Vol. 79 No. 3

Page 1

THE SIGNAL THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY SERVING THE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1933 VMA RECAP VOLUME 79 | ISSUE 3 TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2011

GSUSIGNAL.COM

Georgia State bars undocumented student TIFFANIE SMITH Staff Writer

CHRIS SHATTUCK | THE SIGNAL

Last year, student groups marched on the state capitol to protest education cuts and to show their support for federal immigration reform, such as the federal DREAM Act. If enacted, the bill would allow the children of some illegal immigrants to enroll into Georgia universities.

Starting this semester, students admitted to Georgia State were required to prove they were legal residents before enrolling in classes. According to university spokesperson Andrea Jones, the university has barred one student from enrollment due to documentation problems. Out of the more than 10,000 students granted preliminary acceptance to the five most academically competitive schools in Georgia, college officials were surprised that the number of students barred was not higher. They do not know whether the new Board of Regents rule deterred immigrants from applying or if they did not have plans to apply previously. Adopted last October, the rule blocks illegal immigrants from enrolling in any of the 35 University System of Georgia schools that have turned away academically qualified students

in the past two years. At Georgia Tech this spring,officials canceled applications from three illegal immigrants, spokesman Matt Nagel told the AJC. Admissions officers who were reviewing undergraduate applications learned the three academically qualified students were illegal immigrants and directed them to other colleges. The University of Georgia, Georgia College & State University and Georgia Health Sciences University are the three other colleges affected by the rule that have yet to turn away potential students because of their immigration status. “The numbers denied admission to the five institutions prohibited from admitting undocumented students speak for themselves,” Regents Chairman Ben Tarbutton told the AJC. Colleges cleared most of student’s legal residency through the Free ApSEE IMMIGRANTS PAGE 5

Legislators’ visits to Recreation Center sponsored by Alumni Association MIRANDA SAIN Editor-in-Chief Each legislative session, Georgia lawmakers can enjoy the use of the Student Recreation Center, compliments of the Georgia State Alumni Association. However, Andrea Jones, Vice President for Communications at Georgia State, says that money spent by the Alumni Association on these sponsored visits is minimal. “The Alumni Association pays for the legislators’ visits. Fewer than five percent of lawmakers use the service and the total cost [to] the association is less than $1,000 annually,” said Jones. In 2010, the Alumni Association sponsored visits for $831 in addition to $146.25 spent to cover parking costs for the legislators’ visits to the Student Recreation Center. From January of this year

Mon

Hi 92 National Weather Service

Tue

Hi 91

to June, the sponsored visits have cost the Alumni Association $535. Jones says the legislators are given “access only during the three month legislative session” which is January, February and March. However, lobbyist reports show that legislators have continued to receive Alumni Association sponsored visits into April, May and June as well. While fewer than five percent of lawmakers use the service, some lawmakers use the Recreation Center frequently visited during this four-month period. Since the end of the legislative session, the Alumni Association has sponsored 20 visits to the Recreation Center for Rep. Lynmore James (D – Montezuma) and 11 visits by Rep. Rahn Mayo (D – Decatur).

SEE LEGISLATORS PAGE 4

Wed

Hi 90

Thur

Hi 89

Fri

Hi 87

JUDY KIM | SIGNAL

Each legislative session, the Alumni Association sponsors visits to the Recreation Center for legislators.

SEE PAGE 11 TO... Find out where all the Georgia State Panthers will be on Sept. 2nd

INDEX

News...........................2 Opinions....................6 Sports.........................9 Entertainment.......13 Campus Life...........17


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.