TO CLIPS INDEX Clips for February 10, 2009

Editorial: Draconian cuts need rethinking, risk
state future
The Arizona Republic 2/10/09
Think of Science Foundation Arizona as a strategic
watering can for the innovation and technology vital
for our future. With a sprinkling of grant funding, the
non-profit has made university research bloom.
Arizona scientists are using bacteria and algae to
make fuel. They're developing biopharmaceuticals.
They're finding new ways to test for deadly diseases.
And now, the state has turned off all the water. The
budget fix for 2009 took every penny from the 21st
Century Fund, the state's contribution to Science
Foundation Arizona. Science Foundation Arizona,
which was budgeted $22.5 million for 2009, must
take its share of painful budget reductions. But 100
percent isn't a cut, it's a mortal wound.

My Turn : Russell Pearce: Just like households,
state must act wisely
The Arizona Republic 2/10/09
The landscape of our nation's economic environment
has drastically changed, and families and businesses
throughout the country have been forced to adapt to a
faltering economy. In Arizona, our people's state
government is facing the worst budgetary shortfall in
our history. As a state senator, I always appreciate
hearing the concerns of the public; and as a father and
grandfather, I can personally relate to the apprehension
about the future of Arizona and how we can help our
families recover from the impact of this recession. As
rising demands on state government outpace our
declining tax revenues, legislators are being forced
to make the same difficult decisions that many U.S.
households face. 

Federal aid could offset Ariz. education cuts
The Arizona Republic 2/10/09
Arizona's schools and universities could get as much
as $1.7 billion and be spared drastic cuts in the next
two years if a stimulus bill similar to the House of
Representatives version becomes law. The U.S.
Senate bill, expected to be approved today, is more
sobering: The state would reap less than half that
amount for K-12 and higher education, or roughly
$700 million extra. One of the big differences is the
Senate's denial of any funds for renovation and
construction. Mesa Republican Rich Crandall, chair-
man of the state House education committee, said
state lawmakers will watch closely

Some Ariz. lawmakers leery of stimulus money
Associated Press/Tucson Citizen/
The Arizona Republic 2/10/09  4:56 PM
The prospect of the state getting buckets of federal
stimulus money elicits contrasting views from
Arizona legislators facing tough decisions to keep
the state budget in the black. Some view it as a life-
boat for schools and other programs, while others
warn that it could be a crutch that just delays a
reckoning with the state's underlying fiscal
weakness. "I think we have to be very careful that
we don't buy into a program that makes our deficit
worse and just prolongs our problem or pushes
our problem out into the (next) fiscal year," Senate
President Bob Burns, R-Peoria, said.

Stimulus cash tied to Ariz. school funding
Capitol Media Services/Arizona Daily Sun/
East Valley Tribune 2/9/09 5:01PM
Whether Arizona gets any stimulus cash could depend
on how much more state lawmakers cut in education
funds. A provision in the federal legislation being
hammered out in Washington ties much of the aid to
whether each state is spending at least as much on
education now as it did in the 2005-06 school year.
That was the year before the economy went into a tail-
spin. But the language, at least at this point, is tied not
only to additional education dollars. The legislation also
apparently makes whether states get a separate — and
larger — chunk of discretionary dollars contingent on
whether they have slashed their own education funding.

GOP leaders promise to repeal property tax
Capitol Media Services/East Valley Tribune
2/9/09 6:05PM
House Republican leadership promised Monday to
vote by the end of March to repeal the state property
tax — and permanently forego the $250 million it
would raise — regardless of whether they have a
plan to balance next year’s budget by then. The
repeal is part of a nine-point agenda that House
Majority Leader John McCommish, R-Phoenix, said
will be among the first bills that will clear his chamber.
He said it reflects the top concerns of the 35
Republicans in the House. .......House Majority Whip
Andy Tobin, R-Paulden, said the fact that the state
just cut funding for many programs, including public
schools and universities, does not make foregoing
the revenues a bad idea. “We’ve got folks who are
on the edge of a cliff already with bankruptcy, with
foreclosure, losing their business, potentially jobs
out there,” Tobin said.

Editorial: City stimulus is responsible economic
stewardship
Arizona Daily Sun 2/10/09
Never look a gift horse in the mouth. That's our take
on local stimulus projects that are heavy on construction
jobs but nevertheless represent a much-needed spur
to the region's economy. At Northern Arizona University,
several building projects are under way and more
totaling $175 million over three years are due to start
soon, now that the Legislature has released its hold on
funding. NAU is picking up the initial interest payments
on the bonds to help out the state budget, but after two
years the payments will come out of state lottery receipts.
Although the projects come at a time when the university
is facing a $21 million budget shortfall this school year
and an even bigger gap next year, no one should
begrudge the spending on long-term investments in
aging buildings and new facilities. To remain vibrant, a
residential campus like NAU must not just keep up with
the needs of its physical plant but also anticipate new
ones. If it takes a deepening recession to convince
conservative lawmakers in Phoenix to invest in higher
education, then so be it.

Message to lawmakers: Balance school cuts with
new revenues
Arizona Daily Sun 2/10/09
A legislative hearing in Flagstaff Monday brings out
education advocates ready to back new taxes and
fees before budget cuts go any deeper. Don't cut
school subsidies to balance the state budget with-
out also taking a hard look at new taxes and fees.
That was the message from parents, business
leaders and educators who attended a special
Flagstaff meeting Monday of the state House
Education Committee agreed that revenue
generation should be considered alongside the
highly publicized major reductions to school coffers
that many fear would impinge on schools' most
basic mission: to educate. ......PAIN AT NAU, NPA,
THE REZ - Northern Arizona University President
John Haeger echoed previous statements on the
dramatic impact budget cuts would have on NAU,
including layoffs, furloughs, and potential closure
of distance learning sites. He also asked the
legislators to consider revenue enhancement
strategies.

Most NAU furloughs postponed to July 1
Arizona Daily Sun 2/9/09
Northern Arizona University employees, other
than the president, vice president and deans,
won’t see furloughs until at least this summer,
according to a plan released Monday by NAU
President John Haeger. Starting July 1,
university employees making $40,000 and
more will be taking up to seven days off without
pay. Those making less than $40,000 will be
instructed to take up to two days off without pay.
The moves are expected to save the university
$3 million in FY2010. Haeger, the vice president
and the academic deans will be taking three
furlough days between now and June 30, he
said, with more to follow this summer and fall.

Guest Opinion: Ted Downing: Deferred compensation
preferable to furloughs
Arizona Daily Star 2/10/09
The state has a revenue shortfall and it is time for
innovative solutions that do not permanently cripple
our state. Unlike the federal government, the Arizona
Constitution requires a balanced budget every year.
This forces the Legislature to cut spending some-
where. As a former ranking Democrat in the state
House's Education Committee, I strongly agree that
the Legislature's majority has mistakenly singled out
education for budget cuts. But protesting and beating
on our chests does not balance the budget. Nor do
threats by universities to cut popular public programs.
Administrators, not legislators, set priorities and the
lawmakers know that. Something (read "someone")
must lose. Both Arizona State University and the
University of Arizona have mandated employee
furloughs. Furloughs cut employee paychecks, but
not their salaries. State agencies are considering
the same.

Science aids drug-prevention education
Arizona Daily Star 2/10/09
This is an MRI of your brain, and this is an MRI
of your brain on drugs. Any questions? Some
local educators are learning a new approach to
combat teenage drug use, and experts say it's
more effective than teaching teens to "just say
no." Science teachers and counselors from the
Sunnyside, Marana and Tucson Unified school
districts are taking a seven-week training course
at the University of Arizona to learn how science
can be incorporated into drug-prevention
education. The idea is that if the educators can
provide students with more scientific evidence
about why they should avoid drugs, students
will take the message more seriously.

Brainpower makes a mean, nasty robot
Arizona Daily Star 2/10/09
...."This is the very first idea I came up
with," Druart said, pointing to a boxy figure. "Now
we're leaning toward this kind of idea," he said,
clicking to a menacing-looking craft resembling
something from a sci-fi movie. Druart is
considered the resident class expert in Solid
Works, a computer program used to visualize
ideas and make them into plastic models via the
class's newly acquired, state-of-the-art, rapid-
prototyping machine. Druart, like other students,
learned how to use the program while attended
a summer program offered by the University of
Arizona College of Engineering. Working with
professionals is a big part of the program.
Jenness pushes students to enroll in programs
such as Raytheon Scholars — a college
engineering-scholarship program offered by
Raytheon Missile Systems, Pima Community
College and the UA. She regularly invites UA
engineers into the classroom to help students.

Editorial: Our Opinion: UA architecture college
honored
Tucson Citizen 2/10/09
Congratulations to the University of Arizona's College
of Architecture and Landscape Architecture for being
rated last week among the best in the nation. Design
professionals nationwide selected the UA college as
12th out of more than 120 schools surveyed for
DesignIntelligence magazine's ratings. Of particular
note is the college's emphasis on energy efficiency
in architecture and water conservation in landscape
design. College officials are even considering
creating a minor studies program in sustainability.

$57M in UA cuts will affect farmers, tribes, urban
gardeners, 4-H for kids
Tucson Citizen  2/10/09
University of Arizona programs that make it possible for
agricultural research to get to ranchers and farmers - as
well as thousands of urban horticulturists and more than
100,000 4-H members - will be reduced as UA tries to
find $57 million in state-mandated budget cuts by June
30. The Legislature decided Jan. 31 on $580 million in
spending cuts to balance this year's budget, which is
about $1.6 billion in the red. UA President Robert N.
Shelton said Monday that UA's portion is expected to
be $57 million. A budget reduction of that magnitude,
with only five months left in the fiscal year, will force
UA to "eliminate or greatly reduce" outreach and
community-based activities, Shelton said, including
suspending a "significant portion" of UA's extension
operations.

Tucsonans to pitch Rio Nuevo's worth to senators
Tucson Citizen 2/10/09
Rio Nuevo proponents will face the state Senate
finance committee Wednesday as senators evaluate
a wide range of potential budget cuts. At the
informational hearing, senators will hear from various
entities getting state funding and use that information
for budget considerations, said Mary Okoye, the city's
director of intergovernmental relations. "In terms of
threats, we have not gotten any direct specific threats
(to end Rio Nuevo tax increment financing)," Okoye
said. "No legislators have sent us letters. We have
been dealing with a lot of bad press."

My Tucson: Native Americans nurse a dream
Tucson Citizen 2/10/09
......Our patients were transported from small remote
villages to our small remote clinic by Community
Health Workers, (CHRs). They brought their illnesses,
accidents and healthy new babies. Yet, despite tribal
support for nursing education, difficulties exist for
Native students. StrengthBuilding Partners,
collaborates with The Pascua Yaqui Tribe to keep kids
in school. Pamela Clark-Raines, an adjunct professor
at Arizona State University, is the founder of Strength-
Building Partners. "We train teachers and mentors who
teach kids how to identify their strengths, find a vision
for themselves and take control of their lives," she said.

Editorial: Safety not sound
ASU Web Devil 2/10/09
In March 2005, a former ASU football player shot and
killed another former ASU football player in a Scotts-
dale parking lot. The incident obviously sent shock-
waves through a University that, before that fateful
night, was largely — thankfully — a stranger to gun
violence. In the aftermath of the tragedy, the ASU
police department, Student Life and Counseling
and Consultation instituted monthly crime-prevention
presentations. Student Life program coordinator
Tiffany Harvey said, “There was an internal audit
that showed the University wasn’t meeting the safety
and security requirements. There were gaps and this
fills the expectation [of safety requirements.]” At one
point, these presentations, while also aimed at
students, were mandatory for faculty and staff. Well,
they were until recently. Ever since the safety lectures
were taken from an event requiring mandatory
participation to an event where attendance was
merely strongly suggested, the turnout has been
abysmal.

Explosion clears engineering building
ASU Web Devil 2/10/09
About 40 firefighters responded to a chemical
explosion in the Tempe campus engineering
building Monday night, a Tempe fire department
spokesman said. Noone was injured. A professor
was working in a lab at the time of the explosion
and immediately began to evacuate the building,
located on Palm Walk near the Memorial Union.
All wings were evacuated, and a section of the
sidewalk was blocked off. Firefighters, some
carrying oxygen tanks and axes, were working
to identify which chemicals were involved in the
explosion and to neutralize any dangerous side
effects. Tempe fire investigator Mike Reichling
said the department was taking standard pre-
cautions to deal with hazardous materials. “Any
time we have a reaction like this, we have to be
very concerned about any other chemicals that
could react,” Reichling said.

Some students favor university budget cuts
ASU Web Devil 2/10/09
Students are debating the merits of cuts in state
funding to the university system, which could
deepen when the state Legislature passes its
budget for the 2010 year. Students in favor of the
cuts say overspending or borrowing money to
cover the state’s projected $3 billion budget
deficit only hurts students, who will eventually
pay it back in the form of higher taxes in the long
run. “It’s not really a popular thing to say, but I
think these cuts need to be done,” said College
Republicans president and political science senior
Ben Stewart. “If they’re not made, it’s just going to
prolong problems for years to come.” The students
interviewed agreed it is important for all the state’s
departments and agencies, including the University,
to make financial sacrifices, but differed in their
views of how much funding the universities should
be willing to sacrifice.

Editorial: New streetcar would lead to development
UA Daily Wildcat 2/10/09
Like any sprawling town, Tucson has a frustrating
relationship with public transportation. We love the
idea of it, but it's difficult to make it work. That said,
we're pleased to hear that Tucson's dynamic center
made up of the UA campus, downtown and Fourth
Avenue will be tied together with the arrival of a new,
modernized streetcar. The air-conditioned electric
car, essentially a light-rail train, is set to take its first
trip Nov. 11, 2011. With the city facing a projected
$80 million deficit, this might sound like a potential
boondoggle. But the car is a good idea. It's certainly
a wiser investment than the much-ballyhooed down-
town redevelopment project, designed largely to
make the city more "tourist-friendly." This
development is aimed not at tourists, but at us.

Student workers' jobs in doubt
UA Daily Wildcat  2/10/09
While many university programs are already facing the
realization of the $57 million mid-year budget cuts, UA
officials are still unsure how student jobs will factor into
the 600 employee positions that will be eliminated this
semester. "The news about the deep cuts is just now
sinking in and managers are working hard to determine
how to handle the severe reductions," said Allison
Vaillancourt, UA vice president of human resources.
Vaillancourt said she doesn't think most student jobs
will be cut this semester. Elimination of student jobs
“will probably be for the next fiscal year which starts in
July," she said.

Pharmacy school to raise tuition
UA Daily Wildcat  2/10/09
UA's College of Pharmacy has proposed a tuition increase
that would cause their students to pay $9,000 in differential
tuition, beginning this summer. Dean J. Lyle Bootman and
Assistant Dean Richard Wiedhopf informed students of the
tuition increase and spoke about the future of the college,
at a meeting Monday in the College of Pharmacy. Bootman
said he and Weidhopf plan to submit a proposal to UA
President Robert Shelton advising a $700 increase in the
College of Pharmacy tuition.

NSF to Fund Water and Environment Technology
Center
UA News 2/9/09
The National Science Foundation has awarded a five-year,
$1.24 million grant to The University of Arizona and two
other universities to fund a research center to investigate
new clean-water technologies. These new technologies
include improved monitoring of large-scale water
distribution systems to sensors at individual households
capable of detecting dangerous chemical or biological
contaminants. The Water and Environmental Technology,
or WET, Center includes the NSF Water Quality Center at
the UA, and research units at Arizona State University and
Temple University. Funding for the WET Center will begin
Feb. 15. The UA's share of the grant is $380,000.

Delay on federal stimulus package "gumming up"
state's budget work
azcapitoltimes.com 2/10/09
Uncertainty over the final shape of the federal economic
recovery package is gumming up efforts in Arizona to
craft its own budget, legislative leaders say.  "The federal
stimulus package is so up in the air that we are very
gingerly tiptoeing along, watching what they are doing,
asking questions and trying to get clarifications so we
even know where we can expect to plug it in," Senate
majority whip Pamela Gorman said.  "In many cases
those answers are just not known even by the people
that have the bills out there," she said after a press
briefing Feb. 9 at the Capitol. Arizona is staring down
a $3 billion deficit in fiscal 2010. Lawmakers just
recently fixed a $1.6 billion gap in the fiscal 2009
budget, and it's unclear how the budget revision will
impact the state's financial picture in the upcoming
year.

Sharing Ideas: Tough Times Encourage Colleges
to Collaborate
The Chronicle of Higher Education 2/10/09
Despite its veneer of cooperation, higher education
is a competitive industry, where resource sharing is
eyed warily. But the recession is chipping away at that
reluctance, and institutions are pursuing partnerships,
both to cut costs and to keep pace with expanding
academic fields. Joseph E. Aoun, Northeastern
University's president, says cooperation helps colleges
better leverage their resources. Through partnerships,
they can expand their fields of research and teaching,
such as in language studies. "You cannot go at it by
thinking that the world stops at this campus," says Mr.
Aoun. "No university is self-sufficient." Northeastern
has forged several such agreements in recent years,
including an extensive partnership with nearby Hebrew
College that includes joint degree programs, and a
nanotechnology center that Northeastern leads with
two public-university partners.

Colleges Urged to Take Action as They Prepare to
Reap Billions in Stimulus Bill
The Chronicle of Higher Education 2/10/09
Washington - As Congress continues to debate an
economic-stimulus bill that includes billions of
dollars for students and colleges, one U.S. senator
warned higher-education leaders on Monday that
they needed to rein in costs if they wanted to
persuade his colleagues to back further increases
in aid to academe. Sen. Lamar Alexander, a
Republican from Tennessee, former education
secretary, and former college president, said many
members of Congress worried that increases in
Pell Grants were too often offset by increases in
tuition. During a speech at the annual meeting of
the American Council on Education here, the
senator urged college leaders to offer new ideas
and suggested that they begin to provide three-year
bachelor's degrees as one way to lower costs. He
also advocated allowing students to attend
community colleges at no charge.