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THETUF DAILY (WhereYou Read It First Fridav, Marchs 5.1999 Volume XXXVIII. Number 28 I Senate pushes several Controversial scientists, diniLng changes radical thinkers lecture by GREGORY PA’ITAKOS bacteria as having a consciousness similar Service Committee also working for Daily Staff Writer to that of humans, Margulis disagrees. She fast food vendor, revolving points In today’s scientific world, controversial says that bacteria can understand parts of and radical thinkers are often disregarded the environment that we cannot. For ex- by JEREMY WANGIVERSON and thought of as “mad scientists.” How- ample, bacteriawillalwaysgotowardsmag- Daily Editorial Staff ever, as a panel which convened at Tufts netic north in their environment. “Bacteria Dining hours will be changed at the Hodgdon this past weekend showed, these uncon- can do everything we can, except speak ining hall for the upcoming school year, accord- ventional thinkers have a great deal to offer English,” she said. ig to Moira Poe, the recently appointed head of the scientific community. Margulis addressedthe problem of clas- ie Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate Stu- On Tuesday, March 2, the first ofa series sifyinganorganismby showingafilm about ent Service Committee. Poe also reportedthat the of lectures with controversial scientistswas termites called Who’s Eating Wood. The omrnittee is discussing the possibilities of creat- held in Cabot auditorium. Sixty students, termites illustrate Margulis’ endosymbio- ig a revolving meal plan and bringing an outside faculty, and interested biologists attended. sis theory, because although the termites endor-possibly Burger King- to campus for The lecture series is organized by Tufts eat wood, they cannot digest it. Without a late night dining option. philosophy professor and director of the special bacteria inside a termite’s gut, the Hsdgdon will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tufts Center for Cognitive Studies, Daniel termite would not be able to gain any nutri- Aonday through Thursday, Poe said. “[This has Dennett, and is entitled “Iconoclasts on the tion from its meal. They require the symbi- een] a project that’s been in the run around, Frontiers of Science,” a reference to the otic relationship to survive. omething we’ve been working on all year.” ostracized iconoclasts of the ancient Byz- Margulis’s work is pioneering in the field Senator Erin Ross and Poe explained they antine empire. ofbiology. According to Dennett, her theory vanted Hodgdon to open at 7 a.m., but Director of All of the speakers have one thing in is now generally accepted, even though lining Service Patti Lee told them that wasn’t an common, according to Dennett - they many scientists were skeptical of it when Iption. have radical ideas. “They defend an idea she first suggested it. “Lee told us the traffic in the morning was not which is considered scientifically heretical “There are always iconoclasts around,, ignificant enough to keep it open; people go to and challenge orthodoxy,” he said. Al- and there is a problematic market for them; lewick, which is just ten feet [away],” Ross said. Moira though some of their ideas are disproved, they run the risk of being championed by The changes will be implemented fall of 1999, others revolutionize their scientific field. cooks,” Dennett said. However, some icono- ccording to a press release. “In some cases they have been vindi- clasts, like Lynn Margulis, are able to go Other ambitiousplans are in the works for the ServiceCommittee, according to Poe cated wonderfully, and Lynn Margulis is nd Ross. The committee is working with Dining Services to create asystem in which the best exampleofthat onmy list,” Dennett -0meals could be used at any point during the day and unused meals could be said. onverted to points. Lynn Margulis, Tuesday’s speaker, is ‘We’re working on the revolving meal plan where you’d be able use more than one Distinguished University Professor in the neal in a meal period,” Poe said. Department of Geosciences at the Univer- She also explained the meal to points conversion plan. Currently, leftover meals sity of Massachusetts, and she is the au- ransfer over semesters, but the ServiceCommittee is looking to eliminate that system thor of The Symbiotic Planet and Slanted nd allow students to convert a percentage of unused meals to points. Lee explained Truths: Essays on Gaia, Symbiosis and to the committee that the meals could not both Evolution, with Dorian Sagan as co-author. transfer over and be converted to points. Margulis is also a member of the National “It’s a possible tradeoff -we would like to Academy of Sciences. She is most well seethathappen,”TCUPresident Jack Schimman known for her contributions to the endo- said. “Many don’t realize the meals transfer symbiosis theory which is found in any over, and it doesn’t save that much money. The biology text. switch wouldn’t impact in a negative way.” The endosymbiosis theory, among other Poe explained why it was easier to make things, explains the origins ofmitochondria changes at Hodgdon rather than Carmichael or and chloroplasts. The theory says that at Dewick. some point inevolutionary time, aprokary- Daily file photo Professor Daniel Dennett “It’s the most feasible... the cost of running otic bacterium may have entered another Hodgdon is not as significant,” Poe said. living organism and begun arelationship of against common opinion and provide The Senate is also hoping to bring in an outside symbiosis. One type of bacteria could have groundbreaking new ideas. vendor, such as a fast food chain to campus. evolved into what is now the mitochon- The lecture series will continue with “We’re talking about bringing an outside ven- drion, and another type could have become threemore lectures,the lastofwhich will be dor, 1ikeaBurgerKingorTacoBeIlforalatenight the chloroplast found in plant cells. held on April 29. Formore information, see dining options,” Poe said. She said Lee has been The relationship between Margulis’ http://ase.tufts.edu/cogstud/lconoclasts researching the possibility. topic and the Center for Cognitive Studies .html. Ross feltthe Hodgdon time switch is an impor- was best addressed by her opening state- When asked whether a similar panel photo by Jeremy Wang-lverson tant beginning in dining improvements. “It’s a ment: “Cognition starts with life itself, and would appear at Tufts, Professor Dennett kin Ross good step, we’re becoming more responsive to the earliest life is bacterial life.” replied, “If we got funding, we might do it student needs.” she said. Although most people do not think of again.” Local politician, consultant speaks to Glaser class byKENESlTIN Clapprood remained a promi- mate perspective to issues,’’ she fine yourselfasothersdefine you.’’ valuable.” Senior Staff Writer nent and active state representa- said. Student Jesse Levey asked, The next speaker, William Marjorie Clapprood, profes- tive for six years. After running, Clapprood went on to cite that “You’ve been talking a lot about Gardner, secretaryofstateofNew sional legislator and political con- and being defeated, for the posi- the men and women handle con- how the legislature would be bet- Hampshire, isscheduledforThurs- sultant, spoke on Tuesday, March tion of state lieutenant governor, flicts and look at certain issues ter iftherewould bemore women. day, March 1 1,from 1 1 :30 a.m. to , 2 to James Glaser’s political sci- Clapprood co-hosted a popular differently. The political consult- Elizabeth Dole, a Republican 12:45p.m. ence class in a lecture entitled political radio show entitled The ant gave-examples of how day woman, is now seeking office. “Campaigns, Candidates, and Clapproadand WhitleyShow. She care, childcare, and welfaremight Would you support her?” Elections.” also appearedonthe Lifetime tele- be more important issues to women Clapprood hesitated a moment Clapprood is the third guest to vision network on Clapprood politicians, whereas military and then answered, “I love Eliza- speak in front of the class about Live, a political discussion and spendingmight bemore important beth Dole, I think she is great.” various aspects of politics. interview program. Inthe past year, to men. Clapprood explainedthat she would Clapprood is a Democrat who is Clapprood ran for Congress in the Clapprood also noted that the cross party lines if Dole stood for well-known in Massachusetts and eighth district of Massachusetts, public brands men and women as ideas that she agreed with. nationwide for her work in the po- which includes Tufts’ neighbor- different. One casegiven wasthat Glaser said he thought the. litical arena. hood of Somerville, but she was of how women are portrayed dif- speaker was a success: “I think She first hit the local political defeated by former Somerville ferently in the media. that students walked out of the scene in 1984, when she was mayor Michael Capuano. “The [people of] Boston have class buzzing. Some people may * elected to the Massachusettsstate Clapprood spoke about the to go once a month to the welfare have loved her politics, some legislature. She was then nomi- importance ofwomen in thepoliti- office to receive checks,” people have may have hated her nated to be the president of her cal process and the difficulties that Clapprood solemnly stated. “[My politics, but love her or hate her, congressionalfreshman class, her come with beingawoman in poli- experiences] taught me a lot. I you had to enjoy her. I think her presidential responsibilities in- tics. “I really do think it makes a learned to choose my friends insights into gender politics, the cluded delivering the inaugural difference that I am a woman. wisely. I also learned from my relationship of politics to the me- speech. Women bring a unique and legiti- mother that you should never de- dia, and public opinion were in- j 2 THETUFTS DAILY March 5,1999 Congress at odds with White House over GOP budget plans Los Angeles Times-Washington Post down, when they passed indi- very tight fiscal box.