Students Withdraw From Arizona Universities In Reaction To Immigration Law

In a letter to the school, University of Arizona President Robert Shelton said the college is feeling the effects of the state's new immigration law -- by losing students.

He wrote:

We have already begun to feel an impact from SB1070. The families of a number of out-of-state students (to date all of them honors students) have told us that they are changing their plans and will be sending their children to universities in other states. This should sadden anyone who cares about attracting the best and brightest students to Arizona.

Additionally, large numbers of UA students, faculty, staff and appointed professionals have expressed concerns that they or members of their families or their friends may now be subject to unwarranted detainment by police. Many of these individuals are from families that have been residents of Arizona for generations. While I am completely confident that no one need fear the way that UAPD will approach the application of this law, I nevertheless appreciate the anxiety that friends and colleagues are feeling. It is a concern and fear that no one should have to harbor.

An Arizona State University spokesman told Inside Higher Ed that the school has gotten "several phone calls of applicants saying they won't come now."

And according to the Chronicle of Higher Education, Maricopa Community College Chancellor Rufus Glasper thinks the new law will inhibit some students from enrolling in college in the first place:

"...The many Latino citizens and lawful immigrants who attend college now face the offensive and discriminatory prospect of incessant demands to show their documents," he said. "We can expect that some will find this prospect discouraging and will discontinue their pursuit of education and training as well."

Arizona students: What are your plans and thoughts?

Comments

[spytheweb]

04:55 AM on 05/15/2010

More room for US citizens.

BTW, get ready to boycott Minnesota too.

Minnesota House Republicans rolled out their own brand of Arizona-inspired immigration legislation Thursday, which they said was necessary to deal with the estimated 100,000 illegal immigrants in Minnesota.

The bill, introduced by State Rep. Steve Drazkowski (R-Mazeppa), is called the "Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act" and like its Arizona predecessor it would impose many of the most controversial measures put in place by that legislation.

The Minnesota Independent reports:

The bill would create a Minnesota Illegal Immigration Enforcement Team and require immigrants to carry an "alien registration" card. The bill uses the same "reasonable suspicion" protocol that has generated criticism against Arizona's law.

[Christoph1969]

08:59 PM on 05/11/2010

Hey---it's their ignorance. I say let them withdraw. In my college years, I left Arizona for 13 months to live in Florida. While there, I worked 50+ hours a week, all the while maintaining full-time student status in Tampa. I came back in August, 1991. Despite having attended grade school, high school and college in Phoenix, I was considered an out-of-state student due to this short departure. Upon my return, I could only afford to take two classes . My point? States can legally levy tuition increases of 3 to 4 times what 'in-state' students pay. Until recently, citizenship wasn't even a criterion in Arizona for admission. What exactly makes a system equitable, when someone with no legal residence may qualify for in-state tuition, and a kid from Ohio, Florida, etc. can't even afford to attend classes? I don't agree with the new immigration law per se, but if these kids want to retaliate without knowing one iota of what we face here in Arizona, they can keep their privileged selves from whence they came.

[Mário Da Silva]

08:45 AM on 05/05/2010

Isnt Arizona State University the top party school in the country???? Maybe this is the real reason ........

[Chuck05]

11:11 AM on 05/04/2010

The Citizens should be boycotting undocumented illegal people in this country. How the heck do you think the police can catch them when they commit crimes? The American Citizens do not have the right to live in the shadows. Many murderers have made it back to mexico after committing a crime. All this worry about one having to show a document is a smoke screen for criminals to hide behind. the liberals have fallen for it.

[almost50]

03:05 PM on 05/04/2010

Immigration law is structured so that is enforced by the Federal authorities. I doubt if you or any of your fellow "American Citizens" are hiding in the shadows. By the way, I believe you meant to say United States Citizen.

United States citizens also commit crimes; in fact more than a few Anglo citizens have fled to Mexico to avoid being arrested after committing a murder.

[taddles]

04:12 AM on 05/05/2010

Your first four sentences are word soup, you make no sense. Your last two sentences demonstrate a complete lack of understanding of the issue. This is not about hiding criminals, this is about infringing on the rights of US citizens, not illegals.

[seekingtounderstand]

10:34 PM on 05/03/2010

The college is panic because it won't meet its government minority ratios? What a hyped up story

[Beachchick]

03:19 AM on 05/04/2010

Did you read the article? There is nothing about minority ratios -- a right-wing urban legend.

Students are offended by the immigration law and will not choose an AZ college. It's that simple.

[RickshawJohnson]

02:05 PM on 05/10/2010

No, students parents are. In which case, who cares? One less coddled, pampered, idiot of a kid whose parents clearly make all of the decisions in their life won't be going to Arizona and mommy and daddy can spend their money somewhere else.

[taddles]

04:12 AM on 05/05/2010

Your moniker is an oxymoron.

[ramper]

06:21 PM on 05/03/2010

Guarantee there will be as many incoming as outgoing.

[Julia Boudreaux]

04:13 PM on 05/03/2010

This is amazing. I am proud that people in AZ are standing up against this stupid, racist, and unconstitutional bill!

[Mondayboy]

02:11 PM on 05/03/2010

I better stop wearing those red pants and green shirt....I might be mistaken for an illegal alien.

[sofiaaguirreche]

01:43 PM on 05/03/2010

Do I look illegal?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyUuT-iJr3o

In solidarity with those who are fighting for the rights of US immigrants, workers and human beings everywhere, on May 1st and everyday, Alida Cardos Whaley and Sofia Snow participated in the international call to take pictures with a sign asking,

"Do I look Illegal?"

Please check out our short video and big project!

[seekingtounderstand]

10:31 PM on 05/03/2010

sign should say "I am safely across the border, don't give a %$# about the rest who are trying and suffering from border crime

[Tuned IN]

11:49 PM on 05/02/2010

Good move.

This past weekend, I had to pass on the grape tomatoes since they were distributed from AZ. I spoke to the Mgr and explained why I didn't buy the tomatoes... we will see what he does with that information. Especially since I pointed out to him that tomatoes and lettuce will be hot items this coming May 5th.

[logo]

10:07 AM on 05/03/2010

Good, and next can you please move to Cuba for being too stupid to live here in America. Who do you think you're hurting by not buying those products?? Arizona?? Think again you knothead...you're hurting American workers and local businesses. Good job

[Natalie Willoughby]

10:26 AM on 05/03/2010

So now you're saying Cubans are stupid? Wow that makes no sense. And for your information, it's most likely that the tomatoes and other fruits/veggies grown in AZ are picked by undocumented workers. And one boycott may not do much, but if you haven't looked around in a while, there's a lot more than just one person boycotting, and AZ businesses have already started to feel the crunch.

[Tuned IN]

11:13 AM on 05/03/2010

American workers and local businesses that support this law, should be hurt by their support; it is called the law of unintended consequences.

American workers and local businesses that do not support the law, stand in UNITY with the boycotts and willingly make a sacrifice for their principles. This is what we do (or should do) in the United States, when civil liberties are infringed upon.

[Ari Asulin]

12:18 PM on 05/03/2010

The unintended concequences of this bill will, for the most part, exist in the form of angsty, ill-informed, sensationalist idiots like yourself misdirecting their angst at local businesses and others who have nothing to do with this measure.

This whole escapade reminds me of the Simpsons episode where the christians went on a rampage against science and burned down the Christian Science center.

Also a bonus: The article header reads 'Students withdraw', which clearly implies a they withdrew from school right? Oh wait, the article says they aren't going to go to asu for their first year of college next year. Well gee, doesn't that give away something about the reporter's adjenda. Hell the only reason I clicked on this stupid article was to see if a student would really withdraw on finals week from school over some silly misunderstanding over this bill. Yea, didn't think they would.

[Tuned IN]

01:14 PM on 05/03/2010

This is not a silly misunderstanding. Being pulled over for speeding is probable cause, driving a red sports car is reasonable suspicion.

The interpretation of the law always goes to the intent of the legislators. Laws targeting thickly-accented grammar, ethnic studies, presidential birth certificates are angst worthy, particularly when the legislator, Russell Pearce hangs with a self- professed supremacist like J.T. Ready, or white nationalist like John Tanton.

[Naithom]

04:40 PM on 05/03/2010

If you inform a school that you will not be returning the next semester, it's called withdrawing from school.

Let me put it to you this way, it's like quitting a job - you can either give notice or you can simply leave. Either way, it's quitting a job. Understand?

These honor students are giving notice of their withdrawl.

[avocats]

11:19 PM on 05/02/2010

Really? Does anyone take this seriously? Change your school IN MAY? Isn't Arizona a safety school at best? So if you got into a better school, you tell the press you're so PC that you wouldn't go to Arizona? I'd like to see a few real people who claim to have done this--other than illegal immigrants,of course--they would have a real disincentive.

[jdolan86]

12:01 AM on 05/03/2010

For some Arizona may be a safety school, but for others it's an affordable choice in an expensive world. I think it's brave and impressive that people are so passionate about this that they are willing to make a statement such as this. This is a despicable law that should be revoked. These people are trying to feed their families, and have a chance to improve their lives in a place that delivers opportunity for their children. They are only doing what any parent would do, and with motives that are classically American. The pilgrims honored in textbooks were illegal aliens to the American Indians, and they are celebrated. How does this differ? I'm not saying we should de-secure our borders, as there needs to be regulation, but they are not criminals, and shouldn't be treated as so. This is one step too far. I'm not sure where you went to college, by the sounds of your arrogance, I'm sure it wasn't a safety school, but these kids seem to be smarter than you, and certainly have more balls. It's easy to hide behind a monitor and judge, it's another to give up college in an uncertain world because you feel so passionately about something. I think they're admirable.

[RickshawJohnson]

02:12 PM on 05/10/2010

Please, the article said THEIR PARENTS are informing the school. I would bet my life that these kids aren't making the decision.

And no, you don't go to school at the University of Arizona if you are serious about a career or future.

[Naithom]

04:41 PM on 05/03/2010

If you inform a school that you will not be returning the next semester, it's called withdrawing from school.

Let me put it to you this way, it's like quitting a job - you can either give notice or you can simply leave. Either way, it's quitting a job. Understand?

These honor students are giving notice of their withdrawl.

[livesinreality]

11:10 PM on 05/02/2010

Good for the students getting out. I would not want to be surrounded by all the teabaggers aka American taliban in AZ either.

[DramaKitteh]

08:02 PM on 05/02/2010

I heard all one needs to get into Arizona State University is a pulse...

[logo]

10:08 AM on 05/03/2010

That's Florida State

[lisakaz2]

06:19 PM on 05/02/2010

Probably a hassle to change plans, esp. if already going there, so kudos to those families putting their principles ahead of the logistical issues.

[JimiDrama]

11:06 AM on 05/03/2010

The principle of enforcing current laws?

[Flip75]

12:54 PM on 05/03/2010

No, the principle of standing up to laws that violate the Constitutional protections afforded to American citizens. The principle of standing up to laws that turn AZ into a police state. The principle of realizing that, even if a law doesn't affect you directly, injustice is injustice and should not be tolerated for a single second.

If this were about enforcing current laws, there'd have been no need for this bill.

[lisakaz2]

04:15 PM on 05/03/2010

Nope. The principle of opposing an unconstitutional overreach that wouldn't be necessary if law enforcement ever shut down the SOURCE of illegal immigration -- looking for cheap labor by GOP donor corporations.

[Tim303]

05:05 PM on 05/02/2010

Hooray.