11.1.17

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DW

Wednesday, November 1, 2017 ­– Tuesday, November 7, 2017 • VOLUME 111 • ISSUE 11

2 | NEWS | UA alum Bakari Henderson honored

10 | SCIENCE | Looking beyond the bikini line

16 | ARTS & LIFE | Comic-Con comes to Tucson

UA weaves complex web of lobbying

DAILYWILDCAT.COM SERVING THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA & TUCSON COMMUNITIES SINCE 1899

BY JORDAN WILLIAMS @DailyWildcat

What’s the

of​ ​data.” The report states that UA undergraduates made approximately $3,000 less in median wages than the other two Arizona universities’ undergraduates. However, UA students with graduate degrees made approximately $2,000 more than the other two Arizona universities’ graduate students. These statistics may not be as alarming for UA students as they seem.

The way in which the University of Arizona funds lobbying efforts was the subject of a recent report by the Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, which specifically targeted the UA Foundation. The UA has a state relations team, whose primary job is to oversee government and community relations between the university and the state legislature. “We work at the direction of the leadership of the university and the Arizona Board of Regents to promote the agenda of the university or, a better word would be, the priorities of the university at the state capitol,” said Tim Bee, vice president of Government and Community Relations at the UA. All three in-state universities are governed by the board, which in charge of what the universities lobby for at the state legislature. “The board approves a legislative agenda for the public university system, which aligns with its mission to provide opportunity for learning, discovery, research, public service and economic development for Arizona residents and the global community,” said Sarah Harper, vice president of communications for the board. “The board also sets expectations for all university lobbyists regarding engagement with lawmakers, executive staff and other stakeholders.” The UA has three full-time lobbyists on staff to help advance this agenda. It has also enlisted Molera Alvarez, LLC., a government affairs firm that has represented the UA since 2003, according to state lobbying records. “Historically, they have worked to represent us with health science initiatives,” Bee said. “This year will be the first year that they are working

DEGREE VALUE, A4

LOBBYISTS, A8

value of your degree? BY SHANNON SNEATH AND MARQUIES WHITE @DailyWildcat

​The​ ​Arizona​ ​Board​ ​of​ ​Regents​ ​released​ a​ ​ recent​ ​report​ ​comparing the​ ​wages​ ​of college​ ​ graduates​ ​and​​ ​high​ ​school​ ​graduates​ ​in​ ​the​ ​ state​ ​of​ ​Arizona.​ ​According​ ​to​ ​the board,​ ​a​ ​ college​ ​graduate earns​ ​about​ ​$22,000​ ​more​ ​ than​ ​an individual​ ​with​ ​only​ ​a​ ​high​ ​school​ ​ diploma. The survey​ ​was​ ​taken​ ​at the​ ​three​ ​public​ ​ universities​ ​in​ ​Arizona: ​University​ ​of​ ​Arizona,​ ​ Arizona State​ ​University​ ​and​ ​Northern​ ​ Arizona​ ​University.​ ​ The gap is continuing to widen. In 2007, students with undergraduate degrees earned 70 percent more in median wages than

19 | SPORTS | UA lacrosse through the years

Graduates from the state’s three public universities earn on average $22,000 more a year than those with just a high school diploma high school graduates. In 2015, that gap had increased to 82 percent. Dan​ ​Anderson,​ ​​director​ ​of​ ​institutional​ ​ analysis for the board,​ ​said​ ​​the​ ​reason​ ​the​ ​ report​ ​wasn’t​ ​done sooner​ ​was​ ​simply​ ​because​ ​ of a​ ​lack​ ​of​ ​information.​ ​In​ ​order​ ​to​ ​complete​ ​ the​ ​annual​ ​report​,​ ​social​ ​security​ ​numbers​ ​ were​ ​needed. “The​ ​coverage​ ​of​ ​students​ ​who​ ​graduated​ ​ is​ ​not​ ​high​ ​enough​ ​quality,” Anderson said.​ “​ There’s​ ​no​ ​other reason.​ ​In​ ​1990,​ ​it​ ​was​ ​a​ ​lack​ ​

SPECIAL SECTION INSIDE: DAILY WILDCAT/UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA FALL 2017 GRADUATE SCHOOL FAIR GUIDE


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