Spring semester is in full swing, meaning new classes, books to buy and, of course, a hefty balance on your bursar account. A good education here at the UA can be costly, so milk that tuition payment for all it’s worth. From discounts to special services, being a Wildcat comes with perks, so take advantage of all the extras that being a student at the UA has to offer.
Every UA student has free access to the Flandrau Observatory on campus, and should take in a view of the great beyond at least once before they graduate.
“”This is absolutely the best kept secret in all of Tucson,”” said Astronomy Coordinator Michael Terenzoni of the observatory located on campus in the Flandrau Science Center.
UA students can study the stars free of charge with the center’s 16-inch telescope.
“”It’s one of the only free observatories in the country that runs on a regular basis,”” Terenzoni said.
The observatory’s operating hours – Wednesday through Saturday from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., make it a perfect spot for a cheap but romantic date.
“”There is no better place than Tucson for stargazing,”” Terenzoni said, who notes that stargazers can currently spot Venus, Orion’s Nebula and Saturn on clear nights.
Why bother with pricey gym memberships and enrollment fees when you could use the Campus Recreation Center for free? Any student who is registered for at least four credits per semester can use the gym facilities.
“”I’m surprised that they wouldn’t tell you that the gym is already included in the price of school. So I never thought of using it. I thought you had to pay extra; I didn’t know it was already included in tuition,”” said pre-pharmacy freshman Brittany Belmer, who now plans to use the gym this semester.
Not the cardio-and-weights type? Students also have full access to the Rec Center pool, racquetball and handball courts.
Ravenous after your Campus Rec workout? Satisfy your hunger and get a great deal by flashing your CatCard. It turns out that little white card is more than just your student ID. A handful of stores and restaurants around Tucson give discounts to UA students who show their CatCard at the register: get a free drink at Pita Pit and Chipotle; or a 15 percent discount at J.Crew. Or, stick around campus on Wednesdays and pick up a $3 combo meal at one of the Student Union eateries.
Indulge your creative side at one of the museums located on campus. Unlike art museums in Scottsdale and Phoenix that charge students for admission, these museums are free for Wildcats. Take in an exhibit at The Center for Creative Photography, where the collection of Stéphane Janssen is currently on display. The center also offers film screenings and art lectures in addition to an extensive library of photography books and materials.
Or, spend the afternoon curled up with Whitman or Poe at the University of Arizona Poetry Center where exhibits and a 60,000-piece library are completely free of charge for all students.
