There are only two days remaining for UA students to donate blood and beat ASU in the 17th annual UA, ASU, and NAU blood donation challenge.

The blood drive, organized by the Arizona region of the American Red Cross Blood Services, kicked off on Monday as part of a weeklong contest between the three state schools.

The goal for this year's competition is to raise over 1,500 pints of blood to be used in local and state hospitals. The UA's goal is set at 635 pints, and as of yesterday, 309 had been raised. [Read article]

In an effort to outshine ASU and peer institutions in the fight over National Merit Scholars, the Honors College has stepped up recruitment efforts.

The effort, which includes sending letters from honors students to prospective students, helped more than double the number of out-of-state National Merit Scholars who came to the UA this year.

The Honors College recruited 20 out-of-state National Merit Scholars this year compared to 8 from last year. [Read article]

A university committee, charged with developing emergency response plans, recommended yesterday setting aside central funds every year for emergency response expenses.

The Campus Emergency Response Team's October report details recommendations for future improvements to crisis preparation and prevention on the UA campus.

Recommendations include conducting periodic mock disaster drills, hiring a threat assessment consultant firm to develop procedures for identifying and managing violent behavior, and setting aside central funds every year for emergency response expenses. [Read article]

Students who are considering a run for ASUA positions won't have winter break to think about it this time around.

Dan Suh, ASUA elections commissioner, presented the 2004 elections timeline at last night's senate meeting, that begins preparation for elections two months earlier than in previous years.

ASUA will begin to recruit candidates in November. Candidate packets will be available on Dec. 10 at 8 a.m. in the ASUA office. Last year, candidate packets were not available until January. [Read article]

A petition that has circulated around the country is now at the UA, and the Graduate and Professional Student Council wants students, regents, and administrators to sign it.

A majority of the Graduate and Professional Student Council of the UA voted a time period of two weeks to sponsor and sign a national academic visa reform petition, said Jani Radebaugh, president of GPSC.

The petition was originated in response to visa fee increases and extensive applications. It asks the U.S. government to take a closer look at how the visa program is working for both graduates and undergraduates. [Read article]

Freshman is trained in art of 'keying' people, can speak a little bit of Spanish, knows a little bit of French

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

Santilli: Lauren.

Wildcat: I felt kind of cautious coming up to you, 'cause you're a girl. I just talked to some girls right now, and before I could ask them questions, they were all: "Are you some crazy guy trying to take our pictures?" I was all: "No." I had to show them my badge and everything. [Read article]

Addressing all your most important questions and concerns

Question: I have always wondered where the rock on the east side of Old Main came from, what it signifies, and why it is there. It is the lone rock, with a lot of holes drilled into it, and it's spray-painted. What's the deal?

Answer: You know, I've seen the rock you speak of many times and always wondered the same thing. A friend of mine told me that when you smack it music plays, and that each hole correlates to a different sound. Aside from what I imagine must be a very entertaining "rock" concert (rock, get it? hehehehe) I have no clue what purpose it serves. [Read article]

Things you always never wanted to know