No injuries in blast near Honors College; suspects not UA students

An explosive detonated near the Honors College yesterday disrupted foot traffic on campus but caused no injuries, police said.

Two 18-year-old men, Francisco Joel Torres and Yoel S. Caballero, both of Tucson, were later arrested in connection with the explosion.

Police said the men were in a car between the College of Music and the Honors College, 1017 N. Vine Ave., about 12:30 p.m. when an explosive device was thrown from the moving vehicle, said Sgt. Eugene Mejia, University of Arizona Police Department spokesman. [Read article]

Another poor theater season at Centennial Hall has added $300,000 to UApresents' three-year-old deficit, making it tougher for the theater organization to start repaying the university the $800,000 it now owes.

Since ticket sales began flagging in fiscal year 2001-2002, UApresents has cut its performance schedule and budget in half, eliminated half of its employee positions and developed a more business-oriented approach to picking its shows. [Read article]

During the first two days of classes, thousands of students have picked up drop/add forms in an effort to change their course schedules.

This troublesome and hectic time has caused frustrations for both students and university officials, as students struggle to get classes they need.

"Drop/add is the big ticket this week," said Celeste Pardee, a curriculum associate in the Registrar's Office. "So far, it has been a constant flow of traffic." [Read article]

The University of Arizona Police Department and the Tucson Police Department have renewed their partnership to help keep UA students from being victims of crime.

There are several ways students can prevent crime, said Sgt. Eugene Mejia, UAPD spokesman.

"Both groups are committed to preventing crime and to making students aware of the dangers on and around campus," Mejia said. "We feel our students are very safe and want to keep it that way." [Read article]

A surge of moisture that came up from Mexico late Monday night was the cause of yesterday's rain, causing water damage to some buildings and putting a damper on some campus events.

Pamela Elslager from the National Weather Service said the rainfall this year in Tucson is above the average city levels. The amount of rainfall for the monsoon season is also "above normal for this time of the season." [Read article]

After proposing a bigger expansion to the Student Recreation Center last semester, administrators at the Rec Center have modified their plan.

Instead of a fee that would ask students to pay an extra $34 in yearly tuition, the new plan will call for continuing the current $25 semester Rec Center fee to help pay for a new 32,000-square-foot weight room and leisure pool if students approve a referendum in October, said Juliette Moore, director of campus recreation. [Read article]

While the graduate college is still celebrating its April launch of the online application process, plans for a better version are waiting in the wings.

The first measure to draw potential graduate students online has proven successful, organizers said. They receive 15 to 25 applications each day, with numbers picking up daily.

"We are extremely pleased to finally have an online application process for graduate students. It is much easier and much more efficient," said Maria Velez, associate dean of the Graduate College, who was one of the main advocates to support the new system. [Read article]

A boost in membership, hosting more social events and becoming more of a presence on campus are all goals the BabyCats are trying to meet this year.

BabyCats is a club devoted to student-parents, which provides an outlet for social interaction, resources and support groups for its 100-plus active members, said Heather Gasser, the club adviser.

Launched in May 2003, BabyCats caters mainly to undergraduate parents. A second group, BabyCats Too, was created as a version for graduate students. [Read article]

Better Than Ever kicks off with Lute Olson tonight

The Arizona Cancer Center invites the university community to participate in the sixth annual Better Than Ever three-month fitness and fundraising program as a precursor to the Bobbi Olson Half Marathon on Dec. 4.

The Better Than Ever Kick-Off with Lute Olson will be held tonight from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Arizona Cancer Center, 1515 N. Campbell Ave., in the Kiewit Auditorium. [Read article]

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