University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Associated Students of the University of Montana Montana Kaimin, 1898-present (ASUM) 10-9-2009 Montana Kaimin, October 9, 2009 Students of The niU versity of Montana, Missoula Let us know how access to this document benefits ouy . Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/studentnewspaper Recommended Citation Students of The nivU ersity of Montana, Missoula, "Montana Kaimin, October 9, 2009" (2009). Montana Kaimin, 1898-present. 5245. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/studentnewspaper/5245 This Newspaper is brought to you for free and open access by the Associated Students of the University of Montana (ASUM) at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Montana Kaimin, 1898-present by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Page 4 Page 5 Page 7 Blotter: Griz spikers carry Artists set up show Tree tumbler, “mighty mo” into in UC for ticket takers the weekend Homecoming www.montanakaimin.com MKontana UM’s Independent Campus Newspaper Since 1898 aVolumeimin CXII Issue 24 Friday, Oct. 9, 2009 Obama staffer brings D.C. experience to Montana Esquire Josh Potter York when it flew by the Statue Montana Kaimin of Liberty — a no-fly zone since University of Montana alum- Sept. 11. Messina worked for four writer to nus Jim Messina was working for days to figure out how the illegal Sen. Max Baucus when Barack flight was authorized. Ultimately, talk about Obama first called him. the man responsible resigned. “He said, ‘It’s Barack.’ I said, Messina is also in a unique ‘Barack who?,’” Messina recalled position to build bridges between ‘Accidents’ in an interview with the Kaimin Baucus, the head of the Senate Cody Bloomsburg Thursday. “I thought it was my Finance Committee and the presi- Montana Kaimin dent’s advisers. Baucus, who Mes- drunk-ass friends, so I hung up.” Editor’s note: Chris Jones is sina describes as a father figure He got a call back a little lat- an adviser to the Montana Kai- to him, has firmly fought many er from someone working with min staff this semester. of Obama’s provisions in a health Obama’s campaign. Hard work and dedication care bill dealing with a public-op- “She said, ‘Mr. Messina, can aside, an eavesdropping janitor tion health care system. you not hang up on the potential and accidents — happy and trag- “It has been a privilege to Democratic nominee?’” Messina ic — are the reasons why Chris watch Max care so much about said. Jones, a two-time National Mag- this,” Messina said. Obama, fresh off a win in the azine Award winner and Esquire Messina’s interest in politics South Dakota primary, offered writer-at-large, is in Missoula. took root long before his days Messina a job helping to lead his Jones is the 2009 T. Anthony working for Baucus or Obama. presidential campaign. The first Pollner Distinguished Professor He graduated from UM with a thing Messina did was call his at the University of Montana’s degree in political science, though mother. She told him that she’d School of Journalism and will he came to the University for the only seen two transcendent politi- give a speech titled “Accidents” journalism program and said the cal figures in her lifetime — John in the University Theatre on writing experience continues to F. Kennedy and Barack Obama — Monday at 7 p.m. pay off. and offered some blunt advice. The Pollner Professorship “The two hardest things to “She said, ‘If you say no, you’re was established to honor the learn are writing and politics,” he out of the fucking will,’” Messina memory of Anthony Pollner, a said. “If you can learn both, you’ll said. 1999 graduate of UM’s journal- Kat Franchino/Montana Kaimin have a job forever.” Within 24 hours, Messina was Jim Messina ism school. In fact, his journalism experi- on his way to Chicago. After Anthony died in an ac- ence turned out to be helpful when After Obama won the general cident in May 2001, his friends he landed an internship position election, he named Messina his Most of my life is a catastrophe. and family created an endow- after his junior year at UM. deputy chief of staff. ment that makes the professor- “I got an internship for a state Messina recalled exploring the My dog’s with my mom, my sink ship possible. legislator who got two DUIs in one West Wing of the White House Jones said his work for Es- summer,” Messina said. Messina, with Obama shortly after the Pres- has been broken for a month quire magazine has recently had who’s been deemed the “fixer” by ident’s inauguration. a lot to do with the ripple-effects and I can’t hold a relationship. the Washington Post, stepped in as “He put his hand on the wall,” “ of accidents, and his being in the legislator’s press secretary to Messina said, “and says, ‘Did you Jim Messina, Deputy Chief of Staff for President Obama Missoula is, in a way, just that. deal with the situation. know slaves finished these walls? “I’m having a great time … It’s the role he’d always And now I’m President.’” and I think every other Pollner preferred to play — the person Messina wasted no time getting erts incorrectly swore the presi- the White House for a second try. (professor) has had a great time down to business. dent in, Messina went to work to Not too long after that, Air and I’ve had a hard time recon- After Chief Justice John Rob- get the Supreme Court justice into Force One caused panic” in New See MESSINA, page 6 ciling the fact that we’re all here because Anthony Pollner died in a motorcycle crash,” Jones said. Campus-wide funding cuts ahead, “It’s a tough thing to reconcile, and every time I walk into the newsroom, I see his name and the picture on the wall and I administrators look to compensate think, ‘Wow, I’m here because Jayme Fraser which oversees Montana’s uni- “When you look at it, 80 per- Since Dennison presented the of that.’” Montana Kaimin versities, asked schools to devel- cent of the general fund is people original draft to the student, facul- How Jones came to be a jour- Campus-wide funding cuts and op a plan for managing the loss (and their wages), so when you ty and staff senates in September, nalist could also be called an ac- policy changes aimed at compen- of funds and to present it at the take $3.2 million out of the bud- Duringer said they’ve received no cident because he never really sating for the withdrawal of fed- Board’s Nov. 20 meeting. get, it will affect people some outside input on the proposal. planned to be one until it was eral funds from the University of Provost Royce Engstrom said way,” Duringer said. “Processes like this start off too late. Montana’s budget next year could UM hopes to minimize the im- The UM proposal includes op- with denial. People are not really With a fresh master’s degree take effect as early as January, said pact on students and academic tions of switching to a four-day accepting we really have to do in urban planning, Jones got a Bob Duringer, UM vice president programs, but said he didn’t know school week, raising an admin- this,” Duringer said. “Hell, I didn’t job as a sports reporter for the of administration and finance. who would end up being most af- istrative fee levied on entities want to do it either.” National Post, a Toronto-based “We are going to have to do fected. like ASUM and UM Athletics, Duringer hopes to engage more national paper. He was com- some base cuts,” Duringer said. “It “That’s a good question,” Eng- increasing enrollment, closing people in the discussion when he pletely unqualified for the job, might be that class sizes are big- strom said. “We are too early in the campus for part of winter or presents the tentative plans and but by a happy accident, a friend ger or not taught as often. It might the planning process to address summer break, waiting to fill job answers audience questions Mon- knew the managing editor and mean the grass is not cut as often. potential problems to any signifi- vacancies, reducing overtime and day at 2 p.m. and Thursday at 10 landed Jones an interview. The options are endless.” cant extent. It’s too early to say extra compensation pay, and elim- a.m. in the UC Theater. Questions Jones said the Post had used UM will lose $3.2 million a who on campus it would impact.” inating unnecessary tuition waiv- and concerns can also be sent to most of its start-up cash to poach year when a one-time federal stim- Echoing President George ers. It also includes options to ask [email protected]. the talent from other newsrooms ulus package that was allocated to Dennison’s call for “hard work, the Regents for a tuition increase “This is an external challenge, around Canada, but had a few keep tuition down is withdrawn considerable discomfort, and of 1.5 percent and to reallocate not an internal problem,” During- low-paying positions left for the from the general fund in 2011. some sacrifice” during his State of funds to UM to reflect rising en- er said.