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AROUND THE WORLD IN 10 DAYS Here is your guide to the 2010 Arizona International Film Festival
WILDLIFE
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Arizona Daily Wildcat
The independent student voice of the University of Arizona since 1899 wednesday, april , dailywildcat.com
tucson, arizona
No more alcohol in tents west of Cherry
“A” Section / 12 Pages @ 56%
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Homecoming to focus on older alumni participation
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By Matt Lewis ARIZONA DAILY WILDCAT
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Lisa Beth Earle/Arizona Daily Wildcat
The Yo-yo spins brave passengers through the air at Spring Fling on Friday. The revenue and attendance of this year’s event beat out last year’s, and raised about $40,000 for campus clubs and organizations.
Spring Fling swings up
Attendance, revenue higher than in previous years thanks to ads By Luke Money ARIZONA DAILY WILDCAT Spring Fling’s revenue and attendance were higher this year than last year. “There are several things that contributed to higher attendance this year,” said Executive Director Lexy Keffeler. “I think it’s really affordable, and it’s really close to home, so most people don’t need to worry about the drive. It also helps that it’s a traditional event that most people know a lot about.” Keffeler also cited the improving
economy and increased advertising for the high attendance. Approximately 23,000 people attended Spring Fling during its four-day run at Rillito Downs, with the majority coming during the event’s first two days. “I thought Thursday and Friday had a good turnout,” said Corporate Director Kristina Keffeler. “We had some promotions that we tried that seemed to be really pop and get more people to come.” The event raised approximately $40,000 for UA clubs and organizations, though exact
numbers will not be finalized for a few days. “Our goal is to ensure that the Spring Fling breaks even from a business standpoint while maximizing profits for involved clubs,” said marketing director Chase Sutton. “And, in that, we succeeded.” Five awards were given out to clubs at the event to recognize the product or service they provided. The UA Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan won the best food award for their chili con carne; the UA Society of Automotive
Engineers won an award for being the most enthusiastic food booth; the Delta Chi Lambda sorority won both the most enthusiastic and best overall commercial booth awards; and Alpha Phi Gamma won the best facade award for design, as well as the executive award given out by Lexy Keffeler to her favorite booth. “I think clubs were more satisfied with Spring Fling this year than last year,” said Club Relations Director Shandy Rivera. “I think they were more satisfied with the way it was run SPRING FLING, page A7
The 2010 UA Homecoming, to be held in October, will have major changes from previous years. It will cater more to older alumni, and there will not be alcohol permitted west of Cherry Avenue. Beer will no long be sold within the “Tents on the (UA) Mall,” and only those with a permit can consume alcohol east of Cherry Avenue; otherwise, they will have to go to offcampus bars or restaurants. “This is something you see at many universities across the country, whether they’re public or private: Alumni come back, and they get to experience the university’s homecoming. The experience is the game, the pre-game experience, but it’s also the campus showcase concept,” said Chris Vlahos, UA Alumni Association president and executive director,. Some students are taking the change in stride. “Homecoming’s going to be a good time no matter how old you are and whether there’s alcohol there or not,” said Jake Mazza, a pre-business freshman. Pat Larkin, a pre-engineering freshman, disagrees. “I’m not really a fan of that, isn’t (alcohol) one of the big parts of football tailgating?” Larkin asked. According to a press release from the UA Alumni Association, Shelton called the move “an important step to help ensure a family-friendly environment at Homecoming. Alcohol will still be HOMECOMING, page A5
New ROTC wing for fall ’10
Students in ROTC will be allowed to live in a wing of Cochise Residence Hall set aside specifically for them next academic year. Residence Life hopes that ROTC participants will have more opportunities to live on campus and avoid clashing with non-participant roommates.
Military students to bunk together, solve Res Life issues By Brenna Goth ARIZONA DAILY WILDCAT
Students in the UA ROTC program will have the option to live in a ROTCfocused dorm wing starting in the 2010-11 school year. Residence Life and ROTC announced that part of Cochise Residence Hall will be reserved for students in any of the four ROTC branches. The project was motivated by the experience of students. “We noticed that our ROTC students had a different lifestyle than nonparticipants,”said Jon Wheeler, assistant director for Residence Education. The schedule of ROTC students requires that they wake up early several times per week, often hours before their peers. This difference in sleep cycles can cause conflict for ROTC students whose roommates are not in the program. This rigorous schedule is even more problematic for incoming ROTC freshmen who are denied on-campus housing.
Residence Life and ROTC officers worked together to find a solution. “We came together and said,‘This is an issue we’re having. How are we going to fix it?’”Wheeler said. The resulting theme-wing allows ROTC students to live with other members of the program. The goal is to give students a community of people with similar interests and experiences and build camaraderie throughout the ROTC program. “We wanted to get like-minded individuals in one place,”said Major Vernal Fulton, enrollment and scholarship advisor for the Army ROTC.“They are able to help each other out, motivate each other.” Matt Henricks, a mechanical engineering freshman, said this themewing would have helped him adjust to college life as an ROTC student. “It would’ve been helpful getting used to college life mixed with military life,”Henricks said. He noted that getting up early for physical training and being held accountable by ROTC officers has set his freshman experience apart from other students’.
Henricks said he would have lived in the wing if it had been available at the start of his freshman year but will not live there next year. “I’ve already gotten comfortable in Gila (Residence Hall),” Henricks said. “It’s kind of nice being away from the military for a couple of hours, at least.” Cochise was chosen for its close proximity to South Hall, where the ROTC program is based. Residence Life reserved between 25 and 30 beds for male ROTC students and 15 to 20 beds for female ROTC students. Wheeler noted that more beds may be available based on student interest. The opportunities associated with the wing are expected to develop over time. “This year is the foundation. In years to come, we will add aspects to the program,”Wheeler said. About half of the allocated beds have been filled so far. Residence Life expects that number to increase as it continues to assign housing and the program is advertised during new student orientation.
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STUDENT RUSH
TICKETS JUST $25! AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR ONE HOUR BEFORE THE SHOW.
starring JOHN O'HURLEY as Billy Flynn
APRIL 13-18 • TUCSON MUSIC HALL
BUY TICKETS: 800-745-3000 • www.broadwayintucson.com • or at the TCC Ticket Office, 260 S. Church Ave.