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tuesday, september 10, 2013 volume 113, issue 012
Inside Coverage
Goodwill Hunting
Tuesday tours
A guide to Lincoln thrift shopping
Maxwell Arboretum hosts walking tours
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Harvey Liu, a junior forensic science major, became a naturalized U.S. citizen during the summer. He is one of an estimated 680,000 people who do so each year.
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International student completes long process to become naturalized American s t o r y by L a y l a Yo u n i s | p h o t o by S t a c i e H e c k e r
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ecoming a U.S. citizen was just like doing well on a test for Harvey Liu, a junior forensic science major at the University of Nebraska-
Lincoln. After about 17 years of working toward obtaining U.S. citizenship, Liu took the Oath of Allegiance on July 19 at the Lancaster County Court. As the national spotlight shines on immigration, his story is one shared by many. Liu was one of about 680,000 people who become naturalized U.S. citizens each year. Originally from Hong Kong, Liu began his journey to U.S. citizenship by traveling to Guam for about four days every year from 1996 to 2009. To become a naturalized citizen, you have to hold a green card for five years and live in the U.S. for 30 months before filing an application for citizenship. Being a permanent resident allows you to work and stay in the U.S. and you have to renew it every ten years, Liu said. “You have to present yourself on U.S. soil for a couple years in that ten year window,” he said. In 2009, Liu went to live with his aunt and uncle in Philadelphia, where he attended his senior year of high school. After graduation, Liu came to UNL to study forensic science because it was one of the few universities that had a forensic science program he was interested in. Liu said he hopes to have a career in law enforcement.
courtesy photo
Nicole Kelly, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln alumna, was crowned Miss Iowa in June.
UNL alumna trains for Miss America pageant on ABC. If she wins, she’ll receive a $50,000 scholarship Nicole Kelly and the title of Miss America. Cathy Herd, the comwishes to promote mittee chairperson for Miss ‘Power of One’ as America preparation, said Kelly initially wanted her Miss Iowa in this message to be about overSunday’s event coming a disability, but Kelly realized that wasn’t what she really wanted to portray — she wanted her message to be kelli rollin more general. dn “Nicole is so bright and very creative,” Herd said. Nicole Kelly told her parents “I’m so proud of Nicole’s to sit in the back at the Miss platform. It encompasses evIowa competierybody that tion. Then she has ever faced I’m so a challenge in won. their life.” proud of Kelly, a UniBrad Bufversity of Ne- Nicole’s platform. fum, producbraska-Lincoln tion stage graduate of the It encompasses manager for directing and everybody that the Johnny theatre manageCarson School ment program, has ever faced a of Theatre will represent challenge in their and Film and Iowa in the 2014 the Nebraska Miss America life.” Repertory pageant on SunTheatre at cathy herd day. Kelly, who UNL, worked committee chairperson was born with with Kelly only one forewhile she was arm, used her at UNL and disability as inspiration for considered her a good friend. her initiative about overcomHe said Kelly is a hard working struggle: “Power of One.” er and doesn’t take anything Kelly wasn’t available for for granted, so hearing that an interview because she’s busy preparing for the pageant, which will air at 9 p.m. miss america: see page 2
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Liu sent his application to become a U.S. citizen in February. After filling out the eight- to 10-page application, Liu waited three months to set up his in-person interview on May 14. Before going into his interview, Liu’s fingerprints and photos were taken at the Omaha Office of Homeland Security so the FBI could run a background check and review his application. “(Finishing your application) is a little bit relieving,” Liu said. The interview has two different parts, an in-person interview and a civic test. Before starting his interview Liu had to raise his hand and swear that he was not lying during his interview. Liu said he was sitting at an office desk at Homeland Security at about 8:30 a.m. with a lot of sunlight and windows. He felt a little bit nervous during the personal interview because they asked about six pages worth of questions from his application. “You don’t want to answer the questions wrong because that would be lying,” Liu said. Anything that goes wrong during the interview could prolong the process of getting your citizenship, Liu said. The civics test is 10 questions long and you have to answer six correctly to pass, Liu said. There is a list of 100 questions on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
It’s something that most of us (are) born into, so we don’t know the story of those who have become citizens” Jordan Messerer assistant director for outdoor adventures
student citizen: see page 2
Proposed rating program could affect aid REECE RISTAU DN If President Barack Obama’s plan to establish a collegiate rating system to determine federal funding becomes a reality in 2015, Craig Munier says the University of Nebraska-Lincoln could see a pay day. “UNL does an admirable job of providing affordable education to typical Nebraska families,” said Munier, director of UNL’s Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid. “I think in most ways UNL would benefit from the ratings.” Obama’s proposed rating system would be based on measures of access, affordability and student outcomes. Essentially, UNL and schools around the country will need to keep costs low and graduation rates high in order to get the most money possible. Obama outlined the plan in a tour of college campuses at the end of August. In speeches at the University at Buffalo, Binghamton University and Lackawanna College, he said schools that are not producing good results should stop being subsidized. “College cost increases are quite complex and it remains to be seen how this program will keep costs down,” Munier said, “I do think most of us would be supportive of the whole idea of recognizing colleges who do a responsible job to serve students from low–income families.” As for whether or not UNL would fare well in the program, Munier thinks it will be affected positively. Munier said 25 percent of UNL’s
undergraduate students are eligible for Pell grants, and he’s satisfied with the percentage. The federal government provides $150 billion each year for federal student aid, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education. The goal of the rating system, as outlined by Obama and his supporters, including Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, is to reward the good schools and inspire others to step it up. The penalties and rewards will not begin until 2018. Brendon Henning, a sophomore marketing major, said he doesn’t think the system is fair. “It seems like the schools who are already well-off would get the most funding,” Henning said. “The students who go to the schools [that would rate high academically] are likely in better financial shape already. It’s backwards.” However, there is fear among skeptics of the plan that colleges will turn away at-risk students or lower their academic standards to receive more money, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education. “(Lowering standards) has been posited as an unintended consequence and is something we need to be on guard against,” Munier said. He said he does not foresee UNL changing any of its policies. The Obama administration has stated it will fight the risk of colleges turning away at-risk students by providing bonuses to colleges that graduate large numbers of Pell Grant recipients. NEWS@ DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM
ABOUT OBAMA’S PLAN Q: What’s Obama’s rating system all about? A: The plan is to assign public colleges a rating, based on things like average tuition, student graduation and debt rates and percentage of low-income students, and then award federal funding based on that rating. Schools with high ratings would receive more money, while schools with low ratings would receive less. Q: Why does he want to do that? A: The goal is to reward the colleges that are doing well and inspire others to shape up. Obama says it’s time to stop subsidizing low-achieving colleges. Q: When will this happen? A: Obama’s administration plans to begin rating schools by the 2015-2016 school year. Rewards and punishments won’t become a reality until 2018. Q: How does the public feel about this plan? A: Reactions are mixed. Some people agree that the rating system will encourage schools to perform well. Others worry that a numerical rating system doesn’t accurately reflect a school’s performance and that it may over-reward high-performing schools that don’t need the money.
more Inside Coverage:
Hacktivists and generic drugs Columnists discuss hacktivism, how universities can help developing countries
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Honoring an NU coaching legend New volleyball court named for former coach Terry Pettit
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