Last week, Governor Jennifer Granholm presented her “State of the State” address and her 2006 executive budget was announced to the Legislature. These actions amount to the first inning of a minimum nine-inning game known as the legislative budget planning process. I anticipate this year’s legislative season to be a very long one.

Over the weekend, I spent a considerable amount of time considering some of the points of the Governor’s speech and the possible implications of her executive order and budget. I’d like to share with you a letter I sent to the NMU faculty and staff Friday, so that as active Northern alumni, you have the same information as the campus community.
When you have time, please take a moment to read the letter.

The key point for alumni to understand is that at NMU the general fund is made up of almost a 50-50 percent split between state funding and tuition and fees. So, the math is pretty simple for us. If state funding goes down, tuition and fees must go up proportionally in order to keep all that we have at NMU today.
When the state ties funding to tuition restraint, the situation becomes much more complicated.
Universities, especially growing ones like Northern, must then find ways to address both the loss of funds as well as the increase in expenditures such as compensation, health care and utilities. On the positive side, it forces institutions to be very focused about their priorities.
On the negative side, it endangers the quality and/or existence of current offerings.

As alumni, I know you care that NMU’s academic offerings are of the highest caliber because that continues to be a direct reflection on your degree. This idea of focused priorities also holds true for the state. Does higher education rank as a top 10 priority among the citizens of Michigan? I hope we all agree that the answer is a resounding YES! I hope when you get the opportunity to give your input as citizens of the state (if you are) that you send that message loud and clear to Lansing.

I never had the pleasure of meeting John Truitt '85, or MAJ Phillips, but they truly were on the front lines. One capturing news as it happened, and the other helping to rebuild communities through his civil affairs battalion. I did have the pleasure of working with Kristi Gruizinga '99 for the Coalition Provisional Authority and the U.S. Embassy. Her efforts were tireless, and she did bring legitimacy to all of the projects and programs she was involved in. I am one of many that are overjoyed that she has recovered from those waning days of her tour in Iraq. Attached is a photo of Kristi, myself and another NMU alum Specialist Michael Filizetti '02 taken while all three of us were still in Baghdad. As mentioned in the Horizons article, Kristi is headed to the Hauge. I am back in Washington, DC working in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs. Michael is still in Baghdad working for the Iraq Reconstruction Management Office. Please continue your well wishes and prayers for him and all of our troops serving overseas. Many Thanks
Tim Bennett '99

Preliminary voting runs through Sunday, March 6, during which time visitors to the site can vote once per day for first-, second- and third-place choices for the Hobey Baker Award (www.hobeybaker.com). The fans’ tally will be considered along with votes from each of the 58 Division I head coaches to determine the 10 finalist for this year’s award.