ASUA gave out more than $2,000 to the Priority College Ministry last week, saying although they cannot support an actual religious organization, they support religious events on campus as long as there is a substantial amount of student interest.

Erin Hertzog, Arizona Students of the University of Arizona executive vice president, said ASUA's aim is to help support student interest on campus, and they want to financially support events rather than the clubs or organizations themselves. [Read article]

The committee tabbed with picking the next UA president must first define their expectations and establish criteria before they can begin selecting candidates.

Chairman Fred Boice and other committee members will begin developing these criteria at next week's meeting to get the ball rolling in employing a new UA president come June.

"The committee is together, the consultants have been hired, but until the first meeting, we really don't really have too much to go on," said Boice, treasurer of the Arizona Board of Regents. [Read article]

Graduate and Professional Student Council leaders say they are outraged that not one of their council representatives will be appointed to the presidential search committee responsible for replacing President Peter Likins.

GPSC President Elaine Ulrich said the council submitted a letter in May asking for a spot on the committee and wrote several letters to Regent Fred Boice, who was in charge of putting the committee together. [Read article]

The UA Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research concluded that when one of Arizona's water sources runs dry, the state cannot depend on other sources to provide water.

The lab was paid $85,500 by the Salt River Project and the city of Phoenix to study the tree rings of Arizona's major water resources; the Salt, Verde and Colorado rivers.

Tree-ring researchers analyzed annual stream flow records preserved in the rings of trees. This data is supposed to help researchers better assess drought conditions and water management. [Read article]

Students and faculty have the option to work out small disputes and other issues in an informal way before going to administration or Campus Health Services.

The UA Ombuds Committee, comprising UA faculty and staff volunteers, works to help students, other faculty and the general public solve their problems with the university before they reach a more formal process.

Some common problems mediated by the committee include disputes with professors, problems with superiors and intellectual property disputes. [Read article]

The UA appointed a new director for the Center for Latin American Studies who can bring in a fresh perspective with years of cultural experience.

Professor Scott Whiteford, the new director for the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, has been involved in Latin American studies for years despite this being his first year at the UA.

"I have been involved in border research for more than 20 years," Whiteford said. "I have collaborated with Latin American colleagues on research in Mexico, Central America and South America." [Read article]

Things you've always never wanted to know