The results of a graduate student survey distributed early this month are in, just in time to be presented to the Arizona Board of Regents at today's tuition hearing.

The numbers show that 11 percent of 500 students surveyed are considering dropping out if tuition is raised ÷ 5 percent temporarily and 6 percent permanently. Forty percent said they will drop the number of semester units they take. [Read article]

Bids for optical sciences building exceed $17M budget

When UA officials lifted their shovels to break ground on a multimillion-dollar expansion to an optics research facility in September, they said it would solidify Tucson as "Optics Valley."

However, what was supposed to be a full-fledged construction site in the nexus of Optics Valley remains the small dirt patch construction workers dug six months ago. [Read article]

A former SafeRide employee threatened Student Body President Doug Hartz in his office Friday, UAPD reports stated.

Ronnie Gammage, an undeclared sophomore, was fired from SafeRide on Feb. 20. Hartz said that he had nothing to do with the termination and had no idea why Gammage was let go. But he was told by SafeRide officials that when Gammage was fired, he became angry and made a scene, reports stated. [Read article]

Every morning, Crystal Alkais begins her day not by eating breakfast, showering and brushing her teeth, but by signing on to her America Online Instant Messenger account.

Alkais, a pre-business freshman, said she uses AIM daily to talk to her family in Phoenix and friends who live down the hall.

The use of instant messaging through AOL and other providers like Yahoo and Microsoft Network has become increasingly popular as an inexpensive and often free way for college students to exchange instant text messages with friends and family, whether nearby or across the country. [Read article]

Pre-med freshman talks of the delicacies of Subway and the nature of two-sided buildings

Wildcat: Why did you choose pre-physiology as a major?

Nguyen: Because it is pre-med.

Wildcat: Oh, you want to be a doctor. What kind of doctor do you want to be?

Nguyen: A cardiologist.

Wildcat: Ah, how interesting. So, where are you guys off to at such a late hour walking around the university on a Wednesday night? [Read article]

· A female pig's orgasm lasts for 30 minutes.

· A pig's penis is shaped like a corkscrew.

· The characters Bert and Ernie on Sesame Street were named after Bert, the cop and Ernie the taxi driver in Frank Capra's "Its A Wonderful Life."

· A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds.

· Lake Nicaragua boasts the only fresh-water sharks in the entire world. [Read article]

Hydrology professor earns national honors for models

Soroosh Sorooshian, regents professor in Hydrology and Water Resources, has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering.

Sorooshian was named to NAE for his work on developing flood-forecasting models that are used worldwide.

Election to NAE is one of the highest professional distinctions for an engineer. Academy membership honors those who have made important contributions to engineering theory and practice. [Read article]