20-year-old pleads guilty for attempted sexual exploitation of a minor

A UA student has pled guilty to charges of downloading child pornography and sharing the material over the Internet while he lived in a campus residence hall last fall, officials said.

Donilo Phillip Colich, 20, was charged with one count of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor under 15, a class 2 felony, according to UAPD Sgt. Eugene Mejia. [Read article]

The head of the history department and a former chairman of the UA faculty have been appointed to key jobs in the Office of the Provost, where they will oversee faculty development and retention as well as general education and teaching.

Provost George Davis announced yesterday that Juan Garcia, head of the history department, will take over as vice provost for academic affairs. Jerrold Hogle, a distinguished professor of English, will fill the new post of vice provost for instruction. [Read article]

Tailgaters looking to skip out on paying for parking in UA garages may now face a $300 fine and a booted car.

On Jan. 5, UA Parking and Transportation Services increased its tailgater citation fee to try and stop people from parking without paying.

"More and more people are tailgating. Last year, the total number of tailgaters caught was 96, and last semester alone we almost surpassed that number," said Michael Delahanty, senior parking program coordinator. "We want to put an incentive out there to stop people from doing this. It is easy to spot tailgaters." [Read article]

In the past few years, President Peter Likins has wanted to raise UA's tuition to about 34th in the country.

This year he may finally meet that goal.

Likins said he will request a tuition increase of $500 next year, which will be added on to last year's record-setting $1,000 tuition hike.

The increase would bring full-time resident undergraduate tuition to about $4,090, the same as the University of Kansas, which charges the 34th highest tuition among the top 50 senior public universities this year. [Read article]

The fight to prevent another terrorist attack in the United States is not restricted to bureaucrats in Washington.

Researchers at the UA are hoping they will be selected to aid the United States Department of Homeland Security in protecting the United States from threats.

Two different teams of UA faculty and staff are involved in applying for funding within the Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Division. [Read article]

Although caution tape surrounds the Park Student Union and construction materials line its exterior, the union reopens today after two years of renovation.

The Park Place Convenience Store, the food court, and the offices for Arizona Student Media, which include the Arizona Daily Wildcat, will open to

coincide with the first day of class.

The project, which began during winter break 2002, has experienced a number of delays. The completion date was initially pushed back from June 2002 to May 2003. It was pushed back again to September 2003 and then again to today. [Read article]

Computer problems that forced some students to wait weeks last semester before receiving financial aid look to be largely resolved, with only about $6 million in loans and grants remaining to be distributed this semester.

Most of that money will likely post to students' accounts within the next week as students continue to register for classes.

Some students' financial aid may be withheld until they are registered for the required number of units, which is causing many of the current delays, said John Nametz, director of financial aid. [Read article]

PHOENIX - Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano will request a significant funding increase in her 2005 budget recommendation in order to help state universities retain faculty and deal with enrollment growth, she said in her State of the State address Monday.

"I am ready to work in partnership with Arizona's universities and community colleges to enhance access to higher education, intensify university research efforts and increase graduation rates," Napolitano said. [Read article]

ASUA president forced to wear 'I Love ASU' shirt

Arizona State University has claimed victory in this year's Voter Registration Challenge, forcing UA student lobbyists to swallow their pride and wear "I Love ASU" shirts next week.

ASU was able to register 1,054 students to vote in the five-week student registration competition between the three Arizona universities.

"The punishment should be good because if students ask why I am wearing the shirt, I can say it's because they didn't register to vote," said J.P. Benedict, ASUA president. [Read article]

Question: What was the craziest thing that happened to you over winter break?

"My family eats pickled herring, and the more you eat, the more money you make in the new year. Over the break, I got my wisdom teeth out and I fell asleep and had blood coming out of my mouth. So this year, instead of eating 12 different slices, I only ate a little one."

Biochemistry sophomore likes Sponge- Bob, but not a moon made of swiss cheese

Wildcat: My name is Claire C. Laurence, and you're On The Spot.

Poffinbarger: Really? Cool.

Wildcat: So, if you had a choice, would you rather live in the dorm or on the moon?

Poffinbarger: I'd live in the dorms. You can't beat that. The moon's too isolated.

Wildcat: What if the moon was made of cheese? [Read article]

Things you always never wanted to know

Auditions for Honors College play begin Jan. 21

Auditions for the Spring 2004 Honors College play will be held at 7 p.m. in the living room of Slonaker House on Jan. 21 and Jan. 22.

This spring's production will be a series of acts from three different plays.

Since 1986, Dr. Frank La Ban, professor emeritus of theatre arts, has donated his time, energy and expertise to directing and producing a play each fall and spring semester. [Read article]