SOFTBALL HOPES TO DRAW MORE STUDENTS
SPORTS — 9
CLUB HITS ALL THE RIGHT NOTES
RAP ARTISTS WHO ARE SO BAD, THEY’RE GOOD
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SERVING THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA SINCE 1899
Streetcar project causes closures First construction phase to be completed before fall semester By Stephanie Casanova DAILY WILDCAT
The Tucson Modern Streetcar Project began its first phase of construction on campus Monday along First and Second streets. Construction on campus will continue throughout the semester and is projected to be completed before the fall 2012 semester.
The Tucson Modern Streetcar project was approved in a May 2006 ballot by Pima County voters. The 3.9-mile track will connect the UA, Fourth Avenue and downtown Tucson. The project, costing almost $200 million, is expected to be up and running by late 2013 after 475 days of construction and several months of testing. Construction will be done in two phases, one starting in April and the second in November. Construction on Second Street, Park Avenue between Second Street and University Boulevard and on
Fourth Avenue will begin this month in block segments as utilities are protected and replaced along the track and overhead conductor systems are removed. Instead of entirely closing Second Street, these segments will be closed one at a time as needed to avoid creating traffic congestion. “We’re taking a conservative approach to protect the tunnels so that they don’t deteriorate over time and cause problems for the U of A in the future,” said Jesse Gutierrez, streetcar construction manager. Once utility tunnels are protected,
around midsummer, Second Street will be closed entirely as the tracks for the electric car are laid out. The city of Tucson Construction Administration team and Old Pueblo Trackworks worked together to “strategically” plan ideal construction dates and sections keeping in mind the needs of students and the general public, according to Gutierrez. “We’re not doing that (closing Second Street entirely) as a courtesy to the U of A students and the
STREETCAR, 6
GORDON BATES / DAILY WILDCAT
Campus leaders deliver address
RENOVATING HISTORY
By Brittny Mejia DAILY WILDCAT
KEVIN BROST / DAILY WILDCAT
Allie Peña, Keith Koltweit and Jacob Prietto help build a trench that routes rainwater away from the foundation of Old Main, which began to deterioate after years of water erosion.
Students work to renew Old Main By Stewart McClintic DAILY WILDCAT
Students in a soil, water and environmental science class are not too crazy about puddles, as they are working on a project to keep Old Main free of rainwater. Old Main’s foundation is at risk of being damaged due to the rainwater runoff pooling around the building, according to James Riley, an associate professor in the Department of
Soil, Water and Environmental Science. In order to solve this problem, Riley and his water harvesting class are creating an alternate route for the runoff water to take. He said he hopes to eventually fix the problem areas by allowing the runoff to drain away from the base of Old Main, which would prevent pooling. The two “problem areas” that the class is working on are located on the southeast and northeast sides
of the building, Riley said. His class has completed the southeast portion of the project, Riley added, but there is still work to be done on the northeast side — downspouts on the building are producing pooling areas that put the building’s foundation at risk for long-term damage, including the potential for it to sink into the ground. To guide the water away from the building, Riley said the class is digging trenches where the downspouts
dump near the building and re-routing the water away from it. Re-routing the water has other benefits, Riley explained, because this water will be pushed toward things that need irrigation, like trees and grass. The remainder of the runoff will flow into the street. Despite the students’ work, it’s hard to see the difference it has made because it hasn’t rained yet,
OLD MAIN, 6
Course aims to teach families about importance of fitness By Soinneah Monks DAILY WILDCAT
COLIN DARLAND / DAILY WILDCAT
Lydia Bell, educational policy studies and practice assistant professor, discusses the ramifications of recent NFL sanctions against the New Orleans Saints on March 22.
Students in Lydia Bell’s youth sports course are challenging themselves to think about how families and communities help or hurt in shaping youth physical activity. The new class, Youth Physical Activity and Community Sport, is housed in the College of Education and has students learn about the importance and effects of fitness at a young age. In its first semester, it focuses on how physical activity impacts youth, concerned parents and the community. The class
is currently listed as a general education course, but that may change in the future, according to Bell, a research assistant professor of educational policy studies and practice. Bell said it is important for her students to understand youth health benefits. Many students in her class can relate to issues facing youth fitness through their own experiences, she explained. “I am having a great time teaching this course,” she said. “Many of the students in the class are either coaches or athletes, so we spend a lot of time not only
BELL, 6
At the third annual State of the Student address, speakers called on students, regents, administrators and faculty to confront the financial challenges of higher education together. Roeland Hancock, president of the Graduate and Professional Student Council, spoke about the council’s accomplishments this year. This included funds it was able to award to students and student organizations as well as workshops it created for constituents, among others. But Hancock said these accomplishments were small compared to the challenges that education as a whole faces now. Students need to get more involved regarding the future of their education, he said. “Without an engaged populace, any government is both powerless to effect change for the benefit of people represented and has the power to wreak havoc,” Hancock said. “This is your life as a young adult to determine your financial right for decades to come.” Dan Fitzgibbon, chairman for the Arizona Students’ Association, followed Hancock and spoke about the association’s victories, one of which was raising awareness about proposed cuts to federal Pell Grant funding. Pell Grants are needbased and awarded to low-income students. In the end, Pell Grant funding suffered no cuts, Fitzgibbon said. While Pell Grants were safe,
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