The Multimedia Zone, a high tech computer lab in the ILC,

officially opened yesterday with a dedication ceremony.

People mingled throughout the Zone, viewed demonstrations of software, and talked to Psymbiote, a woman with technology implanted in her body.

Sally Jackson, vice president and chief information officer, and Carla Stoffle, dean of university libraries, sliced through the large red satin ribbon stretched across the Zone's entrance, officially dedicating and opening the area for use. [Read article]

Students and residents who are tired of fighting over noise levels and late night parties are ready for ASUA to intervene in the conflict.

After receiving the go ahead from students, ASUA will follow through on plans to mediate the conflict between students and residents.

Last week, ASUA polled 120 students, asking them questions about the conflict between students and the community. One-hudred students said they would support ASUA becoming more active in the conflict. [Read article]

Faculty in programs related to Earth sciences discussed eliminating the duplication of similar classes in different departments yesterday, a possibility that could free up faculty members to conduct research and perform service.

The meeting was the first in a series of public focus groups that will consider possibilities of streamlining programs related to Earth studies and environmental programs. [Read article]

The UA athletics department does not need to make budget cuts in order to pay the buyout of former head football coach John Mackovic by next week's deadline.

The athletics department, which has been financially self-sufficient since July, has until Oct. 28 to pay Mackovic the entire $910,000.

According to John Perrin, senior associate athletics director for business affairs, the money for the buyout will come from the department's general budget, and it will be paid on time. [Read article]

For all those students having difficulty deciphering their SAPR, help is on the way.

Six, 50-minute SAPR workshops will take place in the UofA Bookstore today, Oct. 30 and Nov. 6.

The SAPR, or Student Academic Progress Report, is intended to help students choose which courses to take in order to fulfill their major requirements.

But the elaborate rows of numbers and figures found on a typical SAPR often pose a problem for students who have never read it before, said Wendy Jabbour, an advising specialist for University School. [Read article]

About 1,000 fraternity and sorority pledges and members who filled the Union's Grand Ballroom last night got a lesson in what it really means to be greek.

To kickoff "Greek Week," the first since 1998, nationally renowned speaker David Stollman asked the pledges to defy negative greek stereotypes, combat hazing and alcohol violations and promote brotherly or sisterly love and academic excellence on campus. [Read article]

At yesterday's senate meeting, held at the ILC, student lobbyist Alistair Chapman spoke to senators about the upcoming voter registration competition.

The competition will begin on Monday. Various groups on campus will compete for five weeks to see who can get the largest number of people to register to vote.

The greeks, residence halls, and clubs will participate in the competition with a winner from each group receiving a specific reward. [Read article]

Sophomore doesn't mind wearing sweatpants in the heat, married his high school sweetheart

Wildcat: My name's Nathan and you're On the Spot. I got a question. How come you're wearing sweatpants and a sweatshirt? Don't you know we're in the middle of a heat wave?

Berry: It's my style and I like being warm anyways. And I like ... it's my style.

Wildcat: To be hot and sweaty? [Read article]

Question: I have attended the past few Homecoming parades and I always wonder: What group rides in the parade in a yellow school bus?

Answer: Whether or not this float was the inspiration for the horribly annoying kid's show "The Magic School Bus," I just had to know the story behind it. So I talked to Angie Ballard, program director of Homecoming, reunions and special events with the alumni association, and she informed me that this float, indeed called "The Magic Bus," is traditionally driven by the Chain Gang Junior Honorary. I got the scoop on Chain Gang by visiting its [Read article]