Gov. Mike Easley has said state community colleges should admit illegal immigrants if they pay out-of-state tuition, and now the UNC system is looking into universities accepting these immigrants if they pay in-state tuition.
UNC System President Erskine Bowles said the system would also look at this policy for its 16 colleges.
The system’s current policy allows illegal immigrants who graduated from a U.S. high school a chance to attend college if they pay out-of-state rates.
Michael Wiseman, a sophomore in English, said he doesn’t have an opinion on the policy if it only adheres to community colleges.
“It would be a worse bill if they allowed them admission to select colleges, but community colleges don’t have much competition,” Wiseman said.
He felt uncomfortable about the policy after finding out none of the candidates for governor support the policy, he said.
Jordan Bunch, a junior in English, said he doesn’t see a problem with the new policy because “it would bolster the economy either way because it would give them a chance [to] pay [their] way.”
“It’s better than them not going to school or having a job,” Bunch said. “It’s not fair to condemn them to poverty because of their parents’ decisions.”
Will Stephens, a junior in English, supports the new policy and believes it will help illegal immigrants to become productive.
“It’s a good idea; I don’t object to it at all,” Stephens said. “My take on it is to let them become more efficient students, citizens and workers because it will benefit our country in the long run. Many people feel threatened by immigration, but I think it’s a good thing.”
Randal Quidley, a junior in forest management who transferred from Craven Community College last semester, supports the idea of educating people, but is worried about where Easley’s priorities lie.
“It’s cool that Governor Easley wants to educate people, but it’s not right if they’re not [here legally],” Quidley said. “Until every [person who is here legally] has the chance to get a higher education, Idon’t feel it’s right.”
The community college policy has not altered Quidley’s opinion of Easley.
“[My opinion of Easley] has not really changed because I didn’t like him to begin with,” Quidley said.
The new policy has given others a new outlook on the present governor.
“It weakens my opinion [of Easley] a little bit, but I still support him, but now I’m more uneasy,” Wiseman said. “He seems concerned for the rights of illegal immigrants, but what about the rights of American citizens thatare quickly being taken away?”
