trading days. The markets worldwide have been shaken as well with London, Japan and Hong Kong all down at least 25 percent over the past year. The roots
of the financial crisis are deep and far too confusing to give justice in a two-page article. However, as you are enrolled in the Wisconsin School of Business during
this unprecedented time in our nation’s economic history, there are a few events related to this financial crisis that perhaps you should remember.

August 9, 2007 – “The day the financial world woke up.”

While many can argue how and when the over-lending and over-
leveraging began around the world, most people can point to August
9, 2007 as the day “the street” (aka the markets) saw the liquidity
crisis emerge. On this Monday, the Dow Jones fell 2.8 percent. This
first of billions of dollars in federal aid was injected into the financial
systems on this day with the European Central Bank and the Federal
Reserve injecting $90 billion into the markets. October 9, 2007 – Dow Jones closes at record high

Dow -2.8% Close at 13,271 Despite the on-going “credit crisis,” the Dow Jones closed at
14,164 points, an all-time record high. The Dow Jones would
see nearly half of this value disappear over the course of the
next year.

Dow +0.86% Close at 14,164

January 21, 2008 – Trader single-handedly loses $4.9 billion

Societe General, a major French financial services company, accused

employee Jerome Kerviel of making fraudulent trades for the bank. Kerviel
had been making unauthorized trades for a while and generated $1.4 billion
in hidden profits in 2007 but later lost an estimated $4.9 billion in January
2008.

Dow -1.06% Close at 11,969

February 22, 2008 – British Northern Rock nationalized

The British bank Northern Rock, one of the top five mortgage lenders
in the United Kingdom, was taken into state ownership by the
government, rejecting bids by Virgin Group as well as private equity
firms Cereberus, JC Flowers and Lloyds TBS. At the end of 2007, the
outstanding balance on the British government’s loan to Northern
Rock was £26.9 billion. March 17, 2008 – Bear Stearns takeover
Dow +0.79% Close at 12,381 Bear Stearns, one of the largest global
investment banks, securities trading and
rage– brokerage firms, was sold to JP Morgan Chase
ustri al Ave in a last-ditch effort to avoid bankruptcy. After
on es Ind s the
“Dow
,”
Dow J a ge weekend meetings brokered by the Federal
ed t o avera
referr u strial Reserve Bank of New York, Bear Stearns and JP
Often es i n d
est a n d
w Jon 0 larg nies Morgan Chase signed a merger agreement for $2
the Do x of t h e 3
c com p a
i n d e u b l i per share, or $236 million. Shareholders were
is an ld p x is
w i d ely he s . T h e inde infuriated at the price with the stock trading as
mos t tate the
e U n ited S b e s t gauge d high as $93 one month before, and the price was
in t h ite
d at to all Un
looke e over
increased one week later to $10 per share, or
often e o f t h $1.1 billion.
manc
perfor arket.
18 m
States Dow -0.18% Close at 11,972
Financial Cri$is of 2008

$
September 7, 2008 – Federal takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

The United States Treasury seized control of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two
government-sponsored enterprises that own or guarantee nearly one-half of the $12
billion mortgage market in the United States. The takeover made the United States
Federal Government responsible for $5.2 trillion in outstanding debt.

Dow +2.58% Close at 11,510

September 14, 2008 – Lehman Brothers files for bankruptcy

Lehman Brothers became the largest bankruptcy filing ever with over
$639 billion in assets. With nearly 25,000 employees worldwide,
thousands faced the threat of unemployment. Barclays has since
purchased Lehman’s core operations for $1.35 billion which includes the
Midtown Manhattan headquarters valued at $960 million. The Dow Jones
reacted harshly to the news with the largest single day point drop ever.
This record drop would be broken and re-broken within the month.

Dow -4.42% Close at 10,917

September 19, 2008 – U.S. financial bailout plan announced

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and President Bush announced their

plan for a $700 billion government funded bailout of the financial services
sector. The original bill, three pages long, called for the government to
“purchase and insure certain types of troubled assets for the purpose of
providing stability.”

Dow +3.34% Close at 11,394

Ponz
a Po i Sche
September 25, 2008 – Washington Mutual seized by the U.S. Government mon nzi sche e – Als
m
busi ey from me pays o know
Washington Mutual, the nation’s largest savings and loan institution, was seized by the but ness is o subsequ returns n as a p
n y
FDIC becoming the largest bank failure in U.S. history. repu ew inve ften op ent new to inve ramid s
t erat stor
sche e d solid s t o r s co i ng a i n v esto s by cheme,
Dow +1.82% Close at 11,143 with me unra returns ntinue t t a loss rs. The u using
– or drawals vels wh being g o enroll or is no nderlyin
n
retu the num from th en enou iven to based o existen g
rns t b e e i r g h o t h n the t,
Char o ex r of n acco
u
olde
r
ers.
A
who les Ponz isting in ew inve nt – sim investo Ponzi
prom i, an ve sto i rs
ised Italia stors. T rs is no lar to a seek
inve n h t ba
October 3, 2008 – Federal bailout bill passed stor immig e scam enough nk run
s 10 rant i s na to pa
0% r o
etur f the ea med aft y
ns w r e
After a failed attempt to pass the bill through the ithin ly 1900s r
90 d
House of Representatives, the bill was amended, ays.
increasing its size to 451 pages and providing much
more governmental oversight. The bill was passed by
both the House of Representatives and Senate and then
signed into law hours later.

Dow +1.50% Close at 10,325

CONTACT US AT blinemagazine@gmail.com 19
$
October 13, 2008 – U.S. Buys Stakes in Nine Largest Banks
Cred
Citing a need to restore confidence in the banking system, it
Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson met with the CEOs of the to th Crisis –
er Th
nine largest U.S. banks in Washington. At the meeting, Paulson facin eason be is term,
proposed the Treasury invest a total of $125 billion in the banks, g the hind often
worl t a
effectively nationalizing part of the country’s financial system.
inab
ility f d tod he financ pplied
gove or ci ay, re ial cr
Paulson is said to have requested all sign the agreement with no tizen i
at a
rnme
n s, co fers to th sis
reas ts alike t
negotiations allowed. In anticipation of the deal, the Dow posted rpora e
its largest single-day point gain in history, jumping 936 points. ona o obt tion
have
a pro ble rate, ain lo s and
econ foun o ans (
omy d eff r at all. cred
it)
done a s e c t T his
Dow +11.08% Close at 9,388
on cr much of on the ov can
edit. t oday e r
’s bu all
sines
s is
November 20, 2008 – Market Hits Bottom

Both the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial

Average reached new lows for the year,
making this bear market one of the worst in
history. The Dow is down 43% for the year and
down 47% from its October 2007 highs. The
Dow has declined by more than its present
amount only once in history, when it fell 53%
in 1931. The market decline is largely due to
fears amongst investors that banks still lack
the liquidity they need to operate. Since the
nine major banks received capital in October,
their shares are down on average 46%.
November 25, 2008 – Federal Reserve Injects $800 Billion into Credit Markets
With consumers defaulting on mortgages and finding it difficult to secure loans, the Fed
announced an $800 billion stimulus package aimed at thawing the frozen credit markets.
Of the total sum, $500 billion will be used to buy mortgage-backed securities from Fannie
Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae, an effort that will help drive down mortgage rates. An
additional $200 billion will be allotted for credit card loans, auto loans, school loans and
small business loans. This stimulus is separate from the $700 billion stimulus passed by
Congress and brings total government obligations to over $7 trillion.
Dow +0.43% Close at 8,479

Dow - 5.56% Close at 7,552

December 11, 2008 – Respected Fund Advisor Frauds Investors for Billions

Bernard Madoff, a former NASDAQ Stock Market chairman and founder of Bernard
L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC, was arrested by federal agents and charged
with securities fraud. Madoff’s firm, long recognized for its consistent returns during
both bear and bull markets, was actually a giant Ponzi scheme (see aside) operating
at a giant loss. Counting charities, hedge funds, and wealthy individuals as clients,
Madoff is said to have divulged to two employees the day before his arrest that
he was “finished” and had “absolutely nothing.” Total losses from the fraud are
estimated at $50 billion.

Dow -2.24% Close at 8,565

December 1, 2008 – Economists Announce Recession Began December of 2007

Affirming what most already believed, the National Bureau of Economic Research
announced the U.S. has been in a recession for nearly 12 months, beginning in December
of 2007. The current downturn is amongst the longest since World War II. In determining
when the recession began, the committee noted key economic indicators, including
employment, real personal income, and industrial production, all peaked at the beginning
of 2008 and have steadily declined ever since.

Dow -7.70% Close at 8,149 December 31, 2008 – Dow Ends Year Down 33.8%

Markets showed modest gains on the last trading

day of the year, but moods could not be lifted after
the devastating collapse in the financial markets
December 19, 2008 – Facing Bankruptcy, Automakers Get Bailout during 2008. Not since 1931 has the Dow fallen by
such a great percentage, with the 4,483 point drop
the greatest in history. Commodities also plummeted
A week after Congress blocked a $14 billion stimulus package to help
during the year, with oil ending at $44.60 a barrel after
distressed automakers, President Bush decided automakers would get
reaching $145.29 earlier in the year.
$17.4 billion in aid from the Treasury’s $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief
Program (TARP). The move comes as a surprise as the TARP program was
intended for only financial institutions. The total package is split into two Dow +1.30% Close at 8,776
parts, with $13.4 billion available to Chrysler and GM in December and
January.

Dow -0.30% Close at 8,579

20
 potligh t
Staff S
loren kuzuhara by: Andrea Webb

The Professor Loren Kuzuhara is known by students
for a laugh that sets him apart from all other
Love professors. If you’ve taken MHR 300, I’m sure you
Behind remember the first lecture when everyone heard
The
his laugh for the first time. It inevitably causes
the entire lecture hall to burst out in laughter. He
Laugh has been sharing his contagious chuckle with the
world for as long as he can remember. Loren says
he would have laughing attacks in class as a kid
and recalls the other kids saying something like,
“there he goes again…”
Pink Carnations Save The Day
Back in 1988, Loren was the TA for MHR 300 here in the Wisconsin School of
Business. Not only is this where he found his love for teaching, but where he
found the love of his life as well. Lavina Harjani-Kuzuhara, Loren’s wife, was a
student in MHR 300 while he was the TA. Loren wants to make it clear that “she
was NOT in my discussion section” – but Loren met her because he held the
review sessions for the entire class. After the semester, they met again through
a mutual friend and he mustered the courage to ask her out.
with his wife as well. He says the story of their relationship is similar to “The
Little Mermaid.” Lavina is Ariel, Loren and “American life” are Eric and Lavina’s
father is King Triton.
“not only do parallels exist between movies and
management, but Loren makes parallels from
movies to his relationship with his wife as well”
Lavina was born and raised in Indonesia and was the first generation in her
family to attend college. She was given the opportunity to come to the United
States to study, just as Ariel was allowed to view the world above the sea at
age 15. Lavina fit in well with American culture and became entranced with
her love, Loren. However, this caused problems between Lavina and her father,
who was still living in Indonesia. Lavina’s father assumed she would return
home after her education to run the family business. Just as Ariel and her father
encountered conflict over her desire to be human with Eric, problems arose
between Lavina and her father as well. There was a point in their relationship
when Loren and Lavina had to date secretly. The two remained together and
eventually Lavina’s father accepted her decision to marry Loren and live in the
United States. In the end, the relationships were mended and the couple is living
happily ever after. What a fairy tale ending!

“when the flowers arrived,

she had no option but to go – at least on one date”

The story goes that Loren planned a special first date for a
Saturday night and was extremely excited. So enthusiastic,
in fact, he sent a dozen pink carnations to Lavina’s house on
the Friday evening before the date. Loren came to find out
later Lavina had planned to back out of the date and she had
told her friends of her plan to cancel, but when the flowers
arrived, she had no option but to go – at least on one date.
From that point forward, the couple continued dating and to
this day, Loren buys Lavina a dozen pink carnations on the
anniversary of their first date.

Loren’s Relationship With His Wife Parallels...

”The Little Mermaid?”

If there’s only one thing you remember about MHR 300, it’s
either Loren punting the piece of fat he cut off a slab of meat
across the lecture hall or his countless video clips. Yes, not
only do parallels exist between movies and management,
but Loren makes parallels from movies to his relationship
CONTACT US AT blinemagazine@gmail.com 21
ENTERTAINMENT
CRYPTATION
Crack the code by figuring out the following quote. Each letter represents a different letter of
the alphabet. Figure out the words by the placement or prevalence of letters and punctuation.
Each letter corresponds to only one other letter. If M stands for B, B does NOT necessarily stand
for M. For example: “HOLPPF LQ WTHNDMHH” would be “SCHOOL OF BUSINESS.” HINT: I = M.

“Y B U YA B R H U E O M H U N R M B C Y B H S B D Q B S J O M B F

I B B O A S J B M U D B G O A F K D X Q U N H K R B U N G A F.

O M S G S G M U E Q M K H K Q O B H S G W N S A O .”

-BABKDUH HUUGBZBAO

C
R
8

O
10

7 6

4 8 9 S
1
S
6
W
O
2

R
3 5

9 5
D
22
 DO YOU KNOW...
what animal mascot corresponds with each product?

Taco Bell __________ Tootsie Pop __________

Aflac __________ Fruit Loops __________
Nasonex __________ Energizer __________

S Charmin __________
The “old” WB __________
Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes __________
Geico __________

U Hollister __________
Lunesta __________
Lacoste __________
MGM __________

D
NBC TV __________ Walt Disney __________
Budweiser __________ Target __________
Cheetos __________ Fruit Stripe Gum __________

O Pacific Life __________ The Hartford __________

K
U © Kevin Stone [www.brainbashers.com]

Answers found on p. 15

HORIZONTAL CLUES: VERTICAL CLUES:

1. The producer of the reality TV show The Apprentice. 1. IBM’s motto.

2. The city of America’s first stock exchange.
3. The company name George Eastman invented in 1888.
4. The first country to use paper money.
5. A sum of your qualifications.
6. The first president to visit NYSE.
7. UW professor who founded American Economics Association.
8. Dean of the Wisconsin School of Business.
9. Managing Director of J.C. Flowers & Company, Alum 1971.
10. One of the largest corporate donors to the Wisconsin School timberwolves; _________ Center .
of Business.
2. U.S. Secretary of the Treasury under George W. Bush.
3. Assets that can be pledged to guarentee a loan.
4. Fundamental knowledge/skill critical to achieving competitive advantage.
5. Founder of McDonalds.
6. Acronym for U.S. Government $700 billion bailout program .
7. U.S. Government program which provides deposit insurance.
8. Precious metal up over 30% since 2007.
9. This Minneapolis-based company sponsors the home of the

CONTACT US AT blinemagazine@gmail.com 23
 Major Perspectives: h t h e o p p o site sex?
r m a j o r h e lp you wit
u
How does yo Everyone knows a degree from the Wisconsin School of Business
Nick Weisnicht
Major: Finance
He said: “One of the major aspects of finance is evaluating any investment you
are considering. Just as any finance major would analyze an investment in
stocks, bonds, or say a company project, he would also analyze any investment
he could potentially make in a lady. A significant part of security analysis is
evaluating the amount of risk involved in an investment. Similarly, a finance
major would assess the amount of risk that comes along with any girl. Things
to measure risk might include age, interests, major; does she have ex-boyfriend
drama or is she known to invest in a lot of “stocks” herself?
When looking at the female market, one cannot evaluate on risk alone because
sometimes high risk comes with high reward. It always depends on the risk
preference of the individual. It is also important to value a female just as
investors value stocks: based on its price, which is reflected by the information
the rest of the market has about that stock.
The number one rule in finance is to eliminate as much risk as possible through
diversification of assets. This goes along with the popular saying “don’t put
all your eggs in one basket.” Applying to ladies, it could be best to have a
“portfolio” of potential women. This way, if one particular industry is creating
tough times, it may be best to look toward another sector of the market.
Talking about being a finance major generally goes two ways. They might
realize getting into the School of Business requires a lot of hard work and
finance requires being up to date in the social and business atmospheres.
Otherwise, due to the recent tumble in the stock market, the conversation heads
south when they begin to ask about the recent buyouts in the finance industry
and the need for our stock market to be saved with a huge buyout.
Because of this talk about the down economy I sometimes need to persuade
the ladies about my future earning potential. As all business students have
learned, the market is generally best described as cyclical: the ups come with
the downs, and vice versa. So even though the market is going through some
tough times right now, we like to hope there are blue skies ahead. UW-Madison
is well respected as one of the best schools in the nation and known for
preparing its students to get out in the real world and add something to society.
Even though the economy is down right now, being a finance major from this
university creates great potential to help move this economy toward the way up.
Oh, and one last thing, ladies: I always beat the market.”
24
equips students with valuable job skills they can utilize in the
employment market. But under the surface of exams and group
projects other useful nuggets of knowledge can also be picked up
on. Two “well-rounded” business students explain how expertise in
their major help them be smooth operators with the opposite sex.
Laura Guenther
Major: Real Estate
She said: “First, let me point out that Real Estate is a field dominated mostly
by males – ahem, maybe a reason I chose to add a second major in this field?
But seriously, what I’ve learned through studying my major could definitely
be applied to my [mad] skills with the opposite sex.  When dealing with
the acquisition of a new property, for instance, one must assess the risks
and rewards of such a venture – what type of financing, maintenance and
management might this involve?  Naturally, I’m not going to go for just any guy
on the street/bar/whatever without weighing my odds first – I mean, I’m not
THAT desperate.
The real estate major specifically leads to, and requires, the ability to
understand real estate market analysis, site selection, investment analysis,
economics relating to land use and professional services that support real
estate transactions.  Being able to acquire a versatile degree such as this can
mean big things in my versatility with the hombres.  Let’s take market analysis,
what I may refer to as “scoping out the field”.  A definite “must” prior to any
sort of interaction.  Does he meet my standards?  Can I see myself “getting to
know him”? Are there wedding bells in our future (maybe a bit far…)?  Then
again, maybe I just want to test the waters, just rent some space for a month or
two and see how it feels, if you know what I mean.
Additionally, while showing and buying houses is only a small aspect of the real
estate field, it can provide some insight on how I might “show” myself - as a
prime piece of real estate, of course.
Purchasing real estate requires a significant investment, and each parcel of
land has unique characteristics – and let’s be honest, most guys I’ve met in
Madison have shown me a fair set of unique characteristics, including the
ability to successfully creep the hell out of me post-bar time.  Faced with this
situation (i.e. scoping out a hottie after some market and investment analysis
– maybe he bought me a drink and showed me some gentlemen-like qualities
– only to find he is a creeeeeeper in the end.) This is the point when you have to
cut your losses and SELL, SELL, SELL.
 The b.Liner
s

Andrea Webb Jenna Lenz Katie Pawley

Year: Senior Year: Senior Year: Senior
b.Line Role: President, Writer b.Line Role: Director of Events, Writer b.Line Role: Director of Design and Layout
Major: International Business and Marketing Major: Accounting Major: Art History

Kimm VanDen Heuvel Rachel Christenson

Year: Senior Year: Senior
b.Line Role: V.P. of Marketing & External Relations, Writer b.Line Role: Designer
Major: Retail and Italian Major: Marketing

Lauren Tellock Denise Fesik Colleen Welch

Year: Freshman Year: Senior Year: Junior
b.Line Role: External Relations, Writer b.Line Role: Writer b.Line Role: Designer, Writer
Major: Undecided Major: MHR, Risk Management, and Insurance Major: Real Estate

Peter Olesen Scott Schoenwaelder Nick Reichel

Year: Senior Year: Junior Year: Freshman
b.Line Role: V.P. of Finance, Writer b.Line Role: Writer b.Line Role: Web Designer
Major: Finance and Real Estate Major: Marketing Major: Undecided

Jake Fowler George Ryan

Year: Senior Year: Sophomore
b.Line Role: Editor-in-Chief b.Line Role: Director of New Member Recruitment, Writer, and UBLC Representative
Major: Journalism Major: Pre-Business
b.Line staff would like to thank the following for their support:

Steve Schroeder, Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Programs and

Director of Undergraduate Career Services

Wisconsin School of Business Marketing Services

Faculty Advisors: Loren Kuzuhara and Marty Blalock

Jake Martin

Joe Vruwink

Brad Fedie

VISIT US AT blinemagazine.rso.wisc.edu