By Nick Smith
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Thursday, January 26, 2006
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Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard fielded questions from students over a fajitas and chocolate cake lunch yesterday at the Student Union.
Topics ranged from border issues and payday loan centers to career advice and law school.
"I personally believe public law is the best thing you can do as a lawyer," Goddard said. "I think our people go to bed at night and sleep very soundly. They really believe in what they do."
Goddard implored the two-dozen students who attended the luncheon to become involved in public affairs in order to make a difference.
"The main thing is, there are absolutely huge opportunities for public involvement," Goddard said. "The bottom line is if you do get involved, you will have made an impact. If you don't get involved, someone else is."
Chris Liebner, a pre-business sophomore, attended the event after a friend wrote his name on the list.
"He knew it might interest me meeting someone like Terry Goddard," said Leibner.
Liebner researched some of the causes Goddard had taken up as attorney general and felt Goddard's prosecution of white-collar crime was especially important because it affects the most people.
"Even though terrorism attacks emotions, white-collar crime undermines the capitalism of America," Leibner said.
Goddard touched on issues relating to students such as making it simpler for students to show up at the polls.
"We can make it much easier for students to vote if student ID cards had your address on it," the attorney general said.
The luncheon with Goddard was presented and funded by the Associated Students of University of Arizona Speakers Board, said Director Carrie Pixler, a political science senior.
The inspiration for bringing Goddard to campus came from a similar visit by Tucson Mayor Bob Walkup last month, Pixler said.
Pixler said the board is trying to make similar campus visits more interactive for students.
"We're attempting to make Speakers Board into more than a speech," she said.
The Speakers Board is set to bring Steve Forbes to campus in February and is currently working on booking Governor Janet Napolitano and New England Patriot Tedy Bruschi, Pixler said.
