Arizona Higher Education Budget Cut Crisis

[n310ea]

The best way for the state to balance its budget is to get rid of the subsidies, it would also clean up the illegal immigration problem.

[waverly2468]

I don't have kids so I don't care about massive education cuts. The "kids are the future" cliche is getting tired. If kids are the future then the future is going to be like "Terminator Salvation". A lot of people agree with me in Calif. because some propositions that were quick-fixes for the state budget were defeated by a HUGE landslide and the state is going to run out of cash in a month. It should be as good as Juliet setting off the H-bomb in "Lost".

[Chick6517]

You're video is way too interesting! haha pretty cool i might add. but yes, i hope that i see more videos like this ! you have some real interesting topics

[CLParsons]

Part 4

I'd be interested in knowing the ages of those that have commented below that call you names and make racist comments and selfish declarations about how THEY themselves can handle this present economical situation and threat to our dreams and liberty. Thank you, Brad, for seeing the BIG PICTURE. I admire your example of the wisdom of (some of) your generation. Thank you.

[CLParsons]

Part 3

If this continues... the big picture is... and is already happening throughout our country... we have a piece of paper and a huge debt, unemployment, and ALL our life savings and/or life insurance and/or retirement savings and/or our homes will NOT GO TO OUR CHILDREN AS PLANNED. At my age (48) it scares the heck out of me.

[CLParsons]

Part 2 (I'm over 500 characters)

I follow in her path. I have spent thirty years pursuing an education (two associates) and FINALLY am so grateful to be able to pursue my degree online now that my child is raised (will they be cutting that out, too?). I have already paid two student loans in my life and now, I'm afraid that due to the economy, this degree may eventually cost me my home when it comes time to pay that loan off. X

[CLParsons]

Brad, I admire your intensity. I don't know you or much about the actual campus except a few things... my mother was a student at NAU and went back years later to complete her bachelors (she was a mother of five and an English teacher) and never fwas able to finish.

[Salterranova]

I would watch your video, IF it would load!! FAGGOT!!! DOWN WITH THE MORMONS!!! FUCK THE JEWS!

[KillerNinjaSquirrel]

I find it amusing that they (Politicians mostly) say we have an epidemic on our hands when talking about education. they say students are just not interested in school, that there are just not enough teachers, and so on and so on. So their solution to this problem is to cripple the education system even more?

[acadawhat]

So I'm all for this Brad. We need to show that there are other solutions to this. We also need to make it know to the NAU admin that there are some select things we are not willing to sacrifice- like faculty and our smaller programs.  Lets all work towards a common goal. We may disargee on methods but snarky comments don't help anyone, and certainly don't strengthen your credibility.

[barbiedollqtpie23]

Agreed!

[banman3]

Every university in the nation is cutting their budgets due to the current state of our economy. It is not a question of whether they have it in for us students, but rather what we can sacrifice to help cure a nationwide problem. Yes it will be difficult, and yes we may need to take out more loans to pay for our education, but those who truly want to be here will find a way to get by. The question is; do you want to be here bad enough to sacrifice for it? If not, then leave and hold your peace

[jessmarionrai]

It would serve the state well for the "big wigs" in Arizona government and higher education to take pay cuts. After all, they'll still have jobs. Surely they can survive on 100,000$/year less. Hell, I survive on barely 1/6th of that.

[moose0drool]

Your idea is to ditch class and waste gas by driving down to Phoenix? This is not a solution but a waste of time and resources. Close the satellite campuses, I attend the main campus anyway. Who cares about the center for high altitude training? It is non-educational and has no impact on my degree program. As far as the parking fines, I'm all about it, I payed for my parking pass, so, either buy a pass or put a damn nickel in the meter.

[moose0drool]

paid*

[CCMCMO]

After all, we are the "future" right? So stop making our future so damn expensive.

[CCMCMO]

I have an idea admins of NAU. Stop blowing all the money we PAY you. Stop cutting OUR education because YOU can't manage the money correctly. Sure this recession must have come out of nowhere right? No warning?...yea....The budget cut is a huge issue for the school and I understand $80mil can't be made up from things i've listed....BUT they arn't doing it? Lower your salary Haeger, save your money NAU. Lower the burden on the students.

[CCMCMO]

I am about to point out the obvious here. If it is not obvious it is easy to find. Common sense reality check: Haeger's yearly salary is $424,408. University Presidents salaries are on the rise lately. LOOK IT UP. Look at our campus, look at all the high dollar projects going on that we wont see finished when we graduate. They make a killing on dining already, a killing at Gateway (believe it or not), and a killing in anything else we buy. Books, parking, stupid ass attendance beepers, DORMS

[pdogrice]

wtf!?!?!?

[juliadale22]

I understand what you are trying to do, but unfortunately I believe it's a lost cause. We're too deep in this recession now and it's not like we're the only ones losing money - people all over the country are losing their JOBS. I think we should be thankful that the teachers are still willing to teach and that we still have a University. Yes, it sucks, instead of protesting why don't we all just band together and try to get through it? We're lucky to be getting the kind of education that we are.

[Wonderchicken17]

Yes...protesting will magically make money appear!

Good call!

[DeCleyre89]

See you on Wednesday!

[JestaMcMerv]

lol good luck on your protest. I'm the fuck up outta this bitch in May. no really.

[ncsbracergp94]

Go cry to your savior Obama. No doubt you voted for him. We are in a recession soon to be a depression. Protest all you want, the money doesn't exist. The gravy train is over, everyone is getting cut everywhere.

[adotachan]

a: Obama didn't put us in this recession, I believe it was the LAST ASSHOLE who decided to fuck away our SURPLUS on his daddy's unfinished war in Iraq.

b.) Yeah, EVERYONE'S getting cut. BUT GUESS WHAT? A cut of this magnitude will CRIPPLE Arizona, not only putting hundreds of thousands of people out of a job, but it will turn Arizona's education even shittier. Which, really, isn't what Arizona needs right now .

[ncsbracergp94]

The economic collapse was caused by democrats Barney Frank and Chris Dodd who enacted legislation forcing many banks to finance risky mortgages to help low income families buy homes. True Obama didn't put us here but policies like his DID and this economic collapse will continue if changes are not made. That includes funding ANY projects government loans which is required to continue funding at the current rate! BTW the Clinton surplus was "created" by the same bubble that has since burst.

[ncsbracergp94]

I particularly enjoy your exaggerations to invoke drama and fear into your false statements. Hundreds of thousands of jobs? The entire population of AZ is 6,166,318 as of the last census estimate. The college enrolled 36,932 students in 06 of which only 26,491 were FROM AZ! Faculty accounts for an even smaller amount. Where do your figures come from? Here's one for you.. the average wage offer from 08 for Undergraduate seniors, $40,248.. Truck drivers make more than that a year. TRUCK DRIVERS.

[brieannlyn]

PROTEST!

[Meursault86]

Add a link to facebook maybe?

[iAmVincent2]

Cut the budget all you want AZ; I'm graduating from this shit-hole in May. HAHAHAHA!!

[NAULumberjacks]

These could take place the middle of the semester!

[auryngirl]

I can't make it on Wednesday, but I fully support any and all action taken to fight against these budget cuts. I could lose some of my favorite teachers and my major may even be dropped, and AZ doesn't seem to care. 40% is a ridiculous amount of money to snatch from universities and I will contribute however I can to ensure that this doesn't happen.

[Neon0]

AZ legislature...::facepalm::

Always looking for a 'quickfix' to throw a bandaid on an infected wound. The solution does not lie in cutting funding for education. We need to educate today's and tomorrow's generations to help with new ideas to get us out of this crisis.

An ABC15 report showed how turning off the lights at night when no one is in govt buildings would save over $200k from 1 of the 2 dozen+ they monitored. There's a start.

[Neon0]

Another idea would be to look at the CJ system. How about a moratorium on the death penalty? No one realizes how much it costs per inmate to fully carry it out...

[turnerj41]

very simply put , AZ, already ranked one of the worst in the country, is investing even less in Education. if the population doesn't want to fund us, respond by leaving this state once you get your degree. Expect tuition increases either way, I do qand I am ok; I do not want to see NAU lower their standards even if it means I have to foot more of the bill. You dont like that approach, contact your representative or new Governor and let them know you will donate 100 dollars to their opponent.

[jtkinz]

I think that this move is sad, but given the economic times, it is most likely necessary. I would only support this sort of spending cut if the money was not being diverted away from the schools for another purpose.

AZ is ranked among the bottom in terms of education and this will certainly not help any.

I think it is time for everyone (not just in AZ) to sacrifice for the greater good. Our culture is me, me, me, now, now, now, and it has finally caught up with us. This is just one example.

[NAULumberjacks]

We need out state to invest in our education so that we can contribute in a positive way to our society. Education is the solution not the area that should be targeted in this economic crisis.

[alainsane]

Well put.

God forbid we do anything to reduce our dependency on the prison systems. Like decriminalizing "drug" use. Prison budgets are the sacred cows no one wants to admit are even in the room...much less do anything about.

[jdj4tet]

I would rather budgets be cut than taxes raised. It's time for AZ and every state to become fiscally responsible!

[gringo804]

While fiscal responsibility is important, you are talking about education! There is nothing more important than education as it is the foundation on which the future is laid. Besides, sometimes raising taxes IS a fiscally responsible choice.

[CMarieJ5]

Obviously, the state of Arizona would not be cutting the budget this drastically if it were not absolutely necessary. Even as a Senior at NAU who hopes to continue on with graduate studies there, I would rather they take money away from the universities than away from the police force, fire departments, etc. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices for the good of everyone else!

[NAULumberjacks]

The money is not only getting taken away from the universities but the students themselves, for anyone living on campus rent will increase $166 a month and anyone who has need-based financial aid will be forced to pay at least $1,000 upfront. Economically if the state invests $1 per student they will see a $8 return on investment which grows our economy. People with degrees are more active in their community and contribute more to society than those with just a high school diploma.

[jtkinz]

Unfortunately this assumes that the students stay in AZ after they graduate.

[NAULumberjacks]

In Coconino county alone, the University is attributed with 1 out of 7 jobs. Students with a degree stimulate the economy, and NAU puts $1 billion back into the economy. If these cuts happen, faculty staff and administration could lose their jobs, as well as departments being closed, Student Support Services closing and NAU Yuma being closed down.

[ncsbracergp94]

Tell me where your $1B number comes from and your $1 into becomes $8 out. Show all of us actual data and explain how that works. Divided by (08' UG + GA) at UA $61,207 per student per year back into AZ economy? When the avg income per UG in 08 was at the most $40,248 and GA $57,094 BEFORE taxes? Thats assuming every graduate STAYS in AZ after college which seeing by the enrollment almost 40% being from out of state lets change that figure to 1B and we get $102,019 back into the economy PER YEAR.

[gringo804]

Given the context in which you are speaking, "for the good of everyone else"does not even make sense... Higher education IS for the good of everyone else. If they must cut the budget there are many other things they could do, that aside an educated populace is required for democracy to be effective. Take away education, you move to take away democracy.

[Stationmaster]

Good luck - I hope that a large number of students can make it to Phoenix and be heard.

[Ob1MegOb1]

We need to stand up to this because it is not only higher education that will be seeing a cut here in AZ but K-12. And if they attack the base of education as hard as they are attacking us in higher education then it will only make it harder for kids who wish to have a higher education. Please everybody let our voices be heard and stand up for this very worthy cause.