TODAY'S LOCAL HEADLINES

• UA's solar car tracks the sun
• Out-of-state applicants to ASU West on rise
• New class ranking system hopes to curb GPA shenanigans
• Education stimulus funds may fall short
• Students await Board vote
• All Greek to you?
• It's time to Fling yourself into UA students' huge carnival

TODAY'S NATIONAL HEADLINES

• Stimulus dollars released to schools
• Knowledge River bridging the digital divide

TODAY'S OPINIONS

• No brainer

LOCAL HEADLINES

UA's solar car tracks the sun
By Dan Sullivan. University of Arizona students have been developing solar cars for a decade, but the one they're racing to finish right now is a little different. It will have a solar panel that can track the sun to increase efficiency by as much as 50 percent, and it will look more like a normal car, rather than a spaceship. The car, dubbed the SolarCat, also has a back-up diesel engine that will use biodiesel.
(Arizona Daily Star: http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/metro/287041.php)

Out-of-state applicants to ASU West on rise
By Lesley Wright. Elizabeth Langland, dean of New College at Arizona State University West, was signing congratulatory letters to newly admitted students when she noticed something odd. Nearly half of the applicants, were from out of-state and not just from nearby California and Nevada. They live in Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Iowa and other far-flung states. This school year, 49 percent of freshmen admitted to the West campus came from out of state. That is up from 32 percent who applied and were admitted last year.
(The Arizona Republic: http://www.azcentral.com/rsslinks/983991)

New class ranking system hopes to curb GPA shenanigans
By Ray Parker. The class of 2013 will use a new "college core" system to determine class rank, and Mesa Public Schools officials hope it will do away with cut-throat competition. The new system, which begins with freshmen next school year, already has some parents, students and school officials applauding. Under Mesa's new system, students who take the most rigorous schedule of college preparatory courses and earn the most grade points will have the highest rankings. In addition, the system aligns better with the state universities. The Arizona Board of Regents outlines 16 core courses in which students must demonstrate competence for assured admission into Arizona's public universities.
(The Arizona Republic: http://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/2009/04/01/20090401mr-ranking0401.html)

Education stimulus funds may fall short
By Adam Sneed. Federal stimulus money for higher education may help Arizona's universities for a short time, but some education officials doubt it can make up for the money lost in this year's budget cuts. Of the $1 billion Arizona will receive from the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund, at least $832 million must go toward K-12 and higher education through June 2011. That money is likely to restore budgets for Arizona's universities and school districts this year, but Ted Ferris, former director of Arizona's Joint Legislative Budget Committee, said it cannot continue to do so for several years in a row.
(ASU State Press: http://www.asuwebdevil.com/node/5626)

Students await Board vote
By Shain Bergan. On the heels of a controversial recommendation from the Arizona Board of Regents Tuition Task Force to uncap tuition, Associated Students of the University of Arizona President Tommy Bruce warned the ASUA senate of the dark future that may be in store for Arizona universities. "Traditionally our state does not value education," Bruce said of the pending cuts on education at ASUA's weekly meeting last night. "Nothing is certain right now." The projected cuts to education, along with continuously rising tuition and fees, would set a dangerous precedent for the UA that could cripple the quality of education, he added.
(UA Daily Wildcat: http://wildcat.arizona.edu/news/2009/04/02/News/Students.Await.Board.Vote-3693986.shtml)

All Greek to you?
By Courtney Collen. The University of Arizona's Greek Life has had a whirlwind of a semester, with several organizations losing their recognition by the university or national charters. Some of the UA's larger fraternities, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Kappa Sigma, Kappa Alpha Order - and Alpha Chi Omega sorority - have been removed from campus, leaving many to wonder about the future of Greek Life. Despite the ongoing trend, many Greek Life student leaders and staff believe the removal of the chapters was the best decision for the rest of the Greek community.
(UA Daily Wildcat: http://wildcat.arizona.edu/home/news/2009/04/02/News/All-Greek.To.You-3693977.shtml)

It's time to Fling yourself into UA students' huge carnival
By Coley Ward. Spring Fling, the largest student-run carnival in the nation, turns 35 this year. Like any good carnival, it has rides, games, prizes, music, entertainment (all on one stage) and food. It's a fundraiser for University of Arizona student organizations.
(Arizona Daily Star: http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/fromcomments/286824.php)

NATIONAL HEADLINES

Stimulus dollars released to schools
Education Secretary Arne Duncan on Wednesday released the first $44 billion in economic-stimulus money directed to schools but said strings will be attached to the next round of aid. Officials with the three state universities also face uncertainty with their budgets. University presidents plan to ask the Arizona Board of Regents in April to approve a second round of tuition and fee increases for the fall, regardless of the stimulus. For both K-12 and universities, the stimulus is intended to last through 2011, but state estimates show it's unlikely to last past 2010 because the state's budget shortfall is so great.
(The Arizona Republic: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/04/02/20090402stimulus-education0402.html)

Knowledge River bridging the digital divide
By Kelly Koepke. When the current group of students within the Knowledge River scholarship program at University of Arizona’s School of Information Resources and Library Science graduates in May, 15 more librarians and information professionals, like Stephanie Joseph, will be ready and eager to work with Native American and Hispanic communities. Joseph, project coordinator and librarian for the program in American Indian Community Health at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas, earned her master’s degree in information resources and library science through the Knowledge River program in 2003.
(Indian Country Today: http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/living/education/41975492.html)

OPINIONS

No brainer
[Editorial] There are two schools at ASU bearing the Fulton name after Ira and Mary Lou Fulton who have generously donated hundreds of millions of dollars to the University. According to the ASU Foundation's 2008 annual report, gifts to ASU in 2007-2008 reached more than $120.5 million from individuals, businesses and private foundations. However, with all due respect to those who invest in our future, there is a much more important form of donation taking place on campus this month — one that we can all be a part of without giving up a single dollar. Through the generosity of living and deceased organ donors, thousands upon thousands of lives have been saved.
(ASU State Press: http://www.asuwebdevil.com/node/5609)