NorthernArizonaNews.com
INSIDE
Life: Humans vs. Zombies, p 12
Opinion: Tucson Shooting, p 9 Sports: Lady Jacks, p 15 A&E: Comics store, p 19
SINCE 1914
Issue 1, VOL 98 Jan. 20-26, 2011
New U.S. Rep Gosar gets appt.
P
BY MARIA DICOSOLA
aul Gosar, a Flagstaff native and newly elected U.S. representative for Arizona’s District 1, is now serving as vice chairman for the House of Representatives Oversight Subcommittee on Health Care, District of Columbia, Census and the National Archives. The subcommittee is a subsidiary of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. The committee recently went through reorganization under Darrell Issa, chairman of the committee and Republican representative for California’s 49th District, during the 112th Congress — the most recent meeting of the legislative branch. The meeting lasts through President Barack Obama’s third and fourth years as president. As a dentist, Gosar said he has had a first-hand look at the healthcare system and the problems see GOSAR page 3
Shooting in Tucson shocks state BY MARIA DICOSOLA
W Members of the city of Flagstaff Commision on Diversity Awarness march from the Union to the du Bois Center in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. (Photo by Laura Phillips)
MLK Jr. Day draws marchers, supporters BY MIRANDA CAIN
N
AU celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a university holiday for the 25th year in a row on Monday. This year’s celebration was called “Dare to Dream,” and the Black Student Union (BSU), in conjunction with Office of the President, Enrollment Management and Student Affairs, Office of Residence Life, Office of Student Life, Multicultural Student Center, and Campus Services and Activities, hosted the event. David Camacho, special assistant to NAU President John Haeger and associate vice president for diversity and equity, gave the welcoming address at the event honoring the civil rights leader. Camacho said 25 years ago, university officials “decided we should
stay away from work [and classes] on this day.” The celebration of King’s life, which began at 4:30 p.m. in the University Union with a march to the du Bois Center, included poetry readings, spoken word presentations, musical performances, a routine by the BSU step dance team, an interpretive dance and a slideshow of important African-Americans throughout history. The audience included Flagstaff Mayor Sara Presler, who also addressed the crowd. Representatives and members from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) were also in attendance. BSU began planning for this event in August 2010. Students, faculty and com-
munity members joined together to honor Martin Luther King Jr. and to celebrate his life’s accomplishments. Julius Young, student president of BSU, opened and closed the ceremony. Young said the event’s turnout made him proud. “[It] feels good to see this all come together and be so successful,” Young said during the closing remarks. Young recited the poem “Climb Until Your Dreams Come True” by Helen Steiner Rice. This poem was chosen because it matched the “Dare to Dream” theme. Robert Villalobos, a member of Omega Delta Phi who had a strong presence at the event, elaborated on the meaning of the event when presenting the Omega Delta Phi Sersee MLK DAY page 3
hat seemed like a normal Saturday in northwest Tucson turned into a historical tragedy when U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords was shot pointblank in the head while speaking at a “Congress on Your Corner” event Jan. 8. The shooting left 13 victims wounded and six dead. The accused shooter, Jared Loughner, is a 22-year-old community college student from Tucson. Witnesses said he began shooting aimlessly toward the event but was tackled by two elderly men as he tried to reload his gun.Giffords did not have any sort of security in place as she spoke to the public, which is not abnormal for congressmen and women. The heartrending turn of events led House Democrats and Republicans to discuss Giffords’ condition, as well as various security measures to be considered at future events, over a bipartisan conference call on Jan. 9. Despite the fear congressmen may now have while speaking in public, Paul Gosar, Flagstaff resident and newly elected U.S. representative for Arizona’s District 1, assured his constituents the tragedy will not damper representatives’ spirits or affect the amount of time they spend speaking to the public. “The acts of a criminal will not stop us from meeting our people,” Gosar said. “We will not be deterred, we will not be intimidated and we will not abandon the people of Arizona because of the murderous acts of a deranged killer.” Other representatives such as freshman Republican Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, Washington’s U.S. representative for District 3, do not believe spending more money on security see TUCSON SHOOTING page 5