Search for new UA president to kick off in May

When President Peter Likins retires in 2006, he's not going alone, as three members of his cabinet will also be handing over the reins. However, student leaders have high expectations for the next wave of administration.

Although they have not officially announced their retirement, Saundra Taylor, senior vice president for campus life, and Joel Valdez, senior vice president for business affairs, will be retiring in 2006, said Likins. Richard Powell, vice president for research, graduate studies and economic development, will retire this summer. [Read article]

Bill would require 2:1 state financial aid ratio

PHOENIX - The Arizona Students Association reminded legislators yesterday of a financial aid agreement made more than 15 years ago and asked the state to update the agreement to help more students pay for college.

A bill passed by the Senate Higher Education Committee yesterday would require the state to give more to the Arizona Financial Aid Trust than ever before. The fund is a combination of student and state contributions and supplements federal aid for university students in the state. [Read article]

Students curious about the expansion of the UA's medical school to Phoenix will have the opportunity to pose their questions to administrators today during a Campus Town Hall meeting.

UA President Pete Likins, Provost George Davis and Ken Ryan, dean of academic affairs for the College of Medicine, will provide an update regarding the UA College of Medicine's expansion to Phoenix and will also take questions from students at the meeting today, said Anne Driscoll, assistant director of university relations for University Advancement. [Read article]

Marking the celebration of Black History Month and promoting AIDS/HIV awareness, some campus groups are hosting activities to raise awareness and educate the community about the growing AIDS epidemic.

AIDS/HIV is the No. 1 cause of death for black women ages 25 to 34 years old, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Web site.

In the United States, about 1.7 million cases of AIDS and HIV were reported, according to the CDC Web site. [Read article]

Drum roll, please.

Distinguished community leaders were recognized at yesterday's 16th annual sounding of the drums ceremony to honor the winners of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Distinguished Leadership Award.

Sponsored by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Student Center, the ceremony featured musicians from the Song Hai Drummers, who played traditional African music at the ceremony outside the Student Union Memorial Center, 1303 E. University Blvd. [Read article]

In an unconventional Valentine's Day event, Tucsonans will shout out against a proposed Arizona amendment to deny homosexual rights and same-sex marriage in a protest rally Sunday.

The date of the protest is no coincidence - the day before Valentine's Day is also the first anniversary of San Francisco legalizing same-sex marriages in the city and county.

More than 300 people are expected to attend the rally, to be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at El Presidio Park, North Church Avenue and West Alameda Street, said Cathy Busha, a rally organizer. [Read article]

The UA Sarver Heart Center will host a panel of doctors who will update the public about new lifesaving tips that could potentially save the life of someone suffering from cardiac arrest.

The annual Healthy Heart public education conference will be held in Gallagher Theater Saturday. The conference is held every year around Valentine's Day and is focused on preventing and treating cardiovascular disease and stroke. [Read article]

"I just got it and was like, 'You know what? I'm tired of missing layups.' To be honest, I didn't even know where I was. I just saw the rim kind of in the corner of my eye. I was like, 'Whoever's there, I'm sorry.'"
- Channing Frye, UA men's basketball center, on throwing down a two-handed, rim-rattling, Adams-like dunk during Arizona's 90-72 win over Stanford Saturday

"Arguing about music is like dancing about politics."
- Jon D'Auria, of band Camp Courageous, quoting Thelonius Monk [Read article]