Phoenix mission on the horizon

The survival of a sensitive machine the size of a golf cart has UA scientists millions of miles away a bit more confident about the future of UA's Mars research.

The successful landing of the NASA rover Opportunity on Mars Saturday night was not only a relief to UA scientists who had a hand in the mission, but a needed boost for the upcoming UA-led Phoenix mission in 2007. [Read article]

No more informational meetings, no more fees and no more stamp cards for rushees.

A new rush policy has been implemented by the Interfraternity Council and presidents of the 22 greek chapters to make the rush process, which begins today, more informal, less structured and easier for potential members to join.

"It is a new way of joining rush which allows individual chapters more freedom and time to rush incoming people," stated a memo from the IFC. [Read article]

Even without a state financial aid program, students at the three state universities last year received $125 million more in financial aid than students received five years ago, according to the Arizona Board of Regents' student financial aid report.

The universities provided $690 million in financial aid during the 2002-2003 school year, said Dan Anderson, the regents' assistant executive director for institutional analysis, at the board of regents meeting at Arizona State University Friday. [Read article]

A prestigious $50,000 award was presented Friday to the James E. Rogers College of Law in front of an audience of more than 70 students, professors, lawyers and judges.

The American College of Trial Lawyers, an organization of trial lawyers from America and Canada, presented the Emil Gumpert Excellence in Trial Advocacy Award to the college.

The award honors the work and dedication of professor Thomas Mauet and the trial advocacy program he developed during his 25 years at the UA. [Read article]

Boulder needed for annual UA contest

About 30 people paused Friday at noon to watch the unloading of a large rock on the east side of Old Main.

The rock replaced an older one and will be used for the annual drilling competition hosted by the Department of Mining and Geological Engineering. Each year, students compete to see who can drill the farthest into the rock in two minutes.

"Rock drilling is a contest that goes back in the mining culture, clear back in the 19th century all around the West. Miners have always tested their drilling speed. This competition is just a continuation of a tradition," said Spencer Titley, a geosciences professor. [Read article]

The Arizona Board of Regents on Friday approved a five-year contract for new head football coach Mike Stoops, offering him a $650,000 per year base salary with the potential for nearly doubling that through performance incentives.

The board unanimously approved the deal, making Stoops the UA's head coach through 2008. If he's fired before then, the UA would have to pay him a minimum of $400,000 for each year remaining on his contract. [Read article]

Freshman not afraid to put the smack down on robbers, and would like to buy a roller coaster

Wildcat: Hi, I'm Claire from the Daily Wildcat and you're On The Spot.

Kulesha: Oh, no!

Wildcat: Are you scared?

Kulesha: No, but I've seen what it can do to people.

Wildcat: Ruins the rest of their lives?

Kulesha: No, just their freshman year.

Wildcat: So, have you ever been held up here at the store? [Read article]

Things you always never wanted to know

This week in history

TODAY

1803 ÷ Tennessee passes the nation's first prohibition law, prohibiting the retail of "spirituous liquors."

1905 ÷ At the Premier Mine in Pretoria, South Africa, a 3,106-carat diamond is discovered. Christened the "Cullinan," it was the largest diamond ever found.

1945 ÷ The Soviets liberate Auschwitz.

TOMORROW

1943 ÷ The United States bombs Germany for the first time in World War II. [Read article]