ASUA candidates are gathering high-profile endorsements in addition to seeking the support of fellow candidates as they enter the final hours of the election race.

Wesley Clark, a former candidate for the 2004 democratic presidential nomination, endorsed Associated Students of the University of Arizona senatorial candidate Daniel Smith-Matthews, who volunteered on Clark's campaign.

Smith-Matthews says he spoke to Clark about his own political aspirations, and Clark signed an endorsement because he heard positive things about Smith-Matthews from the volunteer coordinator. [Read article]

PHOENIX ÷ A bill that would make last call an hour later and keep bars open until 2:30 a.m. gained initial approval yesterday despite attacks from legislators who said the bill puts greed before public safety.

By a vote of 35-25, the state House of Representatives passed the measure on to the Senate. If approved there, Gov. Janet Napolitano, who has said she is open to the measure, could then sign the bill into law. [Read article]

A proposed parking rate increase affecting residents of downtown and university neighborhoods met with much criticism and some sighs of relief yesterday at a public hearing.

The proposal would force residents to pay $12 ÷up from $2.50 ÷ annually for the parking permit that allows them to park in the streets in front of their houses. An increasing rate estimated to reach $36 by 2008 would provide for better enforcement, the Park Wise team oversight committee said at the hearing. [Read article]

Faculty and staff members are joining with university lobbyists and President Peter Likins in opposition to legislative proposals that would require fingerprinting all university employees and firing people convicted of certain felonies.

In the past several days, employees who are subscribed to a listserv for staff members have been offering opposition to the two bills.

And yesterday, some faculty senators agreed the bills overstep the bounds of legislative appropriateness. Likins echoed their sentiments, telling the senate he hoped both bills would die. [Read article]

Faculty senators endorsed a framework outlining problems plaguing collegiate athletics yesterday and called on the NCAA and other organizations to find solutions.

The framework calls for tougher admissions standards for athletes, a heightened commitment to academics and less reliance on commercialization, as well as other reforms.

The UA's faculty senate became the 22nd body of its type in the country to back the framework, though seven senators voted against doing so. That's an unusually high number for a body that approves most actions unanimously. [Read article]

Barrel racer kicks off pro debut in Tucson

When Kendall Prall was 9 years old, she told her parents she wanted to be in the Tucson Rodeo.

From then on, the pre-business sophomore went to the rodeo every year, studying from the stands. She watched the events carefully, and when she was in sixth grade, Prall started barrel racing.

Her experience with racing in 4H, junior rodeos and college rodeos came together on Sunday when Prall raced in the finals of the Tucson Rodeo among dozens of other professionals. [Read article]

Four scientists have been named finalists to direct the Institute for Biomedical Science and Biotechnology, a program aimed at increasing collaboration among faculty in the life sciences.

The list includes UA plant sciences Professor Vicki Chandler, who currently serves as the institute's co-director.

Other candidates are: David T. Curiel, director of the Division of Human Gene Therapy and director of the Gene Therapy Center at The University of Alabama at Birmingham; John W. Kozarich, president and chief research and development officer of ActivX Biosciences in La Jolla, Calif; and Paul Rothman, Richard J. Stock Professor of Medicine and Microbiology at Columbia University. [Read article]

Freshman smiles a lot, thinks we could do without the letter Îz' and doesn't nap too often

Wildcat: Hi, my name is Nathan and you're on the spot. Don't you think it's funny ÷Îcause this happened to me right now ÷ when people walk by you with a smile on their faces like some invisible hand is tickling them? They're all like · (Wildcat demonstrates by smiling) Know what I'm saying?

Wilkie: Yeah, I understand. [Read article]

Things you always never wanted to know

Flashback to the Î70s

Today for your approval we have a UA hippy, circa March 4, 1978, caught in a rather candid act that falls just short of being outright explicit.

While Mike R. Hendrickson, education junior, doesn't quite offer up a full monty, he "hopes to get maximum exposure in publicizing a benefit party at the Bum Steer Monday night for Switchboard, a referral service, and the VD Hotline, a confidential information source." [Read article]