Bravo to The Arizona Board of Regents coming together in unanimous opposition to Senate Bill 1474 Tuesday, which would allow anyone over the age of 21 with a concealed-carry permit to carry a gun on campus. A sufficient argument that this legislation is a necessity, or is beneficial to anyone at all, has yet to surface. It has been opposed by the University community, President Michael Crow, the ASU, NAU, and UA police departments — the people it will directly affect and put in danger — and now ABOR has officially given it a thumbs down, as well.
Boo to the Arizona House of Representatives’ Appropriations Committee passing House Bill 2675 by a 7–6 vote Wednesday afternoon. If you don’t know what HB2675 is by now, it’s time to pay attention. The bill could potentially affect any student who picks up this paper, is enrolled in classes at an Arizona university or is planning on doing so. It would require all students to pay $2,000 toward their tuition regardless of scholarships, need or financial aid. Athletic and merit-based scholarships are the exception. This decision brought tears to some students who attended the committee meeting in opposition, and it could bring financial hardship on those who don’t join the discussion.
Bravo to Tom Brokaw, the award-winning NBC news anchor, being selected by the Office of President Michael Crow to deliver the spring 2012 undergraduate commencement ceremony speech on May 3. Brokaw has been on television since before most of the spring 2012 graduating class was born. The student reaction thus far has turned up positive, excited and eager tweets and Facebook comments (Of course, subsequently followed by similar actions from our parents, now that they’re all online — all the time). Brokaw’s body of work has covered many important chapters in American history, and we are honored to have him speak at this year’s ceremony.
Boo to the lack of focus of the 20th Republican presidential primary debate. What feels like the winding down of a bad season of television didn’t give indication of a frontrunner for the GOP. The debate was held in Arizona, yet when discussing education, the legislation of choice was 2001’s No Child Left Behind Act. Where was the DREAM Act? The debate focused on national and international issues that didn’t have a relatable application to Arizona voters.
Bravo, however, to the Republican presidential primary debate taking place in Arizona. Hosted by the Mesa Arts Center Wednesday night, the 20th Republican presidential primary turned up the already-bright political spotlight that has been focused on our state for most of the year. Arizona will prove to be a vital win for any of the presidential hopefuls as the Arizona Republican presidential preference election, which will take place Feb. 28, has been speculated as capable of producing a frontrunner for a GOP nominee.
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