The University of Arizona campus is gearing up for its annual Tucson Festival of Books this March, celebrating a century of its iconic 'Bear Down' motto, even as a significant dispute over faculty shared governance continues to unfold with the university's president.
A Weekend of Words and Ideas
The University of Arizona Mall will transform into a hub for literature and learning on March 14 and 15, hosting the Tucson Festival of Books. This year's event is set to feature more than 330 authors, alongside hands-on science exhibitions and various family-friendly entertainment options.
Abra McAndrew, the festival's executive director, highlighted its core mission: to foster creative expression and open discussion of significant ideas. Tucson, she noted, prides itself on a community that values reading and writing, an environment greatly supported by dedicated local volunteers and the academic resources of the University of Arizona.
The festival will feature bestselling authors including Susan Orlean, R.L. Stine, and Katherine Applegate. Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Carol Leonnig, New York Times correspondent David Gelles, and former U.S. ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul are also slated to appear. Presidential speechwriter David Litt, current Poet Laureate Arthur Sze, and former Poet Laureate Joy Harjo will contribute to the rich literary discussions.
Salman Rushdie, the acclaimed novelist known for defending free speech, will also be there. Sports columnist Christine Brennan, New York Times bestselling author John Scalzi, and poet Rachel Eliza Griffiths will also participate. Craig Johnson, author of the popular Longmire series, will also be featured, bringing his acclaimed Western mysteries to the literary stage.
Now in its 16th year, the Tucson Festival of Books has grown into one of the nation's premier literary events, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors annually and generating significant economic activity for the city. The festival helps cement Tucson's status as a cultural center, with the University of Arizona playing a key role in making it happen. The festival's growth shows how much Tucson values books and ideas, and how seriously the university takes reaching the public.
A Century of 'Bear Down' Tradition
While the campus prepares for a literary feast, it also marks a significant milestone: the centennial of its enduring 'Bear Down' motto. The phrase originated in 1926 from the dying words of John 'Button' Salmon, a beloved UA student-athlete and student body president. As he lay on his deathbed, Salmon urged his football teammates, 'Tell them to bear down.' Coach J.F. McKale adopted the phrase, and it quickly became the rallying cry for all Wildcat athletics and, eventually, a symbol of perseverance and resilience for the entire university community. The centennial marks 100 years of the 'Bear Down' motto, which came from a dying student-athlete's words in 1926—a message that feels especially relevant now as the university faces internal disputes.
Shared Governance Dispute Casts a Shadow
Amidst these celebrations, a contentious dispute over faculty shared governance continues to simmer, pitting the university's administration against its academic staff. Shared governance means faculty, administrators, and board members make decisions together on things like academic policy, curriculum, budgets, and hiring. The current tension centers on President Robert C. Robbins' refusal to sign an updated contract outlining the specific mechanisms for faculty involvement, which faculty leaders argue undermines their statutory role. Arizona state law explicitly mandates shared governance, requiring universities to involve faculty in key operational and academic decisions. Faculty representatives contend that the proposed contract, developed over extensive negotiations, is essential for maintaining institutional integrity and academic freedom. Without a clearly defined agreement, concerns have been raised about the potential for unilateral administrative decisions that could impact academic programs, faculty morale, and ultimately, the university's standing and accreditation. Experts say shared governance works because it builds trust, brings different viewpoints to tough decisions, and protects what universities are actually supposed to do. The standoff could pull attention and money away from teaching and research, and it might hurt the university's standing nationally.
The president's decision not to sign the updated shared governance contract leaves the specific operational framework for faculty involvement in key university decisions undefined, despite the state law requiring joint governance. This ongoing impasse, juxtaposed against the university's vibrant public events, underscores a critical internal challenge that, if left unresolved, could have significant implications for institutional stability, academic freedom, and the University of Arizona's long-term strategic trajectory.
