Despite concerns last year that fewer students would come to the UA if a tuition hike was passed, the number of Hispanic and freshmen students on campus broke records this semester.

There are 4,950 Hispanic students at the university this year, compared to 4,855 Hispanic students last year, according to a report released yesterday by the office of assessment and enrollment research.

This year's freshman class of 5,958 students breaks the 2001 record by nine students. This is also an increase of 150 students from last year. [Read article]

The "Animal House" image of fraternity life, where togas, kegs and paddling incidents make up the standard Friday night, has long been the perception of greek life in popular culture.

Although "Animal House" came out more than 25 years ago, the perception is embedded in the minds of Americans, and it's one that university officials are aggressively trying to change through education.

Educating students about hazing is the key to stopping it, said Beth Conder, greek life coordinator. [Read article]

Members of the Association for Women Faculty said at a panel discussion last night that they are tired of how far behind the UA is in childcare programming, and they plan to take steps this year to change that.

About 20 women and one man showed up at a panel discussion put on by AWF yesterday that focused on the problems of and the solutions for childcare programming at the UA.

"Arizona is not a bell-ringer state when it comes to childcare programs," said Saundra Taylor, a panelist and Senior Vice President of Campus Life. "[However], we are going to need a couple million dollars to compensate for everyone's needs." [Read article]

For those students who don't think they have a voice in the government, Chris Dang will tell them otherwise.

Dang, a political science junior, wrote a bill last semester to fulfill an assignment for his POL 210 class on the United States and Arizona government.

That assignment, with support from Republican Sen. Slade Mead, is now being transformed into a bill to go before the education committee of the Arizona State Legislature. [Read article]

'El Cicl—n' plays soccer often, spins around a lot, can't kick a ball into a hoop just 10 feet away

Wildcat: My name's Nathan and you're On the Spot.

Kahler: Chris.

Wildcat: So you've never heard of On the Spot before?

Kahler: I've heard of it before. Yeah.

Wildcat: But you don't read the paper?

Kahler: I try not to. No.

Wildcat: Oh, what's this world coming to? [Read article]

UA law school scores high in Hispanic publication

In its September 2003 Hispanic Education Report, "Hispanic Business Magazine" rates the James E. Rogers College of Law at the University of Arizona in Tucson as fifth in the nation in its "Top Ten Law Schools for Hispanics."

The magazine cites the college as nourishing "an ethic of public service and community involvement (which) enrolls a diverse body of students with intelligence, energy and commitment." [Read article]

Things you always never wanted to know

· A cockroach can live several weeks with its head cut off.

· In 1875 the director of the United States Patent Office sent in his resignation and advised that his department be closed. There was nothing left to invent, he claimed.

· A sunbeam setting out through space at the rate of 186,000 miles a second would describe a gigantic circle and return to its origins after about 200 billion years. [Read article]