♪♪ >> COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

WE'LL LOOK AT A SURVEY ON WHAT ARIZONA VOTERS ARE THINKING ABOUT AND THE ISSUES THEY'RE PRIORITIZING THIS ELECTION YEAR.

ALSO TONIGHT, A CLOSER LOOK AT MASSIVE CHANGES IN THE WORLD OF COLLEGE ATHLETICS AND HOW VIRTUAL REALITY IS TRANSFORMING THE VALLEY SCHOOL'S CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

>> THIS HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS IS MADE POSSIBLE BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE FRIENDS OF PBS.

MEMBERS OF YOUR PBS STATION.

THANK YOU.

>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE ARIZONA COURT OF APPEALS HAS UPHELD A RULING THAT REQUIRES SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS MARICOPA COUNTY TO PAY BACK NEARLY $150 MILLION IN FUNDS COLLECTED FROM PROPERTY TAXES.

THE COURT RULED FROM 2016 TO 2021, THE COUNTY OVERTAXED PROPERTY OWNERS WHO WENT FROM OWNER OCCUPIED TO A RENTAL OR ADVICE VERSA.

AND THE COUNTY ARGUED IT DIDN'T MATTER BECAUSE THE PROPERTIES WERE RESIDENTIAL.

THE COURT DISAGREED AND NOW THE COUNTY IS ON THE HOOK TO PAY BACK THE PROPERTY TAXES WHICH MEANS MANY LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS WILL HAVE TO PAY BACK TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TODAY SAID THE PHOENIX AREA WILL BE UNDER AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING FOR TOMORROW MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING.

HIGH TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO BE ABOVE THE 110 MARK, EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNINGS MEAN HIKING TRAILS ON CAMELBACK MOUNTAIN AND PIESTEWA TRAILS WILL BE CLOSED.

AND A DIET OF WHAT'S DESCRIBED AS PLANET FRIENDLY FOODS CAN SIGNIFICANTLY CUT THE RISK OF EARLY DEATH.

THE RESEARCH LOOKED AT THE DIETS OF MORE THAN 200,000 MEN AND WOMEN AND FOUND A DIET OF MOSTLY FRUITS, VEGETABLES AND WHOLE GRAINS CAN CUT THE RISK OF EARLY DEATH BY NEARLY A THIRD AND CUTTING LAND USE BY 51%, GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS BY 29% AND FERTILIZER USE BY 21%.

AUTHORS SAY THE FINDINGS SHOW HOW MUCH HUMAN AND PLANETARY HEALTH ARE LINKED.

ARIZONA'S PRIMARY ELECTIONS ARE APPROACHING.

WITH THAT IN MIND THE SENATE FOR THE FUTURE OF ARIZONA RECENTLY RELEASED A SURVEY THAT ISSUES THAT ARIZONA VOTERS SAY ARE IMPORTANT TO THEM.

FOR MORE ON THE SNAPSHOT OF VOTER PRIORITIES WE WELCOME SYBIL FRANCIS, CHAIR AND CEO FOR THE CHAIR OF ARIZONA.

NICE TO HAVE YOU BACK.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THE ARIZONA VOTERS' AGENDA.

WHAT EXACTLY IS THAT.

>> TED, I'VE SPOKEN TO YOU BEFORE HOW WE AT THE FUTURE OF ARIZONA FOCUS ON WHAT ARIZONANS WANT FOR OUR FUTURE AND WE LIKE TO CENTER THE VOICES OF ARIZONIANS, PARTICULARLY IN THIS ELECTION YEAR AND HEAR WHAT'S ON THEIR MIND.

WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT HOT BUTTON ISSUES, THE CANDIDATES, THE MEDIA OTHERS, WHAT'S GOING ON, HORSE RACES, WHO IS AHEAD, WHO IS BEHIND.

LET'S ASK ARIZONA VOTERS WHAT MATTERS TO THEM.

>> AND TO IDENTIFY WHERE THERE'S POLITICAL AGREEMENT.

>> WE HEAR SO MUCH ABOUT DIVISION AND POLARIZATION.

OUR GOAL, WHERE ARE THE AREAS WE CAN COME TOGETHER ON AND HAVE A POSITIVE AGENDA TOWARD POSITIVE CHANGE.

>> AND IT'S INTERESTING BEFORE WE GET TO SOME OF THE RUBRICS HERE, 52% ARE NOT CONFIDENT THAT ARIZONA IS PREPARED FOR GROWTH AND 60% SAY THAT CANDIDATES AREN'T ADDRESSING KEY ISSUES THAT MATTER TO THEM.

THOSE ARE AREAS OF AGREEMENT WHERE CHANGE IS WANTED.

>> YES, WE SEE THIS OFTEN IN OUR SURVEYS.

THIS DISCONNECT BETWEEN WHAT ARIZONIANS SAY IS IMPORTANT TO THEM AND WHAT THEY FEEL THAT OUR LEADERS ARE PROVIDING IN TERMS OF LEADERSHIP AND OUTCOMES AT THE POLITICAL LEVEL.

SO, THIS IS ONE MORE REASON WHY IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO US TO ADVANCE THE VOICES OF ARIZONIANS THROUGH THE ARIZONA VOTERS AGENDA.

>> AND YET 62% PREFER CANDIDATES THAT ARE WILLING TO COMPROMISE.

THAT MAKES SENSE, I THINK MOST FOLKS WOULD SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT ALONG THAT LINE.

THEY KEEP SENDING TO LEGISLATURE AND CAPITOL HILL PEOPLE THAT AREN'T THAT WILLING.

TALK ABOUT A DISCONNECT.

>> THERE IS A BIG DISCONNECT AND THAT'S A WHOLE OTHER TOPIC HOW WE ELECT OUR LEADERS.

PARTISAN PRIMARIES, I THINK, ARE A BIG FACTOR IN TERMS OF PARTISAN PRIMARIES, REALLY CREATE PARTISAN OUTCOMES AND IT'S NOT ROLE SURPRISING, WE SEE THE DISCONNECTS.

ONE MORE THING BEFORE WE GET TO THE CATEGORIES, 85%, 85% SAY THE MEDIA HAS CREATED MORE POLITICAL DIVISION.

>> YES, PRESENT COMPANY EXCEPTED.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> WE DIDN'T SPECIFY WITH WHETHER THAT WAS NATIONAL MEDIA OR LOCAL MEDIA.

THERE'S A LOT MORE TRUST IN LOCAL MEDIA, BUT CERTAINLY AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, WE DO SEE THAT PEOPLE VERY MUCH FEEL THE MEDIA ARE CREATING, DRIVING THIS DIVISION.

>> AND THIS AGAIN IS A PRE-PRIMARY SURVEY.

IS THERE ANOTHER SURVEY COMING OUT LATER?

>> YES, WE'RE CONDUCTING TWO SURVEYS, JUST AS WE DID IN 2022.

THIS ROUND WE COVERED FOUR TOPICS I THINK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN A MINUTE AND AFTER THE ELECTION -- AFTER THE PRIMARY WE'LL BE SPEAKING ABOUT THE OUTLOOK OF ARIZONANS ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND OTHER TOPICS.

>> LET'S GET TO THESE TOPICS.

EDUCATION, WHAT STOOD OUT?

>> WHAT STANDS OUT IS OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT ARIZONANS ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT HAVING A STRONG EDUCATION SYSTEM THAT HELPS ALL STUDENTS SUCCEED.

THEY WANT TO SEE MORE RESOURCES IN K-12 DESPITE, YOU KNOW, ADDITIONS TO FUNDING, FROM THE LEGISLATURE, BALLOT ADDITIONS, THEY WANT TO SEE MORE FUNDING IN EDUCATION.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE FUNDING FOR SUPPORT NEEDS TO HAVE NECESSARY RESOURCES, BUT LESS SUPPORT FOR K-12 SPENDING.

IT DOES DROP A BIT.

>> I DON'T RECALL THAT NUMBER PER SE.

>> OKAY.

>> WHAT WE FOUND WAS THAT WHEN WE ASKED LIKELY VOTERS WOULD THEY WANT TO PROTECT WHEN IT CAME TO BALANCING THE BUDGET, THEY WERE OPPOSED TO ANY KIND OF CUTS TO EDUCATION, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND PUBLIC HEALTH.

>> YEAH, I SHOULD SAY THAT THERE WAS STILL SUPPORT THERE.

>> OH, YEAH.

>> THE SUPPORT WAS THERE, IT JUST WASN'T QUITE AS HIGH AS EVERY SCHOOL SHOULD GET.

>> THERE'S STILL VERY STRONG SUPPORT FOR FUNDING AND NOT SO MUCH SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS-- WE'RE VERY FOCUSED ON THE THINGS THAT WE AGREE ON, BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT ONTO THE AGENDA AND I DIDN'T YET EXPLAIN HOW SOMETHING DOES GET TO THE AGENDA, BUT WE FOUND THAT PEOPLE ARE MUCH MORE INTERESTING IN THEIR KIDS TO READ THAN FOR BANNING BOOKS, FOR EXAMPLE.

>> STATE SPENDING.

WAS THERE MUCH DIFFERENCE?

WHAT DID YOU SEE HERE?

>> ON STATE SPENDING, AS I MENTIONED, VOTERS DON'T WANT TO SEE CUTS TO CERTAIN KEY AREAS THAT THEY PRETTY MUCH CARE ABOUT.

THEY DIDN'T WANT TO USE THE RAINY DAY FUND TO BALANCE THE BUDGET SO THE PICTURE'S NOT COMPLETELY CLEAR WHERE THE FUNDS WILL COME FROM, BUT THEY KNOW VERY MUCH WHAT THEY WANT TO PROTECT.

>> IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH THERE WERE SOME DIFFERENCES IN CUT TO CARE IN K-12, BUT A LOT OF THINGS LIKE CHILD CARE SPENDING AND THESE SORTS OF THINGS.

>> CHILD CARE SPENDING AND INFRASTRUCTURE, HOW DO WE PLAN FOR OUR WORK FORCE AND TO SUPPORT OUR WORK FORCE INTO THE FUTURE.

INFRASTRUCTURE YOU NEED THE ROADS TO GET TO WORK AND YOU NEED TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT WHERE YOUR KIDS ARE TAKEN CARE OF.

SO THERE IS A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR BOTH ITEMS.

I SHOULD PROBABLY MENTION HOW SOMETHING GETS ON THE AGENDA.

>> PLEASE.

>> I DIDN'T DO THAT YET.

WE HAVE A VERY, VERY STRICT DEFINITION, 50% STRONG SUPPORT OR SUPPORT.

SO TOTAL SUPPORT AMONG REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS AND INDEPENDENTS.

SO THESE ARE TRUE NONPARTISAN ISSUES THAT CANDIDATES COULD DO VERY WELL TO ADDRESS BECAUSE THEY HAVE SUCH STRONG SUPPORT.

>> INDEED, WHEN WE SAY SOMETHING HAD MORE SUPPORT OR WAS LESS OF A FACTOR, WE'RE STILL SAYING IT'S ABOVE.

>> IT'S ABOVE 50%, ABSOLUTELY.

>> IMMIGRATION, LOTS OF AGREEMENT PRIORITIZING A FUNCTIONING BORDER AND THESE SORTS OF THINGS.

ANYTHING THAT SURPRISES HERE?

>> IT DOESN'T SURPRISE ME.

THE FIRST TIME WE DID OUR SURVEYS SOME YEARS AGO TO FIND OUT THE VERY, VERY HIGH LEVELS OF SUPPORT FOR COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM AND A PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP IN THE 80'S.

AND SOMETIMES IT'S LOUD VOICES WHO ARE NOT THE MAJORITY.

>> RIGHT.

>> THE FACT THAT SO MANY LIKELY VOTERS IN ARIZONA AND SO MANY ARIZONIANS WANT TO SEE COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM WITH A PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP.

>> WE DID SEE A DIFFERENCE ON POLITICAL PARTIES.

>> THERE IS, BUT STILL 50%.

>> AND THE LAST ONE IS LOUSIN -- HOUSING.

AND ANYTHING THAT STANDS OUT.

>> PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HOUSING COSTS AND RENTAL COSTS.

YOU MIGHT SAY IT'S OBVIOUS, BUT WE ASK OBVIOUS THINGS TO COVER OUR BASES.

BECAUSE SOME THINGS DON'T TURN OUT TO BE THE ONES IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE AND PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO SEE GOVERNMENTS STEP UP AND HELP.

>> YEAH, THE GOVERNMENT MUST DO MORE FOR SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THE HOMELESS IS MENTIONED HERE.

>> PEOPLE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT HOMELESSNESS.

>> OKAY.

WHAT DO WE TAKE?

THIS IS A HARD ONE HERE.

WHAT DO WE TAKE FROM THIS, AS MUCH HAS BEEN RELEASED HERE FOR THE SURVEY?

>> I THINK WHAT WE TAKE, WE HAVE A LOT MORE AGREEMENT THAN DISAGREEMENT ON THE BIG ISSUES, THAT WE DON'T HEAR ENOUGH FROM THE CANDIDATES ABOUT THE ISSUES AND WE'RE ENCOURAGING THE MEDIA TO HOLD THE CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR OFFICE ACCOUNTABLE TO THESE ISSUES BECAUSE IT'S A GOLD MINE OF INFORMATION WHERE WE AGREE WITH ARIZONIANS AND WHERE WE COULD BREAK THROUGH SOME OF THE GRIDLOCK THAT WE'RE SEEING AT OUR POLITICAL LEVEL.

>> AND I THINK I'VE ASKED YOU THIS NUMEROUS TIMES BEFORE WHEN WE SEE SURVEYS LIKE THIS.

ARE PEOPLE SAYING THIS, SAYING X AND DOING Y?

OR DO THEY REALLY-- ARE THESE REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUES THEY'RE WILLING TO STAND FIRM ON?

>> THEY'RE ABSOLUTELY.

ONE WAY TO TEST THIS WHEN YOU LOOK AT BALLOT INITIATIVES.

BECAUSE BALLOT INITIATIVES ARE TRUE STATEWIDE AND THERE'S NO INTERVENING PRIMARY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

WE SEE A LOT OF CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE FINDINGS AND THIS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> MY PLEASURE, THANK YOU.

>> >> LAST MONTH THE NCAA AND THE NATION'S FIVE BIGGEST CONFERENCES AGREED TO SETTLE A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR LAWSUIT THAT SETS THE STAGE FOR A FUTURE REVENUE SHARING MODEL AND INCLUDES GETTING DOLLARS DIRECTLY TO ATHLETES.

TO LEARN MORE WE'RE JOINED BY VICTORIA JACKSON, A SPORTS HISTORIAN AND AT THE SCHOOL FOR RELIGIOUS, PHILOSOPHICAL STUDIES.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THE CONFERENCES AGREED TO WHAT?

>> THEY AGREED TO SETTLE.

SO DIFFERENT COURSE THIS TIME AROUND.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO FIGHT AND KEEP FIGHTING AND KEEP PAYING LAWYERS.

THEY'RE GOING TO SETTLE AND THAT IS THEY HAVE REALIZED, YOU KNOW, AMATEURISM IS LIKELY GOING TO BE FIND ANTI-TRUST VIOLATION.

SO THIS WAS AN ANTI-TRUST CASE.

SO THE SETTLEMENT MEANS, YEAH, THEY'RE GOING TO START PAYING PLAYERS.

>> SO WHAT DID THE SUIT CLAIM AND WHAT WAS AGREED TO TO KNOCK THE SUIT OUT?

>> YEAH, IT WAS CLAIMING THAT, YOU KNOW, THE NO PAY FOR PLAY RULES WERE A VIOLATION OF THE ANTI-TRUST LAW AND WE JUST HAD ANOTHER BIG ANTI-TRUST CASE THAT THE SUPREME COURT RULED UNANIMOUSLY SAY TO SAY THE NCAA AND MEMBER SCHOOLS THROUGH CONFERENCES WERE IN VIOLATION OF ANTI-TRUST LAW.

THAT WAS THE AUSTIN CASE.

NOW SCHOOLS CAN PAY MONEY TO ATHLETES FOR EDUCATION EXPENSES.

THIS ISN'T EDUCATION EXPENSES, THIS IS THE MONEYS THAT SCHOOLS MAKE THROUGH THEIR CONFERENCES AND NCAA FOR MEDIA RIGHTS DEALS.

>> YES, YES.

>> AND A PORTION GOING TO ATHLETES.

>> AND IT SETS THE STAGE FOR A REVENUE SHARING MODEL SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE.

WHAT KIND OF MODEL AND HOW FAR INTO THE FUTURE?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, DEPENDING HOW QUICKLY THIS GOES THROUGH, THIS IS A PRELIMINARY SITUATION THAT WE'RE IN, YOU KNOW, THE JUDGE IS GOING TO REVIEW IT.

IT'S GOING TO GO TO, YOU KNOW, THE CLAIMANTS AND THEY'RE GOING TO SAY WHETHER OR NOT THEY LIKE THIS AND THERE'S GOING TO BE A HEARING.

SO IF THIS IS THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT GOING FORWARD, THEY'RE GOING TO START PAYING ABOUT 22%, THAT SCHOOLS GET TO OPT IN.

SO IT'S NOT MANDATORY.

THE SCHOOL CAN REVENUE SHARE 22% AND WITH ANY ATHLETES THEY'D LIKE.

SO IT MIGHT JUST BE FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL.

IF THE SCHOOL DECIDES THEY WANT TO PAY ALL ATHLETES 22% OF THAT AND THAT PERCENTAGE WILL INCREASE OVER TIME BECAUSE THEY'RE ANTICIPATING MORE MONEY BEING GENERATED.

>> ARE THEY NOT ANTICIPATING BACK DAMAGES AS WELL?

>> THEY'RE PAYING BACK DAMAGES, THIS IS A CONTROVERSIAL PIECE ACROSS ALL OF DIVISION ONE.

SO, 2.75 BILLION DOLLARS WILL BE PAID TO FORMER, ANY FORMER DIVISION ONE ATHLETE SINCE 2016, BECAUSE THERE'S ONLY FOUR YEARS YOU CAN GO BACK AND THE CASE WAS FILED IN 2020.

SO THE 2.75 BILLION IS GOING TO BE SPLIT WHERE THE NCAA IS COVERING 40% OF IT, SO ABOUT 1.1 BILLION DOLLARS, PAYING OUT OVER A 10-YEAR PERIOD AND THE REST IS A REDUCTION IN THE SHARING THAT THE MONEYS THAT GO FROM THE NCAA TO ALL OF THE CONFERENCES IN DIVISION ONE.

THE REST OF THAT, AND IT'S THE POWER FOUR CONFERENCES SINCE THE PAC12 NO LONGER EXISTS, BUT ALSO THE OTHER CONFERENCES THAT ARE NOT PART OF THE LAWSUIT.

SO THE REDUCTION IN PAYOUTS WILL BE SHARED ACROSS ALL OF DIVISION ONE AND THAT'S WHY IT'S CONTROVERSIAL.

>> OKAY.

SO, IS THERE A CAP ON ANY INDIVIDUAL ATHLETE, HOW MUCH THAT ATHLETE CAN BE PAID?

>> WELL, THIS IS WHERE IT GETS THEM INTO TROUBLE WITH ANTI-TRUST LAWS, RIGHT?

>> YES.

>> YOU CAN'T COLLUDE TO PLACE AN ARTIFICIAL CAP WHAT IN THIS CASE, ATHLETES ARE RECEIVING FROM THEIR SCHOOLS.

SO, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE IS A SWITCH FROM SCHOLARSHIP CAPS, A CAP ON THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ATHLETES WHO CAN GET SCHOLARSHIPS FOR A PARTICULAR SPORT, TO ROSTER LIMITS.

SO, YOU KNOW, THERE WERE 85 TOTAL SCHOLARSHIPS ON A FOOTBALL TEAM, WHICH THAT'S A LOT OF SCHOLARSHIPS.

WE MAY NOW SEE ROSTER POSITIONS CHANGES.

>> SO ROSTER SIZES COULD BE CUT AS FAR AS THE MAJOR.

WHAT ABOUT THE OLYMPIC SPORTS?

WHAT ABOUT THE SPORTS THAT AREN'T FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL?

>> WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS IN THE PASTMENT WHERE I COME ON AND TELL YOU THIS IS A BAD BUSINESS MODEL TO PUT ALL OF THIS PRESSURE ON FOOTBALL PLAYERS TO GENERATE REVENUE SO THAT IT SUPPORTS ALL OVER SPORTS AND ATHLETES ON CAMPUS.

INSTEAD, WE NEED NEW REVENUE STREAMS AND NEW MODELS FOR THE OLYMPIC SPORTS.

NOW, PART OF WHAT WILL BE NEGOTIATED IN THE SETTLEMENT IS, YOU KNOW, THIS PIECE WHERE WHETHER OR NOT OTHER SPORTS WILL BE KIND OF TREATED THE SAME AS FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL PLAYERS.

I WOULD SAY THAT'S A MASSIVE ERROR AND MISTAKE.

BECAUSE THESE ARE DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES BEING OPERATED BY INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

>> RIGHT.

>> WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RETHINK THE OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC MOVEMENT IN THIS COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE HOSTING AN OLYMPICS AND PARA OLYMPICS IN 2028.

AND RIGHT NOW, COLLEGES AND HIGHER ED NEEDS TO BE A PART OF THAT AND WE NEED TO BRING IN COMMUNITIES TO SHARE WORLDCLASS FACILITIES WE HAVE ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES WITH ELITE DEVELOPMENT.

AND BEING THE COLLEGE TEAMS AT THE TOP OF THAT PYRAMID AND MORE PLAYOFF OPPORTUNITIES, IN OUR HIGHER EDUCATION WHICH ARE SUPPOSED TO BE COMMUNITY SERVING.

>> RIGHT, TITLE IX IMPLICATIONS.

WHAT MANY I SEEING HERE?

>> WE JUST SEPARATED 50 AND UNIVERSITY OF TITLE IX.

IT WAS LAID OUT BEFORE THE BUSINESS OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL ACCELERATED AND GREW.

THAT WAS A TIME, OH, YEAH, FOOTBALL IS AN EDUCATION PROGRAM.

ALL OF THE SPORTS ARE EDUCATION PROGRAMS OFFERED BY UNIVERSITIES AND SO OF COURSE, WE NEED TO HAVE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY IN THE EDUCATION PROGRAMS ON THE BASIS OF GENDER, ABSOLUTELY, BUT FOOTBALL IS THE STORY HERE.

THAT IS THE MONEY, RIGHT?

AND SO, THAT INDUSTRY NEEDS TO BE FIGURED OUT AND I THINK WE NEED TO FIGURE THAT OUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE THE ONLY PLACE IN THE WORLD THAT PLAYS AMERICAN FOOTBALL.

IT'S WHY THIS HAS GROWN IN THE WAY THAT IT HAS.

OUR OTHER SPORTS ON CAMPUSES ARE VERY MUCH PART OF A GLOBAL ECO SYSTEM AND MANY INTERNATIONAL ATHLETES PLAYING THOSE SPORTS AND HAVING THE STUDENTS IN THOSE SPORTS ARE ONES WHERE WE CAN HAVE GENDER EQUITY.

BASEBALL, TRACK AND FIELD, VOLLEYBALL, VOLLEYBALL, SOCCER, SOCCER, WE DON'T HAVE A MEN'S SOCCER TEAM.

MAYBE THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE ONE AND THINK OF GENDER EQUITY IN THAT WAY.

>> LAST QUESTION BEFORE YOU GO HERE.

AND AMATEURISM IN COLLEGE ATHLETICS.

IS AMATEURISM IN COLLEGE ATHLETICS DEAD AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR SPORTS?

>> AMATEURISM IS AN ANTI-TRUST VIOLATION, THAT'S WHAT THE SUPREME COURT TOLD US IN AUSTIN IN 2021.

THE WORLD ABANDONED AMATEURISM WHEN THE OLYMPIC MOVEMENT ABANDONED AMATEURISM.

THE U.S. IS THE ONLY PLACE THAT'S CONTINUED TO PRETEND THAT AMATEURISM IS IT SOME SORT OF SPORT FOR SPORT, MORALITY, IF YOU TAKE MONEY, IT RUINS THE GAME.

IT DOESN'T RUIN THE GAME.

THE BENEFITS THAT WE SEE IN THE NCAA COMMERCIALS THAT AIR DURING CHAMPIONSHIPS TALKING ABOUT THE BENEFITS THAT GO TO ATHLETES NOW.

YOU CAN'T COLLUDE TO PLACE A CAP ON BENEFITS.

WE, AS IN HIGHER ED, WE NEED TO GET OUR HOUSE IN ORDER AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THE DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES ARE TO BEST SERVE THE STUDENTS WHO PLAY SPORTS ON OUR CAMPUSES.

>> THAT'S A BIG HOUSE TO GET IN ORDER.

VICTORIA JACKSON THANKS FOR CLARIFYING SOME OF THIS FOR US.

APPRECIATE IT.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

GOOD TO SEE YOU, TOO, THANKS A LOT.

♪♪ ♪♪ .

>> I'M JEFF BENNETT.

TONIGHT ON THE NEWS HOUR.

THE U.N. SECURITY ENDORSE CEASE-FIRE IN GAZA, THAT'S AT 6:00 ON ARIZONA PBS.

>> A NEW LEARNING EXPERIENCE ALLOWS VIRTUAL TOUR TO THE MOON.

A VR TRIP TO LEARN ABOUT ART.

MARISSA SCHNECKLOTH IS HERE, AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

>> NICE TO BE HERE.

>> THIS IS CALLED LEARN SCAPE.

>> THAT INCREASES THE ENGAGEMENT FOR STUDENTS.

A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS MAY NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT PLACES AROUND THE WORLD AND EVEN THE UNITED STATES.

FOR EXAMPLE, THIS SPRING WE OPENED UP DREAM SCAPE LEARN AND OUR FIFTH AND SIXTH GRADE STUDENTS LEARNING ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT, PUT ON THE VIRTUAL REALITY HEADSET AND WERE IN THE OVAL OFFICE AND IMMERSED IN THE ENVIRONMENT WHILE LEARNING THE CONTENT.

>> IT SOUND LIKE THE BRAVE NEW WAY OF A FIELD TRIP.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> YOU SAID AN EXAMPLE, KING TUT, YOU GO TO KING TUT'S TOMB.

YOU'RE GOING TO KING TUT'S TOMB AS LONG AS YOU'VE GOT THE GOGGLES ON.

>> YOU ARE.

YOU'RE SITTING IN HIS ENVIRONMENT AND TURN AROUND AND LOOK AND THERE'S KING TUT'S TOMB AS YOU'RE LEARNING SIXTH GRADE ABOUT EGYPT.

PRETTY SPECTACULAR.

>> AGE INVOLVED HERE?

>> DREAM SCAPE RECOMMENDS 10 YEARS AND OLDER.

>> I MENTIONED AS AN EXAMPLE, MAYBE TOURING THE MOON'S SURFACE.

THE SKY LITERALLY IS THE LIMIT.

YOU CAN GO ANYWHERE AS LONG AS THERE'S VIDEO OF IT.

>> ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY.

WHILE LEARNING BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT THEY WENT INTO THE SENATE AND HOUSE CHAMBERS.

THEY WENT INTO THE SUPREME COURT WHILE THEY WERE LEARNING AND DEVELOPING THEIR OWN CASES.

AND IT'S JUST INCREASES ENGAGEMENT AND THEIR CURIOSITY WITH LIKE YOU SAID NO LIMITS.

>> AND STUDY THE OCEAN FROM 30 METERS BELOW THE SURFACE.

YOU'RE THERE.

30 METERS BELOW THE SURFACE.

YOU ARE, YOU'RE SWIMMING WITH THE ANIMALS, SWIMMING WITH THE FISH.

>> THIS IS SOME KIND OF PARTNERSHIP INVOLVED HERE, CORRECT?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

ASU PILGRIM AND ASU PARTNERED WITH THE LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION.

AND THEY INVESTED IN THE EDUCATION AND IT'S A FANTASTIC PARTNERSHIP AND WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT WITHOUT THEM AND ADDITIONAL FUNDERS.

>> THE IMPACTS ON STUDENT ENGAGEMENT?

>> AND WE'LL TEST IT OUT FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, BASED ON PRIOR TEST SCORES OF THE SAME CONTENT AND BRINGING IN THE VIRTUAL REALITY PIECE.

AND WE'LL KEEP THE KIDS ENGAGED AND CURIOUS AND BATTLING THE GAMING SITUATION.

SO NOW, WE'RE BRINGING THAT INTO THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT AND YOU SHOULD SEE THEIR FACES WHEN THEY PUT ON THE HEADSETS.

>> POST COVID, HOW DIFFICULT HAS IT BEEN AND THIS COULD BE A GAME CHANGER IN SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY AND IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.

WHEN THEY'RE LEARNING AT HOME AND IT REALLY BRINGS EQUITY AND ACCESS INTO THE CLASSROOM FOR FIELD TRIPS AND LIKE YOU SAID.

WE CAN BRING THE FIELD TRIPS ANYWHERE AND EXPLORE PLACES THAT THEY MAY NEVER HAVE SEEN.

IT BRINGS BACK THE ENGAGEMENT AND EXCITEMENT INTO LEARNING AND BUILDS THEIR CURIOSITY, IF THEY WANT TO LEARN SOMETHING LIKE YOU SAID IN THE MOON, DEEP IN THE OCEAN, OCEANOGRAPHY, THEY CAN PUT THEIR HEADSET ON AND EXPLORE EVERYTHING.

>> ARE THERE CHALLENGES TEACHING BY WAY OF VIRTUAL REALITY?

>> YES, SO JUST LIKE ANY KIND OF GAME TIME, SCREEN TIME, YOU WANT TO LIMIT IT.

SO WE DO ABOUT 20 MINUTES A WEEK, ACTUALLY IN IMMERSIVE CLASSROOMS OR IN THE EXPERIENCES, SO THAT THAT EXCITEMENT STAYS UP THERE.

YES, YOU CAN SEE, IT'S A WONDERFUL THING FOR THE STUDENTS, JUST TO KEEP THAT EXCITEMENT, THE ENGAGEMENT AND ALSO WE'RE NOT LOSING THE TEACHER.

IN ADDITION TO THE GREAT TEACHING IN FRONT OF THE STUDENTS AND BRINGING A DIFFERENT AVENUE AND OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM.

>> I WOULD IMAGINE, AS YOU SAID.

IT WOULD BE A DIFFERENT KIND OF TEACHING.

YOU'RE KNOW THE STANDING IN FRONT OF A CHALKBOARD AND SCREECHING CHALK ACROSS THE THING.

YOU'VE GOT A WHOLE DIFFERENT THINGS GOING ON.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND KEEPS THEM EXCITED AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY POSING QUESTIONS THAT BUILDS BACK THE RESEARCH AND GO BACK OUT OF THE ENVIRONMENT, OUT OF THE POD, DO THE RESEARCH AND BRING THEIR LEARNING BACK INTO THE POD.

>> HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHICH COURSES GET THE VR TREATMENT?

>> WE'RE WORKING WITH DREAM SCAPE.

THEY'VE DEVELOPED ABOUT SIX IMMERSIVE CLASSROOMS RIGHT NOW AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO DEVELOP.

WORKING WITH THE PILGRIM FOUNDATION AND ASU, WE'RE CONTINUALLY GOING TO BUILD ENVIRONMENTS.

RIGHT NOW WORKING ON THE NATIONAL PARKS.

SO THAT'S ONE WAY OF DOING IT.

WE WANT MORE MUSEUMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT AVAILABLE, YOU KNOW, JUST WE HAVE A WISH LIST THAT'S NEVER ENDING AND SO IN THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS CONSTANTLY.

>> IN THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS AND I WOULD IMAGINE IN THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS AS WELL.

ABSOLUTELY.

HOW DOES THAT-- AS YOU MENTIONED TO START IN THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR REAL RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD KIND OF THING?

>> ABSOLUTELY FOR THE FIRST K-12 SCHOOL IN THE NATION TO HAVE A VIRTUAL REALITY LEARNING POD.

WHAT DOES IT DO FOR CHILDREN'S ENGAGEMENT AND ACHIEVEMENT.

>> I WOULD WAS GOING TO SAY, FIRST SCHOOL TO DO THIS.

THAT'S QUITE A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE.

HAVE YOU GOT PEOPLE WATCHING OVER YOUR SHOULDER SEEING HOW IT'S WORKING AND HOW IT'S GOING?

>> YEAH, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE CURIOUS, HOW IS THIS GOING TO WORK AND IMPLEMENT THIS?

IN THE SPRING DO A MINI LESSONS AND INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS TIME FOR PLANNING BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY IT BRINGS A WHOLE OTHER COMPONENT TO OUR LESSON PLANNING AND HOW YOU'RE ALIGNING IT TO THOSE STANDARDS.

>> LAST QUESTION BEFORE YOU GO.

ASU PILGRIM, HOW LONG AROUND?

>> OUR ONLY SECOND YEAR, AND ASU CHARTER.

IT'S DOWN THE STREET AT 15TH AND JEFFERSON.

OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS K-6 AND THIS BALL, 7TH AND 8TH.

AND WE WELCOME EVERYBODY.

>> A LOT OF GROWTH GOING ON.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND CONTINUED SUCCESS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪♪ ♪♪ SUPPORT FOR ARIZONA PBS COMES FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU AND FROM: .

>> HOSPICE OF THE VALLEY.

MEDICAL, SOCIAL AND