Daily Wildcat | Homecoming Edition | October 2024

THE DAILY WILDCAT

new university

HOMECOMING | VOLUME 118,

WILDCAT

Editors-in-Chief

Sam Parker

Noor Haghighi editor@dailywildcat.com

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Sophia Hammer

Kanishka Chinnaraj news@dailywildcat.com

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Arts & Life Editor Sierra Blaser arts@dailywildcat.com

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Gracie Kayko Jay Corella photo@dailywildcat.com

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Comics Editor Sela Margalit smargalit@dailywildcat. com

Social Media Coordinators

Nandini Manepalli Kiara Adams socials@dailywildcat.com

Designers

Sam Parker

Noor Haghighi

Mariana Corella Gracie Kayko

Sela Margalit

New era at Arizona: President Suresh Garimella begins term

President Suresh Garimella officially started his tenure as the University of Arizona’s leader Oct. 1, replacing former President Dr. Robert C. Robbins. His goal in these first few weeks? To hit the ground running, first and foremost.

Even before his arrival on campus, guided to Old Main by Wilbur and Wilma, Garimella has been engaging with students, staff and faculty and familiarizing himself with the university and surrounding Tucson communities.

Garimella has already met with the Office of Public Safety and is working closely with senior university leadership like Interim Provost Ronald Marx and Dean of Students Chrissy Lieberman.

Garimella also attended a Big 12 meeting in Dallas on Oct. 1, flying to Tucson late that evening before his welcome on Oct. 2.

Introduced by the Pride of Arizona and Marx, Garimella began his first official day at the UA by addressing a gathered crowd of community members, commenting on his excitement to get started. A community-based approach

One of Garimella’s priorities as the UA’s newest leader is serving the university and greater Tucson community.

The University of Arizona is a landgrant university, a type of institution established to focus on agricultural and technical education which played a major role in democratizing education, according to Garimella.

“It’s this focus on agriculture and mechanical arts, is what it’s called, that brought education to people who didn’t afford it and who were from a social class that couldn’t dream of education,” Garimella said.

With this land-grant label, Garimella said the UA has the ability and responsibility to better the community in a variety of ways, from research about drug addiction to water preservation strategies.

When looking at the potential of the UA, Garimella asked himself how the school can use its intellectual capital, social capital and extensive resources to make not just the university but the surrounding region a better place.

Garimella also hopes for the school to build a stronger relationship with governing bodies across the state, a goal furthered by the visit of a congressional delegation to the UA to learn more about how the university can serve the state.

“We had a very strong relationship with the congressional delegation in Vermont,

and I hope to develop that here, but also with the State House up in Phoenix and with Mayor Romero and other people here,” Garimella said.

The concept and role of community and the unique challenges one faces, varies from place to place and university, meaning no one strategy can sufficiently address the needs of each student body, something Garimella has learned during his time at other institutions.

“The solutions or the challenges and such are always specific to the place, its history, its recent past and such. So, you bring your learning and you bring your experience, but you come up with solutions from learning what the situation is like, what the political climate is like, what the congressional support is like, what

the donors are like, all of that,” Garimella said.

The United Campus Workers of Arizona, a union representing workers at ASU, NAU and the UA, is part of the community that Garimella will need to work with and has requested that the new president include the union in conversations about university leadership.

“We welcome the opportunity to work with President Garimella and urge him to show his commitment to working shoulder to shoulder with the campus community by engaging with all our university’s employees rather than just a handpicked few and by welcoming the input of our shared governance bodies. In particular, we urge him to establish an open process for the new search that will follow, and to appoint a Provost who has been a member of our campus community and who enjoys wide respect and support. UCWAZ, CWA Local 7065, will continue to organize around accountability and transparency within the University of Arizona,” UCWAZ said in a statement.

A future of finances

Garimella joins the UA community at a time of financial apprehension, with the university still fighting its way back from the more than $162 million deficit announced nearly one year ago. According to the university’s latest updates, the deficit now hovers around $63 million.

Student and faculty frustration and concern over realized and potential cuts has been a focal point of campus discourse over the past year, but Garimella remains optimistic and open to having conversations with anxious members of the campus community.

A part of this solution, according to Garimella, is investment from the state and an improved partnership

SAM PARKER

The Daily Wildcat

ELLA JOHNSON | THE DAILY WILDCAT

PRESIDENT SURESH GARIMELLA WALKS towards Old Main with his wife, Mrs. Lakshmi Garimella, for his welcome party on Oct. 2. Wilbur and Wilma led the couple to their welcome on the mall at around 10 a.m. on Oct. 2.

LEADERSHIP CHANGES

what we can do better, and so we will definitely listen.”

with the aforementioned congressional delegation. Where the burden of this situation should never fall on the backs of students.

Garimella cited previous experience with financial system restructuring at his previous place of employment, Purdue University, that would help him bring some expertise and solutions to the table at the UA.

“There are some systems issues we need to fix. We need to get a better handle on where money is spent. And once we do that, my sense is we’ll be past this current financial challenge. I mean, a good amount of progress has already been made, so I’m fairly optimistic, actually, about being able to get past that quite quickly and then build in a way that we can invest in things,” Garimella said.

Safety strategies

Safety has long been a major concern of university community members, especially in the wake of the 2022 murder of Professor Thomas Meixner and the more recent on-campus shooting of 19-year-old Minhaj Jamshidi.

According to Garimella, he has met with Chief Safety Officer Steve Patterson and University of Arizona Police Department Chief Chris Olson and will continue to meet with safety experts regularly.

Garimella also said that while technical safety elements across campus, like blue lights, locks on doors, etc., are important and it is equally as vital to have strong systems of support in place for if and when things do happen that threaten community safety.

“I don’t know that we can ever guarantee that nothing bad will happen. But we need to be prepared when things happen. We need to have the mental health resources available. We need to talk,” Garimella said. “The governance groups are important; hey, what are you hearing? What is the source? I mean, you know, you can’t sort of wave a wand and make all the uncertainty go away, but everybody has ideas to offer about

Demonstrations and discourse

After the events of last spring, when student demonstrators clashed with police on campus after police

well known for free speech and expression, so we’ll certainly respect that. At the same time, I think it’s very important to communicate the campus use policy so that our policies are clear, they’re content

stormed demonstrators’ encampments, rules about campus use and student demonstrations have been focal conversations amongst members of the university community.

Garimella has previous experience in the realm of civil discourse, having taught a course about the topic at the University of Vermont.

“You can hold different opinions, it’s okay, but to do it in a way that is not disruptive, that is not harming others […] but I’m very impressed that the University of Arizona is quite

neutral, they’re applied consistently,” Garimella said. “I think the answer comes well before specific marquee events like that. It comes with communications, with talking to all sides. So Provost Marx, Dean of Students Chrissy Lieberman and others, I’ve been talking to them a lot. They’ve had lots of conversations with different groups on campus, on all sides of the picture: Hillel, with the [Students for Justice in Palestine] group, so I’m hoping that having channels of communi -

cations open, is helpful in giving people tools to talk to each other and to express themselves.”

Students from public universities across Arizona had previously expressed frustration with the at-times violent enforcement of campus use policy to dispel demonstrations. According to a United Campus Workers of Arizona petition circulated in the aftermath of the spring protests, “Arizona students were met with unnecessary violence and harmful actions by our universities’ administrations and campus police departments [...] At UA, police tear-gassed and deployed rubber bullets against unarmed protestors. One student even suffered a concussion as a result of these actions,” the UCWAZ petition said.

With the anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attacks and a continued human rights disaster playing out in Palestine, the UA campus may be a hotspot for discourse about these issues, with the employment of this campus use policy coming into play once more. Enforcing this policy while also protecting the First Amendment rights of students is just one of the issues Garimella will have to navigate as he steps into this role, but one that he hopes open communication among all community members will help to resolve. “Limitless Potential:” Looking to the future

Despite the many challenges Garimella faces in the immediate future, he remains optimistic about the direction of the university.

“It’s easy to be distracted with a safety issue or a finance issue or so, which are all important, we need to pay attention to that. But also keeping in mind how great this institution is, how many students it has served, our great alumni community, our research strengths, our importance to the Tucson and southern Arizona communities, our athletics, our arts, all this sort of stuff, there’s so much potential for us to grow,” Garimella said.

ELLA JOHNSON | THE DAILY WILDCAT

WILBUR AND WILMA JOIN the Pride of Arizona in welcoming President Suresh Garimella to the University of Arizona campus on Oct. 2. The Pride of Arizona was led by director Chad Shoopman.

SCHOOL THROWBACKS

This week in Wildcat history: Homecoming

Homecoming week is upon the University of Arizona, and along with numerous celebrations, students and alumni alike are taking a moment to think about the history of the Wildcats and their Homecoming week traditions. This reflection begs the question: what happened this week in Wildcat history?

10 years ago, in 2014, the UA celebrated both 100 years of Homecoming and 100 years of Greek Life. This centennial anniversary was memorialized with a 38-20 win against the University of Colorado Boulder Buffaloes and the first-ever live-streaming of the Homecoming bonfire.

In 1947, the Homecoming court tradition began with the crowning of Homecoming queen Ruth Tackett, a member of the Alpha Phi sorority. The tradition has since grown into the voting extravaganza it is today.

In addition to the royalty tradition, the annual lighting of Tucson’s Sentinel Peak, or “A” Mountain, has continued each year during Homecoming

week. According to a Daily Wildcat article by Kiara Adams from 2022, this tradition was fully revived in 2008 after it disappeared for a few years, solidifying its presence in Homecoming week ever since.

Lighting the “A” dates back to 1967, when a group of fraternity brothers decided to take on a pledge project and establish a tradition that they hoped would stick. Led by Sam O’Shaughnessy-Stangel, the fraternity brothers spent two days installing about 70 concrete stakes, 700 feet of electrical wire and 100 sockets that attached to said wire and light bulbs onto the “A.” While this process has changed throughout the decades, the lighting of the “A” remains a proud UA Homecoming tradition.

Unlike the lighting of “A” Mountain, however, the underwear run of 2009 was unsuccessful in withstanding the test of time.

Started by senior Jamal Boddie in 2009, the underwear run was an unofficial tradition publicized over a Facebook group that intended to bring UA students together during Homecoming week by having them strip to their underwear and run from the Campbell Avenue end of the UA Mall to University Boulevard. All of the stripped clothes were said to be donated

to a local charity.

This unofficial tradition was deemed a success after its start in 2009 and was taken over by ZonaZoo in the following years in an attempt to create a student-led and oriented tradition. ZonaZoo also attempted to make the run a philanthropic event by collecting donations for the Tucson Unified School District Clothing Bank, Casa De Los Ninos and other local places that accepted clothing.

A 2015 Daily Wildcat article by Emma Jackson quoted a ZonaZoo member who said, “We’re trying to appeal to all the different student markets, […] and we’re really just trying to promote to all of them the overall cause of donating all of their clothes that they don’t use.”

While this was a theoretically solid plan, this article is the last record that the Daily Wildcat has of this tradition, rendering it unsuccessful.

In terms of sports, 110 years ago in 1914, the UA hosted its first-ever Homecoming football game, which was christened by the Wildcats’ win against Pomona College. While this game took

place on Thanksgiving Day instead of in October, it marked the school’s first Homecoming victory and solidified the importance of a Homecoming football game for the years to come. From football, to “A” Mountain, to unsuccessful underwear runs, this week in Wildcat history carries layers and layers of tradition that this year’s Homecoming can only hope to add to, with this year’s traditions including:

• The lighting of the “A” at Sentinel Peak on Oct. 13 at 6:00 p.m.

• The Club Olympics, which begin on Oct. 15 and last for three days on the UA Mall

• The Homecoming mud tug-of-war on Oct. 17 at 11:00 a.m. on the UA Mall.

• The Bear Down Friday Pep Rally on Oct. 18 at 5:00 p.m. in Main Gate Square on University Boulevard followed by the Homecoming Bonfire and Royalty Crowning

• The Homecoming football game against the University of ColoradoBoulder on Oct. 19

GRACE GARFOOT

The Daily Wildcat

ALEX MCINTYRE | THE DAILY WILDCAT

THE BOBCATS SENIOR HONORARY claps while singing “Bear Down Arizona,” the UA fight song, after lighting the “A” on A Mountain with flares during the annual ceremony on Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016.

NOELLE HARO-GOMEZ | THE DAILY WILDCAT STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN ZONAZOO’S Undie Run with Wilma and Wilbur on the UA Mall in 2012. All the clothing they shed was donated.

ARTS

UA’s main stage program under new artistic direction amidst the musical theater BFA phase-out

BY GWENDOLYN BUETTNER

Arizona Sonoran News

The University of Arizona’s Repertory Theatre has a new artistic director this year who has been involved in overseeing the process of phasing out the school’s auditiononly musical theater program.

Christie Kerr, an associate professor of musical theater in the School of Theatre, Film & Television, has been teaching at the UA for nine years. She now steps into the role of artistic director at the Arizona Repertory Theatre, also known as ART.

The theatre is the main stage program for musical theater students, giving them a place to rehearse and perform a variety of musicals. That program, however, is in its last two years after the College of Fine Arts announced last February that it was eliminating its musical theater degree.

“We are in the process of sunsetting out,” Kerr said, “We have two more years of the (Bachelor of Fine Arts) musical theater program, so things have changed since I’ve gotten here.”

Kerr has been involved in musical theater since she was a child and said she decided to pursue it professionally early on in life.

“I knew in high school I was bit by the bug, that I had to go study this,” Kerr said. “I went to the University of Michigan, which is one of the top schools in the nation for musical theater.”

Once she graduated in 1994, she traveled the country as a performer, choreographer and eventually director of her own projects. After landing in Chicago in 1999, Kerr began teaching musical theater in 2005.

“I kind of fell into academia by

mistake,” Kerr said. “I was teaching at Columbia College, Chicago, starting off subbing a three week class for a friend, which turned into teaching there for 12 years.”

After her time at Columbia College, Kerr moved to Tucson to join the faculty of the UA College of Fine Arts. Now, after nearly a decade teaching musical theater at the UA, Kerr and the musical theater department are facing the implications of the university’s decision to phase out the program.

This year, because of the phase out, some faculty members quit their jobs to begin their search for a new job. As a result, the department of musical theater needed a new artistic director for the Arizona Repertory Theatre. Kerr’s past experience in directing made her well-suited for this role.

“Her broad knowledge of the repertoire and the deep respect and love she engenders from her students will result in high quality productions on the Marroney stage,” Brant Pope, the director of the School of Theatre, Film & Television, said in a written statement.

He added that Kerr would lead the theater with profound competency in performing, teaching and directing.

Kerr embraced the opportunity.

“It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do,” Kerr said. “When the opportunity arose, the director of the school said, ‘I think this would be a great fit for you.’”

Kerr said the theater prepares students for the professional world. In addition to acting, singing and dance classes, musical theater students synthesize what they learn by putting it into practice on stage. As artistic director, Kerr said she also connects students with the professional world to prepare them for their post-graduate careers.

Haiden Pederson, a senior in the musical theater program, said Kerr has been doing the work of an artistic director during her entire tenure at the

UA, just without the title.

“Her appointment as the head of ART could not have come at a better time,” Pederson said. “She really understands the needs of the students who are still here with the program shut-down.”

Pederson said Kerr is a key figure in keeping the theater strong during its last two years. She added that Kerr emphasizes the joy of musical theater with unique opportunities that keep students motivated, such as industry Q&A’s with working professionals and alumni.

“She’s trying really hard to have a commitment towards making new and exciting opportunities available to us that weren’t necessarily there since this shut down,” Pederson said.

Lily Grubert, also a senior studying musical theater, said with Kerr’s leadership, the program is giving aspiring artists professional development and networking opportunities.

“Most recently, she set up a Zoom for the cast of ‘Bright Star’ with Josh Rhodes, the original choreographer

for the Broadway production of the musical,” said Grubert, who is a cast member of “Bright Star,” a musical students are performing at ART this fall. “We had an hour to ask questions, as well as hear about his experience as a creative in the industry.”

Grubert said Kerr is great to work with as both a director and choreographer because of her willingness to collaborate and commitment to the program. Grubert said she has learned a lot from Kerr as a role model, especially for young women in theater. She said it’s inspiring to see an example of women stepping into important leadership roles.

ART’s 2024-2025 season includes the Broadway hit “Bright Star,” originally slated to be performed in 2020, but canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s a beautiful collection of shows that we put together,” Kerr said, adding that the performances highlight students’ talents and abilities.

The season also includes “Uncle Vanya,” “John Proctor is the Villain” and “Little Women.” Tickets can be purchased online on the School of Theater, Film & Television’s theater season website.

GWENDOLYN BUETTNER | ARIZONA SONORAN NEWS

THE GREGORY KNOPF BOX Office at the University of Arizona on Sept 10. This is where people can buy tickets in person for Arizona Repertory Theatre’s upcoming shows.

Get ready for fall

Here’s a list of things to do in Arizona during the -ber months.

changes every year.

BY VALERIA NALANI

The Daily Wildcat

While Arizona isn’t necessarily known for its fall weather, there are a variety of events that allow Arizonans to get into the spirit. With Halloween and Thanksgiving around the corner, here are a few things to get you ready for fall.

Marana Pumpkin Patch

Located at 14950 N Trico Rd., Marana, Arizona is one of the state’s best pumpkin patches. From treats to different rides, the Marana Pumpkin Patch offers a range of activities for the whole family.

Maggie Kinney, a member of the Marana Pumpkin Patch team, said it is exciting to think about how this year stands out from previous years.

“We have a few new attractions this year. The biggest one is our new haunted corn maze, SCREAM,” Kinney said.

According to Kinney, the Marana Pumpkin Patch team appreciates that people come from all over the state to celebrate the fall spirit.

“Having people from different parts of Arizona come together to experience the Marana Pumpkin Patch is truly special,” Kinney said. “It creates a vibrant and diverse atmosphere where families, friends, and individuals from various backgrounds unite to enjoy the spirit of the fall season.”

Varying from fall attractions and trains to festive treats and farm animals, this patch is diverse and

“Whether it’s your first time visiting or you’re exploring what makes our event special, we’re thrilled to have you join us,” Kinney said. “For those who’ve made the Marana Pumpkin Patch a yearly tradition, we can’t thank you enough for your continued support and loyalty. You are the heart of what makes this event so special and we’re honored to be part of your fall traditions […]. It’s our goal to ensure that every visit feels just as magical as your first.”

The Marana Pumpkin Patch runs from Oct. 5-Oct. 27. More information can be found on the location’s website.

Interfaith Community Services

There are also plenty of opportunities to get involved within the community this time of year.

Jennifer Humphries from Interfaith Community Services offered a new and refreshing perspective on the season.

“The mission of ICS is to create pathways leading to more stable and self-sufficient lives for individuals and families in need,” Humphries said.

ICS’ focus on the community is carried out alongside those who participate in their monthly events, food banks or donations.

“When you donate your time or resources to Interfaith Community Services, you’re not just giving; you are investing in people and their futures. The feeling of making a tangible difference in someone’s life is profoundly rewarding, as your contributions help build pathways to

stability and brighter futures for those in need […]. Whether through direct service or donations, your support is vital in transforming,” Humphries said.

ICS will host their annual Fall Food Drive in October, where they will be “collecting essential pantry staples for the Northwest and Mobile Food Banks […] This initiative also gathers seasonal holiday foods, ensuring that ICS clients can enjoy special holiday meals with their families.”

More information can be found on their website.

Individuals, organizations and businesses that are interested in participating in ICS events can reach out to awilson@icstucson. org, as the group is always looking for new volunteers.

DUSK Music Festival

DUSK Music Festival is the largest music festival in Tucson. From its vivid atmosphere to the different food vendors and the artists who come to Tucson to share

JONATHAN BONILLA LEON | THE DAILY WILDCAT

WHILE THE WEATHER MAY not seem like it, it’s officially fall in Tucson. There are many events and festivities for people across Arizona to take part in to get into the fall spirit.

FALL IN ARIZONA

their authentic sound, this festival reigns supreme.

Chad David Shearer, public relations representative for the Dusk Music Festival, said what separates this year’s event from those in the past is an all-new entrance.

“Additionally we have a lot of new artwork on display,” Shearer said.

With vendors from across Tucson and artists from across the world, this festival is unique due to its hometown feel.

“DUSK is something we started eight years ago and I think it gets better each year,” Shearer said.

If you are a music lover, food lover or just looking for a fun activity to do this November, head over to DUSK’s website and purchase tickets before they run out. All Souls Procession

Looking for something unique and soulful this fall? Tucson’s All Souls Procession is the place to be. Picture it: over 200,000 people, vibrant art, heartfelt tributes and a

two-mile parade that celebrates life while honoring those we’ve lost. It’s not just an event, it’s a movement, bringing people from all walks of life together to express their grief and joy in one incredible night.

Organized by Many Mouths One Stomach, a rad arts collective, the procession kicks off as a creative sanctuary. This isn’t your typical parade; it’s a wild mix of altars, art installations and performances, all tied together with a deep sense of community.

The night ends with the burning of The Urn, where the crowd’s wishes and prayers for loved ones are sent into the sky. It’s the ultimate release.

If you’re in Tucson and want to experience a truly powerful moment that’s both chill and meaningful, the All Souls Procession is where it’s at this fall. The procession runs Nov. 1-3.

Vertuccio Farms

Vertuccio Farms, located at 4011 S. Power Rd., Mesa, Arizona, is home to a Corn Maze Extravaganza, an abundant pumpkin patch, kid-friendly

attractions and more.

The month-long celebration runs until the end of October. Extending an invitation to those throughout Arizona, Vertuccio Farms prides itself on its belief that family fun should be affordable. This farm has a budgetfriendly option for families at only $16 per person; kids 2 and under are always free. Parking is complimentary.

Vertuccio Farms has maintained a strong, positive reputation in the East Valley and Central Arizona community. The farm is full of different activities and attractions. Its mission is to provide a familyfriendly, fun and educational outlet.

Their website has ticket information as well as an in-depth description of the farm itself.

GRACIE KAYKO | THE DAILY WILDCAT

DUSK MUSIC FESTIVAL ATTENDEES dance during Freak On’s set on Oct. 10, 2023. The crowd grew larger as nighttime approached.

NOOR HAGHIGHI | THE DAILY WILDCAT

A WOMAN FLAUNTS HER COSTUME at the All Souls Procession in Downtown Tucson on Nov. 5, 2023. Attendees commonly decorate their faces and wear eccentric clothing for the event honoring the dead.

GRACIE KAYKO | THE DAILY WILDCAT

A WOMAN HOLDS AN umbrella with names of passed loved ones and a couple on stilts holds a framed photo of a loved one on Nov. 5. for the All Souls Procession. Holding photos and carrying ofrendas are a tradition of the celebration

51st annual Tucson Meet Yourself

TUCSON

for the 51st annual year on Oct.

The event is a folklife festival intended to get Tucsonans to come and meet their neighbors of different backgrounds.

GRACIE KAYKO | THE DAILY WILDCAT

MEET YOURSELF OPENS

4 in Jácome Plaza.

EMMA DIAZ | THE DAILY WILDCAT

A MAN ORDERS A refreshment from the Churros Inzunza booth at Tucson Meet Yourself on Oct. 4. The booth has a variety of Latin American delicacies and has vegan and gluten free options.

EMMA DIAZ | THE DAILY WILDCAT

TWO WOMEN MAKE EMPANADAS during the Tucson Meet Yourself Folk Festival on Oct. 4. Empanadas originated in Spain and many parts of Latin America have their own variations.

GRACIE KAYKO | THE DAILY WILDCAT HOPI CONTEMPORARY CARVER EARL Patterson’s Katsina doll at Tucson Meet Yourself on Oct. 4. Patterson is Hopi and Navajo and taught to carve by his brother and brotherin-law.

GRACIE KAYKO | THE DAILY WILDCAT TWO DANCERS PERFORM A contemporary American clog dance with a third dancer on the first day of Tucson Meet Yourself on Oct. 4. Contemporary American clog dance is closely related to tap and Irish dancing.

JOSIE SHIVERS | THE DAILY WILDCAT

HALAU HULA O UALANI performs traditional hula dance at Tucson Meet Yourself on Oct. 4. The Polynesian group has been studying and performing in Tucson since 1993.

GRACIE KAYKO | THE DAILY WILDCAT

A WOMEN HAND MAKES a tortilla at Tucson Meet Yourself on Oct. 4. The festival had over 50 food vendors.

EMILY BECK | THE DAILY WILDCAT

DRAKE, A BEARDED DRAGON, flares his beard on Oct. 6 at Tucson Meet Yourself in Downtown Tucson. Bearded dragons flare their beards when they are territorial or stressed.

GRACIE KAYKO | THE DAILY WILDCAT

A WOMAN ORGANIZES HER bracelet stand under her booth at Tucson Meet Yourself on Oct. 4. Over 75 traditional artists shared and sold their craft at the folklife festival.

EMILY BECK | THE DAILY WILDCAT

GLENDA GARCIA AND LUPINA Velasco of the Garden Kitchen teach how to prepare and cook Nopalitos at Tucson Meet Yourself on Oct. 4. Nopalitos are a Mexican food made with prickly pear cactus.

JOSIE SHIVERS | THE DAILY WILDCAT

THE TWO VENDORS OF Takoyaki Balls greet people by their food truck at Tucson Meet Yourself on Oct. 4. These vendors served traditional Japanese cuisine.

Five Tucson historic homes roll down Speedway for a second chance

Five historic homes have been relocated from Speedway Boulevard and Euclid Avenue to the West University neighborhood.

BY SOPHIA HAMMER

A balance between preserving history and creating new student housing is playing out at Speedway Boulevard and Euclid Avenue, where five historic homes were moved to a West University neighborhood to make way for a new high-rise. The last home was moved in September.

About five years ago, developer Capstone Communities approached Tucson community member Joel Ireland with a plan to move five historic homes to his property to clear the site for student housing. Ireland said that Capstone covered all expenses until the homes were settled on his land.

For Ireland, a native of Tucson and a long-time resident of West University, the project is personal.

“My main thing in this is preserving these houses. I’ve always lived in West University. I was born and raised in Tucson. I’ve always been interested in old houses and fixing them up,” Ireland said.

Ireland described many of the houses as being in poor condition before the move.

“These houses were really in danger of catching on fire. [...] They really were dilapidated. They were going to be goners,” Ireland said.

But instead of demolition, the homes — built between 1890 and 1930 — were transported to a new location by rolling them on

wheels down Speedway.

Now that the homes are on his property, Ireland is responsible for all the renovations, which he said should take about 12-18 more months to complete. Once renovation is complete, Ireland said he wants renters who want to take care of and preserve these older homes.

Before relocating the houses, Ireland had to take several steps to make the project feasible. He first needed to tear down another house he owned, which allowed him to create an additional lot for a total of five spaces. Ireland also had to seek approval from two of the

city’s historical boards: the West University Historic Zoning Advisory Board and the Tucson-Pima County Historical Commission Plans Review Subcommittee.

“For some reason in Tucson, we do this. It’s bizarre,” Ireland said.

But Ireland added that this bizarreness is for a reason; he and his sons were raised in these homes and he hopes to pass on his love for preservation to his children.

818 E. Speedway Blvd. and 814 E. Speedway Blvd. are two of the five houses that have been relocated as part of Ireland’s preservation efforts.

In the 1980s, Chris Carlone lived

at 814 E. Speedway Blvd., a time when both 814 and 818 were notorious for their underground music scene. One of these homes, known as “Club 818,” became a hub for punk rock musicians and unforgettable gatherings.

When Carlone moved back to Tucson in 2021 he saw the houses and was flooded with nostalgic memories of the ‘80s. After returning, Carlone decided to make a documentary called “The Tale of Two Houses” because of his disbelief that the houses were still in

CONTINUED ON PAGE 13

JOSIE SHIVERS | THE DAILY WILDCAT

The Daily Wildcat

SCHOOL COMMUNITYSPIRIT

the same spot.

“This is before I heard that they were building these [high-rises]. I’m like, there’s no way these are gonna make it for another five years,” Carlone said.

When Ireland started relocating, Carlone said the way they moved the houses couldn’t have been more fitting for 818 and 814.

“What a surreal experience it was to be out there in the street and seeing them like [that], it’s kind of fitting, in a way. [...] It’s not every day that you see a house on wheels, on remote control wheels, moving down the street. And it couldn’t be happening to a more fitting house, because that house was, you know, that whole world, it was such a surreal, crazy, fun place, [a] vortex,” Carlone said.

Having lived in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco, Carlone added that Tucson possesses

a unique quality.

“Coming back to Tucson, one of the things I love about it, and one of the

things that hasn’t really changed much, is that you’ve got Speedway Boulevard blocked off at 11 [at night] [...] and it’s

so laid back. You’re rolling this giant house down the street, and there’s, maybe two cop cars there,” Carlone said.

Carlone is supportive of Ireland’s efforts to preserve the houses and move them.

“I have seen so many things disappear and just be bulldozed. I’m 54, so it’s like, after a while you start seeing this a lot in your life,” Carlone said.

“It’s really special, even if it’s just these little groups of houses, that someone’s moving them around the corner. [...] These things are just sort of infectious and make people say, ‘Wow, this is special and people care,’ and that can only be a positive thing.”

According to Carlone, he has met Ireland and his sons and Ireland has seen his documentary about the historic Tucson homes.

JOSIE SHIVERS | THE DAILY WILDCAT

TUCSON HISTORIC HOMES ARE to be moved out of the lot with wheels on the corner of Euclid Avenue and Speedway Boulevard Sept. 4. These homes are being moved to make room for more student housing.

Arizona women’s basketball’s first year in Big 12 BASKETBALL

BY MICHAEL SMITH

Daily Wildcat

After a rollercoaster of a 2023-2024 season ending with an early exit in the NCAA tournament to Syracuse University, Arizona women’s basketball will look to get back on track in the coming season in a new conference.

The team started 8-1 last year then went through five conference games that all came down to one possession loss. The team went 1-4 during that span, with two of the games going to overtime.

After huge wins against the University of Washington in triple overtime and a defeat against No. 3 Stanford University on the road, the Wildcats ended last season with a 17-15 record. Arizona went on to win the first games in the NCAA tournament, beating Auburn University 69-59 but then losing to Syracuse 74-69 in their second game of the tournament and ending their season short.

The biggest problem Arizona faced last season was the roster size. Between cutting people from the team and losing people to academics, Arizona’s line up went from small to smaller.

“If players don’t have an opportunity, they’re not gonna stay, so finding that balance gives the freshmen some experience so you can keep them on your roster and we needed more depth for sure [this season],” said head coach Adia Barnes.

The Wildcats have nine players returning to the team this season with three new players joining the squad. Four-star guard from New York Lauryn Swann, Serbian forward Katarina Knežević and Mailien Rolf, a guard from Germany, headline the incoming class.

After losing Esmery Martinez and Helena Pueyo to the WNBA and Salimatou Kourouma to the University

of Oregon via the transfer portal, Arizona brought in two new transfer players: Sahnya Jah, a forward from the University of South Carolina and Paulina Paris from the University of North Carolina. Both new transfers will add some much-needed depth to the team.

Meet the Team

Leading the guards for the Wildcats are sophomores Jada Williams and Skylar Jones. Williams played every game and led the team in free throw percentage with 84.5% while putting up 9.5 points and 2.4 assists per game. Jones scored 7.2 points and hauled in 2.3 rebounds on average.

“Jada has tremendously improved: her voice, how she approaches things, her work

ethic. Everything has gone to the next level,” Barnes said. “[Jones] has taken more of a leadership role this year too.”

Highlighting the bigs for the Wildcats is sophomore Breya Cunningham. Cunningham appeared in all 34 games, averaged 7.7 points and led the team with 1.8 blocks per game and shooting 51.7% from the floor. Also returning for her final year, using her extra year of eligibility from COVID-19, is senior Isis Beh. Her leadership and experience will play a pivotal role in this upcoming season. The Wildcats will also get redshirt sophomore Montaya Dew back from injury after missing all of last season recovering from a surgery.

“I’m really excited about this core and just

excited to see what they’ll do this year,” said Barnes.

Key Games

The Wildcats will head to Palm Springs, Calif. to play in the Acrisure Series and take on Vanderbilt University on Nov. 26. The Wildcats will play either Michigan State University or University of California, Berkeley in that tournament.

After the Acrisure Series, Arizona’s schedule gets tougher, as the team will play the top three teams in the Big 12 preseason polls starting in January. The Wildcats will first play Baylor University on Jan. 8 at home, Iowa State University on Jan. 11 and then Kansas State University on the road in Kansas on Jan. 16.

CELESTE LIZARRAGA | THE DAILY WILDCAT

THE ARIZONA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL team continues the tradition of banging on the drum before a game against Loyola Marymount University on Nov. 12, 2023, in McKale Center. This year, their first game takes place on Oct. 25 against West Texas A&M.

The

Arizona men’s basketball: What to expect from the Wildcats in the Big 12

BY KAYLA LOWERY

The Daily Wildcat

The University of Arizona men’s basketball team enters the 2024-25 season with some returning talent and new key additions, hoping to build on last season’s success.

The Wildcats had a strong 2023-24 season, finishing 27-9 and making it to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA March Madness tournament. Key players who contributed to that season’s success included Caleb Love, Oumar Ballo, Pelle Larsson and Keshad Johnson.

Returning this season for the Wildcats is fifth-year Love who was named the Pac-12 Player of the Year last season and is projected to have a notable season this year as well. Although Love struggled during the NCAA tournament, going 5 of 28 (17.9%) against Clemson University in the Sweet 16, he had a crucial role in Arizona’s success up to that point. Love averaged 18.0 points per game and was the team’s leader in three categories, draining 92 threepointers, hitting 218 field goals and making 120 free throws.

Another guard rejoining the roster is junior Jaden Bradley, who played in 36 games and averaged 20.2 minutes per game.

Sophomore Motiejus Krivas is returning to the court for the Wildcats and is projected to be Arizona’s starting center after Ballo’s departure to the University of Indiana via the transfer portal in the

NOAH SLAUGH | THE DAILY WILDCAT

TWO PLAYERS FROM the Arizona men’s basketball team fight for a rebound at McKale Center on Oct. 4 during the Red-Blue Showcase where the Red team won 47-44. The Wildcats showcased a 3-point contest and a dunk contest before the scrimmage.

offseason.

Head coach Tommy Lloyd said the three returning guards for Arizona are important to the team as Love, Bradley and KJ Lewis’ experience is what the team needs.

As Lloyd goes into his fourth season at Arizona, his proven track record and the program’s positive momentum create a promising outlook. Lloyd has an 88-20 record at Arizona and is the first power conference coach to win the conference tournament in their first two seasons (2022 and 2023 Pac-12 tournament titles).

New talent has emerged in the off-

season like forward Carter Bryant, a four-star recruit out of Riverside, California. The 6-foot-8 freshman was ranked as a Top 20 recruit in the country according to every recruiting service.

Anthony Dell’Orso, a highly efficient scorer, transferred to Arizona in the offseason from Campbell University. Dell’Orso had a very impressive offensive season with Campbell last year, shooting 49.25% overall, 38.0% from the 3-point line and 80.9% on 157 attempts at the free throw line on his way to averaging 19.5 points per game.

Another addition to the team is

forward Trey Townsend, who previously played at Oakland University. Townsend was named the 2024 Horizon League Player of the Year after helping Oakland deliver a massive upset to Kentucky in the first round of the NCAA tournament last year.

The Wildcats will start Big 12 play by hosting TCU on Dec. 30, kicking off their first season in the conference. The last time Arizona faced TCU was during the Sweet 16 in 2022 where Arizona beat the Horned Frogs in overtime 85-80. Arizona will also rematch the University of Houston, their opponent in the 2022 NCAA tournament Elite Eight, who they lost to 72-60. The Wildcats will host the Cougars Saturday, Feb. 15.

Some other opponents the Wildcats will face this season are the University of Cincinnati, West Virginia University, University of Central Florida, Baylor University, Texas Tech University and Oklahoma State University. Follow the Daily Wildcat on Instagram and X

How to feel like a local when coming to Tucson as a sports fan

BY MOHIM JAHONGIROVA

When people think of Tucson sports, the University of Arizona athletics often take center stage. However, there’s much more to being a local sports fan in this community than just catching games. Whether you’re visiting for a game or moving to the area, it’s about enjoying the distinct culture and outdoor experience that Southern Arizona has to offer.

The local sports culture is dominated by the UA and, for newcomers, learning to “Bear Down” is a must. The UA fight song and slogan “Bear Down” stands for persistence, strength and a tireless dedication to UA Athletics.

“Tucson has a lot of loyal UA fans. Everyone here wants the Wildcats to win. While other cities sometimes have multiple teams people are cheering for, but for Tucson almost everyone unites for Wildcats

with infectious energy and invaluable friendliness,” said Kate Condon, a sports fan and a student at the UA.

Sports in Tucson are more than just events, they are also places for the community to come together as fans from all walks of life to passionately celebrate wins and losses.

Places like Arizona Stadium, home of Wildcat football, and McKale Center are representative of Tucson’s close ties to its college athletics — particularly basketball — and the Tucson Convention Center, which is home of the Wildcat hockey teams. All of these locations serve as gathering spots where fans and athletes can engage with Tucson’s sporting spirit.

“Tucson is a City of Gastronomy, so we have great restaurants here with a variety of different foods. It is important to go to the restaurant or bar before or after the game to fully engage with Tucson’s sports vibes,” said Breanna Lopez, sports coordinator at Visit Tucson.

Restaurants and bars like The Royal Room, McGee’s, The Hut, Gentle Ben’s Brewing and Trident Grill capture the essence of local sports fandom with numerous TVs lining the walls, offering vibrant atmospheres, hearty foods and opportunities to connect with fellow enthusiasts.

Even if there are no games, these kinds of bars and restaurants always have their sports fans hanging out with their interesting discussions.

As a student and a sports fan, Spencer Dotson points out that Tucson isn’t just about watching sports, it’s also about participating in them. This city is an ideal destination for outdoor enthusiasts, with hiking, running and cycling playing major roles in the local sports community.

One of the best ways to experience the connection between sports and nature is by hiking Sentinel Peak, affectionately known as “A” Mountain. This Tucson landmark, with its giant white “A” painted by Arizona

students, is more than just a symbol of school pride, it’s a great place to get sweeping views of the city and the surrounding desert.

The Tucson Rodeo, officially known as La Fiesta de los Vaqueros, is a defining sports event in Southern Arizona. Dating back to 1925, this annual February rodeo celebrates the region’s rich cowboy heritage and draws

competitors and fans from across the Southwest.

The rodeo is a cultural celebration that reflects Southern Arizona’s connection to its Old West roots, making it a unique sports experience in the region. By taking part in these uniquely Tucson experiences, it is easy to understand what makes this city’s sports culture special.

The Daily Wildcat

NATHANIEL STENCHEVER | THE DAILY WILDCAT THE ZONAZOO SECTION AT the Arizona men’s basketball team cheers and waves balloons around while the opposing team tries a free throw on Nov. 17, 2022 in McKale Center. The Wildcats would win their third game 104-77.

CAMPAIGNING

The presidential TikTok race

BY ANNA LINEBERRY Arizona Sonoran News

With the election right around the corner Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have joined the popular social media app, TikTok.

With Kamala HQ’s 4.6 million followers and Team Trump’s 1.8 million followers, a young generation is joining the election conversation.

First-time voter Nathan Lewison said that the candidates are “getting with the times.”

“The only way to get to young voters is by exposure, by being on the platform the young voters are on,” he added. “It’s exposing who the candidates are.”

Their approaches are different, but the two candidates through TikTok have showcased their personalities in a way that voters have found to be entertaining.

“Half of it is to entertain people and show them that the candidates are on TikTok. The other half is encouraging them to vote,”

Lewison said.

While Team Trump focuses on campaign points, Kamala HQ focuses on both information and trends.

“I think what they post reflects what they believe in but not the trends,” first-time voter Devan Formenti said.

While these videos are entertaining, it is likely that viewers will only see videos from the candidate that they support because of TikTok’s algorithm.

“You don’t try to look for the videos, they just come up,” Lewison said.

Harris’ campaign account, Kamala HQ, has taken trending songs on TikTok and added them to videos resulting in thousands of positive comments, with many referring to her videos as “iconic.”

In a recent video posted by Kamala HQ, Harris was shown exiting an airplane in a pantsuit and Converse. The soundtrack was written by Demi Lovato and includes the trending lyrics “who said I can’t wear my Converse

with my dress.” The video of Harris included these lyrics but changed the word dress to suit.

The video garnered 3 million likes and has been viewed over 21 million times. Comments include things like “I’m obsessed” and “Whoever runs this account is a genius.”

With Taylor Swift’s recent endorsement, Harris has put the superstar singer’s songs in her videos, including “Long Live.”

“It is entertaining if you see someone with the same views as you,” Formenti said.

The Team Trump account posts campaign highlight, including places Trump travels. Many of his videos are focused on things Harris has done or said.

In one of the most recent Team Trump videos, two screenshots were posted describing when President Biden signed a law to ban TikTok nationwide unless it was sold. The caption over the video says “Kamala and her entire campaign use TikTok, despite the fact that her administration passed

a law to ban TikTok.”

Ironically the account failed to mention that in 2020 while still president, Trump wanted the app banned.

According to Betsy Smith, who serves as a precinct and state committeewoman as well as assistant director for the Pima County Republican Party, TikTok is not a great way to get information.

“If voters are getting their information solely from TikTok, that’s a really lousy way to inform yourself for either party,” Smith said, adding that “any political candidate needs to understand various market trends and of course that includes social media.”

While many of the candidates’ videos are entertaining, they aren’t influencing young voters to change their vote.

“I feel like most young people already know who they are voting for. When they are on TikTok, they are going to either comment positively or bash the candidate,” Lewison said.

Formenti shared a similar take

saying, “I don’t think there’s a problem with it, but I don’t think they are getting people to change their views from their videos.”

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ANNA LINEBERRY | ARIZONA SONORAN NEWS A SIGN IN THE University of Arizona Student Union encourages students to vote on Oct. 7.

UA community responds, offers resources following on-campus shooting

BY RUBY WRAY

Following the shooting that resulted in the death of Minhaj Jamshidi on Sept. 23, the University of Arizona and greater Tucson community responded in concern and came together to support each other and those impacted by the event.

The Criminal Investigations Unit of the University of Arizona Police Department identified the suspect responsible for the crime as 20-yearold Ryan Romero-Encinas. UAPD released a statement on Sept. 24 at 9:20 p.m. alerting the campus of the suspect’s identity. On Sept. 25 at 5:31 p.m., UAPD alerted campus of Romero-Encinas’ arrest. He was taken into custody at 3:32 p.m. at 850 E. Wetmore Rd., where he resided. Romero-Encinas is not affiliated with the University of Arizona.

UAPD held a live-streamed press conference the morning of Thursday, Sept. 26 to give updates about the investigation.

Chris Olson, UAPD chief, made remarks on the arrest.

“Yesterday, at 3:10 p.m., the suspect returned to his apartment to turn himself in. His roommates promptly called 911, and TPD and UAPD responded to arrest him. Encinas has been booked into the Pima County Jail where he remains in custody with no bond,” Olson said.

Questions emerged among students and staff about the halfhour delay between the time of the incident and the UAlert notification

PLACED FLOWERS, CANDY, candles and letters at

next to Arizona-Sonora Hall. Jamshidi, a 19-year-old Pima County

when a fight broke out during Sunday’s game.

residents received.

“The systems that we placed for UAlerts failed us in this instance. We were quickly overwhelmed. And us falling short on that is my responsibility and I take full responsibility for that,”

Olson said. “I can assure the community that we’ve implemented changes to our UAlert system immediately.”

Olson said that UAlert processes will be discussed soon.

According to Olson, the investigation, however, is not fully over.

“I am reminded that we are still seeking information related to the suspect’s whereabouts over the past couple of days, and we are asking for the com-

munity to bring forward any additional information or evidence.”

Those with information about the suspect or information prior to his arrest can contact UAPD at 520-621-8273.

Family, friends and members of the Islamic community gathered on the evening of Sept. 25 at the Islamic Center of Tucson for a prayer service. Jamshidi’s burial followed at All Faiths Memorial Park. In 2021, Jamshidi and his family left Afghanistan, seeking peace in the United States. Jamshidi frequented the sand volleyball courts outside of the Arizona-Sonora residence hall.

The recent on-campus shooting comes just days before the second

anniversary of the fatal shooting of Thomas Meixner, former professor and department head of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences. Oct. 5, 2022, Meixner was tragically killed, leaving a lasting impact on the UA community where he had served for over 30 years as a beloved professor, coworker, husband, father and friend.

In remembrance of Meixner’s life, the Newman Center hosted a nondenominational memorial on Friday, Oct. 4, marking the second anniversary of his passing.

Adriana Grijalva, Associated Students of the University of Arizona student body president, spoke on the incident after returning from Meixner’s memorial.

“Here we are, two years later, and another act of violence happens — and this is something that is happening everywhere right now,” Grijalva said.

After Meixner’s death, Grijalva began to pursue work in gun violence prevention.

“Being in this role when the shooting happened really personally hit a different note, especially being a student […] seeing him at 19 years old, lose his life to violence,” Grijalva said.

In the week following the shooting, UA students and faculty expressed concern about campus safety especially regarding the decision to hold classes with a suspect on the loose.

According to Olson, the decision

GRACIE KAYKO | THE DAILY WILDCAT

PEOPLE

Minhaj Jamshidi memorial at the volleyball courts

Community College student, was shot and killed

The Daily Wildcat

CAMPUS SAFETY

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18

goes to the provost.

“The decision to hold classes or not hold classes [is] not my decision,” Olson said.

Tucson Chief of Police Chad Kasmar followed Olson’s remarks about classes not being canceled.

“A small population of individuals are not going to control the atmosphere and environment of Tucson or this university. As Chief of Police, I commend UA leadership for not canceling classes,” Kasmar said.

Many UA students felt differently.

“I think it’s very difficult to continue with classes the next day, and something we’re really hoping is to work on some more flexibility, whether that’s virtual or non-mandatory attendance because I feel like that is something students have asked for,” Grijalva said. “I really

feel for students, and even professors and faculty. They’re going through it as well. Holding class the next day is never easy, and I hope we can work on some alternatives.”

Interim Vice President for Student Affairs Amanda Kraus worked with her team to provide mental health resources to students in nearby dorms and across campus in the moments and days following the shooting.

Student Affairs houses Counseling & Psych Services, Campus Recreation, the Dean of Students Office, Disability Resources and Housing and Residential Life.

“Often when upsetting or traumatic incidents happen, a lot of the folks in our division will be working to support students, and that was true on Sunday night and Monday and into this week,” Kraus said. “CAPS mobilized counselors to go to AZSo. They increased their drop-in hours. They created drop-in spaces online. So

they really increased their capacity to meet students if they needed to speak with someone.”

She recommended students reach out for support.

“If you live in the dorms, talk to your RA, talk to your Community Director, talk with your friends, talk with your faculty member,” Kraus said. “It’s understandable to be impacted by what happened here, and we want people to feel supported and like they can take care of themselves, and like they can connect with others in a time of crisis.”

Students can access mental health resources by contacting Counseling & Psych Services at 520-621-3334, scheduling an appointment online or dropping in at a CAPS location during operating hours. Employees can contact Employee Assistance Counseling — available 24/7 to all UA employees, their dependents and members of their households — at 877-327-2362.

MASON KUMET | THE DAILY WILDCAT

STUDENTS IN THE ÁRBOL de la Vida dorm on campus view a crime scene from their windows on Sept. 23. Many students bore witness to the on-campus shooting of Minhaj Jamshidi.

GRACIE KAYKO | THE DAILY WILDCAT

PEOPLE TAPED LETTERS TO a pole near Minhaj Jamshidi’s memorial at the volleyball courts next to ArizonaSonora Hall. The letter says that even though Jamshidi wasn’t a University of Arizona student, his shooting is a UA problem.

Year in review: A timeline of events on the UA campus since Oct. 7

BY KIARA ADAMS

On Oct. 7, 2023, when terrorist group Hamas attacked an Israeli music festival, no one could have anticipated the critical role college campuses would play in the discourse surrounding the conflict.

Between demonstrations, protests, rallies and eventual encampments, college students and university officials nationwide have had a unique time navigating this conflict on campus.

The University of Arizona has not been immune to the fallout surrounding the conflict.

The UA campus has seen vigils, various demonstrations and encampments as well.

Here is a timeline of the events surrounding the conflict and how it’s reached the UA campus: October 2023

The immediate aftermath of Oct. 7 led to many demonstrations and outrage by both Jewish and Palestinian communities.

By Monday, Oct. 9, after Israel officially declared war on Hamas, there were already two demonstrations planned by different groups.

Supporters of Palestine rallied outside the Downtown Tucson Federal Building chanting support for the Palestinian people in Gaza.

That same day, hundreds of people gathered at the Tucson Jewish Community Center for a community solidarity vigil for Israel.

In the days following the attack, former UA President Dr. Robert C. Robbins released a statement separating the university from student group Students for Justice in Palestine after the group had planned a rally on campus.

“We understand that a national student organization with a chapter at the University of Arizona called Students for Justice in Palestine, or SJP, is planning a demonstration on campus tomorrow. The national organization has made statements endorsing the actions of Hamas in Israel, which are, of course, antithetical to our university’s values,” the statement read.

The statement went on to read that as

a public university, free speech is obligated and supported, “even for ideas and opinions that most find objectionable or hateful.”

According to Robbins’ statement, he said that SJP “is not speaking on behalf of our university […] but they have the constitutional right to hold their views and to express them in a safe environment.”

In response to the statement sent out to the university community, SJP decided to cancel their vigil. A statement posted on the SJP Instagram said that due to President Robbins’ “inflammatory” letter, the group no longer felt safe holding their demonstration.

November 2023

On Nov. 8, rows and rows of empty chairs filled the UA Mall, each meant to represent an Israeli hostage taken by Hamas.

The vigil was organized by Catpac Wildcats for Israel, a local chapter affiliated with the national American Israel Public

Affairs Committee. The vigil also included participation from various Jewish organizations on campus like Hillel, Chabad and Mishelanu, as well as some non-Jewish organizations.

The following day a march in support of Palestine took place on campus. The march drew out hundreds of supporters and students to participate.

Various student and community groups, including the Tucson branch of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, were involved in the planning of the walkout to demand “an end to the University of Arizona’s complicity in the occupation and genocide in Palestine,” according to the walkout flyer.

“This is not a fight against Palestinians, this is a fight against Hamas, to condemn them for what they’ve done,” said a Jewish student who requested

CONTINUED ON PAGE 21

BEN TISDALE | THE DAILY WILDCAT

UA CATPAC AND ISRAELI students organize a vigil on the Mall on Nov. 8, 2023. The vigil honored 240 hostages held by Hamas.

The Daily Wildcat

LIV LEONARD | EL INDE ARIZONA PROTESTORS HOLD UP SIGNS in support of Palestine at a downtown rally in Tucson on Oct. 9, 2023. The event was organized as a reaction to the Israel-Hamas war.

GLOBAL CONFLICT

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20

anonymity at the rally.

Later in the month of November, UA professors Rebecca Lopez and Rebecca Zapien were put on administrative leave with pay after a video was shared of comments they made about the IsraelHamas conflict during a class discussion.

A sit-in was staged at the College of Education to support the professors following their leave. Students involved in this sit-in expressed concern about how this decision related to their right to free speech on campus and debated if professors, along with themselves, can express how they feel without the risk of repercussions.

April

Following winter break and the majority of the spring semester, there was not much taking place around campus surrounding the conflict, but in April discussions and rallies began to pick up.

SJP at the University of Arizona hosted a protest on the Mall to show solidarity with Gaza and the Palestinian community on Thursday, April 25.

During the protest, students and staff advocated for a ceasefire in Palestine, cessation of all United States assistance to Israel, UA divestment from the weapons manufacturer RTX Corporation (formerly Raytheon Technologies Corporation) and an end of any partnerships between the UA and Israel.

At this point in the conflict encampments were beginning to be set up at universities across the nation but none had been set up during the April 25 protest.

By the end of the month, access to the Mall had been shut off completely by university officials following an encampment on the Mall that took place Monday, April 29.

The demonstration lasted on the Mall all day and as the sun began to set, the University of Arizona Police Department and campus security put out signs saying that “University policy states non-academic activity on the Mall must

conclude by 10:30 p.m. Those that do not disperse will be part of an unlawful assembly and subject to arrest for trespassing.”

The protestors eventually dispersed and late Monday night, the section of the Mall where protestors had been, was blocked off with fences and signs that said “no trespassing.” The Mall remained blocked off until UA Commencement.

May

Another encampment was set up on

would implement the following actions:

1. “We will strictly enforce our campus use policies, including a prohibition on all non-permitted shade coverings, including canopies and tents.

2. No events or large gatherings will be allowed on campus without a permit authorized in advance. Vice President and Chief Safety Officer Steve Patterson will review all permit requests.

encampment was being cleared. September and October

Following summer break and the beginning of the 2024-2025 academic year, sparse demonstrations have taken place in Tucson and around campus, but nothing reaching the magnitude of the encampments seen in May.

the UA campus starting April 30 at 3 p.m. The encampment was located at the Olive Grove near north Main Gate Square and was reinforced by sheet metal, wooden planks and tarps, creating a makeshift barricade.

By nightfall, chaos began to erupt as demonstrators clashed with police. The encampment lasted into the early hours of May 1 and by 2 a.m. officers moved in on the encampment from both sides and pushed demonstrators back onto Park Avenue.

Robbins released an email following the encampment stating the university

3. UAPD will take a zero-tolerance approach, acting swiftly and decisively to enforce our campus use policy, which can include issuing no warnings before taking action.”

On Friday, May 10, another encampment returned to the same spot. Just after midnight, law enforcement gathered, including the UAPD, Tucson SWAT and the Tucson Police Department to fire tear gas canisters into crowds of demonstrators and bystanders on Park Avenue. This encampment was cleared much faster and was met with much more force, as graduation celebrations were taking place at the same time as the

At the intersection of Tyndall Avenue and University Boulevard, members of the Party for Socialism and Liberation organized a demonstration Tuesday, Sept. 24, in response to the conflict between Lebanon and Israel, where Israel deployed missiles into Lebanon targeting the group Hezbollah.

On the anniversary of Oct. 7, the Hillel Homeland group at the UA, along with members of Olami UA, set up a vigil to remember the tragedy that took place a year ago.

“This is a display memorial to highlight the events of Oct. 7 and the people we lost and remembering that there are still 101 hostages still in Gaza right now. And just making people aware of the atrocities that happened last year on Oct. 7,” senior Edan Levy said.

According to the group, they have no demands of the UA but want to just remind people of what took place.

“I’m not out here to discuss geopolitics and the war. We are here just to acknowledge what happened on Oct. 7, we are not here to talk about geopolitics. It’s a war, we acknowledge that it’s happening, but we are not out here to discuss that,” Levy said.

UA SJP also held a vigil on Friday, Oct. 4 to mark a year since the events of Oct. 7.

In a post made by UA SJP on Instagram, the vigil was to, “mark a year of ongoing genocide by the oppressive Israeli regime affecting victims from Gaza, the West Bank, broader occupied Palestine, and Lebanon.”

During the vigil, members held a Jewish prayer, Salat al Maghrib and a Christian prayer. The prayers were followed with speakers and a candlelight procession.

NOOR HAGHIGHI | THE DAILY WILDCAT POLICE PUSH BACK PRO-PALESTINIAN protestors early May 1 on University Boulevard. This action came after an hours-long series of threats to arrest demonstrators who had constructed an encampment and were considered by the university to be trespassing.

Arizona lacrosse heritage: A rich history of excellence

BY MCKENNA MANZO

The Daily Wildcat

Six decades ago, a vision came to life with the founding of a University of Arizona lacrosse team. Arizona lacrosse was founded by three men: Don Golos, Jay Lehr and Chuck McChesney. These three men worked tirelessly to get the sport varsity recognition at the UA.

Golos was not only the founder but also a player, coach and a team leader. He was a major contributor to getting club status recognition for the team in 1961 and was also a contributor to the team gaining its varsity status in 1964.

Lehr started out as a goalie for the team then became a coach in 1964. He oversaw the expansion of the team from 17 players in 1963 to over 40 in 1964.

McChesney, the last member of the original three, was heavily involved with sponsorship and public relations. He created and fostered relationships with John Barton and Seneca Erman which helped the team gain immense financial support.

In 1965, the varsity team had an 11-0 season and were the reigning champions of the Rocky Mountain Conference. This history has not been forgotten and still holds significant weight in the program to this day.

Even though the team is no longer a varsity sport at the UA, head coach Matt Blamey, who has coached Arizona lacrosse for 7 years, is aware of this legacy.

“For nearly 70 years, the club has carried a tradition of excellence,”

Blamey said. “Building a legacy that reflects the growth and development of lacrosse both at the University of Arizona and across the country.”

Blamey has not only embraced the rich legacy of Arizona lacrosse but also carved out his own notable path in the program. In his second season of coaching, he was named the Southwestern Lacrosse Conference’s Division I Coach of the Year. Under his leadership, the Laxcats qualified for the 2022 Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association’s National Tournament in Round Rock, Texas.

In 2023, the team was ranked No. 5 in the country in the New Balance weekly national poll. This spring, the team made it to the SLC title game for the first time in program history.

According to Pierce Baretz, a former UA lacrosse midfielder, the team’s dynamic before Blamey’s entrance

lacked order and unity.

“He transformed the culture into something that was truly a competitive sport that required discipline and hard work,” Baretz said.

According to Baretz, Blamey coached moment to moment and never compared where the team was in the past to where they are in the present.

This philosophy is part of Blamey’s bigger vision for the program. Blamey said the game is not only about wins and losses.

“Lacrosse offers the opportunity to build character, leadership and life skills that will serve our players well long after their playing days are over,” Blamey said.

This impact can be seen in players like Baretz, who have moved on from the program and built successful lives outside of lacrosse.

“If it wasn’t for lacrosse I can’t say I would have gotten through all four years of college,” Baretz said.

This enduring influence also fosters a sense of community, as evidenced by the alumni game, which is a way for past players to reconnect with their teammates and for current players to learn from their predecessors.

Luke Helmacy, a midfielder for the UA, not only looks forward to being competitive during the game but also taking something away from the alumni insights.

“I like meeting all the alumni and hearing what they have to say,” Helmacy said. “After the game we talk about their experiences and how they keep up with the current team and how they are doing.”

According to Blamey, the alumni game serves as a bridge between the past and the present. The game allows current players to meet and connect with those who have been part of the program’s rich history.

“Sharing stories, hearing about the program’s evolution and bonding over a shared love of lacrosse make it a special event,” Blamey said. “It reminds everyone involved of the deep sense of community and legacy that comes with being a part of Arizona Lacrosse.”

This year’s alumni game will take place at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 20, at William David Sitton Field. There are typically around 25 alumni from the past decade that come back to play against the current team and some older alumni that attend just to watch the game.

ANA BELTRAN | THE DAILY WILDCAT

ARIZONA MEN’S LACROSSE GATHERS after a game vs. USC. The Wildcats lost to the California team 10-9.

SPORTS PROFILE

Savannah Allen: Strengthening women's hockey at UA

Meet one of the star players on Arizona's debuting women's hockey team

The concept of ice sports like hockey seem almost silly in a scorching desert climate. Yet there are a few local women that have been playing it all their life without letting the heat get to them. This includes University of Arizona women's hockey player Savannah Allen.

Allen is a freshman defenseman on Arizona’s inaugural women's

hockey team. A resident of Flagstaff, Arizona, she has played the sport solely in this state for her entire life.

She started her time on the rink with figure skating lessons. This did not end up working out so her parents signed her up for women's hockey. Since then, her goal was to play at the collegiate level.

This passion can be attributed to Allen’s time as an Arizona Kachina.

The Kachinas are a youth girl’s hockey program located in Phoenix; it was established in 2019 and coaches girls as young as 6 how to play hockey.

Allen said, before the Kachinas, there were no girls teams in Arizona. Girls who played hockey in the state had to either play on boys teams or had to leave the state.

Now, Arizona women's hockey

allows Allen to continue in the sport she loves and lets her live her dream as a collegiate player.

“Hockey is very time consuming and takes so much training on [the] ice,” said Allen. She says she is not able to work but is always with her teammates. “I hang out with the team everyday, even outside of practice,” Allen said.

Hockey players are usually on the ice for practice. Off the ice, their practices consist of weight and speed training to improve strength and explosiveness.

When Allen is not with the team, she is an exercise science and physiology major. With her major, she hopes to pursue a career in either sports medicine, athletic training or physical therapy.

Going into the season, the goal is simple for Allen: It’s to win.

“Win as many games as possible, go to nationals, and put Arizona hockey on the map,” Allen said.

Allen’s personal goal is to have the best plus-minus differential. This is the calculated difference between individual goals and the goals scored by the opposing team while they are on the ice.

Above all, she is proud to represent the Wildcat community.

PHOTO COURTESY ARIZONA KACHINAS SAVANNAH ALLEN PLAYS HOCKEY on the ice rink inside Tucson Convention Center.

GABRIEL PAZ

The Daily Wildcat

HALLOWEEN

Haunted Tucson guide: Three haunted houses here to scare Tucson

BY KATE HERRERAS-ZINMAN

Tucson is home to a few haunted attractions with both live actors and animatronics here to scare you. Each has a different focus and vibe, providing different scares with various tones.

1. Slaughterhouse

Slaughterhouse has been open for over 10 years, having first opened its doors as a haunted attraction in 2009. Slaughterhouse used to be a meatpacking plant and is allegedly haunted.

This year, Slaughterhouse features both its haunted walkthrough and a zombie shooting experience, “Apocalypse.” The haunted walkthrough takes attendees through a cemetery, a haunted elevator, a circus full of creepy clowns and more. The haunt is loaded with live actors and animatronics around every corner, leaving no room for boredom.

Ethan Simpson, a haunt lead at Slaughterhouse, helps place actors throughout the walkthrough and also scares people himself.

“Character development is what we strive off of,” Simpson said. “We let the actors develop how they want to do their characters and they go from there. They get assigned a position and with that position comes a costume and makeup.”

This year, for the first time, Slaughterhouse is also home to the Hellzapoppin Circus Sideshow. Hellzapoppin features thrilling stunts and grotesque imagery perfect for

the Halloween experience.

Bryce “The Govna” Graves, ringmaster of the circus, said he enjoys performing at haunted attractions.

“I’m a huge haunted attraction fan — I mean huge. We’ve performed at some of the best haunted attractions all over the world,” Graves said. “I love it, personally. We actually own a small farm in Florida and it’s something we wanna build ourselves on our own farm.”

Slaughterhouse is a good haunt for those who enjoy a lot of gore and scares in rapid succession. Tickets start at $29 per person, with tickets for only Hellzapoppin available for $13. If you purchase a haunted house ticket, you can add Hellzapoppin to your ticket for $6.66. A VIP ticket includes the haunt, Hellzapoppin and the Apocalypse zombie shooting experience.

Learn more on the Slaughterhouse website.

2. Nightfall

Nightfall is run by Old Tucson, a wild west theme park. Nightfall itself is wild west themed too, being set in an old west town with strange supernatural events going on. Nightfall has a more narrative bend than the other haunts in Tucson, with each year of Nightfall bridging to tell one story over the course of multiple years. According to Old Tucson’s website, this year’s Nightfall follows this story: “One year after returning from death, Mary Hyde is fully realized in terrifying, new form as the Demon Queen of Nightfall. Now possessing the power to summon demons from the underworld, Queen Mary is building a terrifying army. Will Mary be able to keep her grip

over Nightfall? Or will the all-but-dead Resistance rise up for one last battle?”

As you walk through the town of Nightfall, you can interact with the various characters from both the Resistance and Queen Mary’s army.

Actor Graham Downing plays Dagger the Destroyer, a soldier in Queen Mary’s army, both roaming around the park and in the climactic stunt show

wherein Mary’s soldiers fight the Resistance.

“I only play Dagger. It’s been fun figuring out who the character is, and it’s certainly coming together now that there’s crowds and guests at the park,” Downing said. “When I’m walking around, they’re asking me

CONTINUED ON PAGE 25

The Daily Wildcat

SELA MARGALIT | THE DAILY WILDCAT

A JAVELINA IN CLOWN gear awaits visitors to scare in the wild west.

HALLOWEEN

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24

questions and asking about my character. Doing the stunt show, I think I characterize myself a lot there too which is fun. I’m finding that he’s a lot cockier than I thought he was, but he’s also kind of an idiot, which is a favorite kind of character for me — somebody with an undeserved ego.”

Nightfall is a true theme park experience, complete not just with haunted walkthroughs, but also a train ride and a myriad of shows ranging from comedic and fun to dramatic and scary, not to mention the fun that can be had simply from interacting with characters you meet. It would be challenging to experience every single thing Nightfall has to offer in just one night because there is so much to do.

To go along with this year’s Nightfall experience, Nightfall has a bar of themed drinks and cocktails developed by Erik Sampson, bar supervisor. Nightfall includes seven total bars, each with a different range of drinks available.

“On the cocktail menu, we have six different cocktails that are all based around concepts or different themes of Nightfall 2024: Reign of Terror. We have The Demon Queen, which is based on a Mexican Candy Shot. We’ve got an old fashioned, but we are using Bulleit Bourbon and butter shots. That’s Crazy Sam’s Butt Bulleit,” Sampson said. There are four more original drinks available as well.

Sampson said the Butt Bulleit may be “an old fashioned for people who don’t like old fashioneds [...] It’s sweet, without being super bourbon-forward.”

Nightfall can also be familyfriendly. The park offers a no-scare necklace that will make it so actors throughout the outdoor sections of the park won’t jump out and scare you.

Downing said his favorite experience at the park involved the noscare necklace.

“I had a group of probably like 12-year-old girls come up to me with the Scare-Me-Not pendants, which are light-up pendants you can buy to tell the scare actors you don’t want to be scared. And they came up to me and went ‘Will you be our friend,’” Downing said. “And I wish I could do that the whole time. Everything softens and you drop all the scary voices and you’re like ‘Of course I’ll be your friend.’ And they’re like ‘We really like your knife.’ And I was like ‘Thank you so much!’ And so, to be dressed up as this cowboy ghoul, being friends with these 12-year-olds was really a joy and I think that the fact that the park offers both experiences where you can come and get scared if you want or tell the monsters and ghouls that you like their outfits is really fun to me.”

Tickets for Nightfall start at $29 for Thursday entry and $44 for FridaysSundays.

3. Terror in the Corn

Terror in the Corn is a farther drive from campus, located in Marana.

The event has a total of three haunted walkthroughs. Each one is longer than the ones you’d see at Nightfall or Slaughterhouse.

The walkthroughs can be described as hybrids of haunted houses and corn mazes. They have indoor sections filled with actors and scares but also long outdoor sections walking through corn that are sure to disorient and frighten visitors.

“Our new location is a little bit off the freeway, so it’s a lot darker, versus our location last year which was right on the freeway, so the noise we were competing with and the traffic and all the lights,” Clint Buckelew, Terror in the Corn’s event manager, said. “Now, it’s a lot darker, creepier, you don’t get the glow of the city lights," Buckelew said.

These modifications are on-brand for the event.

“Every year, there’s something new. When we create and start our planning, which is in March, we go to a Halloween convention in St. Louis,” Buckelew said. “The idea is to rebrand 33% of the haunt every year. We take old things that we’ve had for three years and we kind of break them down, rebuild them and theme them differently. This year is no different and we have one third of our haunt that no one has ever seen.”

This year’s Terror in the Corn also includes a show from illusionist Michael Howell.

“We are going to be there all fifteen days. We have three shows a night. Each show is about 15 minutes — the last show might be a little longer — and as the shows progress, they get a

little more adult and more dangerous and risqué,” Howell said. “We’ve got everything from mindreading to large illusions, and it gets a little crazier and wild at the second show. At the last show, I’ll be walking on glass.”

Buckelew wants people to know that there’s more for people who don’t like scares.

“If people aren’t into the scare stuff, I make a corn maze. That’s like a scavenger hunt with things to win every night. We have three different escape rooms. We have ax-throwing. There’s stuff for everybody and it’s free to get into the midway area,” Buckelew said.

Terror in the Corn tickets start at $30 for a haunt pass.

EMILY BECK | THE DAILY WILDCAT

NIGHTFALL ATTENDEES POSE FOR a picture with Queen Mary Hyde Saturday, Sept. 28 at Nightfall at Old Tucson. Queen Mary made rare appearances during the night.

MUSIC

DUSK Music Festival returns to Tucson for 8th year

This

year may solidify DUSK as the best music festival in Tucson.

BY VALERIA NALANI

The Daily Wildcat

In 2016, DUSK Music Festival was introduced to the public. 8 years later, it has become a highly anticipated event for Arizonans and music lovers alike.

DUSK Press Representative Chad David Shearer said this year organizers “have expanded the festival a little bit. There is an all-new entrance area. Additionally, there is a lot more artwork and even more food.”

The food has always been something fans of DUSK look forward to and this year will not disappoint.

“The food and beverage that we have there is some of the best of what Tucson has to offer,” Shearer said. “We have some amazing restaurants that are there, like Dante’s Fire. We have other restaurants involved as well that are all very, very good restaurants.”

This is the 8th year of the festival and Shearer said he truly believes that this year is going to be the best in DUSK’s history. Shearer said the different performers present a unique sense of individuality within their music, but the energy is what stands out.

“It’s very high energy,” Shearer said. “Everybody’s having a lot of fun. It’s not something you

expect to see in Tucson.”

By uniting different artists from different backgrounds, this music festival has cultivated its own cult following. From local bands to wellknown DJs, like headliner Steve Aoki, there is not a specific sound within the lineup but rather something for everyone.

The DUSK team understands why having this festival in Tucson is cru -

cial, saying the event is influencing the music scene for the better.

“We have very deep Tucson roots. We wanted to create something that we could be proud of and that would give people an option to do something at a high level that isn’t in Phoenix,” Shearer said.

If you are a fan of music, or just want to try something different this year, consider attending this year’s festival.

“We started it from nothing and you know, we’ve slowly built it on more and more and more each year. We really care about Tucson and we want to make this a shiny new example of how Tucson can be perfect,” Shearer said.

DUSK Music Festival is Nov. 9-10. Find festival and ticket information on the DUSK website.

GRACIE KAYKO | THE DAILY WILDCAT

THE FRONT ROW OF fans are energized for Louis The Child’s set at DUSK Music Festival on Nov. 10. The crowd cheered when they came on stage.

OPINION: Home is where the heart is

BY NICOLE FLOROAIE The Daily Wildcat

Home: a simple word that evokes feelings of comfort and belonging. Home is often thought of as a physical place that provides us with a roof over our heads, a bed to lay in, a thermostat to control the temperature on warm or chilly days and a fridge filled with homemade goods. These physical comforts form our concept of home.

This semester, the University of Arizona welcomed over 9,300 firstyear students, with 52% of those students hailing from Arizona. In-state students enjoy several undeniable perks, like lower tuition rates, convenience and support from nearby families. As someone who moved far away from home, I sometimes wish I had these advantages. Yet there was something thrilling I felt leaving for college. The idea to move wherever I wanted during such a pivotal, transitional period of life sparked something inside me.

For me, home is now 1,651 miles and an entire country away. There are many times when homesickness settles in and I find myself reminiscing about the window nook in my room where I used to watch the vibrant autumn leaves detach from the trees. Or I think about how the cold Canadian air feels like a crisp, natural reset. These small memories hold a special place in my heart, making me long for that familiarity.

Home is not merely a place, but a tapestry of cherished memories and meaningful relationships.

Though I can easily get lost in the nostalgia, I remind myself of the important truth: home is where the heart is. It has become a phrase to remind me that home is not simply a mark on a map, but the essence of the people, feelings and memories that shape us. For many, the word “home” represents a place of permanence, a fixed location where we build our lives. However, this idea feels hollow without the love, memories and connections that give home its meaning. Yes, the walls and address of a house might define its physical presence, but it is also the relationships and experiences within those walls that create a sense of belonging. Home, for me, has always been the people who fill it with love and warmth. It’s about my childhood best friend bringing me over for dinner when my mom worked late nights. It’s about my best friend’s grandma hemming my jeans when my grandma was far away. It’s about a friend trusting me with their hidden key so I could wait inside until they got home. It’s about my dad painting my room white because gray was depressing. It’s about my mom choosing to stay in my hometown so I wouldn’t have to travel far to see her. These small yet significant gestures have always made me feel like I belong.

These moments should mean more than the structure of a house or the location of where we grew up. Home is not about proximity, it is about the people who make you feel supported, understood and loved. That, to me, is the essence of home.

The UA is slowly but surely becoming my home. While the familiarity and people back at home are

irreplaceable, the sense of community and support here mirrors what I cherished back in Canada. Being here, I am intrigued by the vibrant campus, welcoming students with diverse backgrounds and the unbeatable weather, something I wouldn’t appreciate back in Canada because I knew it too well. Moving away has made me realize that home is not

confined to a single place, but it can be wherever I choose to create it. As long as I open my heart and accept these new experiences, I can thrive and feel at home wherever I go. If you’re lucky enough to find people who make you feel like you belong when you’re far away from home, hold onto them. You never know how far that support will take you in life.

Nicole Floroaie is a sophomore at the University of Arizona majoring in public health. In her free time she enjoys thrifting, listening to music and, as a coffee-holic, trying new coffee shops!

SELA MARGALIT | THE DAILY WILDCAT TWO DOGS FEEL AT home. Opinions writer Nicole Floroaie argues that friends are what make college feel like home.

OPINIONS

OPINION: You should live at home during college

BY ISABEL VIDRIO

The Daily Wildcat

I’ll say it: living at home is the best. It’s genuinely done a lot for me financially and mentally, and I love being at home in general. I have my dog and cat with me when I’m at home, which make great companions for when I’m feeling stressed or down from the hardships of college. I don’t have to pay for rent, utilities, groceries and car payments. I get to come home to the familiarity of my room and I can have that as my own little getaway while trying to rest for the next day. I can also drive anywhere I want without having to worry about getting a ride from someone or calling an Uber. Tucson in itself is also such a beautiful place that has so much to offer. It’s a big city with a small town feel; what more can you get from that?

I grew up in Tucson. Even though I was born in Oceanside, California, I moved here when I was 6 months old because my dad received a job offer. Ever since I’ve lived here, I’ve come to know the many things Tucson has to offer. It’s a small scale college town with many hidden gems like Park Place Mall and Fourth Avenue. I’ve been going to the University of Arizona’s football games since I was 5 years old. I’ve ridden a bike

through campus and even visited some of the famous restaurants on University Boulevard, like Illegal Pete’s, No Anchovies and Gentle Ben’s Brewing Co. It seemed that even long before I considered going to college, the University of Arizona would be my second home.

So when my senior year of high school came around, it was time to decide what college I wanted to attend. In my heart I knew UA would be it. But I had to consider what kind of life I wanted when it came to picking a college. Did I want to stay close to home? Would I be willing to live in the dorms? When I thought about the dorms, I was reminded of how my friends talked about them. They said things like the dorms are shady and rickety and not always clean. The dorms aren’t always well kept and you constantly have people knowing where you are and what your living situation is.

There are also safety issues at the UA like stalking and homicides, and I already don’t feel safe when I’m walking to my car after a late night dance practice. Considering how much the UA has gone through, with the financial crisis and the constant worry of safety, I wouldn’t want to live on campus.

I wanted to stick with the familiarity of my hometown because going into college was already scary enough for me. I can stop by my favorite food spots and go to the mall whenever I want to. Now, as a junior in college, one would expect to move out of their parents’ home

and start life anew because, well, it’s the norm. But I find moving out of my parents’ house to be intimidating considering the high rent prices of a studio apartment. Why would someone stress out about their bills and debt while being in college when they could have a house that is in close proximity to the university?

I’m honestly still happy I’m able to live at home. I couldn’t imagine the added stresses of having to deal with payments and errands when I can just focus all of my attention and energy on my degree. While this is not always attainable for others, having a home

in Tucson is a convenience in itself, and I’m surprised a lot of people who are from Tucson live in the dorms or apartments nearby when they can live at home. It’s cheaper and less stressful. While this may not be the conventional choice, it has certainly been the right one for me.

Isabel Vidrio is a junior with a major in journalism and a minor in public health. She is also a part of UnderSkore, the University of Arizona’s first official K-pop dance team. Her interests include music, anime, video games and pop culture.

AMARA WILLIAMS | THE DAILY WILDCAT WITH PROS LIKE AFFORDABILITY, driving freedom, personal space and more, there are many advantages to living at home during college. Opinions writer Isabel Vidrio argues that living at home is one of the best decisions a university student can make.

Pascua Yaqui entrepreneur empowers Native business owners through tech education

BY ZOE MONTAÑO Arizona Sonoran News

Only 2.2% of Pascua Yaqui tribal members have their own business, including both incorporated and unincorporated ventures, according to the United States Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. Among these businesses, very few have an online presence.

Nicolette ‘Niko’ Gomez, a member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, is changing that.

This summer, Gomez launched the Yaqui-Tech Innovation Lab, a pilot program aimed at delivering high-quality, accessible technology education to entrepreneurs on the Pascua Yaqui Reservation. So far, she has trained 10 small business owners.

“The point of the Yaqui-Tech Lab was to bridge the digital divide and foster economic growth within Indigenous communities, which was huge for me,” Gomez said. “We can teach people that their side hustle could be their full-time business.”

Gomez’s inspiration for launching the innovation lab stemmed from her own experience building the Nopalito Network, a digital marketing startup specializing in web design, app development, graphic design and social media marketing. After a decade bartending at Casino Del Sol, she transitioned full-time to digital marketing

in 2022, driven by a desire to create something sustainable for herself and her two children.

The Nopalito Network’s name symbolizes the growth of her work. The nopal, or prickly pear cactus, is made up of individual pads that together form a thriving plant. For Gomez, the network serves as the foundation, with each new venture representing a pad.

“I feel like Yaqui-Tech became, you know, a new nopal, and then from that came a flower, which represents my students, and so on,” Gomez said. “So it’s very, very much a metaphor to me.”

The month-long Yaqui-Tech Innovation Lab teaches participants to build websites without code, utilize search engine optimization, network with other Indigenous business owners and purchase their own domain. To remove barriers, the program offers participants transportation, childcare and meals.

“This past summer, we had 15 people apply, and we had 10 people go from start to finish,” Gomez said.

“Our youngest participant was 17 and our oldest was in their 60s. We didn’t have a strict prerequisite, just basic computer literacy like saving a file and using Google.”

Gomez said many members of her community have been hesitant to fully embrace technology, especially for their businesses.

“It took a lot of planting little seeds in my community,” she said. “I would say it wasn’t really taken very well at

first, mostly because I had my position as a bartender. Why was I the person to create the solution? After I was able to show people what I do and what can be done, it started to take off fast. It took a lot of small conversations about what I envisioned my life could be outside of the casino or not working for the tribal government.”

The Yaqui-Tech Innovation Lab focuses on long-term business support through networking and community building. It is supported by the University of Arizona’s Native FORGE, a program funded by a five-year matching grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. Many of Native FORGE’s recently selected entrepreneurs came from the Yaqui-

“We might be talking to them about their business, but in reality, we’re talking to them about what’s going on in their community,” said Levi Esquerra, a UA Senior Vice President for Native American Advancement and Tribal Engagement.

“Our greatest measurement is seeing the success of those businesses and how they’re able to expand and make something happen.”

Cesar Balgañon II, a Pascua Yaqui tribal member, joined the Yaqui-Tech Innovation Lab this

CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

Tech Innovation Lab.

COURTESY OF CHRIS SUMMITT, NOPALITO NETWORK

NICOLETTE GOMEZ ADDRESSES THE first cohort of graduates of the Yaqui-Tech Innovation Lab. The Lab was created to help support small businesses in the Pascua Yaqui community.

COMMUNITY

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

summer. Gomez described Balgañon’s business, The Players Club, as the “Topgolf of Mini Golf.” The Players Club plans to offer 36 holes of miniature golf and indoor golf simulators, with plans to incorporate green practices and be run by PGA professionals, ideally tribal members.

“Nicolette and Native FORGE did an incredible job in communicating innovative ways to create a website, enhance your brand image, tell your story digitally and guide your potential customers through your website,” Balgañon said. “Even though we were all Pascua Yaqui tribal members from different generations and walks of life, I personally found so much motivation in being in a room full of my own people, talking about their dream business and how we can make it a reality.”

Another participant, Alma Baltazar, a member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, owns A Good Day to be Indigenous, an e-learning platform designed to help her community achieve language fluency and deepen their understanding of Native history and culture.

“The Yaqui-Tech Innovation Lab profoundly influenced my business by helping me transform an idea into reality,” Baltazar said. “As I’m in the early stages of structuring my business, the program provided invaluable tools and resources, including assistance with building my website and purchasing my domain name. I’ve learned so much through this experience and will always share how amazing this program is.”

Pascua Yaqui member Marissa Rodriguez launched Family Food Truck Co. in 2022, serving tacos, fry bread, burritos and horchata. With no prior business experience, she ran the truck for about a year before temporarily closing it. During the break, she enrolled in several business strategy

courses, including the Yaqui-Tech Innovation Lab.

“At the program, you get a website out of it, which is really awesome because I probably would have never had a website, at least anytime soon, that’s for sure,” Rodriguez said. “The plan is that this [food truck] brings sustainability for me and my family to just live comfortably. Hopefully they don’t have to worry about anything and I’m leaving my daughter something.”

The Family Food Truck Co. plans to reopen at the corner of Los Reales Road and Cardinal Avenue at the end of October, and in the meantime, they continue serving at Tucson Redskins Little League games.

This past spring, the Nopalito Network was selected as a semi-finalist for the 2024 MIT Solve Indigenous Communities Challenge. The challenge recognizes Indigenous innovators in the United States and Canada who leverage traditional knowledge and modern technology to address social, environmental and economic needs in their communities.

Gomez is optimistic about the future as she enters her senior year at the University of Arizona, studying design arts and practice with a minor in entrepreneurship. She often brings her two children, ages 4 and 9, to meetings and the campus library. Her passion for technology has even inspired her son, who is exploring development in Roblox and showing interest in the tech world.

“It’s okay to have a family. It’s okay to be a mom, a student and a business owner. It’s okay to be all these things,” Gomez said. “There’s a way to find happiness in all of it.”

Learn more about the Nopalito Network at https:// nopalitonetwork.com/

Arizona Sonoran News is a news service of the University of Arizona School of Journalism.

Fall in Tucson

COMICS

ATOMIC AGE ADVENTURES

OLIVE BRANCH

BY AMARA WILLIAMS

BY SELA MARGALIT

There will be record high voter turnout this year.

Arizona early voting starts Wed, Oct 9. Election Day is Tues, Nov 5, 2024.