Specs of the week: Mariners FanFest draws record amount of fans

Defense officials call for an end to DADT
Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, advised Tuesday that the Senate end the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, preventing openly gay men and women from serving in the military. Since 1993, this law has caused more than 13,000 men and women to be released from service.

The Pentagon will enter a year-long review period of the controversial law, evaluating attitudes within the military. In addition, there will be 45-day review period to explore the legal aspects of the law to ensure that enlisted men and women outed by third parties are not discharged.

"The purpose of the review [...] is to find out what the force, what the men and women in our armed forces, and their families, really think about this," said Defense Secretary Robert Gates at a Senate panel meeting.

Gates said he was acting at the request of President Obama.

Senator John McCain said he was "deeply disappointed" by Gates' statement. McCain's wife and daughter were recently featured in California's anti-Proposition 8 campaign, "No H8," but the senator has said his personal views on homosexuality have not changed.
Gay rights groups have been critical of the Pentagon for the length of the review but have responded positively to Gates' comments.

University fundraising down nationwide
Giving numbers dropped for 2009 in both number of participants and in number of dollars.

Contributions were down an average of 12 percent nationwide, the largest drop in three decades, according to a new study by the Council for Aid to Education. However, corporate and non-profit contributions did not show a decline.

Despite the average decrease, the University of Washington reported its best fundraising year on record. It brought in $324 million in 2009, increasing more than $20 million over 2008's totals.

Donations to Seattle University were reported as steady. The university is still collecting on multiyear pledges from the record-breaking capital campaign, which ended in September 2009 with almost $20 million more than its original goal of $150 million.

Some institutions expect an increase in donations for 2010 due to greater stability in the stock market.

Highway 520 bridge faces re-evaluation
Gov. Chris Gregoire rejected a new proposal for the design of the future Highway 520 bridge. The bridge is scheduled to be built and ready for traffic by 2014, but the Seattle City Council proposed Monday that the bridge should include two additional transit lanes instead of carpool lanes.

The council deemed the original bridge plan as unacceptable and requested a 120-day period from the state in order to discuss alternative transit opportunities.

Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn and several city council members have joined Gregoire in support against a re-evaluation of the 520 bridge plan.

The new plan would delay the bridge project by two years; the bridge would not be in service until 2016.

A letter from the governor addressing the bridge decision said environmental consequences would have to be reconsidered and that the new plan would "set the project back 18 to 24 months."

The projected $4.65 billion bridge project is meant to alleviate traffic pressure in Bellevue along the northbound lanes of Interstate 405. The bridge will hopefully feature several elevated lanes connecting highways 405 and 520.

Debate about the construction of the bridge began in 1997. It is meant to replace the 47-year-old bridge the city says is in danger of collapsing in an earthquake or windstorm.

Mariners FanFest draws record amount of fans
The annual Mariners baseball FanFest drew a record 17,299 fans this last weekend, more than double the 8,571 fans who came last year despite the home team's total of 101 losses.

The large attendance was due in part to what many are calling the Mariners' best offseason in recent memory; with the signing of Felix Hernandez, former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee and former Cleveland Indians first baseman Ryan Garko, among others.

The Mariners FanFest was first started in 1999 to allow fans to step onto parts of Safeco Field normally restricted during game time.

Fans can take a tour of the clubhouse, practice their swings on the batting cages and have free reign over the baseball field. Children and their parents running the bases are a common sight.

This year featured new events such as an obstacle course and chances to listen to both coaches and players talk about the team.

Much of the purpose of the event is to build excitement for the upcoming season. It is a great chance for fans to get autographed gear such as baseballs, bats and gloves.
This year's attendance broke the previous record of 15,884 in 2004.