Ryan enjoys world history and is especially fascinated with Roman military history and history of the Roman Empire.

The semester is coming to a close and finals are right around the corner, but don't panic. This time is hectic, as final projects, presentations and term papers are due and we are all gearing up for final exams. For many students, Dead Day marks the beginning of the final exam cram. However, cramming at the last minute only intensifies stress. There are several things students can do to prepare for exams - because the more time you allow yourself to be prepared, the less stressed you will be. [Read article]

Last summer I had the opportunity to be a research assistant for the Analytic Services Institute for Homeland Security. Most of my research involved threat and vulnerability assessments in the event of biological terrorism or other sorts of attacks. The major case study we used was on the anthrax attacks of 2001, which followed shortly after Sept. 11's terrorist attacks.

In analyzing the governments' response to the anthrax attacks, our team concluded that our country ÷ federal, state and municipal ÷ was completely caught off-guard and was incapable of handling this situation in a coherent way. The report can be found at http://www.homelandsecurity.org/bulletin/Anthrax202001.pdf. [Read article]

The College of Social and Behavioral Sciences houses a great majority of the student body, with 16 departments and roughly 6,400 majors (including graduate students). The departments are underfunded by the state; most get a little less than $3 million each - 90-95 percent of which goes to salaries - for their budgets. The entire state budget of SBS is about $30 million - including funds doled out to each department's permanent, operation and temporary budgets. [Read article]

The mayoral elections are right around the corner, in just four short weeks. One of the leading candidates in the race, UA political science professor and Democrat Tom Volgy, is a candidate with the right vision for the city of Tucson — and mind you, this sentiment is coming from a registered Republican.

Tom Volgy received his doctorate in political science from the University of Minnesota. Dr. Volgy has been a Tucson citizen for 32 years and is well attuned to the needs of the city. He became a professor of political science at the UA, specializing in all facets of government and international affairs. He is also the executive director of the International Studies Association, which is a worldwide forum for international affairs scholars and policy-makers. Additionally, he has written four books and over 35 articles relating to his specialty. [Read article]

One of the 13 stated themes emphasized in President Likins' strategic vision for reshaping the UA's academic and research future — Focused Excellence — is Southwestern borderland studies.

This is only appropriate because Tucson is in close proximity to Nogales, Mexico, which is Arizona's largest port of entry on the U.S.-Mexico border. Thus, the UA has a comparative advantage in researching border issues. [Read article]

One year has passed since the tragic day that Robert S. Flores Jr., a student in the nursing college, calculated and coldly murdered three associate professors of the college - Robin Rogers, Barbara Monroe and Cheryl McGaffic - then took his own life.

Today we celebrate the lives of Robin, Barbara and Cheryl, and the legacy those three nurses left behind. Let us keep them and their family and loved ones in our thoughts. Dean Isenberg of the nursing college put it best: "This is a time to celebrate the healing process." This is a hard day for me and for many at this school ... and a hard situation to address. [Read article]

The new Multimedia Zone located in the information commons of the ILC is indeed a curious and entertaining sight. Its eight new computers boast some of the latest and greatest in info-tech and digital graphic software, which, by the look of it, seems to be quite sophisticated and costly.

However, these new computers do not seem necessary to have in the ILC.

First, all of the computers in the Zone are available on a first-come, first-serve basis and carry no time limitations - which means that a select few students could monopolize the precious resources of the pilot project. [Read article]

This weekend in Tucson was typical: students were enjoying the pool, parties, bars, movie theaters, coffee shops and what have you. Everything seemed like a fun and relaxing weekend, save for the multitude of Tucson Police officers roaming around town hunting for off-campus parties, trying to bust under-aged drinkers.

Never in the last three years has there been such a visible presence of Tucson's finest actively interfering in one of the most common collegial activities — party-going. In fact, they are putting such a strong focus on this, it seems like other areas of duty are being neglected. [Read article]

It's the beginning of the semester, which means that, among other things, various clubs and organizations are busy seeking new members, as evidenced by the onslaught of tents and booths out at the Mall and inside the recreational center. This also means that fraternity rush, which a good number of students participate in, is underway starting on Sept. 7. However, rush will be different this year, as three of the larger fraternities will not be able to partake in rushing new members. [Read article]