Scholarship athletes show promising graduation rates

Sixty-five percent of UA scholarship athletes who entered the university in 1997 graduated by last year, 18 percent more than the overall UA graduation rate.

The number is also 8 percent higher than athlete graduation rates in the previous year.

In 2002, scholarship athletes had a 60 percent graduation rate. Even that lay significantly above the overall UA graduation rate of 55 percent, which President Peter Likins has called an embarrassment. [Read article]

A proposed activity fee isn't on the ballot yet, but one organization is already eyeing the money.

Cats RIDDE, a program that would offer free rides home to intoxicated students and their friends, has been struggling to acquire the funds it needs to pay for insurance and rental cars.

Jason Cobb, the president and co-founder of Cats RIDDE, said he hopes students vote for the $15 to $20 activity fee, which will be on a special ballot in April, because some of the money might fund his program. [Read article]

Fraternities left the comfort of their houses earlier this semester to recruit together on the Mall, and their efforts paid off with a 15 percent increase in pledges.

This semester, fraternities saw 10 to 15 percent more men interested in rush than in previous spring semesters. Usually, there are about 80 men who rush in the spring. This year, 120 men rushed.

Chris Bullins, Greek Life coordinator, said the increase was a result of a new rush process implemented this semester. [Read article]

The controversy surrounding "The Passion of the Christ" has yet to die down, nearly two weeks after it was released.

More than 100 people gathered in the Integrated Learning Center last night to express their anger, frustration or awe with the most controversial film of the year, released Feb. 25.

The panel discussion offered an important opportunity for interfaith religious dialogue, said Mark Krell, moderator of the forum and assistant professor of Judaic studies. [Read article]

PHOENIX ÷ A bill that would form a six-year pilot program letting community colleges offer four-year bachelor's degrees in some subjects passed out of committee yesterday, despite criticism that it would cripple the state's higher education system.

Sponsored by Rep. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, the bill lets community colleges offer degrees in law enforcement, fire science, nursing and teaching.

Pearce said the measure remedies the soaring cost of a university education and problems of access that limit rural Arizonans' opportunities to pursue bachelor's degrees. [Read article]

PHOENIX ÷ When Democratic delegates from across the country roll into Boston this summer for the national convention to select their party's presidential candidate, not all the red, white and blue on the floor will be purely patriotic.

For at least two of the delegates heading out of Tucson, the colors will reflect their close ties to the UA.

UA research professor and Rep. Ted Downing D-Tucson, and aerospace engineering student Erik Trevino, will go to Beantown to represent Tucson at the Democratic Party's most important gathering. Downing will be sent on behalf of presidential candidate John Kerry, while Trevino, who took the semester off to work for the Wesley Clark campaign, will represent Clark. [Read article]

Mathematics sophomore doesn't like working at the Park Student Union Food Court

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

Johnson: Sa-weet! All right, cool.

Wildcat: You know what? I'm probably having one of the top 10 bad days of my life. Describe to me the worst day of your life.

Johnson: Let's see, I work on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday at this place (PSU Food Court), and this place SUCKS! I mean, the food's OK, but being the one to make it sucks. [Read article]

Things you always never wanted to know

27,000 students asked to fill out satisfaction survey

About 27,000 student e-mails have been sent out in the past week asking UA undergraduate students to take part in a university-sponsored survey. The Student Satisfaction Inventory is intended to assist UA administrators in determining the needs and satisfaction level of its student population.

"The results of the survey will help us to set new goals for retention and recruitment for the next four to five years," said Lynne Tronsdal, assistant vice president of student retention. "Student input is essential." [Read article]