Vibrators, lubricant help women get comfortable with their bodies

Members of the UA Network of Feminist Student Activists raffled off vibrators and gave out personal lubricant in the name of women's safety yesterday.

In celebration of "Love Your Body Day," feminist members had a booth on the UA Mall and sold raffle tickets for two "high-end" vibrators donated to the event by Fascinations, a local adult novelty shop. [Read article]

Faculty asked to report textbooks to bookstore earlier

The Arizona Students' Association is taking a closer look at new and used textbook editions to see how book prices can be lowered in relation to the rising costs of education.

ASA is supporting the effort to lower publishing textbook prices with the consideration that students pay an average of $900 per year on course materials, or 26 percent of the cost of tuition at the average four-year university, said Drew Record, ASA director. [Read article]

Based on a new survey conducted by a men's cologne company, UA students have one of the best college towns in the country for hooking up.

The results of the "Best College Towns for Hooking Up in America," study by Axe body spray and the Sperling's Best Places company, were released last week and Tucson ranks No. 6 because of its warm, sunny weather, percentage of singles, and number of venues like bars and coffee shops per capita. [Read article]

Two student senators who were hospitalized last week could be out of office for the rest of the month, but work will continue despite their absences, student officials said.

Associated Students of the University of Arizona Sen. Heather Spicer was admitted Wednesday evening to Tucson Medical Center for a deep vein thrombosis, a type of blood clot, in her right arm, said Spicer, a communication junior. [Read article]

The Faculty Senate approved adding Africana studies as a new major to the UA curriculum by a 36-1 vote yesterday.

The program has been in the process of becoming a major since 1991, said Julian Kunnie, director of the Africana studies program.

Senators were concerned about the student need for the major and whether it would be able to withstand funding on its own without relying on other departments for assistance. [Read article]

While the national homicide rate has gone down over the past year, the number of murders in Tucson has stayed relatively the same, police said.

Tucson Police Department reported their 45th homicide Saturday and said there were 50 homicides by this time last year.

The murder rate at the university has remained consistent with no homicides occurring on campus since 2002.

The University of Arizona Police Department credits the low murder rate to its ability to deal with smaller issues that can often lead to larger, more violent crimes, said UAPD Spokesman Sgt. Eugene Mejia. [Read article]

Shuttling services available for city elections

Students unable to get to the polling stations today to vote in the Tucson city elections can get a ride from ASUA all day from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

ASUA SafeRide vans and cars will be readily available all day next to the fountain by Old Main to take students to any polling station and precinct in the city.

The best way for students to get informed on the candidates and issues they will be voting on is to do research themselves. Plans for printed out information, however, will be provided to students to get them as informed as possible on these issues even if these students live in Tucson nine out of 12 months of the year, said ASUA Sen. Matthew Boepple. [Read article]

Things you've always never wanted to know