Tucson law-enforcement agencies made good on a promise to fight under-aged drinking and alcohol-related violence by breaking up a west-side apartment party Friday night.

When it was over, 125 minors were arrested, 57 of them sent to jail, after police surrounded and confined partyers in a courtyard at the Jefferson at Star Ranch apartments, 41 S. Shannon Rd., just west of the Pima Community College's west campus. Many of those arrested were UA students. [Read article]

Common complaints include trash, noise, lack of parking

In neighborhoods where rental signs are more common than flowerbeds; where weekends are often filled with the clamor of drunken party-goers, and being able to park in front of your own house in the evening is a rarity, residents worry their once-peaceful communities are being transformed into "student slums."

"It's like letting people with 20 items into a 15 item line at the grocery store. If you allow it, they will keep doing it," said Bill Scogin, a resident of the Jefferson Park neighborhood, of the behavior of the UA students living in the area. [Read article]

Students looking for tutoring help will have to fork over more dough as fees increase this semester.

University Tutoring Services will provide tutoring for any enrolled student at the UA for a fee of $25, which can be put on the student's bursar's account. Once the student has paid the fee, they can receive unlimited tutoring throughout the semester.

"We hated having to charge students," said Lynne Tronsdal, associate dean of University School. "We finally decided we would rather charge a fee then cut back tutoring services to students." [Read article]

Giving away a teddy bear to fellow club members and trying to organize a crafty icebreaker for the general meeting later in the evening were part of the agenda for Camp Wildcat board members.

These might seem like tasks more suited to an elementary school teacher than to a group of college students, until one considers that these are people who dedicate a huge amount of time to working with children. [Read article]

Sophomore ran out of clothes in London over the summer, bought Soviet sickle as experiment

Wildcat: So I see you wearing the Communist sickle.

Gebert: It's Soviet. Soviet and Communism are very different.

Wildcat: Alright. So why are you sportin' it?

Gebert: I was in London over the summer and I was there for a few days and I ran out of clothes so my friend bought me some shirts at Piccadilly Circus. [Read article]

·Bobbing for apples at Halloween originated as part of a divinatory technique practiced by the Druids. Participants floated apples in a tub of water on Oct. 31 (the Druid New Year's Eve) and attempted to fish for them without using their hands. Those who succeeded were guaranteed a prosperous year.

·In ancient Japan, town contests were held to see who could break wind loudest and longest. Winners were awarded many prizes and received great acclaim. [Read article]

Today

1666 ÷ The Great Fire of London broke out, claiming thousands of homes but only a few lives.

1935 ÷ A hurricane slammed into the Florida Keys, claiming 423 lives.

1945 ÷ Japan formally surrendered in ceremonies aboard the USS Missouri, ending World War II.

Wednesday

1189 ÷ England's King Richard I (the Lion-Hearted) was crowned in Westminster.

1976 ÷ The unmanned U.S. spacecraft Viking 2 landed on Mars to take the first close-up, color photographs of the planet's surface. [Read article]