Top 10 ASU Stories of 2013

Arizona State University was in the news often in 2013.

Outside of academic achievements, ASU was highlighted for its battle against the party-school reputation, its renovations and expansions, as well as some athletic success. Check out our picks of the top 10 ASU stories of 2013:

10.) Andrew Walter, Former ASU Quarterback, Wants Kyrsten Sinema's Spot in Congress

One of ASU football's most successful quarterbacks in recent years, Andrew Walter, is hoping to beat incumbent Democratic Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema next year for a spot in Congress.

9.) ASU Undie Run 2013 in Downtown Tempe

Who doesn't love ASU's annual tradition of the undie run? As usual, New Times was there to document the festivities.

8.) ASU Opens Voting for Sparky Design

Sparky the Sun Devil was redesigned earlier this year, and let's just say if you saw the that rendition of Sparky at a public park, you'd probably call the cops. ASU listened to the criticism, and let students, staff, and alumni vote on the new, new Sparky design, which turned out much better.

7.) Ecstasy "Manufacturing Operation" Found in ASU Student's Apartment

Cops bust the guy who was trying to put the "higher" in "higher education."

6.) Photos: Design of ASU's Proposed 260,000-Square-Foot Home for Law School in Phoenix

It's been quite some time in the making, but it looks like the plans to move ASU's law program to Phoenix have started to get under way.

5.) Arizona State University Back in Playboy Party-School Rankings

It's certainly not what the school's administrators want to hear, as school President Michael Crow has championed killing ASU's party-school reputation, but Playboy magazine put ASU back on the top party-school list. When ASU was bumped from the list in 2012, it was the first time in the history of the list that ASU wasn't on there. ASU was ranked ninth for 2013.

4.) ASU's Manzanita Hall Gets a Makeover

ASU's iconic Manzanita Hall dormitory re-opened this fall, after the formerly dingy dorm got a nice makeover.

3.) Cops Crack Down on ASU Party Scene

During the first month of the fall semester, hundreds of people were arrested every weekend during Tempe PD's crackdown on underage drinking. Despite more than a thousand arrests, students generally mocked the crackdown, especially after Sheriff Joe Arpaio tried his tough-guy attitude on the party-people.

2.) ASU Drops the Hammer on Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity

In the ongoing battle between those fighting ASU's party school reputation, and those upholding it, the university actually revoked a fraternity chapter, and banned it from campus. The Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity was involved in several high-profile incidents, including the death of one of the fraternity's pledges last year, and another frat member being dumped at a hospital by his "friends" after a tequila-drinking contest, which nearly killed the student, who had a .47 blood-alcohol level.

1.) ASU Football Wins the Pac-12 South Championship

Sun Devils fans have been waiting a long time for a hint of sustained success out of the football program, which has appeared in the Rose Bowl just twice in school history. The team fell short of that bowl again this year, by just one game, but did have the best season since 2007, including its first Pac-12 South championship, in the third season after the conference realignment.

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