Campus reflects on shooting's anniversary

Nursing student Sheila Contapay-Tabilin was in the middle of taking a midterm Oct. 28, 2002, when a loud pounding interrupted her concentration.

Little did she know that what she thought was construction noise was actually the sound of her fellow nursing students fleeing for their lives.

Contapay-Tabilin can still hear the sound of students pounding on the classroom's first-floor window. [Read article]

At any moment Saundra Taylor will get a call notifying her that there has been a disaster.

"No one knows when it will be," said Taylor, senior vice president of campus life and chair of the Campus Emergency Response Team.

Fortunately, in this case it is just a drill. At some point this semester the Tucson Police Department, in conjunction with UAPD, will stage a mock disaster. It could be anything: an explosion, a bio-terrorism attack, a shooting. [Read article]

More than 200 people gathered at a candlelight vigil last night to remember the lives of three nursing professors shot to death by a disgruntled student one year ago.

Students and colleagues of Cheryl McGaffic, Barbara Monroe and Robin Rogers were among those holding candles in the Arizona Health Sciences Plaza to honor the three nurses and educators and to support one another in their loss.

"They left a hole and a wound that have not yet healed," said Rev. Susan Moher Berryman to those assembled, as she led them in prayer. "It is almost unbearable that such caring women were killed. Let us resolve to be the bearers of this loss by committing to non-violence." [Read article]

At least once a week, Phillip Rogers takes a long walk through Sabino Canyon. He tries to clear his mind of the tragedy that took his wife one year ago.

"By the time I get done with my walk, the day is forgotten about and sometimes you just really need that," said Phillip, the husband of slain nursing professor Robin Rogers.

Even with his mind clear, the memory of that day still resonates.

It was a Monday morning as usual at the Rogers' house. Robin had just completed her daughter's Halloween costume and had begun to work on her husband's costume. [Read article]

To their husbands the three victims were not professors, they were soulmates. Though Don Monroe declined to be interviewed for this story, Phillip Rogers and Walter McGaffic took the time to reflect. Here are their stories.

When Walter McGaffic is on campus, he avoids the College of Nursing.

He's angry, not only because he is having a hard time dealing with the pain of losing his wife, but because he fears she's not being remembered in the right way. [Read article]

Community donations to college of nursing

UAPD and Tucson police will join forces to address student drinking, but this time there will be no arrests.

Republican City Councilwoman Kathleen Dunbar is hosting a forum on student drinking, which will include students and police as well as campus-area neighbors.

The forum, addressing the conflicts between students and campus-area neighbors, will be held at 7 p.m. in the North Ballroom of the Student Union Memorial Center. Students and community members are encouraged to join, Dunbar said. [Read article]

Zookeeper tryouts tonight at McKale

For those students who think painting themselves red and blue and jumping around for a few hours sounds like a good time, you might consider becoming a Zona Zookeeper.

ASUA, in conjunction with the UA athletics department, will hold tryouts for potential Zookeepers tonight from 8 p.m. - 10 p.m. on the Lute and Bobbi Olson Court at the McKale Center. [Read article]

Members of Omega Delta Phi and Kappa Delta Chi, Hispanic fraternal organizations, have to meet on campus because neither owns a specific house.

But their members are still a group of hard-working volunteers who recently won national awards.

The UA's Omega Delta Phi-Gamma chapter received the award for Undergraduate Chapter of the year, their first award on the national level.

"Winning means that we're the best, we're number one!" said John Huerta, the fraternity's advisor and director of development of minority programs. [Read article]

Martial arts instructor uses fighting for good, not evil, likes Bruce Lee, but puts his teacher first

Wildcat: Hi. My name's Nathan.

Frye: David. Nice to meet you.

Wildcat: And welcome to this week's edition of Athletes On the Spot.

Frye: OK.

Wildcat: I want you to get ready. Ready? (Wildcat lands a speedy, but playful punch to Frye's chest.) Aw, where's your lightning reflexes? [Read article]

1944

Hey guys, are you having trouble finding a girl? Well in 1944, there were three girls for every man. Of a total enrollment of 1,747 students, 1,279 were women and only 468 were men (during World War II, the UA sent many men to fight overseas). In this picture, two freshman girls stand outside of the traditionally all-male Cochise Hall, which was infiltrated by women for the first time because of the record enrollment. Today, the girls still outnumber the boys: the UA 2002-2003 Fact Book states that of the total undergraduate enrollment, 14,898 are women, and 13,380 are men. [Read article]

Things you always never wanted to know