HarborTides

Posted in: News on 10/30/07 at 12:33 PM PST

Media Credit: Peggy Bacon

Debates about the new club on campus heated up the last three ASO meetings. The Spokesman for the Club, Ricardo Alvarado, said that the Creando Un Nuevo Futuro Club is a group of AB540 students who want to do fundraising to pay for their textbooks. The Dean of Associated Students, Nina Malone, explained that Assembly Bill 540 benefits children who were born in other countries and brought here illegally by their families. There was a rather lively support and opposition to the foundation of the new club. Here are some of the statements made during the Pro and Con debates:

"They are eager to learn so let it touch your heart."
"It has to be in English; an ASO club has to be open to everyone and they can't say it's open to everyone if it's in a foreign language."
"It's a great way for 4.0 students to get money for books."
"I support immigration but I cannot support illegal immigration."
"I support it because I'm an activist for undocumented students."
"I do not support helping people who are disrespectful; they don't want to learn English, they don't want to be citizens of our country. They want everything for free, it's not fair that citizens pay."
"I support it because a bus costs $1.25 and my mom was illegal."

The Student Senate tabled the voting to allow more time for studying the issue and the group's charter.

The following week, Mercy Yanez, E.O.P.S. Administrator, spoke on behalf of the club. She said that the group had changed their name to "Creating a New Future". She explained that AB540 enables students who are undocumented to enroll in California Colleges and pay the same tuition as legal residents instead of the higher foreign student rates. To qualify, they must have attended California High Schools and graduated in good standing. When they file for AB540 benefits, they must promise to become legal citizens within 6 years. They can't get student loans because they are undocumented.

The Pro and Con debates heated up again......
"It's not fair for poor citizens who can barely afford to come to school to pay for illegals."
"They are 'entitled'".
"I'm a citizen and I'm living in my car. I don't have a job and I don't have any money, and I was born here and my parents were born here. I don't get any aid - is there a club for me? Please?"

Continued...

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