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"Some college administrators seem so distracted with fund raising, academic infighting, and community initiatives that they set up their emergency communications departments very poorly. Training is poor to nonexistent, secretaries are pressed into service with tremendous responsibilities for running 'notification systems' 24/7 and on weekends because no one else knows how to do it and the administration won’t pay for additional staff. Procedures are seat-of-the-pants and dependent on HIPPO (highest paid person’s opinion), except when something like Virginia Tech happens and there is some sort of scramble to do something different." --Donna
Most Colleges Avoid Risk Management, Report Says
Court Overturns $2-Million Verdict for Former Coach at U. of Louisiana-Lafayette
The coach, one of the few African-Americans in big-time college football, was fired after three losing seasons. He sued, saying he had been dismissed because of his race.
The notorious vermin have forced Colorado State University at Fort Collins to cancel its annual Great Sofa Roundup, which allows students to donate unwanted couches.
Water-Main Break Damages Library at University in St. Louis
Summer classes at Harris-Stowe State University resumed today, but the library remains closed.
Former Professor Gets 4 Years for Allowing Unauthorized Access to Sensitive Technology
The retired University of Tennessee researcher was found guilty of illegally allowing foreign students to see restricted information while working on a contract for the Air Force.
German Research Institute Accuses MIT, UMass, and Whitehead of Wrongdoing on Patent
The Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science sued the three American groups for improperly claiming rights to inventions that belong to the German institute.
College Suspends Student for Working in Gay Pornography | 58
President Obama's Visit to Notre Dame Carries Barely a Hint of Controversy That Preceded It | 58
Drug Sting Nabs 21 Students at U. of Illinois | 57
Faculty Members and Union Protest Staff Layoffs at Temple U. as 'Cruel' | 57
North Dakota Board's Vote Puts 'Fighting Sioux' Mascot on Thinner Ice | 57
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May 10, 2008
N.C. Community Colleges May Admit Illegal Immigrants, Federal Agency Says
After two days of confusion over whether North Carolina’s 58 community colleges may admit illegal immigrants, federal officials cleared the air somewhat on Friday, stating that “it is left for the school to decide whether or not to enroll” those students, The News & Observer reported today.
In a statement released by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, the officials said, “The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) does not require any school to determine a student’s status.” The statement, issued at the request of the newspaper, noted that illegal immigrants were subject to being prosecuted and deported. But the statement said colleges were not required to report such students unless they had violated the terms of their student visas under the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System.
Earlier this week, a lawyer in the North Carolina attorney general’s office issued a letter advising the colleges to drop their policy of admitting all illegal immigrants who meet the institutions’ other eligibility criteria. The lawyer said the policy appeared to conflict with federal law.
The letter, which said admission should be limited to students who meet standards outlined in federal law, contradicted a community-college policy based on a 1997 opinion by the state’s attorney general at the time — Michael F. Easley, a Democrat who is now governor. Governor Easley said this week that the colleges should continue enrolling illegal immigrants while any confusion over federal law was sorted out.
In a short statement on Friday, the state attorney general’s office said that its advisory letter earlier in the week had told colleges to “rely on the Department of Homeland Security for guidance,” The News & Observer reported.
Also on Friday, community-college officials released a new estimate of how many illegal immigrants were enrolled in the system: 112 out of 297,000 degree-seeking students. —Andrew Mytelka
Posted on Saturday May 10, 2008 | Permalink |Comments
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Will someone please explain to me what the ‘illegal’ means in illegal immigration?
— Mike May 12, 08:16 AM #
It means the Feds have a right to close their eyes when they want to. “Don’t ask, don’t tell”.
— Darrin May 12, 08:30 AM #
So, I’m confused. It says that CCs only have to report students who are not in compliance with the terms of their student visas. But if they have student visas doesn’t that imply that they are here legally? Oh wait, if they are illegal immigrants then they wouldn’t have student visas and therefore couldn’t possibly be out of compliance with something that didn’t exist in the first place.
— K. Boswell May 12, 09:06 AM #
OK, let us be practical here. An illegal immigrant is clearly someone who has entered the United States without the permission of the government of the United States, or was admitted lawfully into the United States and is no longer in compliance with the terms of his/her visa.
That being said, it is refreshing to have DHS say clearly that, unless the student has received a student visa, which required the college’s participation in the form of issuing a form I20, we do not need to play the role of immigration gate keeper.
— Bill May 12, 09:20 AM #
Please remember the student who was brought here at the age of 1 who is “illegal” by association.
— Jesse May 12, 09:45 AM #
As educators and researchers, we should refrain from using the term “illegal” and use the more human word, “undocumented.” What does legal status have to with access to education? Many young children come with their parents to escape war and poverty. They should have the same access to education especially since many undocumented students graduate from high school.
— Carol May 12, 09:52 AM #
What part of illegal doesn’t anyone understand? I don’t care if you’re 1 or 101, if you’re illegal, you ARE illegal.
— bigfruitbasket May 12, 09:52 AM #
No one is “illegal.” They either have official documents or they don’t. Most immigrants in this country have documents. The position in N.C. is just giving access to the few that don’t. If they are college age, it’s probably because they are children of parents who came here with official visas and over stayed the terms. Thus, the students did not have a choice and are not “illegal.”
— Carol May 12, 10:04 AM #
The concern I hear again and again is that this “undocumented student” will take a seat from someone who has followed the rules and has the “required” documentation (citizen/student Visa/green card/etc.). I have no answer to this concern. And, given that seats in classes are hard to get at my institution, I can certainly understand the frustration.
— M May 12, 10:05 AM #
Not that it’s really important, but were we of any help?
— Ignorance & Apathy May 12, 10:39 AM #
Unbelievable! If a teen is caught driving a car without a license, is s/he driving illegally, or is s/he just an undocumented driver that should be allowed to continue driving, because after all, it is his or her parent’s fault that s/he does not yet have a driver license, right?
What if a teen tries to buy liquor without a legal, age-identifying document? Well, s/he is not doing anything illegal, s/he should just be considered an undocumented consumer and left alone to purchase all the booze s/he can handle.
What an absurd concept, the idea of “undocumented” persons. If you don’t have the document to prove you are here legally, you are here illegally until otherwise proven.
— Sick and Tired May 12, 10:58 AM #
We can criminalize any action, for any reason. It is a crime to jay walk, it is a crime to walk on the ramps of the expressways, and it is a crime for others to do crack and a crime for others to do cocaine. It is a crime to have babies out of wedlock; it is a crime to consume alcohol in public. It should be a crime to eat a big double decked MAC. and drink diet soda.
Legal or illegal seems to depend on whether your fore parents arrived here on the “May Flower” from the North Atlantic or on foot, from across the southern border. One thing we forget, “We, the great legalizers”, granted legal status, Citizenship, to Native Americans in 1925. Makes us feel very important, doesn’t it?
The Great Democratic Experiment of the United States is a breath of fresh air, in a world riddled with dictatorships and absence of basic human rights. Like water that will always, on its own, find the lowest point, humanity will always gravitate towards freedom. Let this freedom ring.
— Konfor Masanje May 12, 11:25 AM #
As one radio commentator says—liberalism is a mental disease. You can see that in some of the bizarre comments here. Anything goes; let freedom ring. What whak jobs. Perhaps among the finest professorial despots guiding our youth. Did you ever wonder how you got to be that way? It’s not genetic…
— liberalite May 12, 11:57 AM #
I RE-POST:
Wow…the context of the word “Illegal” as used incorectly in USofA has a long history, isnt it? I mean, was’nt it not so long ago it was illegal for ‘some’ people to sit,eat,travel,study with ‘others’ ? And when did the doyens of Harvard.edu first made it ‘legal’ to have a tenured female faculty…1956? By the way I thought this country was founded on the principles of just 10 ‘laws’ from a historical book, aint it? I am not sure how that piece of ducument define an illegal alien, is it like “thou shall not love thy illegal alien neighbour”? Well, good luck to those who are thinking to pack people and send them back where they ‘belong’. But you know what, it sure can be done though, remeber the nut from europe who did it to the tune of 4-6 million ‘illegal aliens’ ? I think it was his user manual that some with coned hats and hooded faces tried to use here as well not so long ago !! Ok..the bottom line is this, pl do not forget the context of the ‘illegality’ as historically applied to humans in this country. One need to learn from the history and make sure that failed prejudices are not repeated, one way or another. This country is still, literally, a great nation as compared to many others in the world. The fair minded god fearing ‘legal non-aliens’ living here has a great duty to make sure it stays that way. But I still can see how some would argue that they need to have all types of border control and immigration control and what not, ‘cos guess what, their argument is to learn a lesson from history, remember what happened to the natives to this land for not having tough guys the likes of INS and ICE back then !!??
— Df/ A Legal 'Alien' May 12, 12:11 PM #
Thanks so much, Df/A Legal ‘Alien’, for repeating the same ridiculous rant (word for word) you posted on this subject three days ago. Your atrocious grammar and spelling displays a sorry lack of education, and your emotional attempt to equate the enforcement of law in this country with racism and genocide is offensive. For the record, this country was not founded on the 10 commandments, but a secular constitution in which the executive branch is supposed to enforce the laws made by the legislative, and if those laws are deemed by some citizens to violate said constitution then the judicial branch is used to determine their validity.
This system is the envy of the world, which is why so many people want to come here. When they do, they need to obey our laws. If they ignore the law, and stay here illegally, they need to be deported.
— RKO May 12, 02:41 PM #
Illegal is the correct term. Let us make sure that American taxpayers are able to send their own children to college at affordable prices – a scenario made more difficult by bureaucrats interested in securing support from the illegal voting block. Since when is America the social services department of Cuba and Mexico? Legal immigration is wonderful. Illegal immigrants should be deported immediately. College campuses are a great place to begin the deportations.
Oh yeah, does driving without a license or car registration also just mean we are undocumented drivers and need not fear penalty from our friendly legal system? Undocumented = Illegal.
— EC May 12, 03:52 PM #
Liberalite, that is your name? Who is “we” Liberalite? That radio commentator forgot to add that “conservatism is a cardiac arrest”. Anywhere, it is very conservative to develop contrived pathological amnesia and plead the 5th, when reminded of an issue in “we” would like to forget.
— Konfor Masanje May 12, 04:10 PM #
Sick and Tired (#13) – nicely said. The concept of “undocumented” can apply to any legal requirement, leading to the absurd end points you eloquenly describe. So, Carol (#7&9), where is your rebuttal to this argument? Illegal is illegal, of course, depending on what the definition of “is” is…shades of Clintonesque obfuscation.
— J May 12, 05:54 PM #
Regardless of who people are and their “status,” we benefit as a society when people here are educated. Such people are more likely to be employed. They are also more likely to have children who then go on and get a college education. No one benefits from ignorance, folks.
— James May 12, 06:03 PM #
Can’t we separate the legal and moral issues from the semantic ones? The word “illegal” is conventional and appropriate. Different question from whether the laws are morally right—I’m not making a claim about that. You are an “illegal driver” when you drive illegally. If it’s illegal because you’re drunk, fine; if it’s illegal because you’re black or a woman or what have you, not fine. In any case, the problem isn’t the word, it’s whether you agree with the policy. “Illegal” just means the person is not in compliance with the law, which in this case they aren’t. Whether the law should be complied with is the salient question.
— Hold On, Everyone May 12, 06:03 PM #
What part of Republicanazi don’t you understand?
— original marci May 12, 06:50 PM #
Who are you talking to?
— Amanda May 12, 07:08 PM #