POP, LOCK AND DROP IT: New student group ‘Freestyle Funk Sessions’ offers outlet for freestyle dancing on campus ARTS
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BECOMING THE CENTERS OF ATTENTION Nankivil and Leuer’s growth has helped fill the void left by last years’ seniors SPORTS
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What are you giving away online? By Ashley Davis THE DAILY CARDINAL
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ocial networking websites are an undeniable facet of college life, an observation made obvious by the numerous laptops in any lecture hall, where Facebook can take precedence over academic notes. Users of such sites have been voluntarily surrendering their privacy. Now more than ever, students are posting incriminating pictures, disclosing personal information and using social networking sites without reading the terms of use they are bound by. The consequences are proving to be both significant and permanent. Social networking sites
Philosopher promotes evolutionary reflection THE DAILY CARDINAL
Faculty Senate reviews budget effects on salaries, tuition By Brandice Altfillisch THE DAILY CARDINAL
Members of the UWMadison Faculty Senate met Monday to reaffirm their stance on domestic-partner benefits in the state and how budget cuts might affect the university. Topics of concern included tuition, faculty salaries and domestic-partner benefits.
Proposed UW System cuts 1. UW-Madison: $63,390,268 2. UW-Milwaukee: $19,810,460 3. UW-La Crosse: $11,004,374 4. UW-Eau Claire: $8,658,360 5. UW-Extension: $8,521,512 Source: UW System
Chancellor Biddy Martin said Gov. Jim Doyle’s budget included a proposed government deficiency reduction for the UW System. A 1 percent reduction in all funds, except for federal funds, will be administered throughout the UW System. “This is the division of the governor’s budget that’s most difficult for us to grasp at this point,” Martin said. “What we don’t yet know is whether we’ll be responsible for the total amount of the 1 percent cut on all funds even though some of the funds will be exempt from the cut.” The total amount of reduction for the entire UW System is estimated at $150 million dollars. However, Martin said depending on the nature of bargaining rights and rise of tuition over the next two years, a specific amount of the reduction will be re-set. Despite the budget cuts, Martin stressed it is “absolutely not” necessary to declare a fiscal emergency. senate page 3
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
BECCA LI THE DAILY CARDINAL
By Beth Pickhard
JENNY PEEK/THE DAILY CARDINAL
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Daniel Dennett, an American philosopher, spoke to students and faculty Monday about his evolutionary and biological beliefs.
including Facebook, MySpace and YouTube all have thorough, legally binding terms of use and conditions that each user accepts upon creating an account. According to the various agreements, users are also accepting any changes in the terms of use if they continue to use the sites’ services. According to the MySpace terms of use, modifications to the agreement are effective upon online posting and users should therefore routinely check their agreement. The legalities of social networking sites’ terms have rarely been questioned, until Facebook networking page 3
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UW-Madison community members gathered in the Wisconsin Union Theater Monday to listen to what some called a radical evolutionary perspective. Daniel Dennett, an American philosopher and noted atheist, spoke to students and faculty as part of the Distinguished Lecture Series. Dennett spoke primarily about evolution and how it can explain the existence of current life-forms by both biological and social means. According to Dennett, Charles Darwin’s ideas were revolutionary because they took into account different aspects of the human universe. “Darwin’s idea, more than any other idea anyone has had, is a unifier,” Dennett said. “It unites the world of purposeless causation, physics, with the world of meaning.” UW-Madison student Catherine Arnold noticed Dennett combined ideas from different evolutionists and did not rely solely on Darwin’s ideas.
“He puts all of these ideas together and adds his to make one really good theory,” she said. According to Dennett, natural selection leads to objects that have specific purposes in life, but those organisms do not necessarily know what their purpose is. “[An organism] can have the competence without the comprehension,” he said. Dennett said brains are virtual machines, leading to higher purposes like the formation of groups, which allow greater things to be accomplished. “Designed by natural selection, these virtual machines, which give us powers to take versatility up a level, [allow for us to] form larger, organism-like entities like universities, armies and religions,” he said. According to Dennett, evolution is influenced by society through memes, which are specific parts of our culture, like words. He said words and society have both evolved to take advantage of their previous
design, just as biological evolution has in humankind’s past. “Words evolve from other words that are direct descendants of other words,” he said. UW-Madison philosophy professor Lawrence Shapiro said Dennett is sure to have left an impression on many because he presented unique arguments. “While Daniel’s positions will strike many as radical, there’s no denying that the prose he uses to defend himself are simple, eloquent and compelling and, above all, accessible,” he said. Anjali Misra, a UW-Madison student, said she was intrigued by Dennett’s lecture. “I thought his whole approach to evolution is really interesting,” she said. “I’m not a student of philosophy, but he really made me think.” Dennett stressed the importance of looking at the other processes in life and discovering how they came to be. For more information on upcoming lecturers, visit www. union.wisc.edu/DLS.
Mayor Cieslewicz endorses Eagon for Common Council seat Bryon Eagon, one of the two District 8 candidates for the Madison Common Council, announced his endorsement from Mayor Dave Cieslewicz Monday. “I’m honored to have Mayor Dave’s support, and I think it shows that we EAGON will work together to address issues here in Madison,” Eagon said. “It’s a great motivator to keep working hard.”
Eagon said Cieslewicz’s support shows he looked at each candidate and what kinds of issues they are prioritizing. “He understands that I did my homework and that he thinks we can work together to address student issues,” he said. According to a statement, Cieslewicz said Eagon has all the tools needed to be a great alder. “He’s bright, works hard, understands his district and cares deeply about the people he will represent,” he said. Although Eagon has received support from Cieslewicz, he
acknowledged that the campaign process is far from over. “There’s always more work to do and campaign, so having a continued presence on campus is going to be vital to the success of the campaign,” he said. Eagon said he would continue to meet students face to face around District 8, as well as knock on doors to further conversations on how best to address student issues in Madison. Eagon will face off against Mark Woulf in the District 8 election April 7. —Caitlin Gath
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”