At around 5:30 p.m. this past Sunday evening, students began to arrive in mass for the free, Associated Students of NAU (ASNAU)-sponsored, concert featuring pop singer Ke$ha and rapper Simon Rex, also known as Dirt Nasty. As an estimated 5,480 students entered the Walkup Skydome, dozens of demonstrators protested the event outside.

Earlier that day, ASNAU announced via their Facebook page that Ke$ha and Dirt Nasty would be giving all the funds raised from merchandising sales at the concert to the victims of the tornadoes that hit outside the city last week.

Holding signs that read, “Don’t use our fee for misogyny” and “Assault survivors against [expletive] hip-hop,” the protesters stood behind readied barricades near the entrance to the stadium and made their voice heard to the concert-goers who passed by.

The reaction of the students to the protests were mixed. Several students stopped and heard the arguments being put forth, while many others cheered for Dirt Nasty and yelled at the demonstrators. One student took the end of his cigarette and attempted, to no avail, to use it to light several of the protest signs on fire as he passed by, only to have a police officer escort him away from the barricade.

On Oct. 6th, ASNAU President Chase Hunt released a statement to the student body about the decision to move forward with the concert and let Rex perform.

“ASNAU fully supports freedom of speech and believes that by not allowing Dirt Nasty to perform, based solely on his lyrics, would be an infringement on his rights as an individual and performer,” the statement said. “We have taken precautions to maximize the safety for all students that will be in attendance.”

Margo Nelson, a graduate student studying applied criminology, said Hunt and ASNAU were not being sincere in their statement.

“It was pretty much what we were expecting it to be,” Nelson said. “It signified to me that they were trying to alleviate as much as the bad press they had been receiving as possible, without actually admitting they had done something wrong.”

Nelson said the university and ASNAU need to make drastic changes to the structure of the student government if they want to win back the trust and support of many students.

“That’s something that should definitely happen this year, before another moronic set of senators get elected by their friends through a popularity contest — and then make poor decisions like this again,” Nelson said.

The concert was funded by the ‘23’ fee that the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) approved last year. Nelson said her group would attempt to put a stop to many of the other provisions funded by the project until changes were made to ASNAU.

“Also moving forward, we are looking at stopping the ‘23’ fee from moving forward,” Nelson said. “We’re trying to go about seeing how we can stop at least the most expensive parts of the ASNAU ‘23’ fee before they go into practice, such as the Arizona Snowbowl shuttle — the ‘Snowjack Express,’ if you will — amongst other things.”

Nelson said her group planned on filing several discrimination grievances against their student government.

“We’re filing, hopefully, up to 60 to 70 [Safe Working and Learning Environment (SWALE)] violation complaints against ASNAU,” Nelson said. “And whether or not that actually falls under SWALE policy, it will make it very clear that we’re not joking, and they need to take us seriously and our effort seriously.”

A.J. Hamilton, a senior theater studies major, said he was a huge Dirt Nasty fan who appreciated the comedic qualities of his music.

“I’m excited for Dirt Nasty,” Hamilton said. “I’m one of the four people on campus who knows who he is and likes him. You know, I’m a theater person, and one of the main things we deal with is free speech. The guy’s got free speech. Second of all, he’s not being serious. If you know his work at all, he’s a comedian — more of a comedian than a rapper. But, on top of that, if he was serious, the law gives him the right to say what he wants in the first place.”

Hamilton said he did not oppose the right of students to protest, but thought doing so for a voluntary event was pointless.

“I think trying to protest it is silly,” Hamilton said. “If you want to hear it, go — listen to him, he’s awesome. If you don’t want to hear it, don’t go. Don’t come, don’t listen to him or don’t pay him any attention.”

Standing in line to get into the concert, Tavia Burklakoff, a sophomore psychology major, said she was thrilled to see someone as famous as Ke$ha perform at NAU.

“Yes, I’m really excited,” Burklakoff said. “It’s the first big artist that’s been in Flagstaff.”

Having already heard some of Dirty Nasty’s work, Burklakoff said she could completely recognize the reasons some students were outraged.

“I understand it,” Burklakoff said. “I watched some of Dirt Nasty’s videos yesterday, and they’re pretty crude. I can understand everybody being angry about him coming into the school environment.”

Leaving shortly after the start of the concert, Bryn Merrell, a sophomore environmental science major, said she had walked out on Dirt Nasty’s performance because she found it to be offensive.

“I was pumped,” Merrell said. “You know, got ready and dressed up with the friends, and went here. But I decided to end the night on [sexist and racist expletive phrase].”

As the sun set upon the Skydome and students began to enter the stadium, the demonstrators lit candles as a part of a vigil remembering those in the community who had been victims of sexual assault and rape. Nelson said she and the students protesting the concert would not stop their advocacy for major changes to ASNAU.

“I will stop at nothing,” Nelson said. “I have made it my personal mission, in the next six months, to completely restructure ASNAU in a way that actually reflects what the student body is looking for within a student government.”

The Index provides rankings of the 75 top towns and cities for college students to live in. Rankings are generated through a quantitative process that considers demographics, employment opportunities, student population, and a host of other factors when assessing the livability of college towns.

Flagstaff made the list based on its strong partnership with NAU, as well as the host of local attractions and outdoor opportunities the town offers its student population. Flagstaff & NAU appear at number 14 out of 75 for schools of a comparative size.

Flagstaff has also been ranked as a top-five college town for adults by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine in 2007, and listed as a top adventure town by National Geographic Magazine in 2007.

The Arizona Board of Regents– the governing body of the three state public universities– announced Thursday that the number of students who are earning bachelor degrees is rising faster than what was predicted in ABOR’s Vision 2020 strategic plan.  The plan calls for a 50 percent increase in baccalaureate degrees by 2020 to meet Arizona workplace needs.  Northern Arizona University is hosting ABOR today and Friday for their annual two-day conference, this year being held in Flagstaff at the High Country Conference Center

(CLICK TO ENLARGE) The number of students earning bachelor's degrees is increasing ahead of predictions (Courtesy: ABOR)

Arizona university students earned 20,294 bachelor degrees in 2009– up from 18,654 in 2007, a nine percent increase.  NAU’s increase was 6.7 percent in 2009, with Arizona State University giving out 10.2 percent more bachelor degrees and the University of Arizona awarding 6.2 percent more degrees.

ABOR President Ernest Calderόn says that the university system is doing a good job increasing the number of degrees given out despite the funding and staffing challenges that have occurred over the past two years.“Amid budget cuts of more than $230 million over the last two years, the fact that the universities have exceeded degree production goals is a testament to the faculty and administration at our universities,” said Calderόn.

Governor Jan Brewer agrees with Calderόn.  She says that it is important to keep moving forward despite the funding challenges.”This increase in degree production is good news for Arizona-‐ the key now is sustaining this trend at a time when the state budget continues to be challenged,” said Brewer. “Our state universities must operate efficiently by continuing to develop affordable, predictable and sustainable models of higher education for Arizona families.”

Vision 2020 is a strategic plan that aims to increase the number of baccalaureate degrees earned by students, along with improving Arizona’s economic strength and quality of life, increase demand for higher paying jobs, and make the state nationally competitive in degree production by 2020.  According to ABOR data, only one-quarter of Arizonans age 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or higher.

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To read Vision 2020, visit the Arizona Board of Regents website.

The student was identified as 19-year-old Todd Bentley Beauchat of Tucson.

The university says foul play is not suspected, nor is infectious disease believed to be the cause of death.

The Coconino County medical examiner will conduct an autopsy, but it’s not known when the results will be available.

The university says school officials and counselors were meeting with students Sunday and planned to do so again Monday.

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.

Praia do Morro da Pedras in Brazil (Photo: Herbert Viana / Creative Commons)

With spring break only a few days away for NAU, many people are looking for fun and cheap last minutes trip ideas.

A popular place for the college scene is Lake Havasu, but there are deals for the whole family too. The Days Inn at Lake Havasu has specials ranging from $100 and $175, which includes a once night stay and a two hour Paddle Board rental from Stand Up Connection, or a four hour Jet Ski rental from Whett Rods.

The Monte Carlo and New York, New York Hotels in Las Vegas have family packages that include 2-for-1 roller coaster and Lance Burton tickets, ESPN Zone Game cards, and a buffet.

If you’re into nature, try visiting Durango, Colorado. The Center of Southwest Studies and the Colorado Division of Wildlife are hosting a Mountain lion Exhibit. The Secret Garden: The Musical, and the Durango Bach Festival are also happening during Spring Break.

Even if you aren’t planning on leaving Flagstaff, you can head up to the Snowbowl for some fun in the snow, that won’t freeze your bank account.

Last night, the Arizona Board of Regents held a statewide university tuition hearing.

NAZ Today’s Charlie Hicks has a recap:

The presidents of Arizona State University, the University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University also are recommending an “economic recovery surcharge” that added several hundred dollars onto existing tuition bills remain in place again next year.

According to proposals released Friday, tuition for new students at ASU would increase by $1,286 a year, bringing annual tuition and fees to $7,793. Current students would see their tuition increase by 5 percent, which would mean an extra charge ranging from $770 to $871, depending on the year they started.

At UA, tuition would rise by $1,450, to $7,224 a year. In addition, proposed new fee increases would total $680, including a new campus sustainability fee of $24, a health and recreation fee of $306, a $335 increase to the library fee and $15 increase in financial-aid fee.

NAU students would pay $337 more in tuition to $6,964 a year. Incoming students would have their tuition frozen at that level for the next eight semesters, though fees could increase in future years.

ASU and UA currently charge about $6,840 a year, although students who were enrolled at ASU prior to last fall pay a few hundred dollars less. NAU now charges $6,627 a year for new students.

The tuition proposals still need the approval from the Arizona Board of Regents, which oversees the three state universities. Public hearings are scheduled March 1 at several campus locations and the board is scheduled to vote March 11.

Last year, the universities saw a $190 million, or 20 percent, cut in their state funding.

The “shamble” tournament features teams of four that will all start at different holes throughout the course but tee off at the same time.  Money raised from the event will benefit NAU athletic scholarships.

Tickets are $125 dollars per person, but $75 tickets are available for participants who are members of the Oak Creek Country Club.  Golfers will also have the opportunity to attend the final home season game for the NAU men’s basketball team against Eastern Washington at the Walkup Skydome on Saturday night.

Tee time is set for 11 o’clock Saturday morning.  The price for tickets to participate in the event also include, green fees, cart and range balls, box lunch, and tee prizes.

For further information on the event visit NAU Athletics, or call Ashley Hammarstrom at 928-523-3389

Beitzel hit two 3-pointers in overtime. Will Figures added 21 points for the Bears (19-5, 8-3 Big Sky), winners of three of their last four.

Mike Proctor had 14 points and a game-high 11 rebounds as the Bears reached 19 wins for the first time since 1989.

Cameron Jones led the Lumberjacks (11-11, 5-6) with 17 points. He had his string of 20-point games snapped at five.

DeAngelo Jones had 16 points and Shane Johannsen 13 for Northern Arizona, whose three-game road winning streak ended.

Johannsen’s rebound basket gave Northern Arizona its only lead in overtime at 58-56. Then Beitzel sank consecutive 3-pointers, the second with 2:15 left, to pull the Bears ahead 62-58.

Northern Colorado scored the next four points before Cameron Jones’ layup for Northern Arizona made it 66-60 with 36 seconds remaining.

Neal Kingman’s 3-pointer began 9-0 run at the start of the second half as the Bears opened a 34-26 lead. After Beitzel extended it to 41-30 with a 3-pointer, Northern Arizona rallied for 13 unanswered points. Cameron Jones put the Lumberjacks ahead 43-41 with a basket and free throw with 9:42 left.

Beitzel put Northern Colorado ahead 55-52 with a shot in the lane with 3:22 to go, but Cameron Jones pushed Northern Arizona up 56-55 on a basket with 38 seconds left. Proctor sent the game into overtime with one free throw with 22 seconds remaining. Gabe Rogers missed a 15-footer at the buzzer for the Lumberjacks.

DeAngelo Jones had eight points in the first half and Northern Arizona took a 26-25 lead into halftime. The Lumberjacks held Beitzel to three points on 1-for-5 shooting.

Officials cited “worsening conditions” in their decision to close the whole campus, and are discouraging people from coming to campus so that crews can try to clear snow from sidewalks and parking lots.  Only designated, essential employees report to work on snow days.

Stick with NAZToday.com as we bring you the latest information on snow closures in the Flagstaff area.