Students who want to learn about the ASUA presidential candidates should make a trip to the union today to watch the first non-ASUA sponsored presidential debate.

The Arizona Daily Wildcat is directing the debate today from noon to 1 p.m. in the UofA Bookstore in the Student Union Memorial Center.

Daniel Scarpinato, editor of the Desert Yearbook and a panelist, said the debate will give students the chance to see why they should care about who is their student body president next year. [Read article]

Some professors allow students to write own recommendations

Writing a letter of recommendation for a student requires a professor to do a fair amount of homework, but some professors say they don't have the time.

Instead, professors are letting the students do the work.

Elena Plante, an associate professor for speech and hearing sciences, said she allowed a student to write her own letter because the deadline was quickly approaching. [Read article]

The existence of an afterlife is a mystery that has plagued religion, philosophy and psychology since their conception - until now.

For seven years, Gary Schwartz, a UA professor and director of the Center for Frontier Medicine in Biofield Science, has been conducting afterlife experiments and research that he believes prove the survival of human consciousness after death.

"When you look at the totality of the data, the simplest and most parsimonious explanation that accounts for the largest amount of data is the survival of consciousness hypothesis," he said. [Read article]

Smokers who want to break the habit may find it easier if an Arizona smoking ban that is being debated at the Legislature is passed.

On Saturday, legislators, professors and health advocates gathered to discuss the topic, "Is Arizona ready for smoke-free workplaces/public places for all?"

According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control, 18 percent of Americans smoke, and 70 percent of them are trying to quit. [Read article]

PHOENIX - A group of about 30 UA students converged on the state capital Friday to speak with lawmakers about student concerns and learn how to impact the legislative process.

Eighty-five students from the state universities took part in the 17th-annual Arizona Students' Association Legislative Conference, which is open to any university students who have paid their $1 ASA fee.

"We call it a day of learning and lobbying," said Amy Hicks, associate executive director of the Arizona Students' Association. [Read article]

Rather than spend their weekend sleeping and tanning by the pool, more than 200 students from all over Arizona spent their free time at the 11th-annual Arizona Collegiate Leadership Conference.

Although this year's conference was smaller compared to more than 600 participants last year, conference co-chairs Lindsay Urbank and Jessie Singer said students still had the opportunity to learn about leadership and discuss issues like multiculturalism, service and politics. [Read article]

UA prof committed to social service

When Stephen Gilliland talks about making a difference in the community, he sits forward in his chair, and his eyes spark with excitement.

Just imagine, he says.

"If we take all that business expertise (in the Eller College of Business and Public Administration) and 40,000 graduates, imagine the impact we could have."

Gilliland, a vice dean in the Eller College, created a social entrepreneurship class three years ago to instill the same excitement he has about improving the community in his business students. [Read article]

Women's hoops forward says she's goofy, and thinks it's all about Shaquille

Wildcat: I'm Claire from the Daily Wildcat and you're on the spot.

Hobson: OK, wow!

Wildcat: Describe your most embarrassing moment to me.

Hobson: I don't know that I have a most embarrassing moment, I'm goofy as it is. I just kind of roll with the punches.

Wildcat: Do you get punched a lot? [Read article]

Things you always never wanted to know

This week in history

TODAY

1868 - W.E.B. DuBois is born.

1940 - Woody Guthrie writes his best known song, "This Land is Your Land."

1945 - U.S. Marines from the 3rd Platoon, E Company, 2nd Battalion, 28th Division raise the U.S. flag on the crest of Mount Suribachi during WWII.

TOMORROW

1868 - President Andrew Johnson becomes the first president impeached in U.S. history.

1917 - British authorities present a copy of the "Zimmerman Note" to the U.S. ambassador to Britain. [Read article]