As the semester draws to a close, the Daily Wildcat is looking back at what it considers to be the five most important issues of the semester - topics that have impacted the lives of students on the UA campus and across the world.

5 - Integrated Learning Center opens with limited technology

file photo/Arizona Daily Wildcat

Provost George Davis, standing, speaks to a crowd gathered at the Integrated Learning Center Oct. 26. The dedication of the ILC ranked No. 5 on the Wildcat's top five issues of the semester.

After three years of construction and months of budget deliberations, the Integrated Learning Center - a $20 million underground computer and classroom center - was dedicated Oct. 26.

The dedication was a relief to officials who had feared the already-delayed opening might be pushed back even further because of state-mandated budget cuts, which will chop $13.9 million from University of Arizona's 2002 budget.

But the new facility was not left untouched by the cuts. The Media Center, which would have allowed faculty to index their classes for students to access through the use of high-tech equipment, will not open in January with the rest of the center. Still, officials said the Media Center will open eventually.

"The Media Center is, in many ways, the technological apex of the entire enterprise · and we cannot stop short of that," UA President Peter Likins said.

4 - Housing crunch forces students into lounges

More than 200 students arriving at the UA this fall had to change their housing plans. Due to a shortage of housing space, many students who expected to begin the year in a dorm room were assigned to live in converted study rooms or computer labs. Still, others were temporarily placed in hotel rooms or assigned to live with a resident assistant.

The UA's normal housing capacity is 5,500, but this semester, 6,000 freshmen entered the university. Returning students live in the dorms as well, adding to the housing shortages dilemma.

Officials offered solutions like capping the number of spaces for returning students and getting rid of the guarantee date for housing.

3 - Campus Assaults

A rash of sexually related crimes occurred on campus during this semester, including the assault of a UA student and a Tucsonan that TPD said involved the same suspect.

On Oct. 3, a UA student was both physically and sexually assaulted in her home just north of campus. A little more than a week later, two UA students were walking on campus on Oct. 18 when they were assaulted by another suspect. The two victims were power-walking on campus when they were jumped by a suspect who tried to sexually assault them. As students were urged to exercise caution in the wake of the Oct. 3 assault, a Tucsonan was sexually assaulted just a few weeks later at her home, approximately two miles north of campus on Oct. 31.

Yet another event occurred on Nov. 26 after another suspect reportedly beat and attempted to pull down the pants of a UA student as she rode her bike north of campus. Both Tucson and University of Arizona Police departments have no suspects at this time.

2 - UA asked to cut $13.9 million from its budget

In early September, Republican Gov. Jane Dee Hull announced that state agencies would have to slice 4 percent from their budgets as the result of major shortfalls in Arizona's budget.

After the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, the depth of the state's shortfall grew to $1.6 billion over two years. UA officials said they hoped the special session, which started Nov. 13, would conclude by Thanksgiving, but the session has now run into December.

"Until (the special legislative session) concludes, we will not be able to assume that our present plans to return $13.9 million to the state will suffice," Likins said.

Although the exact amount of the cuts has not been announced, administrators spent much of the semester searching for ways to begin locating the nearly $14 million.

Money was freed up from numerous places, including an advising task force and Campaign Arizona. The university also implemented a hiring freeze which has yet to be lifted as well as eliminated the Arizona International College.

1 - Campus gathers to mourn Sept. 11

file photo/Arizona Daily Wildcat

Omar Shahin, left, the Imam and director of the Islamic Center of Tucson, converses with Rabbi Thomas Louchheim of congregation Or-Chadash as they lead a group of mourners toward the UA Mall to participate in a "Unity Rally" on Sept. 12. The Sept. 11 attacks ranked No. 1 on the Wildcat's top five issues of the semester.

Terrorists crashed three hijacked commercial aircrafts into New York City's World Trade Center and destroyed a section of the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. A fourth hijacked plane later crashed 80 miles outside Pittsburgh. Likins called for an immediate campus meeting on the Mall. Though the forum was unannounced, it managed to draw hundreds of students and staff as well as religious and academic leaders.

"There are people of all nations on this campus that come to us from every corner of the world," Likins told the crowd. "There are no nations responsible for these crimes, which are crimes against humanity, not just crimes against America."

Students let out their anger on the Wall of Expression, which was placed all around campus, and attended special services at churches, temples and mosques. They gathered together in the dorms, the library and the student union and sat glued to their television sets for days.

More than 30 Middle Eastern students left the university and returned to their native countries in fear for their safety.

Several UA clubs and organizations also raised money for the victims' families.