Tucson is back on its feet after a sweltering three-month break. Students, faculty and staff are gearing up for another school year, as is the Arizona Daily Wildcat.

As many of you are probably dreading the start of classes and the thought of having to do work, more than 100 students at the Wildcat are excited to start the school year and provide you, our dedicated readers, with the most up-to-date, important, interesting and relevant information.

The Wildcat is a completely independent student newspaper, meaning that we receive no funding from the university and have no ties to administration or the tuition you pay. Because of this, we are able to report on what you need to know, and will tell you in the most pertinent way possible.

This semester, the Wildcat is going one step further online. We will provide you with features like videos, blogs and even extra stories that you may not see in the paper. We encourage you to not only read but also be part of the Wildcat. Visit the Web site, wildcat.arizona.edu, to post comments,participate in the CatPoll , purchase photos and write letters to the editor.

Our reporters and columnists scour the campus to provide you with daily and weekly features. The FastFacts (page 2) offer you things you always never wanted to know on a daily basis.

Want to know what our sports writers think about the latest sports news? The pro/con (Thursdays, page 2 of sports) gives you different viewpoints on game match ups and news topics. Opinions columnists take on issues both big and small in Wild-Card Wednesdays (page 5). Arts reporters scrounge around town finding the best concerts, restaurants and CDs for you in Wild-Life, the arts and entertainment section, on Thursdays.

The Wildcat has won numerous awards, such as two best-of-show awards last year as well as second place in the “”best all-around daily student newspaper in the West”” category. It is because of you that we were voted the No. 2 college paper in the country last year by The Princeton Review. Individual staff members have also won numerous awards for photography and reporting, and we plan on continuing that legacy, providing you with the best content possible.

You can count on us to supply you with the best news, opinions, art and photos on campus every day. After all, you are the reason we do what we do.

Allison Hornick is a journalism junior.
She can be reached at editor@wildcat.arizona.edu.