After year in Army, junior welcomed back home from Mideast

It was 6 p.m. Feb. 8, 2003, when Alan Leggett received "the phone call" after returning home from his Japanese class.

Sgt. Alan Leggett, an East Asian studies junior, had less than 24 hours to say goodbye to his parents and friends, e-mail his professors, pack and report to the headquarters of the Army Reserve, 257th Transportation Company. [Read article]

PHOENIX - The state Senate gave initial approval to a House memorial bill in support of a federal law banning gay marriage.

The bill was approved by a vote of 15-10, with five not voting. It would take a Senate majority of at least 16 votes to gain final approval.

Before voting on the bill just before 6 p.m., senators sparred over the morality of gay marriage and the effects of singling out one group in the Constitution in an emotional two-hour debate. [Read article]

Budget talks with the Legislature are about to begin, and student lobbyists are jumping on Gov. Janet Napolitano's bandwagon, urging legislators to support her budget request.

The Arizona Students' Association, a statewide student-run lobbying group, has begun pressing legislators with a letter-writing campaign to support the Arizona Board of Regents' financial aid trust fund and Napolitano's plan to increase university funding. [Read article]

Multiple acts of vandalism, including graffiti and pellet gunshots, plagued Graham-Greenlee Residence Hall over spring break.

According to police reports, 16 doors on the third floor of the Greenlee side of the residence hall were covered with graffiti and sexual slurs made with black and blue permanent markers. Police believe the vandalism occurred sometime between 2 a.m. and 8 a.m. March 13.

A student living on the third floor of Graham-Greenlee had her window, which faced La Paz Residence Hall, shot at with a pellet gun around the same time. [Read article]

Seasonal allergies can bring fatigue, headache

If the person sitting next to you in class constantly sneezes and coughs, don't worry about getting sick: Allergy season is here.

Michael Schumacher, professor of medicine and pediatrics, said college students are most at risk for developing allergies.

He said that's because their immune systems are finally formed, and their bodies are "sorting themselves out." [Read article]

PHOENIX - A state commission for the deaf is asking the Legislature for $750,000 to help combat a statewide shortage of American Sign Language interpreters by boosting training at Arizona's universities.

A bill sponsored by Rep. Mark Thompson, R-Tempe, would take the money from the Telecommunication Fund for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing, which is funded by a 1.1 percent tax levied on telephone service. [Read article]

Campus residents can break out their Hawaiian shirts and grass skirts.

Pima Residence Hall is kicking spring off with a fun-filled luau.

"Pima Paradise" will feature a DJ, dancing, free food and kiddie pools.

The event is similar to the Halloween-themed party Pima threw last year, an alcohol-free alternative for students living on campus, said Jimmy Gresham, president of Pima hall government.

All residence hall students are invited to the event, from 8 p.m. to midnight on the front lawn and in Pima's lounge tomorrow. [Read article]

Freshman doesn't find anything wrong with a little indecent exposure, has a permanent stick figure on his arm

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

Maiden: Oh, wow. Is this real?

Wildcat: Yup, here's my handy dandy little media badge. So, describe the worst date you've ever been on.

Maiden: I dunno, I haven't had too many bad experiences. The first date I ever went on, I went to a movie and dinner and the girl forgot her wallet. I had never met her before, and then I never saw her after that. So I dropped a lot of money on a girl I didn't know. [Read article]

Things you always never wanted to know

Quotes this week from campus and around the world

"You've done a nice job decorating the White House!"

-"Newlyweds" reality TV star Jessica Simpson to Secretary of Interior Gale Norton

"He was the one who always beat me up. I've had stitches three or four times."

-Stephanie Hartz, newly elected ASUA senator, on older brother and former ASUA president Doug Hartz

"I figured I might lose some of the 13-, 14-year-old boys who were big Jay and Silent Bob fans. I knew there was a certain section that won't dig it because nobody is running around going 'cocksmoker' and 'snoogins,' but I felt pretty good about everyone else." [Read article]