The Lumberjack - Issue 2, Volume 98

NorthernArizonaNews.com INSIDE

“

Opinion: Palin’s rhetoric, p7

Life: Tucson reflections, p 11 Sports: Lady Jacks, p 13 A&E: Theatrikos, p 18

SINCE 1914 Issue 2,

I believe this is a cultural shift of immense proportions. We’re going to need to think and act like a private institution ... One of the things I want to assure you: We’re not going to dry up and go away.

“

-John Haeger

President, NAU

AT A GLANCE

SOURCE OF FUNDING PER STUDENT

IN 2003 ... $6,812 STATE $4,312 STUDENT

IN 2012 ... $4,646 STATE $6,494 STUDENT

President Haeger speaks to a crowded room of students, faculty and staff. The NAU president explained the university’s response to the budget proposed by Gov. Jan Brewer, as well as the future of NAU. (Photo by Laura Phillips)

VOL 98 Jan. 27 – Feb. 2, 2011

Ancient human remains found Bodies in construction site east of NAU BY KEVIN BERTRAM & MARIA DICOSOLA

T

he remains of two centuries-old bodies were unearthed recently at a construction site in a neighborhood near NAU. The discovery was made by construction workers last Wednesday at the corner of O’Leary and Franklin streets, a few blocks east of Mountain View Hall. The bones were lying on bedrock and buried in several centimeters of soil, according to Kerry Thompson, an assistant anthropology professor. The Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office determined the bodies — which were confirmed to be an adult male and an infant — are several hundred years old, meaning they predate the founding of the city of Flagstaff in 1876. However, because the bodies are archaic, they were transported to Arizona see REMAINS page 4

Brewer talks in Flag about budget BY MIRANDA CAIN

G NAU faces $25.8 million in cuts

Governor’s proposal cuts $170 million from universities, Haeger responds with forum BY KEVIN BERTRAM

A

rizona Gov. Jan Brewer announced Jan. 14 that her new FY2011 budget would contain major funding cuts for the three public universities in Arizona, the largest of which will be applied to NAU. In response to the governor’s proposal, NAU President John Haeger hosted a forum titled, “The Challenges Ahead: Fasten Your Seat Belts” this past Tuesday at the High Country Conference Center.

Combined, UA, ASU and NAU will lose nearly $170 million in state funding should the legislature approve Brewer’s plan. A press release released by the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) states Arizona has cut higher education funding by $230 million since 2008

— a 46 percent cut in spending for every public university student in the state. NAU’s share of the $170 million reduction is $25.8 million under Brewer’s budget proposal. In his presentation, Haeger was clear about the new responsibilities NAU would need to take on to thrive. He said the university could no longer count on funding from the state as it had in the past. “The dependence on the state is over, in a sense,” Haeger said. “We are grateful for what the state sends us, but it could be at $100 million or below. And what we need to be looking at is how we are going to run a high-quality university in the future with the state being a minority partner.” Haeger said NAU will need to become like a private university in every-

thing but name. “I believe this is a cultural shift of immense proportions,” Haeger said. “We’re going to need to think and act like a private institution.” Prior to his forum, Haeger announced the Voluntary Separation and Retirement Incentive Program would be returning for a second year. The initiative is designed to encourage older, tenured faculty to retire, freeing up money for NAU to spend in the wake of the reduction in state support. The Office of Public Affairs reported 40 professors took the university’s offer last year. Haeger said as state and national governments’ expectations of higher education rise, so have massive budget cuts. “We’re living in a world where we are being see NAU CUTS page 3

ov. Jan Brewer visited the High Country Conference Center this past Friday to give the keynote address at the Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce’s 2011 annual meeting. The event ended with Brewer’s speech, in which she stated her four main components of reform for her second term as elected governor. She said her reform plan for the state includes economic competitiveness, education, state government and renewed federalism. “The underlying philosophy of our education reform plan is really quite simple: a future where all Arizonan students are prepared for college and careers,” Brewer said. “We expect them to learn in Arizona.” In her speech, Brewer also set goals for the state’s education levels. By 2020, she aims for the state to have a 93 percent high school graduation rate (which is currently at 75 percent) and for 94 percent of third-graders meet reading standards (the current percentage is 69). Brewer said she also wants the number of college graduates to double. According to Brewer, Arizona needs a new database to identify how well students, teachers and schools are doing. She said she wants to “reward schools and colleges for graduating students, not just see BREWER page 4

Go to NorthernArizonaNews.com for daily updates, multimedia packages, extra content and stories before the issue hits the stands.