Students remember Pope John Paul II as 'best pope we've had'

For most UA students, Pope John Paul II was the only one they knew.

A spiritual leader who in his 26-year papacy helped defeat communism in Europe, visited 129 countries, and was the first Pontiff to preach in a synagogue, he was also known for his deep involvement in the lives of Catholic youth.

"He was the best pope we've ever had," said Antonio Almada, a regional development junior who attended the 5 p.m. Mass at the St. Thomas More Catholic Newman Center at the University of Arizona yesterday. "He taught us how to achieve peace without using weapons and stopped three wars without violence. I prayed to him when he was alive and I'll pray to him even more now." [Read article]

fall again

Enrollment for summer sessions is down compared to last year, which could be the result of increased summer session tuition.

As of Friday, 12,293 students were enrolled in summer session classes, 19 percent lower than last year, said Debbie Harris, a senior business manager for summer and winter sessions in the Office of Curriculum and Registration.

Harris said members of the summer session office attributed the decrease in students to increased summer session tuition. [Read article]

Festivities on the UA Mall today will kick off the 31st annual Spring Fling, the country's largest, non-profit, student-run organization.

Student organizers have been working since August preparing for this year's Spring Fling events. More than 70 clubs, fraternities, sororities and other student-run organizations will work at the event.

"We are really excited about Spring Fling this year because we are working with UA4Food and the Tucson Community Food Bank," said Nathan Postillion, the Spring Fling club relations director. "Students who donate canned food will be entered into a raffle to win prizes." [Read article]

A U.S. senator toured the UA campus Friday afternoon and was briefed on three science programs requesting funding from the federal government.

Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., heard short presentations from professors and directors of the College of Nursing, the Arizona Telemedicine Program and the biomedical-Micro-Electro Mechanical Systems program.

Because of a tight schedule that Kyl referred to as a "whirlwind," the senator spent about 20 minutes from his two-hour visit at each site. Consequently, each presenter had to speak quickly and summarize a significant amount of detailed research in only a few minutes. [Read article]

More than 400 UA student-participants came together Saturday and yesterday for the UA's second annual Relay for Life and surpassed their goal of raising more than $65,000 toward the fight against cancer.

Held at the Arizona School for the Deaf and the Blind, 1200 W. Speedway Blvd., Relay for Life is an overnight event designed to celebrate survivorship and raise money for research and programs for the American Cancer Society, according to the American Cancer Society's Web site. [Read article]

Campus organizations remember Martin Luther King Jr. several times throughout the year, but the anniversary of his death tends to be less of a focus.

Many black organizations on campus celebrate the birth and life of King on his birthday and during Black History Month, but there is lack of interest in commemorating his death, which was today in 1968.

The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Student Center does not hold activities in remembrance of King's death because they want to focus on and remember his life, said Alex Wright, director of the center. [Read article]

Students celebrated Africa's culture and diversity in the fifth annual culture show of the African Students' Association Saturday night.

The event, named "Africa in America," featured African music, fashion shows and PowerPoint presentations, and was intended to give non-Africans a more in-depth perspective on the continent.

Amuche Okeke, an electrical engineering junior and president of the association, said many people reduce Africa to its issues with poverty and diseases, but do not see the cultural diversity and richness of the continent. [Read article]

It had all the trappings of a typical garage sale.

There were tables covered with old books, appliances, dishes and stuffed animals from donors hoping someone might want to give their items a new home.

But the posters stole the show.

On Friday and Saturday the Docent Council of the Arizona Historical Society museum held its annual White Elephant Sale to help raise money for its educational programs in the community. [Read article]

The UA hosted 39 high schools and middle schools from all over Arizona that came to compete in the 14th Annual MESA Day competitions Saturday.

MESA, which stands for Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement, is a program that targets minority students who are interested in developing their engineering skills for college.

"MESA offers college preparation to minorities so they have more access to college," said Rafael Meza, a coordinator for the MESA program. "Students are also more prepared for college because of what they learn in this program." [Read article]

Things you always never wanted to know