TEMPE - The Optical Sciences Center became the College of Optical Sciences last week, gaining academic status as part of President Peter Likins' Focused Excellence initiative to cultivate "excellent" programs.

The Arizona Board of Regents approved the move, which will boost the recruitment of top students and increase grant funding for an already strong program with 535 students, 75 teaching and research faculty members and two Nobel laureates. With $12.6 million research grants in 2004, the program ranks sixth among UA departments in research funding and expects a 5 percent increase in external funding as a result of the change. [Read article]

PHOENIX - As the Arizona Legislature continues to work on the fiscal year 2006 budget, their persistence in not funding the medical school expansion has made the future of the addition uncertain.

The dedication of the site in Phoenix, where the UA Medical School is planned to expand, was canceled last week because of the uncertainty of funding, President Peter Likins said Wednesday.

Though fiscal year 2006 does not start for a few months, beginning July 1 to June 30, 2006, the Legislature and governor still need to decide on a budget. The process is stalling and leaving those with specific hopes of funding with nothing to do but wait. [Read article]

Amid the sullen calm shortly before the raging storm that is finals week, 28 students were invited to attend the end-of-year championship poker tournament.

This year, more than 200 students have participated in the games that take place every Wednesday and Friday night during the regular academic year at the Games Room in Wilbur's Underground in the Student Union Memorial Center, said Simran Nirh, Games Room manager. [Read article]

As a result of increased student interest and immense growth over the past two years, ASUA SafeRide will continue operating this summer for the first time ever.

Funded by the Associated Students of the University of Arizona, SafeRide provides evening transportation and educational safety programming to members of the UA community, according to a press release. Joshua Wright, director of ASUA SafeRide and a religious studies and psychology senior, said the service would undoubtedly be open through June 30. [Read article]

More than 650 university and community members honored the lives and work of three women Friday at the UA Black Alumni's Phenomenal Woman banquet.

Poet, activist, writer and educator Maya Angelou was one of three award recipients, as well as the evening's keynote speaker.

President Peter Likins said though he had previously read Angelou's works, the banquet was his first opportunity to see her in person. [Read article]

Students travel to border as project comes to close

Though Saturday marked the last official day of the Minuteman Project's monthlong campaign to monitor illegal immigrants crossing one section of the Arizona-Mexico border, MMP volunteers are currently strategizing a new expansion plan.

In addition to monitoring the border with Canada, Grey Deacon, spokesman for the MMP, said the group will also begin targeting large employers of undocumented immigrants. [Read article]