Wednesday, May 14, 2014 • Page B2
NEWS
Editor: Ethan McSweeney news@wildcat.arizona.edu (520) 621-3193 twitter.com/dailywildcat
State budget fails to deliver UA funding BY HANNAH PLOTKIN The Daily Wildcat
Following a legislative session of budget battles in Phoenix, the state budget signed by Gov. Jan Brewer allocated less funding for the UA than requested. The UA is a public university that relies on state funding to avoid tuition hikes and to fund important projects. Between 2008 and 2014, the UA lost 25 percent of its state funding. The budget, which was passed and signed in April, prompted disappointed responses from UA students and UA President Ann Weaver Hart. The three state universities gained about $50 million in new funding in the 2015 budget ; the UA only received about $5.5 million in new funds. The Arizona Board of Regents had requested $34.8 million for the UA for several projects, including a proposed veterinary school. Hart expressed her disappointment with the lack of new funding for the UA in the 2015 budget shortly after it was signed. “Our ability to be a key economic driver for Arizona — $8.6 billion in 2013 alone — will be affected by the state’s significantly diminished support for the future,” Hart said in a statement. Hart also expressed gratitude toward Rep. Ethan Orr (R-District 9) and Sen. Steve Pierce (R-District 1) for their efforts to fight for additional UA funding during budget battles in the Arizona Legislature. The budget was being discussed as early as January, according to Orr.
He said the House of Representatives and the Senate need to start discussing the budget as early as November of the previous session, and citizens need to get involved in the conversation. “The budget is the biggest thing we do,” he said. “We need to give it due consideration.” Orr is the only Republican representative from Tucson. He said he faced challenges with the 2015 budget, and had to work hard to protect the interests of Tucson and the UA. “It is a very partisan environment [in the state Legislature],” he said. “I wish it wasn’t.” Orr said when he looks at other city and state economies that are succeeding, he sees their success is anchored in higher education. If Arizona wants to continue to grow, Orr said, then the state should put more money into higher education. “I think you need to fund intelligently,” Orr said. “To me, [education] is an investment, not an expense.” The Arizona Students’ Association came out in opposition to the House of Representatives’ budget in April, and encouraged students and faculty to call Brewer in protest. Anthony Hessel, ASA vice chair of external affairs, said he saw the lack of funding for the UA as a sign that higher education was not a priority for Arizona’s Legislature. This summer, the UA will work on its operating budget request to the state for the 2016 fiscal year. The 2015 budget will be finalized at a meeting with the board of regents in June. Kathy Whisman, assistant vice president of
Streetcar to open to public in July BY JORDAN FOWLER The Daily Wildcat
The Sun Link Tucson Streetcar is on the right track. The project has moved from the construction and production phase to testing and training throughout the course of the past year. At this point, testing is about to be completed and the preparation for startup will begin, according to Carlos de Leon,
the deputy director of the Tucson Department of Transportation. The city is going to move forward next with the Streetcar Street-Smart campaign, said Shellie Ginn, the streetcar project manager. “We are trying to educate cyclists, pedestrians [and motor vehicle drivers about] how to function on a line that has a streetcar system, because it’s a completely new type
Arizona state funding for higher education (ASU, NAU, UA) by year: $1,154,957,900 $1,088,756,400 $1,087,837,100 $873,005,600 $843,251,300 $824,491,900 009
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the Budget Office at the UA, said the process for creating a budget request begins a year and a half before the budget is passed. The requests are a collaboration between the university president, deans of colleges, the provost, the senior vice president of research and others, she said. Throughout the year, a draft of the request is presented to the board of regents, which provides guidance and direction. The low state funding presents a challenge when creating the UA budget, Whisman said,
of system to our community,” Ginn said. Joan Beckim, who has been responsible for public outreach and education on the project, said the community has been very receptive to the streetcar. “We want everyone to say, ‘OK, my behavior may influence someone else’s behavior, so be really conscious of how you’re driving,’” Beckim said. “There’s a bit of a learning curve for everyone, but overall it’s been very successful.” Between the arrival of the first streetcar last August and the seventh streetcar last week, construction has been completed, operators have been hired and testing and training has begun, Ginn said. The eighth and final streetcar is scheduled to arrive
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and it means lowering expectations. She said the UA looks at the interests of the state and state revenue projections in order to create a budget request that is more likely to be met. After a final meeting with the board of regents, the budget requests are formally submitted to the state on Oct. 1, she said. Then the fight for UA funding will begin again. — Follow Hannah Plotkin @HannahPlotkin
to respond quickly to any issues that later this month. Ginn said construction and might arise on the streetcar. The delivery of each streetcar also landscaping companies are also receiving training on how to work had the potential to create problems, de Leon said. along the line. The “There’s a lot of high voltage of the What it does is complexity with a overhead wires really link four number of moving makes working miles of our parts,” de Leon said, “so around them very on a schedule we look at dangerous, and community what’s called the critical companies must together. path, which is kind of receive permits — Joan Beckim, public outreach and the one thing that if you before doing so. education don’t get this, you can’t The project move on to that.” faced many challenges in order Despite the to reach this point in development, challenges along the way, the Ginn said, including minimizing streetcar will provide advantages the impact on businesses, educating for the entire community. De Leon about parking along the streetcar added that economic development route and training police and staff STREETCAR, B3
The Eller College of Management congratulates all of our Business Administration Graduating Seniors and the following Outstanding Award Recipients! University of Arizona Foundation Outstanding Senior for the Eller College of Management: Rinku Skaria, Business Management
Eller College Senior Awards:
Eller College Outstanding Seniors: Ryan Appel, Accounting Eric Brady, Economics Juan Peraza, Finance Rinku Skaria, Business Management Brittany Boegemann, Marketing Victoria DeHaven, MIS Shawn Graham, Business Administration Ross Kroll, Entrepreneurship Team Award Hunter Kroll, Entrepreneurship Team Award Juan D. Veintimilla, Entrepreneurship Team Award Alexander Nickell, Entrepreneurship Team Award
Libby Stropko, William Barrett Award Vishak Shankar, Marvin Fortman Award Onyedikachi Chi-ukpai, Laura Henderson Outstanding Multicultural Student Service Award
Global Business Program Award Recipient: Colton Cray
Eller Centurions: Fayosseh Amah Ryan Appel Taegan Berreman Brittany Boegemann Jenna Bresadola Joseph Brown Edward Buster Megan Calles Andrew Chaifetz Hillary Chen Myongrin Choi Alexander Cohen Caitlin Collins Ali Connell Megan Crone Victoria DeHaven Danica Dela Cruz Daniel Diaz-Brown Adrienne Dillard Amy Doherty Rebecca Durazo Gabriela Escobar Jennifer Fardig Karis Feldman Chelsea Ferrero
Kaylie Foster Paige Frahm Nathalie Goodman Shawn Graham Annit Granillo Callan Gray Tyler Hansen Rui He Zeyu He Rachel Heob Charlie Hintze Emily Huang Melina Islas Ryan Jicha Courtney Kastelic Jenni Keatseangsilp Hannah Keogh Jenna Langert Allie Laudick Sarah Laus Kyle LeMontang Miguel Lopez Yvette-Marie Margaillan Jefferson Martin
Leadership Awards:
Amanda Martinez Sergio Mejia Terrence O’Connor Erik Oja Cassandra Ott Courtney Padgett Hayeong Park Juan Peraza Miles Pinter Carly Portnoy Nina Rasmussen Marissa Raykoff Evan Reed Sean Rhude Rodney Rohrmann Elise Romero Luke Ruziska Nathan Schlatter Diana Serratos Vishak Shankar Katherine Shell Kelly Shields Sungano Siyavora Rinku Skaria Elizabeth Smiley
Stephanie Smith Malia Staub Chiarra Stechmann Logan Stoneman Libby Stropko Sarah Struthers Lauren Teter Cole Thompson Zoey Thorpe Gaizka Urreiztieta Madeline Van House Kyle Vasey Iliana Villapudua Mandy Wang Polly Wang Sarah Warmoth Sarah Weisman Shauna Williams Jake Wilson Haley Winn Eric Wong Brandon Wurl Jared Young Mollie Zemer
Daniel Smith, Leadership Legacy Award Organization of the Year: 35+ members Delta Sigma Pi Organization of the Year: less than 35 members Eller Student Council
Eller College Department Senior Awards: Tyler Hansen, Outstanding Academic Achievement (ACCT) Jonathan Pulito, Outstanding Academic Achievement (ACCT) Rebecca Durazo, Accounting Award for Leadership and Service Hannah McBride, Accounting Award for Leadership and Service Polly Wang, Accounting Award for Leadership and Service Jared Young, Accounting Award for Leadership and Service Taylor Courtney Corcoran, Outstanding Economics Graduating Senior Ian Scott Merrill, Outstanding Economics Graduating Senior Bryce Keffeler, Finance Department Head’s Award for Academic Distinction Charles Alexander Novotny, Fielding Singh Award (Finance) Mandy Wang, Fielding Singh Award (Finance) Jenna Botticelli, Ellerman Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement (MIS) Colton Cray, Ellerman Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement (MIS) Haily De La Cruz, Ellerman Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement (MIS) Ryan Jicha, Ellerman Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement (MIS) Kyle LeMontang, Ellerman Award for Outstanding Leadership and Service (MIS) Erik Oja, Department Head Award in Management and Organizations Jenna Botticelli, Red Award for Academic Achievement and Volunteerism Caitlin Collins, Red Award for Leadership Shelby Deemer, Red Award for Campus Leadership Jaime Gobel, Red Award for Highest GPA Sean Rhude, Red Award for All Around Achievement Paige Frahm, Thinking Forward: Leadership & Innovation in Marketing Award Shauna Williams, Thinking Forward: Leadership & Innovation in Marketing Award Brandon Wurl, Thinking Forward: Leadership & Innovation in Marketing Award Christine Clark, Marketing Academic Excellence in Marketing Rachel Heob, Marketing Academic Excellence in Marketing Gaurav Nangal, Marketing Academic Excellence in Marketing Antoinette Pike, Marketing Academic Excellence in Marketing Elise Romero, Marketing Academic Excellence in Marketing Lauren Teter, Marketing Academic Excellence in Marketing Shauna Williams, Marketing Academic Excellence in Marketing Brandon Wurl, Marketing Academic Excellence in Marketing Evan Reed, Eller Leadership in Marketing Award Stephanie Hanson, Sidney J. Levy Leadership in Marketing
Graduating with Honors: Mary Beckmann Eric Brady Jenna Bresadola Hillary Chen Christine Clark Chase Clarke Alexander Cohen
Caitlin Collins Colton Cray Haily De La Cruz Victoria DeHaven Joshua DiBiasi Amy Doherty Jared Erman
Paige Frahm Cody Franz Jeffrey Hamilton Laura Hobbs Emily Huang Sheila Kaiser Bryce Keffeler
Alexandra Laudick Alayna Liang Amanda Martinez Megan McDermott Ellie Mendelsohn Henry Naff Charles Novotny
Juan Peraza Aamir Pervez Zachary Poll Jonathan Pulito Elise Romero Sam Rubin Kevin Severson
Anita Shannon Elizabeth Smiley Logan Stoneman Libby Stropko Josilyn Tan Katrina Tracy Kyle Vasey
Juan Veintimilla Mandy Wang Marguerite Weimeyer Blake Welter Isabella Whalen Jared Young
Meijing Zimmer Banglong Zhu