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A BIG SPORTS WEEKEND
The UA men’s basketball team takes on ASU, baseball and softball is heating up, and more.
SPORTS
B SECTION
Arizona Daily Wildcat
The independent student voice of the University of Arizona since 1899 friday, february , dailywildcat.com
‘Don’t ask’ hurts U.S. forces By Luke Money ARIZONA DAILY WILDCAT
The military’s “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy has always been a major talking point. The policy has come marching back into the news as a result of President Barack Obama’s promise to repeal the policy during his State of the Union address.
“This year, I will work with Congress and our military to finally repeal the law that denies gay Americans the right to serve the country they love because of who they are,” Obama said in his speech on Jan. 27. Since then, several high-profile individuals have also spoken out against the policy, including five-star general Colin Powell, former Vice President
Dick Cheney and current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the U.S. military Adm. Michael G. Mullen. Supporters of the policy say the policy is an effective compromise to a complex issue and question the timing of the debate. At a Feb. 2 meeting of the Armed Services Committee, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced the Pentagon’s
intention to conduct a yearlong review of the policy. “At this moment of immense hardship for our armed services, we should not be seeking to overturn the ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy,”Arizona Senator John McCain said to the committee. “This would be a substantial and MILITARY, page A3
Streetcar’s funding complete
Ernie Somoza/Arizona Daily Wildcat
The City of Tucson is awarded a federal grant in the amount of $63 million Thursday. The money matches funds already secured for a streetcar that will connect UA to downtown.
By Rodney Haas ARIZONA DAILY WILDCAT The final piece of the puzzle for a streetcar linking the UA campus to downtown Tucson fell into place Thursday when Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced $63 million in federal stimulus money to help fund the project. The total cost of the project is $177.5 million, with $88 million coming from the Regional Transportation Authority. “This $63 million will build four miles of streetcars service, connecting Tucson’s major activities center, including health centers, the state university’s main campus, several city entertainment sites and the planned development and more,” LaHood said at a press conference.“This project will make it easier for city residents who don’t own a car to commute to work and reach health clinics and other vital services.” Construction is set to begin this
tucson, arizona
Walk benefits tumor research By Alexandra Newman ARIZONA DAILY WILDCAT
The second annual Tucson Walk-AThon, held in support of brain tumor research will take place Saturday. The Students Supporting Brain Tumor Research club teamed up with the UA’s Steele Children’s Research Center to host the event. They aspire to raise $20,000. Shannon Timms, a marketing junior and Students Supporting Brain Tumor Research club co-president, served as co-chair of a Students Supporting Brain Tumor Research Walk-A-Thon in high school and helped plan a walk in Phoenix in 2007. “Not many people knew about it here in Tucson,” Timms said, but added that she met a lot of people who were affected or knew people affected by brain tumors. Timms, along with marketing junior and co-president Lindsey Erlick, started the club at the UA last year. They are responsible for planning the entire student-run walk. “My friend in high school passed away from a brain tumor; there are a lot of people affected,” Erlick said. “There is brain tumor research going on at the (Universty Medical Center), so it’s cool to have an organization down here.” Section-head of pediatric oncology at the University Medical Center Dr. Emmanuel Katsanis, says that brain tumor patients make up the second-largest population of children with cancer. “My research lab focuses on immunotherapy of cancer which means stimulating the immune system to fight different cancers,” Katsanis said. “So even though we don’t specifically work to fight brain tumors, what we do fights them as well.” Katsanis explained that he has developed a vaccine for which the UA owns the patent. A small biotech company obtained the licensing rights and is about to start clinical trials in Israel on patients with brain tumors. “It’s not a vaccine that prevents, it’s to treat or prevent it (the cancer) from coming back,” Katsanis said. “The research that we’re doing is not specifically for brain tumors, it’s just starting clinical trials for brain tumors.” Katsanis will explain the research at the end of Saturday’s walk. He says he appreciates any fundraising, particularly for pediatric cancer research. Since cancer is more common in adults, there is typically more interest in funding drugs to treat adult-onset cancers. “We’re always very supportive for students or anybody who does something like that,” he said. Last year’s walk attracted over 500 walkers and raised over $7,500. This year the two expect 500-700 people and $20,000. “We have a $10,000 sponsorship from the Arizona Diamondbacks and all the money is going to the UA Steele
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Race, sexuality examined By Bethany Barnes ARIZONA DAILY WILDCAT Syndicated religion columnist Irene Monroe, the keynote speaker for UA’s black history month events, engaged audiences at the Student Union Memorial Center on Thursday. Monroe is the coordinator of the African American Roundtable of the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry at the Pacific School of Religion. Monroe encouraged discussion and kept the audience laughing while addressing serious issues within and surrounding the African American community, the LGBTQ community,
and the feminist community. Monroe challenged ideas of identity by asking white audiences members, and then black audiences members, “How are you white, and how white are you?” This prompted laughs and responses such as: “I just can’t get a tan.” “Celine Dion is my favorite singer.” “I’m from Wyoming.” “I’m white because I don’t have to think of an answer to that question.” Monroe said that classifying people as just white has robbed them of their ethnicity. “When you don’t know your ethnicity you don’t know your
history and when you don’t know your history you become dangerous,” Monroe said. People who heard Monroe speak said they enjoyed the controversial topic. “It was very stimulating both intellectually and spiritually,” said Erin Good, program coordinator for student assistance and advocacy. “It’s always great to have someone who will talk openly about race,”added Kate Bradsen, who attended the event. Richard Baker, of Residence Life, chose Monroe as the keynote speaker because he was impressed with a previous speech of hers. “It was an incredible opportunity that I had,” Baker said.
Valentina MartinelliArizona Daily Wildcat
Rev. Irene Monroe, UA black history month’s keynote speaker, interacts with her audience and speaks about topics such as race and sexuality in the Catalina Room in the Student Union Memorial Center on Wednesday.
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