A group of UA lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students and their allies took a nine-hour vow of silence yesterday in quiet protest for the oppression they have suffered throughout their lives.

Students gathered on the grassy area in front of the fountain near Old Main in preparation to break their silence yesterday afternoon, and as the clock struck 5, screams erupted from the crowd.

The intensity drew applause then laughter from the crowd as the students spoke their first words of the day. [Read article]

Jen Martinez hasn’t always been ready.

The senior third baseman and designated hitter knew she wasn’t ready to deal with the rigors of a four-year university and a major softball program out of high school. So she enrolled at Pima Community College and played softball for the Aztecs.

“I’m not very independent,” Martinez admitted. “Schoolwise, softballwise, I gained more experience. Looking back, it was a good decision for me.”

Martinez is the only junior college transfer on the No. 2 Arizona softball team, and head coach Mike Candrea did not sugarcoat his reason why. [Read article]

Politicians are sleazy, but you already knew that. Take Tom DeLay, for example. DeLay's Texans for a Republican Majority Political Action Committee has been accused of soliciting fundraising dollars for direct legislative action. Several TRMPAC staffers have been indicted for using corporate money to help elect Republican Texas state congressional candidates and then giving those corporations explicit benefits in state legislation. DeLay denies direct involvement, claiming he had only an advisory role with the committee. On the national level, DeLay has been accused of taking illegal trips using foreign lobbyist's money. [Read article]