The Pinecone, January 1995

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Pinecone
Published for Alumni, Friends, and Parents of Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, Arizona
January 1995

NAU to honor "code talkers" with bronze bust by famed artist
NAU
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honor Itie Navajo "code lalkers," a courageous group of Navajo marines who transplanted their language and culture to benefit the Allied cause during World War II.
During Ihe war, the Japanese broke American communication codes as quickly as they ci A' <    < mitt/! a/	be devised. However, the Navajo code talkers
used die complexities of Ihe Navajo language to create a code within a code, which quickly ended Japanese deciphering abilities. The code talkers were extensively involved in some of the Pacific Theater's most important battles and maneuvers, including Saipan, Guadalcanal. and Iwo Jima.
Now. fifty years later, the code talkers' contribution will be immortalized by the University.

The memorial's concept was inspired during a trip by Charles Pilon, NAU coordinator for undergraduate programs in Maricopa County. "I was driving through the Navajo reservation widi my wife and two friends, and we talked about how appropriate be for a monument to be dedicated to the Navajo code talkers," Pilon recalled. "We also discussed how great it would be if R.C. Gorman could be commissioned to sculpt UK piece."
This seemingly idle discussion evolved into a six-year crusade for Pilon, an NAU alumnus. "This would be a way to gain renewed respect for the Navajo Nation. It would be so fitting and proper for NAU to do it." Pilon said.
Pilon said he contacted German, his former NAU classmate, to deienninc his interest in the project.

This bust of Carl N. Gorman. father of the bust's creaior, artist R.C. Gorman, is a tribute to Ihe famed Navajo "code talkers " of World Ww II.

Gorman. a renowned Southwestern artisi, didn't have to deliberate long for inspiration. His father. Pic. Carl N. Gorman, was among Ihe original twenty-nine Navajo code talkers. According to Pilon, an existing life-size bust of Carl Gorman by R.C. captured the desired senti-
R.C. Gorman said he feels the replica's likeness captures all Navajo code talkers. "I chose to model a bust after my father because he has such a strong face," Gorman said
s. New Mexico, home. "It's (the bust) intended to be more of a
In Niiva
s than it
•rnonal bust's dimensions will be almost eight feet in il mure than three feet in depth and weigh 450 pounds after !t has not been determined exactly where the memorial will be placed.
Wailing for the memorial has been difficult. Pilon said. However, ironically enough, ihe liming has made the event tore fitting for him.

NAU President Clara M. Lovett is considering using the dedication as a portion of the University centennial celebra-i—a celebration for the remaining code talkers and then-friends and relatives. Pilon said.
In addition, of the nationwide university festivities to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the end of World War II, NAU's will be the only one to recognize the code talkers, Pilon said. "Next year will be perfect because 1995 will commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of VJ Day," Pilon added, 'through examination of Ihese valiant young men, Kcnji Kawano epitomized the veterans' significance in his book. Warriors: Navajo Code ' Talkers: "They spoke to each other in the Navajo language, relaying vital mation between the front lines and headquarters. Their contribution was
Kenji Kawano


Mountain Campus adds even more class to the rest of Arizona
/""Vne of the many benefits of attending Northern Arizona University is going to class and earning a degree on the Ilagstaff campus: mountains, trees, fresh air. and four seasons.
But more and more students-, especially nontraditional students, are discovering they can earn a degree from NAU without setting fool in Ragslaff. No wony, it's every bit as valid— and valuable—as a degree from Ragstaff,
NAU's Statewide Academic Programs offers classes and degree possibilities diroughout the slate—from Pinciop-Lakcside to Kingman and from the Navajo and Hopi reservations to Douglas. And that's only a few of the sites.
"This has been going on in one form or another since the 1970s," said Dr. Patrick A. Deegan, dean of continuing education. "But it really flowered in the eighties when the Center for Excellence in Education developed an outreach model."
About 3.500 students are enrolled in more man four hundred classes in courses offered outside of Flagstaff, Deegan said. Most of those students—about three-quarters—are working on their master's degrees, and a few are doctoral candi-daics.
These courses are especially attractive to the so-called nontraditional student, said Janet Carlson, continuing and career education specialist for Statewide Academic Programs. Nonlradilional students include older undergraduates, people who already have a family and career, and people who are considering changing careers.
"There is also an increase in the number of traditional siu-dcnls who can't afford to go away and live on campus," Carlson saic      SpecColl    '
The MCI     Overs i ZS     er is one group of stu-denls—bn(h      LD	Jilional—who seems to have NAU in its I     178                 ,f the family have graduated
Julie   d ihe u-adition when she 1995-1996
graduated in 1990 with a bachelor's degree in ele-
would never have been able to gel my degree," said teaches preschool in Ihe
ivc three

James Lee McBride Jr.,
Flora Dean McBride. who
James Lee McBride III
Thatchcr area. "I couldn't leave my Tamil;
kids at home."
All of the advanced degrees offered by NAU'
itewidc
Th. i	| ',        ,.       i
rural SIHMS .,,.,1 ,- „ ,,OMO|K •[„• -I.H, K.,,.1,.1 -,..,-„•,.,, to what programs gun be offered uulsidcol l-'lagslalf. Allliouj^i it is authorized to offer teaching degrees in all parts of the stale. Ihe University can only offer other programs if it is Ihe sole provider.
For example, NAU can offer hotel and restaurant management courses in southern Arizona even though the University of Arizona gets preference from ihe regents for its programs in that area. NAU also offers a BAILS program with emphasis in hotel and restaurant management al Scottsdalc Community College.

One of the keys to (he success of Ihese programs is the cooperation of community colleges.
"We have good, solid
ty colleges around the state, where they provide the firsi two years." Deegan said. In
idadi
e offices.
Deegan added, the community colleges work hand in hand with NAU in other	ureas, including financial-aid
agreements, bookstores, advisory help, use of libraries, and. in some locations, interactive instructional television, better known as IITV.
The growth of the statewide programs was a natural evolution, Dcepan said, hut much of it was fueled by 11TV. "IITV is ii nk in • .1 N • .Ji:lii1-M1v."nesaid. "We were lied only lo edu-n      ii     II i \   \,.\v we've grown up to provide courses
1 :,,.„!,. ,-i UK -u.wih of IITV. Deegan said he believes
"Service to teachers is still a major part of statewide programs. but more and more programs will be available through IITV." he said.
For Rora Dean McBride, the future is a little closer to home. She said she hopes her other children— Leora. 18. Emmett, 14. and Andrew, 10—will follow the rest of the family's tradition at NAU. "I hope others arc inspired (by the NAU program)," she said. "They really make it as painless as possible."