Georgia Professors Offer Courses to Illegal Immigrants
- Posted on August 25, 2011 at 9:40pm by
Tiffany Gabbay
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ATHENS, Ga. (The Blaze/AP) — As college students return to campus in Georgia, a new state policy has closed the doors of the five most competitive state schools to illegal immigrants, but a group of professors has found a way to offer those students a taste of what they’ve been denied.
The five University of Georgia professors have started a program they’re calling Freedom University. They‘re offering to teach a rigorous seminar course once a week meant to mirror courses taught at the most competitive schools and aimed at students who have graduated from high school but can’t go to one of those top schools because of the new policy.
“This is not a substitute for letting these students into UGA, Georgia State or the other schools,” said Pam Voekel, a history professor at UGA and one of the program’s initiators. “It is designed for people who, right now, don’t have another option.”
The policy, adopted last fall by the university system’s Board of Regents, bars any state college or university that has rejected academically qualified applicants in the previous two years from admitting illegal immigrants. That includes five Georgia colleges and universities: the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, Georgia State University, Medical College of Georgia and Georgia College & State University. Illegal immigrants may still be admitted to any other state college or university, provided that they pay out-of-state tuition.
The new rule came in response to public concerns that Georgia state colleges and universities were being overrun by illegal immigrants, that taxpayers were subsidizing their education and legal residents were being displaced. A study conducted by the university system‘s Board of Regents last year found that less than 1 percent of the state’s public college students were illegal immigrants, and that students who pay out-of-state tuition more than pay for their education.
“What we’re hoping is that people in decision-making positions will reconsider the policy,” said Reinaldo Roman, another of the organizing professors. “It goes counter to our aims. We have invested enormous resources in these young people. It makes sense to give them a chance at an education.”
For now the course will simply serve to expose the students to a college environment and challenge them intellectually. It will not likely count for credit should the students be accepted at another school, but the professors said they’re seeking accreditation so credits would be transferable at some point in the future.
The five founding professors all work for UGA, but they stress that the program has no connection to the institution. UGA referred a request for comment to the Board of Regents. Regents spokesman John Millsaps said faculty members are generally free to do whatever they want with their free time as long as it doesn’t interfere with their responsibilities as employees of the university system. But he said he didn’t know about enough about the program to comment on this specific case.
Once the professors hatched their plan – which was suggested by an illegal immigrant community member who works with a lot of illegal immigrant teens – they reached out to professors at prestigious schools nationwide to sit on a national board of advisers. One of them is Pulitzer Prize winning author and MIT professor Junot Diaz, who calls policies barring illegal immigrants from state schools cruel and divisive. He said he’s ready to help Freedom University succeed.
“Whatever they ask of me. I’ll do everything and anything I can,” he wrote in an email. “This clearly is going to be a long fight.”
With professors donating their time and a local Latino community outreach center offering a space for free, the program has few costs. They’ve started an Amazon.com wish list asking people to donate textbooks for students and gas cards for volunteers who will drive students to and from class.
Dressed in a black fleece jacket and tan cargo shorts and carrying a black backpack during a protest rally Tuesday at UGA against the policy, 25-year-old Karl Kings looked like he could be headed to class. However, Kings says he’s an illegal immigrant who was brought to the U.S. when he was a year old from a country in Asia that he declined to identify.
“Pretty much, I would be a Georgia boy except I wasn’t born here,” he said. “I grew up here my whole life.”
After graduating from high school in suburban Atlanta in 2004, he dreamed of going to college but couldn’t afford to pay out-of-state tuition. He’s gotten by doing odd jobs, but has had to turn down some more stable or challenging job offers because they required proof of eligibility to work in the U.S. He was filling out an application for Freedom University at the end of the rally this week.
The program is currently taking applications, with the first class, American Civilization I, set to start Sept. 8. The five professors will rotate teaching the seminar course on their own time at an off-campus location. All qualified applicants will likely be accepted unless there are so many applications that space constraints force them to limit admissions, said Lorgia Garcia Pena, another of the founding professors.
Leeidy Solis,16, was brought to the U.S. illegally by her parents from Mexico when she was 2. A high school senior in Athens, she wants to become a veterinarian. She finds it hard to listen to her friends discuss where they‘re applying to college because she’s not sure she will be able to go. She’s looking into where she might get a grant or scholarship to pay for her education.
Her parents are thinking of packing up and heading back to Mexico. They are encouraging her to apply to college there and go with them. But she doesn’t remember Mexico and all her friends and cultural experiences are here, so she wants to stay. She said she’s definitely keeping Freedom University in mind.
“Even if they don’t count it as a credit, at least we as students can experience what it’s like to take a real college class,” she said
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Comments (135)
spinelessdave
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 10:58pmdeport the professors
Report Post »dealer@678
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 11:05pmIf we could hide the diapers from these mexicans it just might do the trick
Report Post »blowback
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 12:06amIllegal is illegal. If illegals are not required to follow the laws of our country, then why should legal citizens follow any laws. If immigration laws are ignored, then why can’t one ignore laws against vigilantism? What’s good to ignore by one, must be good enough to ignore by another, according to equality under the law or equality under no law.
Report Post »gapch68
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 1:04amReally?! My daughter goes to UGA and I’m not feeling any sympathy for these Mexicans who “work” our system while I am paying tuition for my child! Aaaaahg!
Report Post »M 4 Colt
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 2:16amWhat part don’t these 5 turd professors under, these people broke our laws, i don’t care if they were only 1 years old when it happened they still BROKE OUR LAWS!! You know if they really want to help someone there are plenty of poor people living here legal that could use their help so why don’t they want to help them??? I know why it‘s because it won’t make waves and get them media attention and that’s what their after they want to stir the pot to try and put pressure on congress to vote to make 20 million illegals legal. I have an answer for them, not only NO BUT HE11 NO, we don;t reward bad behavior no matter how old you were when you came here.
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 6:20amWe’ve invested millions in these people? That’s their excuse? Don‘t they realize the average American doesn’t want to invest in an illegal alien? I still say cut back food stamps and other assistance 10% each year until it’s more lucrative to actually work for a living. And set a limit on how many children you’ll pay for with Welfare. It shouldn’t be more than the deduction on the taxes for having a child. Ihear they get something like $1500 per child per month. that‘s more than my husband’s military retirement. It‘s not our fault they’re anchor babies that grew up here.
Report Post »chazman
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 6:23am… I say fine! Do it on your own time and with your own money! And when we find out where you are holding your classes, we can sweep in, arrest all illegals, and throw them back over the border! Then we will come for you, you acedemic Liberal Marxist’s turds! Absolutely no regard for the law! I see these professor creeps as enemies of the American people!
Report Post »TMink
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 8:10amI disagree. I think this is the way things ought to be. Instead of using our tax dollars, these people are engaging in direct charity to a group they wish to help. I am all for that. And besides, these people are progressives so the chartiy won’t last! Theses are not the kind of people who engage in sacrificial giving, they prefer sacrificial taking through the tax code. So I say bravo, thanks for leaving my pocket alone and doing something on your own dime.
Trey
Report Post »Edct
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 8:37amLiberal ignorant fn morons who are so antiAmerican they should be deported along with the illegal criminal drug disease carrying wet backes to mexland.
Report Post »Oldphoto678
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 9:04am@ CHAZMAN
” I see these professor creeps as enemies of the American people! ”
That’s fine, but look around and you’ll find that more and more Americans are starting to see the tea partiers as enemies of America.
Report Post »JRook
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 10:47amClearly illegal aliens should not be allowed to attend college or for that matter elementary, middle or high school. Having said that these professors should be free to spend their time as they choose so long as it is not on the University’s dime.
Report Post »rangerp
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 2:47pmSad to say, but I got my masters in education from the University of Georgia.
Not real good at math, but sat down and did a little ciphering. We now have 40 some million folks on food stamps. We have about 20 million illegal folks in this nation, most here to do some sort of manual labor.
What would happen if we handed out some real stiff fines for anyone hiring illegals, and did a better job of securing the boarder.
At the same time, we could cut out around half the folks on welfare with a motto of “no work, no food”.
Tyrone and Tomeka could get off their lazy butts, turn off the Jerry and Oprah, and go pick beans, pound nails, lay sod, finish sheetrock, paint, mow grass…. They would have less time to sell dope, steal, commit murder, rape, armed robbery, play vile rap for the illegitimate kids, make more illegitimate kids…. Little Tyrone Jr might see dad out busting his hump doing hard labor, and be more motivated to get some pants that actually fit, study hard ay school, and become a professional at something. Little Tomika might see Mom out busting her butt to carve out a living, and might decide not to lay up in the sack with baggy pants wearing losers, as there would no longer be the free ride and food stamps. She might be motivated to educate herself, and find a professional man, actually marry the fellow, and raise respectable kids who are not on the system, and actually have a mom and dad at home. You can substitute Tyrone and Tomike from the
Report Post »rangerp
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 2:56pmYou can substitute Tyrone and Tomike from the ghetto with Bubba and Claudete from the trailor park.
Just think of the tax dollars saved, the drop in crime, the boost to schools, the boost to Tomika and Tyrone’s ego and the satisfaction of having done a hard days work.
Shoot, I might just run for office one day.
2 Thessalonians 3:10
For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
1 Timothy 5:8
Report Post »But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
ACLUHater
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 3:46pmI think that the professors should let the lawbreakers and their squaws move in with them and feed and clothe them. That way you and I are off the hook.
Report Post »ProgressivesAreEvil
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 10:22pmOldphoto678
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 9:04am
@ CHAZMAN
” I see these professor creeps as enemies of the American people! ”
That’s fine, but look around and you’ll find that more and more Americans are starting to see the tea partiers as enemies of America.
=================================
Take your bull back to whatever liberal fantasy land it comes from, maybe if you stopped staring at MSMBC you’d see most of the Americans surrounding your small little liberal world are Tea Partiers or like minded citizens.
Go pay for their education in mexico if you want to fool, but citizens certainly shouldn’t be forced to.
Report Post »spinelessdave
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 10:57pmCollege Students storm the classes and get an education for free, you have more right to be there than they have, make those traitors teach you.
Report Post »Dogs
nptden
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 10:56pmFire these teachers. What about American kids who can’t get into college? Do they offer them help on their so called time off. They don’t even work an 8 hr day. Time to have an American Cultural Revolution and clean out all the Marxist/Progressive teachers and burn all their books.
Report Post »the hawk
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 11:48pmFigure this has been in the plan for40? years now ! let a garden grow over with weeds for 40 yrs than try cleaning it out, it maybe all thats left, or all that is left ,wait…………………………..home school ?
Report Post »My RICH uncle was as conservative right winger as I’ve ever seen. Sent his four kids to high pricey collages…… All got degrees…….All believe in gay marriage…..Pro Choice…..Big Unions………
.No Borders……..No private property except the 5000 acers they’ll inherit…………… ect…his price for sin?………………………………………………….
loriann12
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 6:24am@hawk, omgosh you re so right. My husband’s family is SO conservative. Until Obummer, I thought they were a bit too conservative. My brother-in-law went to college and works at AT&T and is the most liberal I’ve ever seen. I would never send my kids to college. I went 3 semesters, and dropped out to join the Navy. And they say that big corporations are conservative……and republican. The only good thing about my brother in law is that he doesn‘t vote and doesn’t want kids.
Report Post »ezeewhiz
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 10:55pmSounds like these class rooms will be a good place to enforce the immigration laws on the books. At least law enfrocement knows where to look. But we shant hold our breath now will we?
Report Post »chazman
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 8:39am@HAWK
Please edit your posts before you post them. Thanks.
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 10:40pmThey‘re here illegally I realize it’s a difficult concept for a progressive to grasp but this is ridiculous.They’re just going to create more mindless drones anyhow,group think is all they know.
Report Post »InfiniteSolutions
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 10:51pmGood way to round up the illegals and deport them. This is probably what they are doing and if not, maybe our legal system will get the professors for aiding and abiding these criminals. Ooops, I forgot, this is planet purple where all the freaky people live.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 11:00pmThey should FIRE the professors .. without their ligit jobs they could not “teach” the illegals … the citizen students are STILL supsidizing the ILLEGALS!
TEA!
Report Post »PeachyinGA
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 11:14pmInfinite…. “Good way to round up the illegals and deport them.” Apparently Georgia is not interested in rounding them up since you can find them congregating in huge numbers in the metro areas (I could give you specific areas), In addition the metro Atlanta counties have had a serious problem with the Mexican drug cartel in large numbers and it’s deadly crimes. Probably their children demanding free college education …
Report Post »BlindSquirrel57
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 10:36pmPeople embracing insanity…
Report Post »M 4 Colt
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 2:26amApostrophe47 if you think that black kid is really from Chicago i have got a bridge Brooklyn i want to sell you.
Report Post »M 4 Colt
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 2:28amBridge in Brooklyn ( sorry for the mistake it’s late)
Report Post »rox
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 10:35pmThe free courses should be on “how to become a citizen of the USA”. Yes, in English!
Report Post »If they want to go back to Mexico no one will stop them.
dealer@678
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 10:41pmIf your having trouble concieving just ask a mexican
Report Post »Steel Awesome
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 10:33pmKind of like a drug dealer offering free samples of his goods to get his customers hooked.
Report Post »BrokenHearted
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 10:33pmSend your emails to jbeckley@uga.edu, I did asking them to fire the professors, that way they will have all week to teach the illegals.
Report Post »Bullfrog85
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 10:30pmWonderful. America, the only country where you can sneak in and you’re instantly put on a pedastool. No wait, that’s not all. We promise never to offend you, even if it means changing the way we live. AND you can have FREE healthcare, education, voter rights,and if you sign up right now…..you’ll never pay taxes!
Report Post »right
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 11:16pmBullfrog85
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 10:30pm
Wonderful. America, the only country where you can sneak in and you’re instantly put on a pedastool. No wait, that’s not all. We promise never to offend you, even if it means changing the way we live. AND you can have FREE healthcare, education, voter rights,and if you sign up right now…..you’ll never pay taxes!
Well said Bullfrog.
Report Post »PeachyinGA
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 10:28pmHELLO!!! They are ILLEGAL immigrants!!! They should not even be in the USA! Nibble away at the system and before you know it they will be eligible for Georgia’s Hope Scholarship which pays for the majority of their college fees. That’s where this is all going. (Basically STEALING from American citizens living in Georgia, paying Georgia taxes!).
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 6:27amThey’ll just raise the price of out of state tuition. They said it more than pays for the illegals. I wonder how those parents out of state sending their kids to that college feel about paying for 2 people to attend college? It’s a2-fer. Pay for your own child to attend college in a different state, and you help support an illegal alien.
Report Post »BrokenHearted
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 10:27pmThe college should fire their a$$.
Report Post »dealer@678
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 10:35pmYa see those kids in the picture . Their parents stole YOUR identity
Report Post »BrokenHearted
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 10:35pmSend your emails to jbeckley@uga.edu and tell them to fire the profs., that way they can have all week to teach the illegals.
Report Post »PeachyinGA
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 10:41pmIf this can happen in Georgia, it can happen in any state. I am taken back ….
Report Post »yougottabekidding
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 10:27pmAll you legal minorities how does it feel to be screwed over for illegals. They will bend over backwards for people that are here illegally. Sure is cutting your share of the pie isn’t it.
Report Post »HOW DO IT FEEL?
SacredHonor1776
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 10:26pmWell, let them do what they want to do… They’ll go bankrupt after a few years, and then raise teh tuition costs for all the citizens…
Report Post »cookcountypatriot
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 10:25pmsuch blatant anti americanism…when will we have enough of these progressives
Report Post »TexanRon
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 10:31pmAs soon as we stand up, go to the polls, vote them out and say “Enough!”
Report Post »82dAirborne
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 12:56amSeven years ago this coming Saturday.
Report Post »Secessionista
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 10:18pm“With professors donating their time and a local Latino community outreach center offering a space for free, the program has few costs. They’ve started an Amazon.com wish list asking people to donate textbooks for students and gas cards for volunteers who will drive students to and from class.”
They should try this for white people only, lol.
Would that be racist? Oh, sorry. Nevermind.
Report Post »82dAirborne
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 10:26pmThere are plenty of American citizens – of ALL colors and backgrounds – that have a very hard time paying for advanced education. Is there a similar group of educators concerned about them? Nope not so much. That project wouldn’t make the news.
Sad and misguided people.
If America isn’t strong and healthy we are in no postion to help anyone else. We may already be at that point for the first time in modern history.
Report Post »dealer@678
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 10:18pmThem mexicans can spit em out cant they. BOY HOWDY
Report Post »dealer@678
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 10:26pmIf you have ever seen an overbred mexican woman you will never forget. It is not a pretty sight
Report Post »bhelmet
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 10:17pmProfessors have to indoctrinate someone – after all, those who cannot do – INDOCTRINATE
Report Post »dealer@678
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 10:16pmIf you believe illegal mexicans will take over the united states you need to invest heavily in diapers
Report Post »v-vet1968
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 10:14pmTeaching how to vote Dimocrat !!!
Report Post »dealer@678
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 10:11pmThem mexicans breed like Cane Toads and the liberals are all in
Report Post »MODEL82A1
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 10:11pm“It is designed for people who, right now, don’t have another option.”
Report Post »Seriously? Because I can think of at least ONE other “option”. How about these criminals be deported to their country of origin? Furthermore, Professor Voekel, you are welcome to show your generosity by providing transportation costs for as many of there poor “victims” as you like.
I SPY
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 10:11pmDeportation, Not Education.
Report Post »jigawatt
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 10:10pm@#$%^%$#@#$%^&**((&^%^%$##@!!!!! Just my opinion!
Report Post »jcizarter
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 10:05pmI would like it if they would let the Illegals take over the education. We could learn how terrible it is where they came from and how they can help us be illegals in other lands. I’m up for that right now.
Report Post »