Thursday October 18, 2007
58th Year No. 8
LEGISLATIVE
MEMORIUM
Undocumented students await DREAM Longtime Measure would make college more accessible By LEZETTE VILLARREAL The Pan American
Hector is unsure whether his graduation from The University of Texas-Pan American will secure him a job — at least one in the United States. “It’s hard to know that I graduated from high school almost for nothing,” said Hector, an illegal resident, who chose to withhold his last name. “It’s hard for people to understand why I’m still pursuing my education if I might not be able to get a job in the U.S. when I
graduate.” Although it may be difficult for illegal immigrants like Hector to live in the United States, Texas is one state that allows such undocumented students to attend college under certain conditions, regardless of resident status. Illegal immigrants who have resided in the United States for three or more years, graduated from a state high school, and promise to file for legal immigration status have the ability to apply for in-state tuition. But this does not necessarily ensure citizenship after graduation. A new bill, currently being reintroduced to the U.S. Senate, hopes to help students in Hector’s case. The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, originally introduced
in 2001, has slowly gained popularity and support in Congress. Though the DREAM Act, which has many different versions, has never been brought to a floor vote as a standalone bill in either the U.S. House or Senate, it has been approved in the past by the Senate Judiciary Committee. At one point, it had 47 co-sponsors. About 65,000 undocumented individuals graduate from high school in the United States every year. Some of these individuals have resided in the United States for five years or more, but in some states are prevented from receiving any assistance to enter a college or university because of their citizenship status. According to the National Immigration Law Center, 10 states have
passed laws permitting certain undocumented students who have attended and graduated from their primary and secondary schools to pay the same tuition as their classmates at public institutions of higher education. To qualify, all 10 states require students to have attended a school in the state for a certain number of years, graduated from high school in the state and signed an affidavit stating that they have either applied to legalize their status or will do so as soon as eligible. In Texas, H.B. 1403 broadened state residency for students to include all graduates of Texas high schools, regardless of immigration status, that are enrolled in a state college/university, have resided in Texas for three or more
See DREAM page 11
U.S. perspective: Illegal residents in college
THIS WE E K
The map above shows which states have allowed illegal residents to attend college since 2001. To attend college, students in these 10 states are required to have graduated high school in the state and signed an affidavit stating that they have applied for legal residency or will do so soon. If passed, the DREAM Act would open admission to undocumented potential students in all states.
NEWS
National Coming Out Day spurs discussion See Page 3
A&E
Jazz in RGV unique, enthusiasts say See Page 8 and 9
SPORTS
Midnight Madness marks start of basketball season See Page 16
math prof succumbs to cancer By BOBBY CERVANTES
The Pan American
Miguel Paredes, a veteran math professor at The University of Texas-Pan American, died on Thursday following a yearlong battle with cancer. He was 65. His students remember him as a dedicated and enthusiastic professor. Fidel Rodriguez, a math professor at Austin Community College and former student of Paredes, remembers him as someone greatly dedicated to his craft. “I always noticed how much hard work and effort that he put into his teaching, that I often tried to match his hard work and effort by studying more because I wanted to be a better student,” he said. “He was very tough and hard on us sometimes, PAREDES but it was because he wanted us students to learn and know the material well.” Rodriguez said that Paredes would go out of his way to aid students in their academic endeavors. “I recall him holding special tutoring sessions with students, he gave us these opportunities because he cared about each of us,” he said. “[Paredes]
See PROFESSOR page 11
CAMPUS
Population research center in works
Center would study health, more in RGV
By ABIGAIL MUNIZ The Pan American
A group of professors and staff from various departments at the University of Texas Pan American are developing a proposal to create a new center for population research on the
campus. While the group has been meeting consistently to assess the feasibility of the center’s creation, there is one obstacle standing in the way of all planning: funding. The group has met three times in the past month, with members from the colleges of education, social and behavioral sciences and health sciences. Their interests as representatives of their area of study are to weave the different disciplines into a general idea of population research.
Fred Ernst, a psychology and anthropology professor who heads the group, said that at this point, they are discussing whether there is going to be ample support and funding for the center. “If I understand things correctly, there are two levels of funding for population research centers, a group that has been funded for quite a while and is very well known, and then there’s a couple of new kids on the block who can ask for more money to further strengthen [research]” Ernst said. “There really
isn’t any [funding] with no center.” Wendy Lawrence-Fowler, vice provost for research and sponsored projects for the Office of Academic Affairs, said that the project is not yet well defined, so a search for funding can begin when it has organizational structure. “The group needs to bring some focus, a vision. Then, we could start funding the projects,” Fowler said. “The Office of Research and Sponsored Projects could help them identify
See RESEARCH page 11