THE DAILY WILDCAT Printing the news, sounding the alarm, and raising hell since 1899
DAILYWILDCAT.COM
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014
VOLUME 107 • ISSUE 102
BREWER’S CHOICE
SPORTS - 6
RESURGENT MEN’S HOOPS CRUISES
A bill that allows businesses to refuse service to patrons due to religious beliefs has been passed by Arizona Legislature and moved on to governor’s desk
ARTS & LIFE - ONLINE
SOUTHWEST INDIAN ART FAIR GALLERY
GRACE PIERSON/THE DAILY WILDCAT
ARTS & LIFE - 10
KRISTEN BIRNER, a member of the LGBT&S Alliance Fund, protests Senate Bill 1062 in front of the governor’s office with her partner (right) on Friday.
ELECTRONIC MUSIC SIZZLES AT RIALTO
THE BILL BY GALINA SWORDS
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WEATHER HI
80 52 LOW
Ferrel, Portugal Hart, Texas Carlin, Canada
BY KEVIN REAGAN
The Daily Wildcat
OPINIONS - 4
SUNNY
THE PROTEST
62/47 72/35 17/-1
QUOTE TO NOTE
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This case goes beyond money buying a defense and creates a precedent for wealth: It can now get one out of prison.” OPINIONS — 4
The Daily Wildcat
Amidst protests and national media coverage, the Arizona House of Representatives passed The Religious Freedom Restoration Act on Thursday. The Religious Freedom Restoration Act, or Senate Bill 1062 as the Arizona Senate version is known, is presented as an act which will provide extra protection against religious discrimination. The fact sheet given to the Arizona Senate lists how the bill will broaden the definition of the exercise of religion to include the practice and observance of religion by any individual, association, partnership, corporation, church, estate, trust, foundation or other legal entity. However, C. Michael Woodward, graduate assistant for ally development in the office of LGBTQ Affairs at the UA, said he believes that is just confusing and vague language used to gain support for a bill that will allow discrimination against LGBTQ people by those claiming they are exercising religious freedom. “We already have religious freedom protections in the Arizona constitution,” Woodward said. “It is absolutely discriminatory, but the reason that it will work for them is because LGBT people are not protected at the federal level.” When Arizona Rep. John Kavanagh (R-District 8), stood to explain his vote in favor of S.B. 1062 on the House floor on Thursday, he said that this was about providing additional protection to those who want to practice their religion. “That is what we see here: …
S.B. 1062, 2
GRACE PIERSON/THE DAILY WILDCAT
TOP: THE PROTEST MARCH started off with a group of young people holding a sign that read “Bash Back.” BOTTOM: TUCSON COMMUNITY members gathered at the local Wingspan to protest S.B. 1062 and marched through downtown Tucson toward the governor’s office on Congress Street and Granada Avenue yelling “VE-TO!” and “S.B. 1062: It’s bad for me and it’s bad for you!”
Drinking dares turn deadly in global trend BY MADISON BRODSKY The Daily Wildcat
A dangerous binge drinking game that’s trending worldwide has arrived at the UA. “Neknominating” consists of people filming themselves drinking large combinations of alcoholic drinks after they have been challenged by a friend. At the end of the video, the person then nominates someone else to outdo their concoction. “I guess I was nominated, but this isn’t really something I wanted to be nominated for,” said one UA student in a video uploaded to Facebook. Videos uploaded to social media show UA students consuming alcoholic concoctions in various unusual circumstances. One student drinks a beer on a roof before jumping into the pool and then drinks from a beer bong in the pool. Another student drinks from a bottle full of liquors mixed with Tabasco sauce. “You just cannot say no to a dare,” said another UA student in her video. The challenges don’t always concern the quantity of alcohol the students are drinking; sometimes the challenge is the location.
One video shows a student shotgunning a beer during a lecture in the Eller College of Management. David Salafsky, director of health promotion and preventive services at UA Campus Health Service, said students should understand the serious consequences of the game. Five deaths linked to the game have been reported in the U.K. “This ridiculous game should not be appealing to UA students because there should be greater things to do than chugging alcohol and spending the night in the hospital,” Salafsky said. “I hope the worldwide deaths hits home and UA students are smarter than this and don’t view the game as something they want to participate in.” Salafsky said Campus Health has several programs to inform students of the risk of alcohol consumption. “Campus Health will continue to do as much as they can to help by completing programs such as the red cup Q&A in the Daily Wildcat and alcohol awareness courses that students see in residence halls and greek houses,” Salafsky said.
NEKNOMINATIONS, 3
“VE-TO! VE-TO!” This was the battle cry chanted by supporters of the LGBT community last Friday afternoon as they marched down Fourth Avenue to Gov. Jan Brewer’s office on Congress Street. Their mission is to convince the Arizona governor to stop Senate Bill 1062 from being signed into state law. On Feb. 19, the piece of legislation passed through the state Senate with a 17-13 vote, with most Republicans in the majority. The bill is gaining attention due to the power it grants business owners to use their religious beliefs as an excuse to not serve a person whose lifestyle may conflict with their faith. The LGBT community immediately denounced the legislation as being blatantly discriminatory. Wingspan, a local nonprofit center for the LGBT community, responded quickly to the bill by hosting a protest march for those who oppose the legislation. It posted about the event on Facebook early Friday afternoon, and by 4 p.m., it had gathered a hefty crowd outside its headquarters on Seventh Street. Before the march began, a series of speakers addressed the crowd, voicing their concerns over the bill. Wingspan Executive Director Carol Grimsby read aloud a letter sent by Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild, who stated his opposition to the bill. “Bills like 1062 would take our state backwards,” Rothschild said in the letter. “Not only is it offensive, but it will cause significant economic harm to our state.” State representatives who voted
PROTEST, 3
Research expo to show Honors work BY MEGHAN FERNANDEZ The Daily Wildcat
The UA Honors College will be hosting its Undergraduate Research Expo on Wednesday, where students will present their research projects. According to the Honors College website, students can apply for a research grant valued up to $1,500 that enables them to conduct research on a chosen topic. Patricia MacCorquodale, dean of the Honors College, said these research grants are available to all undergraduate students. However, she added, the majority of students participating in this research project are honors students. According to MacCorquodale, 22 percent of Honors College students participate in the research expo. MacCorquodale said the research project allows students to determine whether they like or dislike the research process. The project also allows students to learn a variety of skills, such as problem-solving, how to conduct research and grant writing. “These skills are relevant to every career,” MacCorquodale said.
HONORS, 3