Cheers, jeers for students, administration, alumni

Nuclear engineering department needed to go

If ever there were a department ripe to be eliminated, the nuclear engineering department was it. Last week, the UA Faculty Senate voted to end the graduate program and decommission the nuclear reactor in the basement of the Engineering building.

Unlike previous attempts to eliminate departments, such as the strong backlash to the proposed elimination of the planning department, there will be hardly a peep with nuclear engineering. In fact, there's only one person in the program.

Moreover, the program was going to have a hard time operating with the expiration of the reactor's license in 2010. But still, with the university repeatedly falling short of its promise to eliminate programs for "Focused Excellence," we have to celebrate these small victories.

"Alumnus" magazine error spells bad omen for Phoenix

Amid the excitement over the UA's role in the new biomedical research center in the heart of downtown Phoenix, someone forgot to spellcheck. Right on the cover of "Arizona Alumnus" magazine, a full-color glossy that goes to thousands of alums, is Phoenix spelled "Pheonix."

Perhaps one of the editors was subconsciously jealous of Phoenix's key role in the new center, which is expected to generate $2.5 billion in economic activity. Or maybe it was revenge. Right down the street from the center is ASU's new downtown campus, and ASU fans have long spelled Tucson "Tu-scum."

Maybe next time the "Alumnus" can get more creative.

Tsunami relief party combines greek pastime with goodwill

Fraternities and sororities have always used their "extensive" philanthropic activities to justify their legitimacy. And indeed, forcing pledges to volunteer at Ronald McDonald house and participate in CatWalk in some small way benefits society. But these groups have never been able to shake their "party hard, party often" image.

That's why it's somewhat of a relief that Zeta Beta Tau, an unrecognized fraternity that has faced extensive discipline problems in the past, has combined the two. At a party on Jan. 21, they raised money for the tsunami relief effort by asking guests for $5 each. After donations from two other fraternities, the total topped $1,000, which Zeta Beta Tau will match.

With some fraternity parties topping 1,000 people, we see plenty of potential.

Opinions are determined by the Wildcat opinions board and written by one of its members. They are Evan Caravelli, Brett Fera, Caitlin Hall, Ryan Johnson, and Jesse Lewis.