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Media highlights for the week of Nov. 26-Dec. 2, 2005
A sampling of NAU programs, professors, students, staff and alumni appearing in the news
Dance to succeed Kolbe expected to be wild affair
The jostling and elbowing is about to begin in a generational upheaval, with a flock of Democrats and Republicans expected to vie to replace retiring longtime Rep. Jim Kolbe. "Clearly, monied interests are going to be watching this race," said Fred Solop, a Northern Arizona University political science professor and pollster.
Tucson Citizen (Tucson, AZ), 12/2/2005
Nilsson talent runs in family
Johanna Nilsson comes from an "all right" running family. That's her take on it, anyway. Never mind the combined four national championships she and her sister, Ida, have accumulated at Northern Arizona University, or the five Big Sky titles. And pay no attention to the fact that as a senior, Ida had the third-fastest steeplechase time—in the world. "We have some talent, I guess," Nilsson said. In 2001, Ida made a fateful decision, deciding to join a high school friend from Sweden at NAU. A year later, Johanna followed. They've been two of the biggest things to hit the NAU athletic program since. In fact, the school's only other NCAA champion in any sport was Angela Chalmers in the 1986 cross country meet.
The Arizona Republic (Phoenix, AZ), 12/2/2005
MR technique for analyzing rattlesnake tail muscles can also be used to study muscle tone and function
When a rattlesnake shakes its rattle ominously to frighten off its enemies, its tail muscles accomplish a feat that few other muscle groups in the animal kingdom—including human muscle—can achieve. While almost all muscle tissue is either fast-twitch (like the sprinter's) or slow- twitch (like the endurance runner's), magnetic resonance studies at University of Washington Medical Center show that the rattlesnake's tail muscles can sustain rapid firing over a long period of time, with great economy of energy. If the best marathon runners could contract their muscles at the rate the rattlesnake does, and expend as little energy, they could run an entire 26-mile race in just eight and a half minutes. So estimates UW researcher Dr. Kevin E. Conley who, with co-author Dr. Stan L. Lindstedt of Northern Arizona University, reports on their study of rattlesnake muscle function in the Sept. 5 issue of the journal Nature.
uwnews.org (online), 12/1/2005
Alaska university counsel becomes first NAU counsel
J. Mark Neumayr, an administrator and legal counsel for the University of Alaska, will become Northern Arizona University's first full-time legal counsel. "We're fortunate to have someone with Mark's vast legal and university experience joining our staff," said NAU President John Haeger. "His background and familiarity with higher education issues will allow him to immediately begin helping to shape NAU's future."
Arizona Daily Sun (Flagstaff, AZ), 11/30/2005
Op-ed: NAU speech code unconstitutional
Northern Arizona University is getting some unwanted publicity for its speech code that violates the U.S. Constitution. The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education in October singled out the Flagstaff school for its ironically titled "Speech Code of the Month" award. NAU's nine-page "Safe Working and Learning Environment Policy" states: "Prohibited harassment includes, but is not limited to, stereotyping, negative comments or jokes, explicit threats, segregation, and verbal or physical assault when any of these are based upon a person's race, sex, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation." NAU is right to prohibit some of those behaviors, such as segregation or physical assault. They are illegal. But stereotyping, negative comments or jokes—as offensive as they may be—are protected speech under the First Amendment. And as a state university, NAU is obligated to respect the First Amendment.
Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, AZ), 11/30/2005
National trends could affect president's pay
National trends in university president salaries could affect the salary of the incoming UA president, according to a recent survey. The heads of 23 of 139 public universities will make more than $500,000 this year, according to a survey released by the Chronicle for Higher Education. Last year's survey reported 17 public university presidents who made more than $500,000. President Peter Likins currently makes $503,400, which includes a base salary of $285,000 and a deferred compensation of $163,000. The rest compensates housing and transportation, Likins said. Northern Arizona University President John Haeger makes $315,387, said Lisa Nelson, NAU director of public affairs.
Arizona Daily Wildcat (Tucson, AZ), 11/30/2005
Photo: Lighting the Way For the Holidays
Ann Halbach of the Student Association of NAU lights luminaries on campus on Tuesday night to light the sidewalks on the way to the NAU Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. The association lit one thousand lumniaries to decorate campus.
Arizona Daily Sun (Flagstaff, AZ), 11/30/2005
Rental committee debates ASU's role in student behavior
Several members said ASU should strengthen the Arizona Board of Regents Student Code of Conduct to give the University more jurisdiction over off-campus behavior issues involving students. ASU, NAU and UA are considering revising the code of conduct to strengthen rules for off-campus behavior, said Deborah Sullivan, director of the ASU Office of Student Life.
State Press (Tempe, AZ), 11/30/2005
The bad-news part of town also has a wide ray of hope
Bad news too often comes calling from this part of town. What hasn't gotten the headlines are the results of an ambitious five-year program aimed at stemming the high dropout rates and unemployment statistics for youth in Tucson's high-poverty neighborhoods. Five years ago, $28 million in federal moola started flowing into these neighborhoods via the program known as Youth Opportunity Movement. Without YO, it's unlikely that Leslie Loaiza would have succeeded. A 2000 graduate of Sunnyside High School, Loaiza, 23, earned an education degree from Northern Arizona University in December of 2002. Thanks to info from YO case manager Maria Sampe, Loaiza then went on to earn her master's in education last December through NAU's distance learning program at Pima Community College. "Emotionally, academically, financially, you name it, YO was there," says Loaiza—who, by the way, is the first YO student in the country to earn a master's degree.
Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, AZ), 11/30/2005
Want to write novels? Just do it
Author Diana Gabaldon is both an entertaining writer and a charming public speaker. Before an audience of about 80 people at the Clifford White Theater Tuesday night, she had everyone in stitches, multiple times, lacing her talk with raunchy limericks and rapid-fire repartee. Gabaldon, a graduate of Northern Arizona University (1973, 1978), came to Flagstaff as part of a 15-city U.S. book tour to promote her new work of historical fiction, "A Breath of Snow and Ashes," currently on the New York Times Bestseller List.
Arizona Daily Sun (Flagstaff, AZ), 11/30/2005
Taking on a new custom
Not too many of the 371 foreign students at NAU are staying in town for the Thanksgiving holidays, but those who do try to celebrate it the American way. Three German NAU students decided that they would not follow others out of town but will celebrate Thanksgiving with their own turkey dinner. "The whole thing started as a joke," Bettina Heider told the Daily Sun, looking at the huge frozen bird. "But later on we said, 'Why not, it can't be that difficult.'" Heider and her two roommates, Axel Dillenberger and Christian Brosius, did research on the Internet and got some advice from their teachers as well. "We study hospitality management at the NAU, so it would be a big shame if we couldn't do it on our own," Brosius said.
Arizona Daily Sun (Flagstaff, AZ), 11/29/2005
'Windows IT Pro' magazine spotlights IT Pro Innovators
The December issue of Windows IT Pro magazine will feature the three grand-prize winners of the 2005 Windows IT Pro Innovators Contest, sponsored by Microsoft. The contest recognized IT professionals who used Windows technology in innovative ways to devise specific, beneficial solutions to tough business challenges. Brandon Jones, of Flagstaff, Arizona, built a user-friendly solution for his employer, Northern Arizona University, which provided the means for faculty to enforce different security levels in the university's computer labs with the click of a button.
Business Wire (online), 11/29/2005
NAU faculty, staff honored for longtime service
President John Haeger recognized NAU faculty and staff for their years of service at a reception Nov. 10 at Ashurst Auditorium. The university has more than 130 individuals with 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 years of service.
Arizona Daily Sun (Flagstaff, AZ), 11/27/2005
NAU to Get A Piece of Carlos Mencia's Mind Dec 3rd
Carlos Mencia's ability to reach a diverse audience by pointing out society's hypocrisies is the ultimate goal for this observational comedian. Comedy Central has just given him the green light for a second season of his "Mind Of Mencia" show. The Flagstaff show should feature some material from the DVD "Not for the Easily Offended."
AzReporter.com (Winslow, AZ), 11/27/2005
ASU president paid $578,000
An ambitious plan to transform Arizona State University into an engine of economic growth for the city of Phoenix, as well as an institution of social responsibility for the city and state it serves, seems to be paying off for its president. Literally. Crow collects the 10th-highest compensation package among public university leaders in the country, says a recent report by The Chronicle of Higher Education. Crow, chief executive of the state's largest university, is paid $578,394 $520,000 from the institution and $58,394 in private contributions. Northern Arizona University President John Haeger was not included in the report. He is paid $260,000 annually.
The Arizona Republic (Phoenix, AZ), 11/26/2005
Editorial: Snowbirds contribute economically, socially
The winter resident population has a significant impact on Tucson, contributing to many pieces of the community's social and economic fabric. Citing Northern Arizona University statistics for 2003-2004, Dan Austin, president of the nonprofit Arizona Winter Visitors Association, said the statewide economic impact of winter visitors is about $664 million, which he said is the equivalent of about 28,000 jobs.
Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, AZ), 11/26/2005
Many Indian kids lag in language skills
While students are no longer punished for speaking their native tongues, English in Indian Country remains sensitive, because American Indian students still trail behind white peers in language skills, records from several states show. "It certainly has directed attention to the problem, which has existed for a long, long time," said Jon Reyhner, a professor at Northern Arizona University and Indian literacy expert. "Indian kids come into school behind, in terms of vocabulary."
Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, AZ), 11/26/2005
[this clip also ran in the
San Mateo Country Times, and the Santa Fe New Mexican]
People in Real Estate
David Weglarz has joined First Horizon Home Loan of Santa Cruz. Weglarz earned a degree in public relations from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Ariz., and has more than 10 years of service and sales experience.
Santa Cruz Sentinel (Santa Cruz, CA), 11/26/2005
Video gadgets as stocking stuffers?
Apple invented a gadget that will make boring daily commuting a lot more bearable. The newest, video-enabled iPods arrived to Flagstaff a month ago and are popular among students. 'We sell 10 of those iPods every day,' said Mike Ayers, computer sales manager of the NAU Bookstore. 'What is actually new about this product is that you can watch movies on its screen.'
Arizona Daily Sun (Flagstaff, AZ), 11/26/2005
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