Whether the Bush administration manipulated facts given to the American public regarding the Iraq war was the topic of discussion last night when a state representative spoke about withdrawing from the region.

Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva, D-Ariz., said he thinks the American public continues to be compounded and disturbed by the indecisiveness of when President Bush will choose to withdraw troops from Iraq in a discussion titled "The Iraq War: Reality Not Politics." [Read article]

Investigation of complaints will remain protected

Despite President Cade Bernsen's status as an elected official, the investigation of the sexual harassment allegations against him will remain confidential because of student privacy laws, officials said.

Usually, information about elected officials is public record, but because Bernsen is a student, formal complaints about him are protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, a federal statute that requires information directly related to a student and maintained by an educational agency be kept private, said university attorney Steve Adamczyk. [Read article]

Ex-chief of staff was in charge of elections

Student Government Elections Commissioner Tyler Carrell resigned from his position late Wednesday night after three weeks in office.

This marks the second resignation this semester for Carrell, who stepped down from his position as chief of staff for Associated Students of the University of Arizona President Cade Bernsen on Nov. 9.

Carrell, a finance junior, was originally appointed to that position but resigned in order to fill the position of elections commissioner. [Read article]

Athletes' grades could affect postseason

Student-athletes will face tough consequences on the playing field next year if they neglect their class work, said NCAA officials.

Myles Brand, NCAA president, described to the Arizona Board of Regents yesterday about the new eligibility requirements of NCAA student-athletes, part of the association's academic reform efforts that began last year. [Read article]

Methamphetamine impact discussion topic at TCC

The Greater Tucson Leadership group plans to present a luncheon today at the Tucson Convention Center addressing the problem of methamphetamine in the Tucson community.

A panel of five representatives from the Meth Free Alliance will be on hand to discuss the issue and to encourage action in the community to fight the abuse of the drug.

The discussion is from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $40 for the general public or $25 for students. Tickets can be purchased at www.tucsonleadership.org. [Read article]

Campus cops seek community input

The University of Arizona Police Department is seeking reaccredidation, and community members will have the chance to give their input about the department at a public hearing Monday.

UAPD plans to hold the hearing at 7 p.m. in Room 205 of the "Swede" Johnson building. It is a mandatory step the department must take to be reaccredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. [Read article]

Regents to address tuition

The Arizona Board of Regents plans to discuss tuition assessment during a study session at today's meeting, according to the meeting agenda.

Topics that will be included in the discussion include the draft response to state bill 1517, outlining criteria of differential tuition between campuses, and revisions concerning special fees for class, according to the study session's executive summary. [Read article]

Things you've always never wanted to know\\

In the world's oceans, there are: 58 species of sea grasses; fewer than 1,000 species of cephalopods - squids, octopi and pearly nautiluses; 1,000 species of sea anemones; 1,500 species of brown algae; 7,000 species of echinoderms - starfishes, sea urchins, sea cucumbers and sea lilies; 13,000 species of fishes and 50,000 species of mollusks. [Read article]