Schiavo case no benchmark for "life," distinguished only by press

Now, in the 13th day since Terri Schiavo's feeding tube was removed, both sides have been calling the case a benchmark in the "culture of life."

Some in Congress, for example, have been calling the case similar to Roe v. Wade in that it will set a

precedent.

The idea is ludicrous. The so called "culture of life" is something about abortion (though pervasively, doesn't have anything to do with the death penalty). Moreover, this is an incident similar to so many others, distinguished only by the amount of press it has received.

Terri Schiavo will soon pass away. The "culture of life" lives on.

Professor of surgery does good across disciplines with contest

Although it may strike some as odd that Marlys Witte, a professor of surgery, sponsors 15 winners of a poetry contest each year, we say it's quite

commendable.

The contest, named after her mother, awards 15 winners, 10 from the UA and five from Pima Community College. Winners receive $50, with two top winners getting $300.

Branching across disciplines is something that all areas of the UA benefit from, and if it happens because of the generosity of one professor, the better.

However, there was still no word on whether poetry about the medical profession was given preference.

Enforcement of bike, pedestrian law needed, but with caution

With four people killed in the last month, the Tucson Police Department recently announced it has received a grant to enforce traffic laws for pedestrians and

bicyclists.

The move couldn't have come at a better time. In the peak hours of traffic, which at the UA seems like the entire day, a few bicyclists not stopping at stop signs or a few pedestrians jaywalking can cause a line of cars to develop down the street.

At certain intersections, such as Park Avenue and University Boulevard or Second Street and Mountain Avenue, it can cause significant delays. That TPD will be helping to force traffic laws to be obeyed hopefully will help to alleviate problems.

Still, one worry is that it gives officers one more reason to be invasive.

"Son, you're jaywalking. Have you been drinking?"

Opinions are determined by the Wildcat opinions board and written by one of its members. They are Evan Caravelli, Brett Fera, Caitlin Hall, Ryan Johnson, Jesse Lewis and Lisa Rich.