2008 Woodie Awards
Letters to the Editor
Issue date: 3/28/08 Section: Opinion
Wake up and smell the controversy
I've been disappointed by the level of public discourse surrounding the state bill that would grant in-state tuition for the children of illegal immigrants. Discussion of the issue thus far has been characterized by ignorant assumptions about the life histories of these immigrants. Pundits vilify the "illegals" as low-lifes who come to our great nation to take Americans' jobs. It is this great nation, however, that supported the dirty wars of the 1980s that caused civil unrest in Latin America and an exodus of many to the United States. We're so busy blaming immigrants for all of our societal ills that we neglect to consider our role in causing some of the immigration in the first place.
I'm not saying these events spurred every single immigrant to move to the United States; I only use them as an example to show how unclear the circumstances surrounding these contentious issues are. What is clear, however, is the disservice we're doing to our country's future with our lack of intelligent discourse about immigration. It is our responsibility to consider the impact of salient historical events on the lives of these immigrants.
As a future educator, I'm disappointed to see how this lack of discussion may effectively prevent undocumented youth a legitimate opportunity to better themselves. As a child of immigrant parents who were afforded opportunities to education and who eventually earned multiple degrees, I understand the promise that higher education holds for incorporating people into our society and empowering them to be productive citizens. We're doing great harm to ourselves by allowing soundbytes and cynicism to pass off as discussion and insight.
Kayode Lewis
Senior
Elementary Education
We need better housing support
In only two years, finding housing at this university has turned from a minor annoyance into a majorly stressful ordeal. Despite limiting this year's sophomores' and juniors' opportunities to move into University Courtyards or South Campus Commons, there are still hundreds of people being pushed off-campus.
This year's sophomores are now forced to compete with current juniors for the already inadequate off-campus options. I attended an off-campus housing fair last semester to look at my fourth-year options where they informed me that because of the shortage of available places to live, I should begin working on finding a spot in February or March and that they would have more information and opportunities to talk to landlords at the spring housing fair. Why then is this housing fair at the end of April, a time when the university's own representatives recommend already having a place to live finalized? If the university's plan is to push students off-campus in order to up the number of freshmen accepted, they should at least have the common sense to help reduce the number of issues for the rest of us.
Anne Marie Newman
Junior
Psychology and Spanish
Air Your Views
The Diamondback welcomes your comments. Address your letters or guest columns to the Opinion Desk at opinion@dbk.umd.edu. All letters and guest columns must be signed. Include your full name, year, major and day- and night-time phone numbers. Please limit letters to 300 words. Please limit guest columns to between 550 and 700 words.
Submission of a letter or guest column constitutes an exclusive, worldwide, transferable license to The Diamondback of the copyright in the material in any media. The Diamondback retains the right to edit submissions for content and length.
Letters can also be submitted online here.
I've been disappointed by the level of public discourse surrounding the state bill that would grant in-state tuition for the children of illegal immigrants. Discussion of the issue thus far has been characterized by ignorant assumptions about the life histories of these immigrants. Pundits vilify the "illegals" as low-lifes who come to our great nation to take Americans' jobs. It is this great nation, however, that supported the dirty wars of the 1980s that caused civil unrest in Latin America and an exodus of many to the United States. We're so busy blaming immigrants for all of our societal ills that we neglect to consider our role in causing some of the immigration in the first place.
I'm not saying these events spurred every single immigrant to move to the United States; I only use them as an example to show how unclear the circumstances surrounding these contentious issues are. What is clear, however, is the disservice we're doing to our country's future with our lack of intelligent discourse about immigration. It is our responsibility to consider the impact of salient historical events on the lives of these immigrants.
As a future educator, I'm disappointed to see how this lack of discussion may effectively prevent undocumented youth a legitimate opportunity to better themselves. As a child of immigrant parents who were afforded opportunities to education and who eventually earned multiple degrees, I understand the promise that higher education holds for incorporating people into our society and empowering them to be productive citizens. We're doing great harm to ourselves by allowing soundbytes and cynicism to pass off as discussion and insight.
Kayode Lewis
Senior
Elementary Education
We need better housing support
In only two years, finding housing at this university has turned from a minor annoyance into a majorly stressful ordeal. Despite limiting this year's sophomores' and juniors' opportunities to move into University Courtyards or South Campus Commons, there are still hundreds of people being pushed off-campus.
This year's sophomores are now forced to compete with current juniors for the already inadequate off-campus options. I attended an off-campus housing fair last semester to look at my fourth-year options where they informed me that because of the shortage of available places to live, I should begin working on finding a spot in February or March and that they would have more information and opportunities to talk to landlords at the spring housing fair. Why then is this housing fair at the end of April, a time when the university's own representatives recommend already having a place to live finalized? If the university's plan is to push students off-campus in order to up the number of freshmen accepted, they should at least have the common sense to help reduce the number of issues for the rest of us.
Anne Marie Newman
Junior
Psychology and Spanish
Air Your Views
The Diamondback welcomes your comments. Address your letters or guest columns to the Opinion Desk at opinion@dbk.umd.edu. All letters and guest columns must be signed. Include your full name, year, major and day- and night-time phone numbers. Please limit letters to 300 words. Please limit guest columns to between 550 and 700 words.
Submission of a letter or guest column constitutes an exclusive, worldwide, transferable license to The Diamondback of the copyright in the material in any media. The Diamondback retains the right to edit submissions for content and length.
Letters can also be submitted online here.
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