Summer music festivals offer more than just good tunes
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Tuesday, September 11, 2012
9/11 sparks interest in Middle East studies By Sam Cusick The Daily Cardinal
The tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001 devastated a nation and resulted in the shipment of thousands of U.S. soldiers to the Middle East, a region where Islam and Arab cultures dominate. While U.S. involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq has created controversy over the past decade, it also sparked great interest among University of Wisconsin-Madison students. Since Sept.11 and the nation’s declaration of war against terrorism, student enrollment in Middle East Studies and Arabic language programs increased dramatically, from 35 students in 2000 to approximately 145 in 2009, according to Professor of African Languages and Literature Dustin Cowell. Following the 9/11 attacks, students became increasingly interested in the cultures of the countries at war with the U.S. and wanted to learn what exactly it meant to be Muslim, Cowell said.
“Before [9/11] there was always some attention to the Middle East, but then we were actually fighting a war in a Muslim territory in Afghanistan,” Cowell said. “And then Islam replaced the adversary for the United States in popular imagination.” However, as students’ interest in the Middle East skyrocketed with the beginning of the skirmish, it also lowered when U.S. military presence in Iraq and Afghanistan decreased over the past few years, according to Cowell. “We saw the biggest increase with the conflicts in Iraq and just after [9/11],” Cowell said. “[The United States] is not looking to expand that kind of war effort in the Middle East, I expect, so there is a leveling off at this point.” However, Professor of Turkic and Central Eurasian Studies Uli Schamiloglu said there are other reasons for the rise and decline of enrollment besides the amount of military presence in Middle East countries.
According to Schamiloglu, the downward trend can be attributed to a recent 47 percent cut from the federal government in addition to the termination of government funding allotted to universities after 9/11 to promote “critical languages” such as Arabic among students. “[The cuts have] a strong impact on a lot of programs,” Schamiloglu said. “So from that point of view, that means that the institution may have fewer resources for offering these courses.” Despite the decline in enrollment, Schamiloglu said educating students about Middle Eastern and Muslim countries is important because it helps them avoid misinformation and harmful stereotypes. “Too often you could say that our society is inward-looking and insular, especially in recent times,” Schamiloglu said. “There are a lot of people who know English and know something about our culture and its not always the case that Americans understand foreign cultures.”
grey satterfield/the daily cardinal
The Chemistry building could get additional lab space through renovations planned in the next Capital Budget.
Chemistry renovation could create more labs By Cheyenne Langkamp The Daily Cardinal
Future University of Wisconsin-Madison students may have an easier time registering for introductory chemistry courses and be able to conduct more experiments in new lab facilities if building project plans receive additional funding from the UW System. The UW System Board of Regents approved the 2013-15 Biennial Capital Budget in their August meeting, but it remains subject to further approval by Gov. Scott Walker and the state legislature. According to Regent Katherine Pointer, the student representative on the Board, the project
focuses on correcting a current lack of general chemistry lab space, which prohibits the university from offering more courses. Pointer said the extra chemistry building could especially benefit general chemistry classes such as Chemistry 103 and 104, which are the two courses with the highest enrollment during the fall and spring semesters. The courses currently lack sufficient lab space to accommodate the number of students who wish to enroll, according to Pointer. Pointer said while the $103.5 million project focuses on
chem page 3
Mac Miller, Big Gigantic to headline at Freakfest event
on campus
Hip hop for education
Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings leads a seminar on the role hip hop culture can play in developing new strategies to encourage students in underprivileged areas to succeed academically. + Photo by Grey Satterfield
When Madison celebrates Freakfest 2012 on State Street Saturday, Oct. 27, University of Wisconsin-Madison students can expect to see Pennsylvanian rap star Mac Miller and electronica collective Big Gigantic take the main stages. Frank Productions, the company city officials collaborate with in coordinating the event, spent more money this year in recruiting talent than in previous years due to disparagement from UW students, according to Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4. “I am really thrilled that Frank Productions has taken to heart the criticism from prior years that the [music] talent was rather sub-par overall,” Verveer said. “I hope this year’s lineup announced today will attract more interest than we’ve seen in recent years.”
Other major acts performing at this year’s Freakfest are Dutch electronic dance band Nobody Beats The Drum, Minneapolis band Roster McCabe, northeastern phenomenon Gentlemen Hall and Kids These Days, a band hailing from Chicago. New this year is the option to purchase a V.I.P. viewing area ticket, which will allow partygoers to watch performances in prime areas adjacent to the stage on Capitol Square and at Lisa Link Peace Park, according to Verveer. V.I.P. tickets are $35. Students can purchase tickets at the gate, which opens at 7 p.m., for $12 and also in advance for $8 starting Sept. 14 through ticketmaster, the Frank Productions website or at various business locations on State Street. Business outlets will sell tickets through Friday, Oct. 26.
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”