UA bookstore allows students to purchase textbooks over Internet

The UofA Associated Students Bookstore went on line this week so students won't have to wait in line for textbooks.

Through the bookstore's new program, called Textnet, students can order their textbooks over the Internet.

Students can link to the bookstore by looking up the University of Arizona homepage, said Tim Van Devender, web-site master at the bookstore. After a student selects the option to purchase textbooks and enters student and personal identification numbers, a list will appear with the student's class schedule and books that need to be purchased.

Students have the option of purchasing new or used books. A credit card payment may be made at that time or the students may choose to pay cash or check when they pick up their books, Van Devender said.

Credit card charges will not be applied to the card until mid- August, said Barbara Tietjen, support systems analyst at the bookstore.

Textbooks ordered before Aug. 16 will be available for pickup Aug. 18. Books ordered after Aug. 16 will be available the next day.

Students have until Sept. 4 to pick up their textbooks at Wildcat Gifts, Etc., located in the Park Student Center, 601 N. Park Ave, or a $10 charge will be applied to the student's credit card or account with the university.

Textnet was created to offer more service to students, Van Devender said.

Textnet is accessible on the World Wide Web at http://www.bookstore.arizona.edu.

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UApresents sends students to D.C. for arts conference

Team members from UApresents last week attended a national conference in Washington D.C. to promote interaction between performing artists and the community.

UApresents, a division of Cultural Affairs, is a University of Arizona program that recruits performing artists from around the world to perform at the UA. The program, in conjunction with Tucson Unified School District, was one of 14 teams the Kennedy Ce nter selected to attend the fifth annual "Performing Arts Centers and Schools; Partners in Education" conference.

Ken Foster, director of Cultural Affairs, said the program "is very gratified that the Kennedy Center has chosen our community to take part in this very special program. We believe that the arts are an essential part of every student's lifelong education, and consider outreach to area schools to be central to our mission."

The Kennedy Center helps teach team members how to integrate performing arts events into educational programs for the community, said Rob Gold, marketing director for Cultural Affairs.

The Kennedy Center's program included a five-day workshop designed to help teams develop strategies for arts education, follow-up consultations on local programs and annual meetings to help continue the development process.

For information call 621-3364.

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Health affairs dean wins teachers' award for medicine

Anthony Vuturo, associate dean for health affairs at the UA's College of Medicine, is being awarded the 1996 Recognition Award from the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine in San Francisco today.

Katherine Krause, the society's president, said, "We honor Anthony's commitment and visionary leadership to the education of students and residents in family medicine."

Vuturo was instrumental in creating the Arizona Graduate Program in Public Health, which serves the entire state. It incorporates learning and interactive communications, which link the Arizona Health Sciences Center with community-based training hospita ls and clinic setting.

"It is a tribute to me personally to win the award, but really it is a tribute to all the people who have worked with me in the health care industry," Vuturo said.

Vuturo, who earned his master's degree at Harvard, was co-founder and directing officer of FAMILI-CARE, the University of Arizona-based prepaid health maintenance organization.

"Tony is an outstanding choice for this prestigious award," said James Dalen, vice president for health sciences and dean of the College of Medicine. "For almost two decades he has worked tirelessly to strengthen family medicine throughout Arizona and bey ond."

In 1985 Vuturo started a home health care agency called Coordinated Home Health Care. The program was transferred in 1990 to University Medical Center, where Vuturo has been serving as medical director. He plans to retire this summer.

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ASUA plans first Cinco de Mayo festival for May 1

Although Cinco de Mayo is six days away, ASUA is planning to celebrate the Mexican independence day a little earlier this year.

The first annual fiesta will take place on the UA Mall May 1, the last day of classes, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

"This event is just for fun, it's just about getting the campus together as a whole before finals and graduation," said Steve Romero, the Associated Students budget review committee director, and coordinator of the event.

Romero, a political science senior, said he hopes the celebration will be informative in addition to being fun. There will be literature available to students about this holiday.

UA President Manuel Pacheco is expected to attend, Romero said.

Romero said he hopes Pacheco will say a couple of words about the importance of Cinco de Mayo to the Hispanic community.

The UA's mariachi band will also take the stage at noon, and students can enjoy Mexican food and Eegee's as they listen to the music.

After the idea for the fiesta was approved by ASUA President Ben Driggs and Dean of Students Melissa Vito, Romero went around asking for sponsors.

Donations came from ASUA, the UA Business Office, the Hispanic Alumni Association, and the Office of Student Affairs.

Since this is the first year for the UA celebration, Romero said things are starting slow, but said he hopes ASUA will continue to increase the event over the next couple of years.

He said the event will also be a good opportunity for clubs and organizations to get involved on campus.

The UofA Associated Students Bookstore will be selling T-shirts sponsoring Cinco de Mayo.

Romero said a catered luncheon will be available to people during the celebration for $15 a person.