'Female Illusionists' wow UA students

Diva La Paz once again entertained UA students last night, by showcasing various female illusionist acts, including dance and lip-synching performances.

Diva, which was organized by El Mundo Diversity Initiatives in conjunction with the La Paz Staff and Hall Council, is a special event aimed at raising awareness about homosexual and gender issues.

The event was hosted by Ajia Simone, whose real name is Jerrold Whitfield, and concluded with a question and answer session with the performers. [Read article]

Group linked to pair of thefts earlier this month

Police arrested eight individuals yesterday for burglary attempts and conspiracy at Bear Down Gym, 1428 E. University Blvd., and connected the group with two burglaries earlier this month.

Someone called the University of Arizona Police Department and reported suspicious activity at the gym and police found the individuals under the stairwell shortly before 1 a.m. at the UA ROTC area, said Sgt. Eugene Mejia, UAPD spokesman. [Read article]

In an effort to help people better understand Title IX and how this affects the UA, a student-athlete created a film to better explain the regulation.

Chelsea Powell, a media arts senior and UA women's track and field hurdler, produced a documentary film depicting how the UA and schools nationwide have been affected by Title IX both positively and negatively.

Title IX is a controversial subject dealing with the distribution of funds between men's and women's athletic programs and has been the cause of several civil rights lawsuits, including a lawsuit regarding university wrestling programs claiming reverse discrimination, said Jim Livengood, athletics director. [Read article]

Students comment on reefer 'holiday'

Today is National Pot Smokers Day for marijuana lovers across America.

The once cache holiday is now a well-known date for both hardcore potheads and recreational users to hit their bongs and light their joints at 4:20 p.m., according to the High Times Web site.

Marijuana lovers may agree today is meant for marijuana smokers to unite in their love of reefer, but the reasons and myths behind 4/20 is debated among many UA students. [Read article]

Members of the campus group Students For Fair Trade questioned McDonald's in the Student Union Memorial Center yesterday about the company's stance on selling Fair Trade coffee.

Fair Trade products guarantee farmers and companies in Asia and South America a minimum working wage so they can make a living without joining a big coffee farm, said Robert Hoberg, a pre-business sophomore and club member, who talked to the store manager at McDonald's. [Read article]

Students have a chance today to dine out and do something more than fill up their stomachs.

The ninth annual Dine Out for Safety is a community outreach event comprising more than 35 eateries in the Tucson area, which will donate up to 20 percent of the day's total revenue to the Southern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault.

Raffle tickets will also be sold for prizes like gift certificates, resort and spa stays or free airplane tickets. [Read article]

Felony charges are expected to be dismissed against a former UA student next month, who was arrested after protesting on the streets of New York City during last year's Republican National Convention.

Yusuke Josh Banno, 21, of Tucson, has the New York Daily News to thank after it ran a photograph showing the barely visible protester nowhere near the events taking place by Madison Square Garden. [Read article]