TO CLIPS INDEX - Clips for April 19, 20, 21, 2008

State's universities not encouraging excellence
The Arizona Republic - April 21, 2008 12:00 AM
Arizona's three public universities discourage the state's smartest high-school students from challenging themselves.
The universities offer a full tuition waiver to students who earn top scores on the AIMS test and graduate with a 3.5
grade-point average. But get one C in a core course, and the offer is void. The result: Students are pushed to take easy
classes rather than risk a rigorous Advanced Placement class. So much for encouraging excellence.

Editorial: Politics in classroom
The Arizona Republic - April 20, 2008 12:00 AM
The board of the Tucson Unified School District - on a bender of indulging its taste for political activism - has invited
the wrath of the state Legislature. One does reap what one sows, it seems. Led by Rep. Russell Pearce,R-Mesa, the
Legislature is considering a bill that would ban public-school classes that "overtly encourage dissent." As a throw-in,
the bill would also ban university organizations that appeal to memberships "based in whole or in part on race-based
criteria." House Bill 1108 is a response to a controversy earlier this year about elements of the Tucson district's ethnic-
studies program that celebrates Marxist revolutionaries and characterizes the U.S. as an oppressive nation.

Opinion: ASU not muzzling KTAR on buses
The Arizona Republic - April 20, 2008 12:00 AM
Regarding "ASU muzzling voice of KTAR" (Opinions, Tuesday): The "My Turn" column by Russ Hill was an unfortunate
misrepresentation of facts that are known to KTAR. Arizona State University did not ban KTAR on campus buses.
Period. ASU has and continues to fully support First Amendment rights of everyone. We receive numerous requests
and comments from shuttle passengers regarding the radio that is played on our shuttle services, ranging from the
volume to which station is played. In this instance, an ASU employee responded appropriately to a passenger
complaint about a station by suggesting various alternatives to the bus service from turning down the volume to playing
other stations on that particular shuttle.

Governor's letters explain moves on bills
The Arizona Republic - April 20, 2008 12:00 AM
Gov. Janet Napolitano vetoed a permanent state property tax repeal last week and allowed a bill to spend an additional
$40 million per year on English-language-learner instruction to become law without her signature. The text of her letters
to Speaker of the House Jim Weiers and Senate President Tim Bee are below.

Robb: Arizona's budget fix looks amazingly good
The Arizona Republic - April 20, 2008 12:00 AM
From the political notebook: • The state budget fix for this year was surprisingly solid. The heart of it was basically the
Republican spending freeze that Gov. Janet Napolitano vetoed just a few weeks ago. The fix is described as including
$311 million in spending cuts. However, the $300 million in what is called fund sweeps can be fairly considered as
spending cuts as well. Basically, the state is transferring money from other accounts to the general fund to cover general-
fund spending. So, while this is not a cut in general-fund spending, it does reduce the capacity to spend from the other
accounts.

Downtown medical school dean resigns
The Arizona Republic - April 19, 2008 12:00 AM
The University of Arizona announced Friday that Edward "Ted" Shortliffe will resign from his position as dean of the new
medical school in downtown Phoenix, a decision that comes nearly three weeks after he learned his title would change.
Shortliffe's decision to leave his post is effective May 2. The decision comes after Keith Joiner, dean of UA's College of
Medicine in Tucson, said that Shortliffe's title would be changed from dean to vice dean effective July 1. Shortliffe was
recruited from New York's Columbia University to guide the new University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix in
partnership with Arizona State University. The dean position in Phoenix is considered critical because of the medical
school's key role as a catalyst for downtown Phoenix redevelopment and for growth of the biomedical
campus.

UA medical school doing just fine
The Arizona Republic - April 19, 2008 12:00 AM
Regarding the editorial April 11, "That sinking feeling," about the University of Arizona College of Medicine: The editorial
referenced a UA committee report outlining concerns of some faculty in regard to the college. In response to that report,
24 UA College of Medicine department heads and center directors co-authored an opinion piece reflecting that the
report's negative slant is not borne out by our experience within the college. My colleagues and I contend that the UA
College of Medicine is on the rise. The college quickly is adding faculty, expanding clinical and training sites, and creating
new models for education.

Patterson: Universities’ plan not something to build on
East Valley Tribune - April 20, 2008 - 11:27PM
Arizona’s public universities recently stepped up to the plate to help improve our state’s sagging economy. No, they
didn’t offer to defer or minimize spending since times are tough. They offered instead to accept $1.4 billion of campus
construction projects, to be paid for with debt financing of $81 million annually for 25 years. They’re even willing to put
up $21 million yearly of their “own” money to cover additional financing costs. It’s odd, though. Even the report touting
the Construction Stimulus Program, as it’s called, notes that “Arizona’s economy is too dependent on construction.”
The universities’ own economists have been saying the same thing for years. So how could bailing out the commercial
construction industry, one of our healthiest economic sectors, be the answer to anything? Commercial permits are
down just 2 percent from last year, industrial permits are up 14 percent.

Editorial: Budget before all else
East Valley Tribune - April 20, 2008 - 1:44AM
Another two weeks have passed since we called on the Legislature and the governor to set aside other business and
address a $3 billion budget shortfall - and they finally have fixed about a third of the problem. The Legislature acted late
Thursday to erase a predicted $1.2 billion deficit for this fiscal year, less than three months before that year will end on
June 30. As we noted months ago, the lengthy delay eliminated most options to reduce spending and lawmakers had
to rely heavily on short-term answers such as taking $487 million from the "rainy day" fund and $300 million from other
special accounts, and an accounting trick that saves money by postponing a $272 million payment to local school
districts from June to July.

Commentary: Napolitano’s priorities right for Arizona
East Valley Tribune - April 20, 2008 - 1:51AM
We write in response to Rep. Warde Nichols’ column (“Napolitano, Dems cause state’s problems,” Wednesday)
regarding his misguided opinions and faulty analysis of Gov. Janet Napolitano’s record as Arizona’s chief executive.
His judgments are poorly reasoned and are based on half-truths, twisted to support his position. Surely, Nichols must
remember that in Arizona, in the past 20 years, one governor was impeached and removed from office, and another
forced to resign from office. We believe Napolitano to be just the opposite — the best governor to have served during
our lifetimes. She is clear about what is important to Arizonans: the safety and success of our children; a state
government that is well-run and invests in these priorities; and the understanding that common sense answers are
more important than partisan political games.

Legality of state budget fix questioned
East Valley Tribune - April 19, 2008
Agreement sweeps $2 million out of tobacco tax fund
Three health groups that pushed through higher tobacco taxes may go to court to stop Arizona from raiding some of the
funds it produced. Colby Bower, spokesman for the American Cancer Society, said Friday that $2 million raid negotiated
in a deal between Republican lawmakers and Gov. Janet Napolitano violates a constitutional provision that keeps
legislators from tinkering with voter-approved initiatives. He said if law-makers don’t fix the problem — and soon — his
organization and the state Heart Association and Lung Association may have no choice but to go to court. The warning
ame the same day Napolitano signed the legislation designed to plug a $1.2 billion hole in the current state budget.

NAU stimulus plan worth pursuing
Arizona Daily Sun - April 19, 2008
To the editor: The recent editorial in the Daily Sun described the NAU proposal for a capital economic stimulus package
as "ambitious." This is exactly the characterization I want, not only for the president of our university but for local and state
elected officials as they address the current budget crisis. I want our leaders to be forward-thinking, aggressive and
innovative in seeking solutions that take Arizona out of this economic downturn as quickly as possible while positioning
us for a positive future. I would argue that the proposal from NAU and the other universities in collaboration with the
construction industry is an important tool to utilize.

A smorgasbord of sustainability
Arizona Daily Sun - April 20, 2008
Shoe soles made from tires. Straw flooring. Insulation from shredded old denim and water bottle fences. The lawn of
Flagstaff City Hall was packed Saturday with vendors, builders and government departments all showcasing environmentally
friendly solutions for average lifestyles. All across Flagstaff, people celebrated the anticipation of Earth Day, which officially
arrives Tuesday. "Supporting a sustainable lifestyle is easier than people think," said Bob Hoffa, conservation manager for the
city of Flagstaff. "If we live conscientiously and make smart choices, we can make a difference. It can be as simple as switching
to low-energy light bulbs or riding a bike."

Editorial: Mountain Line deserves chance to spread its wings
Arizona Daily Sun - April 20, 2008
How should the importance of a local bus service to a community be measured? If judged on the number of riders alone,
Mountain Line would not be a major factor in Flagstaff's transportation system. Its 3,000 passenger-trips per weekday pale
in comparison to the estimated 330,000 private vehicle trips each day in the region. Put another way, about 2,000 people ride
a Mountain Line bus at least once each week in Flagstaff. On a base population of about 63,000, that's almost a boutique
operation.

NASA/Space Grant interns celebrate accomplishments
Arizona Daily Star - April 21, 2008
The University of Arizona played host this weekend to more than 100 college students from across the state at the 17th
annual Arizona/NASA Space Grant Undergraduate Research Internship Program's statewide symposium.If you don’t have
a tele-commuting program, how much revenue is your business losing? Learn more, download free white paper. The
program began in 1988 after Congress passed the National Space Grant Act, and there are now programs in every state,
said Susan Brew, manager of both the Arizona Space Grant Consortium and University of Arizona programs. "The symposium
is the grand finale of the program," she said, "a celebration of their accomplishments."

RIAA drops music-copyright claims vs. most UA students
Arizona Daily Star -April 20, 2008
Copyright infringement claims have been dismissed for all but two of 14 University of Arizona students accused by recording
companies of illegally downloading music. The Recording Industry Association of America subpoenaed personal information
about the students from the UA, which provided them with Internet service. The school complied, releasing information for 10
of the students on April 10. It withheld information about two students because they had come to a settlement with the industry,
court documents show. Meanwhile, the UA withheld personal information about two other students who had filed motions in
federal court to dismiss copyright suits.

Editorial: Our Opinion: Long delays lead to Ariz.'s irresponsible budget pact
Tucson Citizen - April 19, 2008
Notice to every legislator planning to run for re-election this year: You will need to account for your actions in relation to the state
budget fiasco. Notice to everyone wanting to be a candidate for the state Legislature this year: You will need to explain in detail
how you will improve the system and end this dysfunction. The Legislature and Gov. Janet Napolitano had three months to deal
with a $1.2 billion-plus deficit in the fiscal 2008 budget.

Budget road to get tougher for AZ legislators
The Associated Press - The Tucson Citizen - April 21, 2008
PHOENIX - It took Arizona legislators and Gov. Janet Napolitano three months to hammer out a fix for a big revenue shortfall in
the current state budget. Consider that somewhat slow but successful effort a warm-up exercise. The Republican-led Legislature
and the Democratic governor now face a bigger challenge: drafting a budget for the 2008-09 fiscal year. The Legislature needs to
have a new spending plan for prison operations, school funding and other parts of state government in place by July 1. The slump
in state tax collections due to the poor economy in general and the housing industry's woes in particular has the 2008-09 fiscal
year's shortfall shaping up to be close to $2 billion - about 20 percent of the projected total budget.

Anti-affirmative action measure struggling in AZ?
The Arizona Republic -Tucson Citizen -April 21, 2008
Organizers behind an effort to ban the consideration of race or gender in state hiring, contracting and university admissions are
struggling to gather enough signatures to qualify their initiative for the ballot, said sources familiar with the situation. But the head
of the Arizona Civil Rights Initiative rejected any suggestion the campaign is foundering. "We are right on target with where we
want to be in terms of our numbers," said Max McPhail, the campaign's executive director who worked on a similar ballot measure
passed by Michigan voters in 2006. "We are within our target range." Backers of the initiative need to collect about 230,000 valid
signatures by July 3 to put the issue before voters in November.

UA president says budget fix won't hurt school's mission
Tucson Citizen - April 19, 2008
State universities must cut a total of $14.7 million
The $14.7 million combined that Arizona's three universities must cut from this fiscal year's budgets was "not unexpected,"
considering the state's budget crisis, University of Arizona President Robert N. Shelton said Friday. "We feel that working with
our deans and vice presidents we'll be able to handle the (reduction) with no disruption to classes or our educational mission
for this year," Shelton said. Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano has signed into law Friday a bill to erase a $1.2 billion deficit in the
current state budget. The action reduces the budget by roughly $500 million, to $10.1 billion, and keeps it in the black despite
the economic slump. The cuts were needed because of a steep drop in tax collections.

Four Points owner weighs UA parcel offer, other ideas
Tucson Citizen - April 19, 2008
What will happen with the Four Points by Sheraton Tucson University Plaza, 1900 E. Speedway Blvd., remains a mystery as
the hotel chain considers buying the land Four Points stands on. The Arizona Board of Regents on Thursday will likely allow
the University of Arizona to sell a tiny chunk of land that completes the Four Points parcel. Sundt Trust, which owns the rest
of the property, has already agreed to sell to Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. But with the economy where it is, Star-
wood will likely take three to six months to decide whether to buy the land and how to go about revitalizing the 1970s property,
said Andrew Czarnecki, general manager at Four Points.

UA replaces 30-year-old system
UA Daily Wildcat Online - April 21, 2008
$80-90 million project to revamp bevy of critical computer systems
With the business and networking pressures placed upon a university conducting world-class research and teaching more
than 37,000 students, the UA administration believes its outdated computer systems can no longer be modified to fit today's
needs. These "legacy" systems, some of which are in excess of 30 years old, have been continuously revised to better
accommodate payroll data, student information, budget details and business intelligence. "With technology that old, it
becomes an issue when you need to be able to support the business needs of today, based on today's Web technologies,
with systems that were not even built in that era," said Michele Norin, the UA's chief information officer and executive director
of University Information Technology Services.

New dean eager to improve, lead architecture college
UA Daily Wildcat Online - April 21, 2008
UA record, southwest landscape draws Jan Cervelli from SC
When Jan Cervelli takes over as dean of the College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture this summer, she plans to
enhance the school's reputation as a leader in sustainable design. She will also reunite with an old sweetheart. "I've known
the reputation of the school for a long time, but I've also wanted to live in the Southwest - it's a place that's captured my
imagination for a long time," Cervelli said. "All landscape architects, at some point in their life, want to live in the Southwest."

Forum to break down initiative
UA Daily Wildcat Online - April 21, 2008
Students have the chance today to discuss the pros and cons of a controversial initiative that, if approved by state voters in
November, could hinder minority-targeted programs on campus. A forum on the Arizona Civil Rights Initiative will be held
from noon to 2 p.m. in Gallagher Theater. Several student factions on campus have planned the event to spread awareness
of the initiative, facilitate community dialogue and foster civic participation, said Kami Hoskins, a third-year law student and
event planner. The event, a version of which has already occurred at Arizona State University, will feature Clint Bolick, director
of the Goldwater Institute backing the initiative, as well as Dennis Shields, dean of the Phoenix School of Law, who is against
it.

Seats for sale: Why UA should auction courses
UA Daily Wildcat Online - April 21, 2008
Ask a professor about class conflict and you'll probably get an earful on dialectical materialism and the plight of the worker in
capitalist society. Ask a UA student and they'll have one word: "WebReg." Students have been engaged in priority registration
for next semester's courses since late last month. But once WebReg finally opens to all students this Saturday, the delicate
dance of creative scheduling will begin in earnest. Seasoned students know the steps by heart. Log into Student Link before
sunrise to hunt for open spots. Open scores of windows and furiously reload until your mouse - or your will - finally breaks.
Strong-arm a friend into holding a spot in a popular course or negotiate a swap more convoluted than a North Korean prisoner
exchange.

Grand Canyon University launches leadership doctorate for teachers
The Business Journal of Phoenix - April 21, 2008 - 7:44 AM MST
Grand Canyon University is launching a doctoral degree in organizational leadership for teaching professionals. Beginning in
June, a group of 52 teachers will take part in the first program. The group includes 26 teachers from a community in
Pennsylvania who will go through the two-year online and on-site program together. The Phoenix-based university's program
is a collaboration of GCU's College of Education with the Ken Blanchard College of Business, promoting leadership skills
within an ethical framework.

Arizona Legislature, Gov. Napolitano balance 2008 budget, move on to address 2009 deficit
The Business Journal of Phoenix - April 18, 2008
More than $1.2 billion down and $1.9 billion to go. The Arizona Legislature and Gov. Janet Napolitano have hammered out a
budget pact dealing with the state's $1.2 billion shortfall for 2008, driven by the housing market slowdown. The budget deal
involves sweeping and moving surplus money out of some state agency budgets and dedicated funds and changing the
way the state disperses money to local schools to balance the books. It also includes $311 million in state spending
reductions.

Edward Shortliffe to step down as dean of University of Arizona's Phoenix medical school campus
Phoenix Business Journal - April 18, 2008
Edward Shortliffe has asked to step down as dean of the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, in partnership
with Arizona State University. Effective May 2, Shortliffe will return to the UA faculty in Tucson. "I very much appreciate all that
Ted has done to help get our first class under way, and want to thank him for his commitment to the college," said UA
President Robert Shelton in a memo to UA faculty and staff.

Thunderbird School of Global Management receives multimillion-dollar donations from alumni, trustees
The Business Journal of Phoenix - April 18, 2008
The Thunderbird School of Global Management has received several multimillion-dollar commitments to its capital campaign
from alumni and trustees, bringing the total to $38.6 million -- 59.4 percent of its $65 million goal. Campaign Thunderbird gifts
received so far include $10 million from alumnus and trustee Scott Walker, $5 million from campaign chairs Barbara and Craig
Barrett, $4 million from Jerry and Rachele Nichols, $3.5 million from Ken Seward and $2.6 million from a family foundation being
created by trustee David and Joan Lincoln and their family.

Why five senators said 'no' to budget
Arizona Capitol Times - April 18, 2008
Five state senators on April 17 voted against the proposed fix to this year's $1 billion-plus budget hole, a curious mix of
Democrats and Republicans who argued the budget measure falls short, that it is fiscally irresponsible and that it puts
off making the tough decisions. Republicans Karen Johnson and Ron Gould joined Democrats Ken Cheuvront, Leah
Landrum Taylor and Paula Aboud in opposing H2620, which contains $1.37 billion in agency cuts, K-12 rollover and fund
sweeps, and which takes $487 million out of the rainy day fund. Some publicly lamented - and the sentiment was shared
by some of those who voted yes - that it took too long for leadership to resolve the fiscal year 2008 deficit, which limited
options as the state enters its final quarter.

UC Berkeley Faculty and Students Demand Open Textbooks
Berkeley Daily Planet - April 18, 2008
California Student Public Interest Research Group (CALPIRG) members joined UC Berkeley faculty and the Associated
Students of the University of California on the steps of the Martin Luther King Student Union Tuesday to demand open
textbooks in colleges across United States. Brandishing a poster comparing high-priced textbooks with free open text-
books, the group released a petition signed by 1,000 professors from 300 colleges announcing their preference for high-
quality, affordable textbooks—including open textbooks—over what they said were “expensive commercial textbooks.”
Open textbooks, which are still at a fledgling state, are complete, reviewed textbooks written by academics that can be
used online for free. “What sets them apart from conventional textbooks is their open license, which allows users flexibility
to use, customize and print the textbook,” said UC Berkeley geography major and CALPIRG member Genki Hara,
who worked on the open textbook petition this semester.

Ariz. governor signs bill to erase big budget shortfall
Business Week - April 18, 2008
Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano on Friday signed into law a bill to erase a $1.2 billion deficit in the current state budget in
relatively painless fashion, though lawmakers still have to figure out how to balance the next one. With the action, the
budget has been reduced by roughly $500 million, to $10.1 billion, and kept in the black despite an ongoing economic
slump that led to a steep drop in tax collections. Napolitano signed the bill (HB2620) Friday after the Legislature approved
it Thursday evening on bipartisan Senate and House votes.

Employer Plan Puts Owning a Home in Reach
Remodeling Online - Arizona Daily Star - April 21, 2008
Our view: County needs to work with nonprofits to make affordable housing project on South Side a reality
Imagine this: You have an entry-level health care job. You and your spouse have a couple of kids and, between the two
incomes, you make about $34,000 a year. You're renting an apartment because you can't qualify for a mortgage. Then,
good news: Your employer decides to help you buy a house. This is not a fantasy. It could happen for dozens of employees
of La Frontera Inc., a behavioral-health agency in Tucson.