Technician
thursday september
24 2009
Raleigh, North Carolina
Community college policy allows illegal immigrants Raleigh youth UNC System admits illegal immigrants, fairness challenged advocate ‘DREAM’ for immigration reform Undocumented students given citizen equivalent education despite national status
What’s the policy?: Adopted in 2004 and amended in 2007, the UNC policy manual has explicit policy concerning illegal immigrants and education.
Nick Tran Staff Writer
700.1.4[G] reads:
Policy enacted by the North Carolina Community College System this week to admit illegal immigrants to community colleges has incited protest in the educational community as some have said it is unjust, given the state of the economy, to allow undocumented students to be given equal education to students legally in the states. The UNC System has held a similar policy admitting illegal immigrants since 2004. The section addressing illegal immigrants, revised in 2007, states, “undocumented aliens are eligible to be considered for admission at UNC constituent institutions based on their individual qualifications.” Limitations on the policy include that
Undocumented aliens are eligible to be considered for admission as undergraduates at UNC constituent institutions based on their individual qualifications with limitations as set out below: An undocumented alien may be considered for admission only if he or she graduated from high school in the United States. Undocumented aliens may not receive state or federal financial aid in the form of a grant or a loan.
undocumented students can only be considered if they graduated from a high school in the United States and must be charged out-of-state tuition. Director for Undergraduate Admissions, Thomas Griffin, said as long as
An undocumented alien may not be considered a North Carolina resident for tuition purposes; all undocumented aliens must be charged out of state tuition. All undocumented aliens, whether or not they abide in North Carolina or graduated from a North Carolina high school, will be considered out of state for purposes of calculating the 18 percent cap on out of state freshmen pursuant to Policy 700.1.3. When considering whether or not to admit an undocumented alien into a specific program of study, constituent institutions should take into account that federal law prohibits the states from granting professional licenses to undocumented aliens. Source: http://www.northcarolina. edu/policy/index.php
the UNC System allows for illegal immigrants to attend school, they will be admitted the same as everyone else.
immigrants continued page 3
Act intends to give undocumented immigrants voice Ashley Peele Correspondent
Triangle area high school and college students gathered at El Pueblo, Inc. last night for a planning meeting for the Student Movement for Immigration Reform in support of a new bill in congress called the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act. According to Luis Smith, a student at Wake Tech, the purpose of the meeting was to educate local youth who are from a family of immigrants or who are immigrants themselves, as well as providing awareness to everyone the local area about the DREAM Act, current immigration reform and why they should support it. “Most people in the U.S. aren’t really aware of the situations of undocumented immigrants. They only hear what the news and other bias media
sources say about why immigrants shouldn’t’ be allowed to attend universities or have to pay out of state tuition without financial aid,” Smith said. Kathryn Kevin, the youth program coordinator at El Pueblo volunteers at the Student Immigration Reform meetings to help youth who are or may be apart of a family of undocumented immigrants. “It’s important because their voices are never heard,” Kevin said. “We train them on advocacy, their rights, how the government works, and how to analyze the media so they can have tools to advocate for themselves and their families.” During the meeting many of the youth expressed personal stories of hardship and deportation due to loved ones undocumented status’ in an effort to illustrate why the DREAM Act is important to future generations of immigrants, their families, and the United States.
REFORM continued page 3
University considers changing absence policy due to H1N1 outbreak
Tobacco speaker cultivates controversy
Professors have been told to assist students who are diagnosed Jessica Neville
h1n1 By the Numbers of documented 500+ Number cases of H1N1 at the Student Health Center since school began
Staff Writer
Jeffrey Fowler/Technician
Alex Barrett, a senior in philosophy, and Briana Connors, a representative of the Farm Labor Organizing Committee, debate with police over their protest of tobacco company Reynolds American’s CEO Susan Ivey’s twoyear-long refusal to meet with FLOC representatives outside Nelson Hall Wednesday. “There are a whole slew of issues wrapped up in this,” Barrett said.
insidetechnician Artisist find that SPARK See page 6.
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Documented cases of H1N1 virus have skyrocketed to more than 500 since school has started, and increasing numbers of students are missing class. University officials advised professors to work with students who have been diagnosed and give them time to make up assignments and get back on track. A person diagnosed with H1N1 virus is considered contagious one day before symptoms start and seven days after they develop. Student Health Services is asking that students stay isolated for a minimum of seven days after symptoms begin or 24 hours after the last symptom is gone, whichever comes first. Students who are diagnosed are also told that they may be too ill to study or work productively while they have the virus. According to Enrollment Management and Services Vice Provost Louis Hunt, the University is circulating the idea of a change in the attendance policy because of the influx of H1N1 diagnoses. “The policy was that H1N1 cases needed to be documented by a doctor’s note to be excused,” Hunt said. “In light of recent circumstances, however, we are considering changing that policy because some cases of H1N1 may be mild enough that a student does not need to see a doctor.” “If a student only needs 24 hours of rest and medicine to get better, they may not need medical attention but would still want their absence to be excused,” Hunt said. “Most professors would not have a problem with a change in policy as long as they did not feel that the system was being abused.” Student Health Services is already overf lowing with H1N1 cases, and some students are having a hard time even getting to see a doctor. Sophia Yang, a freshman in biochemistry, could not see a doctor this week. “I started feeling sick with flu-like
1
Number of days bef ore symptoms are displayed the virus can be spread
7
Number of days after symptoms develop the virus is contagious Source: Dr. Mary Bengston
symptoms on Monday,” Yang said. “But when I called Health Services they were booked with appointments until Friday.” Student Health Services Medical Director Dr. Mary Bengtson said not all cases of H1N1 need to be treated by a doctor. “If a student is displaying mild symptoms, they may be able to selftreat by following our guidelines for treating the virus,” Bengtson said. “There is an overwhelming need for medical care right now and our resources are limited, so we don’t want to have to see every student just because they need a doctor’s note for classes.” Jennifer Bell, a mathematics graduate student and calculus teacher, said she was very willing to help students who had been diagnosed in her classes. “I’m telling all my classes that if any of them are sick, they should stay home. As long as they e-mail me and let me know, I will extend deadlines for them until they are better,” Bell said. The rise in cases indicates that the virus has become much more widespread recently, but the confidentiality of those diagnosed is still being considered. “At first we were telling teachers that they could notify students if someone in their class had been diagnosed, although they couldn’t give any more information,” Hunt said. “Teachers can still give their students advice to prevent H1N1, but they have a good chance of coming into contact with the virus anywhere, not just in class.”
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TONIGHT @ 8pm In the lobby of Talley Student Center
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