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The Backpack

A news source for parents and families of NAU students

Tuition Update

Parking and Shuttles: Did You Know?

I am guilty. Even I didn’t know. It wasn’t until I joined the Parking and Shuttle Services team in fall ‘08 that I realized that parking services and the buses and vans that get me from place to place on campus are in fact one department. It never occurred to me that the organization and regulations for parking were created to support the bus system and to help make campus travel more efficient. Here are some other facts I’ve come to discover:

Did you know…

• The campus buses transport an average of 25,000 riders a week!
• The Motorist Assistance Program provides jump starts, unlocks vehicles, assists vehicles stuck in ice and snow, and provides air for flat tires (write down this number: 928-523-9066).

There are new improvements on the horizon for fall ‘09 that I am excited to share with you. In our aim of providing friendly customer service, to promote a more pedestrian-friendly campus, and to ensure timely travel for the campus bus and shuttle services, I am happy to announce the following:

• New online management service will allow students to purchase permits online. Permits will be mailed; no more in-person pick-up! Ordering late? No worries! Print your receipt online and use it as a temporary pass for up to 2 weeks until your official permit is received. Current permits are valid until August 15, 2009.

• Residential zones will provide parking in lots nearest to residence halls and alleviate traffic congestion through campus. Since employee and commuter lots are open to all permit holders after 4:30 p.m., residents will be able to use their personal vehicle to travel and park throughout campus in the evenings and on weekends.

• Enhanced bus and shuttle service on campus will work to get students where they need to go. We’ve added express route service on San Francisco Street and will continue the express route on Knoles Drive for limited stop access to north campus.

Please check the Parking and Shuttle Services website for updated information.

—Erin Suzanne Stam
Parking and Shuttle Services

Student Health Tip

According to a recent Northern Arizona University survey, students who retained a meal plan beyond their freshman year reported an increased ability to manage their physical and emotional health. They reported higher scores in regard to learning to manage their eating habits to include the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables per day as well as recognizing a healthy serving size. These students also reported greater academic success, as well as success in life in general.

It’s reapplication time, so talk to your student and see what his or her plans are for the 2009-2010 academic year. Living and dining on campus truly does make a big difference. Information on 2009-2010 dining plans are available online.

—Casey Fisher
Campus Dining

Events Around Town

Apr 18 - Flagstaff 2009 Earth Day. Live bands, speakers, information booths, vendors, volunteer opportunities, and more. On the south lawn of Flagstaff’s City Hall from 11:30 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Apr 18 @ 7 PM - Slide show and lecture. Stone Landmarks: Flagstaff’s Historic Buildings and Geologic Landscapes, by Marie Jackson, Flagstaff Geologist. Free and open to the public. Riordan Mansion State Historic Park.

Apr 24–26 - The Northern Arizona Book Festival is a three-day weekend of readings, workshops, panel discussions, and other literary events. It is held at the Orpheum Theater and other venues in and around historic downtown Flagstaff, Arizona. To purchase books from participating authors, check the NAU Bookstore or call 928-523-7213.

Apr 21, 28 - Eat pizza for a good cause. Order pizza on Tuesday in April from Fratelli Pizza (4th St. or Phoenix Ave. in Flagstaff) and 10 percent of the meal receipt will be donated to Camp Colton for student scholarships.

Important Dates For Students

College of Arts and Letters

Event Highlights

For a full listing of events and information visit nau.edu/calevents, or subscribe to listserv@lists.nau.edu.

All events are free unless noted.

FILM

More: nau.edu/filmseries

Films are shown at the Cline Assembly Hall at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

MUSIC

More: nau.edu/music/events

THEATRE

More: nau.edu/theatreevents

ART EXHIBITIONS

More: nau.edu/artmuseum

Spring Honors

It is snowing in Flagstaff as I write this—ironic, isn’t it, that I’m writing about spring events? Well, underneath this new blanket of white, I can still see the yellow daffodils blooming. Spring is here, and the mountain campus is coming alive with fresh colors and renewed activities. Outdoor adventures are in full swing, and students are preparing for the end of the term. Beginning April 18 and continuing through April 25 is Honors Week, with activities, awards, presentations, and lectures—many are open to the public. Student honors receptions and ceremonies are also part of the week’s activities.

Apr 20 @ 2 PM - AIS Honors Week Guest Speaker: Indigenous Wisdom: The Development of New Knowledge in the Context of Biocolonialism by Dr. Debra Harry, Executive Director of the Indigenous Peoples Council on Biocolonialism (IPCB). W. A. Franke College of Business, Gardner Auditorium.

Apr 23 @ 7 PM - Undergraduate Symposium Keynote Address: Northern Arizona University Responding in a Time of Global Crisis by Dr. Romand Coles. Ardrey Auditorium.

—Derek Hansen
Enrollment Management and Student Affairs

It’s Spring! Gear-up and Go—

It has been officially been spring for almost a month now and the surrounding areas of Flagstaff are beckoning to “come out and play.” I know I’m especially looking forward to heading down to Sedona and hiking by the creek. NAU Outdoors is a great resource for finding places to go. They have maps, guidebooks, and their staff are experienced professionals who have a wealth of information on great local adventures.

Something I didn’t realize until writing this was how much equipment NAU Outdoors has and what you can rent. You can rent gear for just a day, a weekend, or a week, so now I don’t have to go buy a lot for that one-time camping trip I’ve always wanted to go on. From sleeping bags to cooking equipment, they have you covered. So… whether it’s your first camping trip, a multi-day long rafting trip, or rescue medicine courses that may go along with the others as a “just in case” kinda thing, NAU Outdoors has a variety of everything for everyone.

—Lindsey Gregor
Enrollment Management and Student Affairs