Earlier this week, the Wildcat asked UA students, "If you could ask or tell Gov. Janet Napolitano anything, what would it be?"

After compiling the questions, the Wildcat sat down with the governor yesterday to ask her some of the questions students raised.

Wildcat: The Legislature's budget isn't looking too good for university funding. Are you going to sign off on anything that doesn't have a significant increase in funding for the universities?

Napolitano: Well, we are way premature in terms of predicting ultimately what the Legislature is going to have. They don't have a budget. I mean, there is a JLBC (Joint Legislative Budget Committee) budget, which is simply a committee. I mean, that's nothing. It's a piece of paper. Neither house has a budget, and I think there is great bipartisan support for the universities in both houses. So we'll see what happens.

Wildcat: Students are having trouble graduating in four years. Although the Arizona Board of Regents is keeping tuition in the top of the bottom third nationally, which is the standard for the Arizona Board of Regents, students are spending five years trying to get a four-year degree. Do you see that as a problem, and what can be done to solve that problem?

Napolitano: I do see it as a problem. I think faculty retention is part of that problem. You've got to have faculty to teach enough sections of classes, and that's something I know the regents have raised as a concern with the presidents and the institutions.

I think it also affects our graduation rates. I mean, we have a fairly low graduation rate. (President) Peter Likins has suggested that we may want to look at funding universities with an incentive to get kids out and to get them to graduate, and maybe we need to do that. That may incentivize greater opportunities to graduate in four as opposed to five years, too.

Wildcat: You touched a little bit on the Changing Directions program, and I am sure you have heard of the Focused Excellence program and what is being done at the UA. Some students are concerned with tying in private industry with the university. Are you worried that in the long term the program is going to affect the more traditional university education?

Napolitano: I think if you do it right, there is a mutual strengthening; and quite frankly, tomorrow's scientists and engineers need to be conversant with the liberal arts. And people in the liberal arts need to be conversant with some science themselves, because it's a false dichotomy to say, ÎWell, if I'm an English major, I don't need to know anything about science.' Well, at least the history of science. It's a false thing to say, ÎI'm going to be a scientist and not have developed either any historical perspective or any communications skills that will enable me to communicate what I am doing to the greater populace.' So I think in a good full-service university, the departments need to strengthen each other.

Wildcat: This is sadly a major interest down at the UA, but are you going to sign off on Rebuplican Rep. Michelle Reagan's later bar-closing-time bill?

Napolitano: (Laughs) I am still gathering some information. I have until Tuesday to make that decision, and so I haven't made that decision quite yet.

Wildcat: The U A really wants to increase the number of Hispanic numbers it's attracting. Is that something the state needs to focus on, making universities more accessible to minorities?

Napolitano: Yes. But first of all, we need to get more Hispanic students graduating from high school. Their dropout rate is very high. And once we do that, we need to get more of them into higher education. There are a lot of things we can and are doing. I think all three university presidents are actively engaged in this area, so hopefully we'll start seeing the numbers go up.

Wildcat: Why do you think they have been deterred up until this point? Is it not financially accessible?

Napolitano: I think that's part of it. If you have a high dropout rate, you know you have to graduate high school before you can go to the university. So if your dropout rate is high, it's going to mean fewer are going to the university. So I think it's a combination of financial resources and high dropout rates and, you know, maybe a feeling that for some the university is kind of a strange thing. It's not something that they have any familiarity with. So acculturating our young Arizonans, not just Hispanics but all young Arizonans, to the notion that school doesn't end when you are in the 12th grade is something we need to do.

Wildcat: Last question: I know you have been dodging this one for a long time, but seriously, is it Sun Devils or Wildcats?

Napolitano: Lumberjacks. (Laughs) No, I love Wildcats and I love Sun Devils and I love Lumberjacks. They are all our teams.

÷ Mitra Taj contributed to this report.