Sixteen programs spanning academic disciplines from landscape architecture to environmental hydrology may face elimination under preliminary proposals released yesterday by top administrators.

Yesterday's announcement marked the first time President Pete Likins and Provost George Davis have made specific recommendations for program cuts under Focused Excellence, a plan to narrow the university's mission in response to continued shortages in state funding. [Read article]

Karen Vitkay left her home in Michigan to study at UA's School of Landscape Architecture.

Recently she bought a house, established residency and settled as a graduate student.

Now she might have to uproot herself again.

The school of landscape architecture is one of 16 programs that may be eliminated, according to a memo released yesterday by President Pete Likins and Provost George Davis. [Read article]

When President Pete Likins announced his proposals for 16 program eliminations at a press conference yesterday, he opened his presentation with a disclaimer.

They are far from being enacted. Some may never be enacted, and some may be significantly modified.

Students, faculty and staff will all have a chance to speak out on these initial ideas, and administrators will now be charged with carefully reviewing the changes' potential impacts and examining alternatives. [Read article]

Looking for a bottle of Happy Fragrance to add to the pleasure of an evening out with a significant other? Or perhaps some sunscreen to ward off the dangerous rays of a merciless Arizona sun?

In the past you would have had to get in your car and head to the mall, but not anymore.

A Clinique cosmetics center is one of the new additions to the Student Union Memorial Center, which is scheduled to have its official grand opening celebration on Feb. 17. [Read article]

Every day, Andria Ligas found something new she wanted to accomplish in her lifetime. When she was killed by a hit-and-run driver on Dec. 22, she had already "conquered many of those mountains," said her mother, Carol Hofford.

Ligas, a linguistics senior and Flinn scholar, was riding her bike near North Euclid Avenue and East Elm Street when she was killed.

Many of Ligas' friends, family and mentors remember her as "the type of person who could do anything." [Read article]

Our friendly neighborhood sports guy speaks on life at the sports desk, grabbing butts and having a basketball head

WILDCAT: So Maxx, how do you feel about descending from on high back into the wonderful world of a measly reporter?

WOLFSON: It will be nice. Now I can actually write stories instead of just sitting at a desk.

WILDCAT: You're a sports guy. What is with male athletes grabbing each other's butts? Where did that all start? [Read article]

Husband of administrator dies of pancreatic cancer

The husband of Janet Bingham, vice-president of advancement, died on Sunday.

David R. White, a graduate of the UA College of Law, succumbed to pancreatic cancer at the age of 52.

As a deputy Pima County attorney, White earned a reputation as a top prosecutor in Arizona. He prosecuted dozens of violent criminals, securing convictions and death sentences in many of the cases. [Read article]