More breaks for illegal aliens

In a time of economic chaos (thanks to giving illegals home loans) this Chancellor has decided not only allow illegals on campus, but to give them a discount that is not even given to US citizens of other states! Will these illegal alien students get scholarship money from the lottery if passed? If you or somebody you know has information about illegal aliens attending U of A Fayettville or any other college, let us know.

Gearhart Makes Push For Bachelor's Degrees
By Jon Gambrell The Morning News AP
http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2008/10/22/news/102308argearhart.prt

LITTLE ROCK -- The state must do everything it can to encourage more students to seek bachelor's degrees, including possibly offering illegal immigrants the lower tuition rates given to residents, University of Arkansas Chancellor Dave Gearhart said Wednesday. Gearhart stopped just short of endorsing a possible legislative proposal that would give in-state tuition rates to illegal immigrants. Most higher education officials want to be "frankly forgiving if we can" when it comes to students living illegally in the state, he said."I don't think it would be appropriate for me to argue against any qualified student getting a four-year degree at our institution simply because of their parents," Gearhart told The Associated Press on Wednesday. "To me, it's not really the student's fault that they came here and their parents had an issue with immigration. To me, that's penalizing the student."In recent years, both the University of Arkansas and the University of Central Arkansas in Conway had offered students in-state tuition rates even if they didn't list a Social Security number in their applications. In May, the head of the state's Department of Higher Education issued an order requiring schools to ensure students receiving in-state tuition were legal residents.

In the time since, Gearhart said the university has identified about 25 students who may be illegal immigrants. Officials at the school worked to find private donations to cover the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition -- about a $4,500 difference per semester per student, Gearhart said.Gearhart described his decision also as one of necessity in a state that ranks 50th in the nation in the number of residents with bachelor's degrees."Our position is that we're in the business of education," Gearhart said. "We know that by helping a student, any student, get a four-year degree is going to help the economy, it's going to help the state."Former state Rep. Joyce Elliott, a Democrat who faces no opposition in the November election for a state Senate seat from Little Rock, has said she likely will offer a bill next session to offer in-state tuition rates for illegal immigrants. While Gearhart said he has talked with Elliott about the idea, he repeatedly declined Wednesday to give explicit support for her possible bill."I'd like to see the legislation before I completely sign on, but I'm certainly in favor of helping students get a college degree," Gearhart said.

Elliott said changing the law would help other students, not just illegal immigrants.
"I don't think anyone is against students having the opportunity," Elliott said. "It's just that we're having to try to find a way to work within the laws."Illegal immigration is a politically sensitive topic in Arkansas, home to one of the nation's fastest growing Hispanic communities. More than 150,000 Hispanics now live in the state, many drawn by construction work and jobs in poultry plants. Recent reports suggest half of the state's immigrant population lives in the U.S. illegally.
Gov. Mike Beebe, who has repeatedly said that "illegal means illegal," opposes offering in-state tuition to illegal immigrants. As attorney general, Beebe issued a 2005 opinion that said offering the benefit likely would violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.Gearhart said he's spoken with Beebe's office and hasn't heard "anyone who wants to penalize students." Matt DeCample, a spokesman for Beebe, said Gearhart had not met with anyone in the governor's office about the in-state tuition ban. DeCample said Beebe held by his stance."From our end, it's a legal issue far more than a philosophical issue," he said. During the interview, Gearhart also declined to say whether he'd support a measure on the November ballot to create a statewide lottery. The lottery, which would go toward a fund for college scholarships, already received the backing of former Chancellor John White.