Ryan Masse, Editorial Board Chairman

I'm back for a second go-around on the Herald editorial board, once again reprising my role as "chair." Don't call it a comeback, though, because the truth is, my absence was merely the result of a nasty contractual holdout. When the Herald failed to meet my Roger Clemens-like demands (including showing up at the Herald office only once every five days), I had to sit out.

OK, the real truth is that I am returning to the university as a first-year law student. If my editorials become oddly technical and filled with legalese, I guess you'll know why. In my past stint at the university, I majored in political science and economics. At the Herald, I served as news editor and opinion editor, among other positions. I look forward to once again opining on pertinent campus, state and national issues, generally approaching things from a right-of-center perspective.

My favorite musical is The Muppet Movie. Does that count as a musical? I'm going to say so. "The Rainbow Connection" is the film's most famous tune, of course, but equally notable is Kermit and Fozzie singing "Movin' Right Along" in Fozzie's Studebaker. If I have to pick a traditional musical, I'll go with Singin' in the Rain.

Andy Granias, Opinion Page Editor

I hate the Milwaukee Brewers, and I adore the idea of a complete and utter overhaul of our current local, state and national campaign finance laws.
Whew, that felt good. Now go ahead and make up your mind about whether you'll love me or hate me for the rest of the semester, because it'll be a cold day in Miller Park before I change my mind on either of the issues.

Well, I must say that without Lauren Woods running for office, I don't really see myself caring much about anything political this year, but I promise to fake it like Meg Ryan.
Without question, "Hair" is my favorite musical. No, not "Hairspray," you uncultured Philistines, "Hair," the 1960s musical that defined a culture and an era. The drugs, sex and anti-Vietnam sentiments are just too dear to my heart not to choose it as my all-time favorite (don't tell the other Ed Board members about that last part).

However, I certainly don't want you thinking my selection provides any insight into my notoriously top-secret personal political viewpoints. If you must know, I've actually just finished decorating my desk at the Herald office as a pseudo-shrine to the former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. Believe it or not, they still call me Lil' D-Rummy on the playground back home.

Jason Smathers, Opinion Page Content Editor

Consider me a refugee. After two years of fighting in the trenches of the English department, I fled close reading and poetry and found a new home in Vilas Hall. Rigorous? Sure. The course work cut me — and my writing — down to size. It may have been a blast to my self-esteem, but it was nothing compared to the long nights and constant emergencies I endured at Sellery Hall.

That's right. Before taking this job, I was a house fellow. It was hectic and there was at least one major crisis a week, but at least now I have enough stories to fill a book. When The Badger Herald offered me this job, I jumped at the chance to escape my housing nightmare. Although there will definitely be a fair share of stress in my new position, believe me, I've seen worse.

I'm not a fan of musicals, but I am a fan of music. As such, the only thing close to a musical I can offer as my "favorite" is Tommy, The Who's "rock opera." If "Pinball Wizard" doesn't cut it as a legitimate show tune, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" will suffice as my favorite musical, but only the Donny Osmond version. Oh, and yes, I am ashamed.

Kate Maternowski

Newspapering was never really something I considered doing when I came to college. The rowing team took up most of my time — and energy — during my first year here, and I really only stumbled into a job at 326 W. Gorham because of a promise of beer and pizza on Fridays. But after three semesters of learning from a group of very talented people and finding my feet in the world of reporting, I have come to love (almost) everything about what this paper does and stands for.

After settling into the news department here, and after a semester hiatus to explore London and the House of Commons, I am now taking on a completely new role at the Herald. I appreciate healthy debate and I value convincing arguments; I am excited to work in an environment that fosters both of those things, and I will strive to represent the student body I hail from while sitting on the Ed Board.
And my favorite musical? Of course it is only appropriate that I name Newsies to that title, for obvious reasons (and also because I spent a majority of my preteen years learning every dance number).

Bassey Etim, Managing Editor

Oh, hi! I didn’t see you there. It’s my pleasure to welcome your eyes to this part of the page. Feel free to put your hand out and touch the text — I typed that myself, so you can feel my excitement. Some meddling bloggers have referred to The Badger Herald as an ivory tower, and I resent that. So keep hiding behind your web of nets, or whatever it is you do on that "line" thing. Cowards. Besides, everyone knows ivory is a substandard building material, so instead we've lined our insulation with penguin hides to help us take the long march to savings.

Now that you’ve read one paragraph, why not read another? The new opinion editors say that I should take some time to discuss my favorite musical. I like the one with that catchy song in the beginning about how they’re not going to waste any more of my time with confusing songs. In fact, after every plot twist, someone should circle the stage with a giant poster board that explains it to me. Until then, you elitist playwrights, I’m just to keep watching TV and reading my news in paper form.

Mike Gendall, Editor in Chief

This is my sixth semester at The Badger Herald, my second on the Editorial Board and my first as editor in chief.

Sitting down with my fellow editors to discuss some of the more controversial issues of the day has become one of my favorite parts of the job.

Politically, I'm a relatively moderate, bipartisan guy with a definite libertarian streak, although I could be considered somewhat of an extremist on certain issues, I suppose. Unlike my colleague Mr. Granias, I detest campaign-finance restrictions, which I think are undue burdens on citizens' free speech rights made worse by the fact that these laws don't actually function as a means to improving democracy.

Of course, it's highly unlikely that any of our editorials this semester even touch on campaign finance laws, which is a good thing. Our utmost objective is to provide thoughtful, reasoned analysis on issues important and relevant to University of Wisconsin students, from a UW student perspective. I take that responsibility quite seriously.

Whatever your level of interest in the past, I challenge you this semester to read our news section every day, and then turn to the opinion page to see what the six of us collectively agreed on. We want to engage all of you in a serious discussion, we want to hear your response and we want to print your feedback in this very space in order that other students can get a complete picture of what's going on. That is the marketplace of ideas I believe in.

My favorite musical? Ugh. They sing a lot in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, so I'm going to say that counts. And I'm talking about the one with Gene Wilder, not with Johnny Depp.