THE
LUMBERJACK Serving the Humboldt State University campus and community since 1929
Vol. 101 No. 7
SEE INSIDE FOR... Putting Prop 30 to a vote An extensive look at how Prop 30 will affect the CSU.
NEWS p 5
Putting the pedal to the metal Former Louisville bike messenger operates a pedicap on the plaza.
LIFE & ARTS p 6
The California Kid Professional mixed martial artist motivates Native American youth.
SPORTS p 12
Catch the presidential debate? Personality over policy in presidential debate. OPINION p 15
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Undocumented students struggle in higher education by Lisette Saldana Imagine you did not exist. No U.S. birth certificate, no driver’s license and you could not tell your closest friends your life story. This is the reality for many undocumented students. For undocumented students, America is an opportunity to have a better life than their home country could offer. Resources to aid undocumented students are limited, and they are scared to ask for help for fear of judgement and deportation. Jennifer Alejo, a double major in international studies and political science, is one of the 13 students who started the club “Finding Resources and Empowering through Education,” which will be dedicated to helping Assembly Bill 540 — undocumented — students at Humboldt State. AB 540 is often used in reference to undocumented students but is actually a bill which allows nonCalifornia residents who attend at least three years of high school to qualify for in-state tuition at the university level. Attending the AB 540 and Undocumented Conference at CSU Fullerton was an eye-opening experience for HSU student Alejo. It made her realize the lack of resources offered to undocumented students at
HSU. The conference was held on Sept 29, and was open to all staff and faculty within the California State University system. Out of the 500 attendees, no staff or faculty from HSU were present. Alejo attended the conference with four fellow club members. For one student, who for legal purposes will remain anonymous, attending HSU is a struggle. She came to the United States at age four and not by choice. Her mother made the decision in order to provide a better
life for her children. In high school the student came to realize her circumstances were much different than those of her classmates. “Growing up you never realize what you are labeled as,” she said. She wanted to learn to drive and get a part-time job but her mother told her she was not a legal resident and could not partake in those privileges. “It was kind of like a slap in the face,” the student said.
S h e found limited financial support but works two jobs to pay for college. Her first year at HSU the student commuted from Fortuna to campus, which took at least four hours of her day. She saved money and purchased a vehicle but risks deportation if she is pulled over because she does not have
a legal license. Peggy Metzger, associate director of Financial Aid, helps undocumented students receive state funds through the California Dream Act. The approval of AB 130, which allows AB 540 students to receive non-state-funded scholarships, and AB 131, which lets AB 540 students apply for state-funded financial like Cal Grants or the Chafee program, are what constitute the Dream Act. As reported by the Office of Institutional Research, there are currently 26 AB 540 students at HSU. Adrienne Colegrove-Raymond, director of the Student Academic Services Outreach Program, is the advisor for the FREE club. Her job requires her to find resources for foster youth but from time to time she helps undocumented students find assistance through what little resources are available at HSU. “Aid is where the issue is,” Colegrove-Raymond said. “[There are] no specific agencies to help them.” Illustration by Maddy Rueda
Lisette Saldana may be contacted at thejack@humboldt.edu
Lifeline Response: making late night walks safe for all by Kevin Forestieri
College students are among the most vulnerable people to rape and sexual assault in the U.S. The new app Lifeline Response allows students to use their smartphone to protect themselves when they do not feel safe. Launched on Sept. 13, Lifeline Response is an application for iPhone and Android smartphones designed to notify police and close friends where and when a user is attacked. Victoria Uecker, manager of marketing and communication for Lifeline Response, said the app works differently from comparable emergency apps because the user actively keeps
the alert from going off. To use the app, the user presses their thumb down on the smartphone touch screen and holds it for however long they feel unsafe. When their thumb leaves the screen a countdown begins. If the countdown is not disarmed through a password an alarm will go off and local police will be contacted. “It’s good for students who are walking on campus late at night from late classes or the gym,” Uecker said. Peter Cahill, founder of Lifeline Response, said he developed the app to make people feel safe and get them help as fast as possible. Cahill said an email and text notification of the alert is sent to friends and family in less
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than 10 seconds. “Police have arrived at the scene as fast as 69 seconds,” Cahill said.
“People prey on college students because they are young and vulnerable.” —Victoria Uecker, manager of marketing and communication, Lifeline Response Lifeline Response is an alternative to methods like self-defense for protection against rape and sexual assault. Cahill said the use of defensive weapons like mace can be ineffective and dangerous. It can enrage the aggressor and worsen the situation. Cahill said other emergency apps are ineffective because users are forced to act after being attacked. In most cases, Cahill said, the user would not have the option to send a distress signal until it is too late. With Lifeline Response the user only needs to remove their thumb to activate the alert. Lifeline Response intends
to reduce rape and sexual assault incidents throughout the country. Created for the general public, Lifeline Response intends to protect women ages 13 to 62. Cahill said they are the most targeted group of people, and one in every five women is a victim of rape in the U.S.. “With Lifeline Response, we want to reduce that number,” Cahill said. Uecker said college students are also high-risk targets for rape and sexual assault. The National Institute of Justice released a research report that found there are 350 rapes on campus each year for every 10,000 female students. “People prey on college students because they are young and vulnerable,” Uecker said. Cahill said the price for the app is $21.99 but plans to reduce the cost to a more affordable rate for college students. “We’re willing to take losses,” Cahill said, “if it means that college students will be safe.”
Kevin Forestieri may be contacted at thejack@humboldt.edu