A fire broke out yesterday afternoon in two students' apartment, causing $20,000 worth of damage, according to the Tucson Fire Department.

The fire is believed to have started by a candle left burning in the two UA students' upstairs apartment at Palm Shadows Apartment complex, 1815 E. Speedway Blvd.

Tucson Fire Department Capt. Paul McDonough said the fire started around 2:30 p.m. and was under control within seven minutes of TFD's arrival. [Read article]

More than 200 students have been shacking up in hotel rooms for the past week because of delayed construction at a new student apartment complex.

The Seasons apartments, 811 E. Wetmore Road, was expected to be finished Aug. 21, but that date has been pushed back indefinitely, said Carl Saul, superintendent of The Seasons' construction.

"Our plans were very deficient and that is really the main reason this complex is late getting open," Saul said. [Read article]

Members of the College of Animal Sciences saddled up for a new tradition Friday night that bids farewell to foreign graduate students with cowboy boots and bucking bulls.

Mateo Innochenti, an animal sciences graduate student from Italy, left for home this morning after studying for five months at the UA.

Innochenti took part in a cultural goodbye Friday night as he hopped on the back of a bull for the first time ever and fought to stay off the ground for at least eight seconds. [Read article]

Jon Stewart, Steve Forbes and characters from the movie "Napoleon Dynamite" are among the guests the ASUA Speakers Board is trying to bring to campus this year.

The Associated Students of the University of Arizona passed a resolution Wednesday for a $125,000 loan to allow the Speakers Board to pursue these big name acts, said Carrie Pixler, director of the Speakers Board.

Stewart is one of the top choices for this year, Pixler said. [Read article]

The Phoenix Mars Mission, slated to launch in 2007, will attempt to answer one of the biggest questions intriguing humankind since the beginning of intellect; is there life beyond Earth?

Astronomers, both amateur and professional from Southern Arizona, came to the "Mars Mania" event Saturday to celebrate the successful launch of the HiRISE camera-telescope.

The event displayed telescopes on the UA Mall and featured two lectures at the Manuel T. Pacheco Integrated Learning Center from principal investigators working on two NASA missions. [Read article]

Informal fraternity recruitment is underway this week for UA men interested in joining a social fraternity.

The Interfraternity Council's informal rush began last night at an orientation session in Social Sciences building, Room 100 and will continue through the rest of the week, ending with bid day on Friday at 4 p.m., when the potential new members receive bids, according to the Greek Life Web site. [Read article]

Wind blows through a cluster of abandoned motor homes. A professor and three hopeful students stand in the midst of it, assessing the area with eagle eyes.

Professor Barbara Becker's urban planning class will craft plans during the next semester to transform the low-income neighborhood northwest of West Grant Road and North Oracle Road into an area worth living in.

The group is part of a tour organized by James Quinn, president of Miracle Manor Neighborhood Association. Quinn is determined to better his neighborhood's appearance and to eliminate crime, and he approached the UA for help. [Read article]

ASUA officials said the estimated expense to bring Jason Mraz to campus next month will total about $55,800.

Ryan Patterson, special events coordinator for the Associated Students of the University of Arizona, said he has a $40,000 budget set aside this year to bring in Mraz and possibly another act in November.

Last week, Patterson said he was unsure how much Mraz would make for his performance, but now he estimates Mraz will make $37,500. [Read article]

Many multicultural organizations and resources are available on campus to students who may feel left out and are seeking more diversity in their college experience.

There are more than 30 multicultural clubs available to students, ranging from Students Promoting Respect for Individuality Through Example to the Muslim Students Association.

Raji Rhys-Wietecha, the assistant director of the Diversity Resource Office, said she believes diversity is crucial for the educational enhancement of all students. [Read article]

Today

Wildcat: My name's Kris, and you're on the spot! So tell me, what do you think about bull riding?

Grauman: Bull riding?

Wildcat: Yeah.

Grauman: Uh, I think it's a pointless sport, but it's fun to watch.

Wildcat: Why do you think people do it then?

Grauman: Uh, I don't know. Probably just for the thrill of it.

Wildcat: Why would you do it? [Read article]

Things you've always never wanted to know