• NAU president names director of Governmental Affairs • Students benefit from social work scholarships • NAU in the NEWS Inside NAU is published weekly for faculty, staff and friends of Northern Arizona University. We welcome story ideas related to NAU's mission, its employees and its students. Submit story ideas to Mary Lemma, (928) 523-0611, or e-mail Mary.Lemma@nau.edu. Publisher: John D. Haeger,    President Editor: Mary Lemma—Office of    Public Affairs Contributing writers: Tom Bauer,    Lisa Nelson—Office of Public    Affairs Student writer: Jeff Peterson—    Office of Public Affairs Electronic design: Tracie Hansen,    Jeff Dillon—University Marketing Printed design: Vernon    Davis—Printing Services Department of Modern Languages presents: Holiday Sing-Along Thursday, Dec. 9, 5 to 6 p.m., Tinsley Lobby (bldg. 44), Free Refreshments and song sheets provided to allow even the most linguistically and musically untalented to rid themselves of finals stress by attempting to sing "Jingle Bells" in Japanese, "Silent Night" in Navajo, "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" in French, "O Holy Night" in Russian, or "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" in English. Contact: Marilya Veteto at (928) 523-9638. Children, friends, parents and community members welcome. APS Northern Light Holiday Parade Saturday, Dec. 11, 6 to 8:30 p.m., Downtown Flagstaff If you're participating in the parade, check the NAU Now line at (982) 523-0007 for weather-related updates. Faculty art exhibit Through Saturday, Jan. 8, NAU Art Museum NAU Art Museum presents the work of three School of Art faculty members: Joe Cornett, jewelry; Paula Rice, ceramics; and Cynthia Herron, painting. For these and other events visit events.nau.edu.

Christine Farley

NAU president names director of Governmental Affairs
President John Haeger has announced the appointment of Christine Farley, a 1993 graduate of NAU, as director of Governmental and Legislative Affairs at the university. She will assume her new duties by the end of December. READ MORE...

Students benefit from social work scholarships
Ten students from Diné Community College in Tuba City will transfer to NAU next semester and become the first recipients of the new child welfare scholarships. READ MORE...

NAU in the NEWS
Prairie dogs aren't the only ones yakking. Professor Con Slobodchikoff's research has the media talking, too.

Scientist: Prairie dogs appear to have their own language.
Prairie dogs, those little pups popping in and out of holes on vacant lots and rural rangeland, are talking up a storm.

They have different "words'' for tall human in yellow shirt, short human in green shirt, coyote, deer, red-tailed hawk and many other creatures.

They can even coin new terms for things they've never seen before, independently coming up with the same calls or words, according to Con Slobodchikoff, a Northern Arizona University biology professor and prairie dog linguist.
—www.gazettetimes.com/articles/2004/12/04/news/the_west/satwst02.txt

Note: this AP article also ran in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, The Philadelphia Inquirer and other, smaller publications.