University feels ‘uniquely qualified' to help should legislation pass providing undocumented students a path to citizenship
By JOHN McCALLUM
Editor
Eastern Washington University's board of trustees agreed to send a letter to the state's congressional delegation making elected officials aware of possible impacts of the passage of the federal Development, Relief and Education of Alien Minors Act, known as the DREAM Act. The trustees voted unanimously to take the action at their May 20 meeting.
Trustee Paul Tanaka said they had previously been approached by EWU students to make a statement in support of the act, but were advised by university legal counsel that as a body they could not take a position on pending legislation.
“The action we took, or didn't take, didn't sit well with some members of the board,” Tanaka said. The trustees asked counsel what action could be taken, he added, and was told an impact letter would be appropriate.
“For the record, the board is not taking a position on the legislation, just pointing out impacts it may have,” Tanaka said.
The DREAM Act was introduced in Congress in 2007, and reintroduced on March 26, 2009 in both houses, according to a report prepared for the board by EWU Provost Dr. John Mason. The bill provides undocumented alien students with two paths towards permanent residency and potentially citizenship after graduating from high school by completing either two years of college or two years of military service within a six-year “conditional” period.
The act would apply only to individuals who have come to the U.S. before age 16, have lived at least five years in the country and possess English-speaking ability. The federal act would not require states to provide financial aid and students would not be eligible for federal assistance such as Pell grants, but could apply for work-study or loans.
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled all children living in the U.S. must receive a K-12 education, with Washington one of nine states assuring that if these students graduate from high school they “can have access to higher education at in-state tuition rates.” Eastern's letter notes part of the university's mission is to educate students to be “highly productive citizens to attain meaningful careers” and that without the DREAM Act provisions undocumented students have no way to “legalize their status and thereby attain meaningful employment and careers.”
The letter notes Eastern is “uniquely qualified” to help these students. Mason states in his report that the Hispanic community is one of the fastest growing in the state, but has the lowest four-year college participation.
One way Eastern serves students of Eastern Washington migrant families is through the federally funded College Assistance Migrant Program, or CAMP. According to its Web site, 81 percent of CAMP students are the first in their family to attend college, with 39 percent having been born in Mexico.
Also at the May 20 meeting the board voted unanimously to rename Woodward Field Roos Field in honor of former Eagles and current Tennessee Titans lineman Michael Roos. The renaming is contingent upon completion of the university's project to replace the natural grass at Woodward with red turf.
Roos made a donation of $500,000 to get the project started. University officials said this amount pays for the turf, leaving the university to raise money for its installation. According to sources this has been successfully accomplished through private funds raised by the non-profit EWU Foundation.
Eastern athletic director Bill Chaves made the request to honor Roos, with university president Dr. Rodolfo Arévalo providing his support in a memo to the board. New trustee Dr. Mark Mays noted Roos has also made contributions to Eastern in other ways, such as the Michael Roos Foundation, started in 2005 to support Northwest children's charities and EWU.
“He cares about the university,” Mays said. “He's given back to the university.”
In a related issue, the board voted to table an agenda item to establish a memorandum of understating between the university and the EWU Foundation to receive the money raised for the turf project. Board chair Jo Ann Kaufman said they were not ready to take action on the MOU last Thursday, with Mays making a motion to table with the provision the board would take action no later than June 2.
John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].
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