Dean Back At It Page 7 PAGE 1
Vol. 106, NO. 92 UATRAV.COM
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2012
Speaking Out: Life as an Undocumented UA Student
BEN FLOWERS PHOTO EDITOR
Carlos Guzman and Zessna García are undocumented UA students. They were illegally brought to the U.S. as children by their parents; they do not exist to the U.S. government. The DREAM Act, if passed, would give qualifying undocumented students a path to citizenship and the opportunity to live a life out of the shadows. dreams of seeing his sister who undocumented immigrants undocumented students who Minors Act, better known as a K through 12 education,” said by BRITTANY NIMS Asst. News Editor
Zessna García and Carlos Guzman are not American citizens. They have no social security card, no driver’s license. They are two of a handful of undocumented UA students. García has dreams: dreams of becoming a broadcast reporter, dreams of speaking up for those who have no voice, dreams of virtue and tolerance. She believes in equality for all and justice for those underrepresented. Guzman dreams of traveling the world: studying architecture in Rome, building communities in impoverished areas. He
he hasn’t seen for 12 years; she has a 2-year-old nephew that he has never met. He dreams of seeing his niece with a driver’s license, like the rest of her high school friends. He has a strong faith that reminds him that he has a purpose in life and a challenge to overcome. But to the U.S. government, García and Guzman do not exist. The UA doesn’t even keep official records on the number of undocumented students. Undocumented students are the children of undocumented immigrants. As minors, they were illegally brought into the U.S. by their parents. There are about 11 million
in the U.S. today, according to a Reuters report. Every year, 65,000 undocumented students graduate from U.S. high schools. In order to obtain a higher education, these students face tremendous challenges. Undocumented students are prohibited from receiving instate tuition at public highereducation institutions. A stipulation of the 1996 federal law allows undocumented students to receive special “benefit[s]” as long as “a citizen or national of the United States is eligible for such a benefit.” Several states have passed laws granting in-state tuition to
BEN FLOWERS PHOTO EDITOR
Carlos Guzman is a student in the Fay Jones School of Architecture. As an undocumented student, Guzman could not complete a study abroad requirement within the department. The department worked with him to complete an in-state project instead. “I did not get this far for them to tell me I cannot continue my program, that I cannot make it,” he said.
In This Issue:
News
Today On The Hill Check out various events happening around campus today.
Page 2
News
UA Law Student Preps Justice of Peace Campaign
attended high school in the state for three or more years, including Texas, California, New York, Oklahoma and Kansas, among others, according to finaid.org. Arkansas is not one of them. Out-of-state tuition at the UA is almost three times more than in-state tuition, according to the UA treasurer’s office website. At an exorbitant $544.02 per credit hour, one three-credit-hour class is almost $1,700. Most student aid, including federal student aid, requires the recipient to be a U.S. citizen, or an eligible non-citizen, according to finaid.org. Many of those given the opportunity to attend a U.S. college or university cannot afford the tuition because they lack financial aid. But even if they do attain degrees, they are not legally able to work after graduation. García was brought to the U.S. by her family at the age of three. She was born in Gómez Palacio, Mexico, but she grew up in Bentonville. Guzman came to the U.S. from San Pedro Sula, Honduras with his mother at age 10. He grew up in Little Rock and attended Little Rock Central High School. Undocumented immigrants like García and Guzman will continue to live in secrecy unless a controversial federal bill is passed. If passed, the Development, Relief and Education of Alien
Features
Features
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2012 VOL. 106, NO.92 8 PAGES UATRAV.COM
Page 5
WEATHER FORECAST
Sports
Bill Schwab, a UA sociology professor who is working on a book about the DREAM Act. “We’ve socialized them as Americans,” Schwab said. Plyler v. Doe was a 1982 case in which the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a Texas statute that would have denied education funding to children of undocumented immigrants. The ruling, however, only applied to kindergarten through high school. “We’ve invested in these children’s education, K through 12, and it makes absolutely no sense to squander that investment by denying them higher education and citizenship,” Schwab said. “It’s just common sense.” There is a notable difference between adults that come to the U.S. and the children they bring, he said. “They’re here because the federal and state governments looked the other way while we employed their parents,” he said. “And now we have a problem we need to take care of.” For students like García and Guzman, the DREAM Act offers hope for the future. “We all come here for a dream, right? And, it sounds cliché at times, but dreams do come true and I think he [my father] had that vision of bettering our family, of having better conditions, as any man
see UNDOCUMENTED on page 2
Opinion
Swimming Floods Tips from the Crown Women’s Track Student Parking: An Pageant beauty tips can be Starting Outdoor Year Endangered Animal Fayetteville with Beach used for a flawless everyday Part of Arkansas’ women’s Jams A Traveler columnist discusses look.
Local band brings relaxed, A UA law student is running for Washington County fun sound to music scene. Justice of the Peace.
Page 3
the DREAM Act would give qualifying undocumented students a route to citizenship by either enlisting in the military or going to college. The DREAM Act was first introduced in 2001 by Senators Orrin Hatch, R-UT, and Richard Durbin, D-IL, and by Representatives Howard Berman, D-CA, and Chris Cannon, R-UT, according to the American Immigration Council. The federal legislation has been brought to vote several times but has failed to gain the support of Republicans. Opponents argue that it is an “amnesty” to undocumented citizens that “could cost taxpayers and encourage continued illegal immigration,” according to an ABC News report. In December 2010, the DREAM Act failed in the Senate by five votes. “It is disappointing that common sense did not prevail today,” President Obama said in a statement following the 2010 Senate vote. “But my administration will not give up on the DREAM Act.” In May 2011, Senate Democrats reintroduced the bill. Advocates for the DREAM Act argue that undocumented students shouldn’t be punished for the actions of their parents. “They were brought here at a very young age by their parents, so they lack blame. They, by law, or by Supreme Court ruling, Plyler v. Doe, have to be given
TODAY 68°
Page 5 THURSDAY 68°
FRIDAY 68°
SATURDAY 65°
track team will start the outdoor season in Texas, part in Fayetteville.
the current parking issues on campus and offers solutions.
Page 7
Page 4
SUNDAY 68°
MONDAY 58°
Follow us on Twitter at @uatrav