March 22, 2010 WWW.UNEWS.COM Vol. 77, Issue 26 HOW TO: FLY page 13 INSIDE VOLUNTEER page 6 REPO MEN page 8 Coming to America Alexia Stout-Lang starving and dying of malnutrition and poverty see News Editor how green the grass is on the other side, they will ach day in countries around the dig tunnels (More tunnels. They already exist.) world, people long to come to under all 25 of them,” Marquez said. “No matter America. how many walls we put up or how strengthened The reasons for dreaming of our Border Patrol is, it’s never going to stop illegal this country are as varied as those immigration.” whoE dream. The desire for freedom from oppres- Reasons for immigrating sion, a better life for themselves and their families With a large number of immigrants settling in or even to be near loved ones could be part of the America both legally and illegally, immigration motivation that drives masses of people to the has become a hot-button topic in the United States. United States. Marquez, like many other faculty, students and Despite difficulty in obtaining citizenship staff at UMKC, has some personal experience and or any kind of barriers put up between borders, academic knowledge of the immigration process Stephanie Marquez, professor of Spanish at in America. UMKC, said people will continue to come to While taking college courses in Mexico, Mar- America legally and illegally. quez met the man who would later become her “They could put up one wall or they can put up husband. 25 walls, but whenever you have people who are He went through all of the legal processes to visit the United States, become a permanent resi- dent and finally a citizen. But knowing how diffi- cult it is to go through that process and the number of people who are not able to go through it, it does not surprise her cases of illegal immigration are Photo courtesy GOOGLE IMAGES so prominent. Protests regarding immigration laws happen around the country. “The stigma attached to immigration is that people just want to just cross that fence, swim ministrative roadblocks.” much better than others in the line, those who through the water, climb the whatever and stay Immigration roadblocks knew little English because they had just arrived here, set up shop and be a criminal here,” Mar- For most, legally immigrating is not as simple from Russia or Senegal or Laos.” quez said. “But to be very honest, do people usu- as it was for Dilks and Marquez. Dollars and cents ally stay? Yeah. Because they see how greener the Marquez said one of the biggest misconcep- Dilks said he has paid around $1,000 total for grass is on this side.” residency and citizenship. Dr. Stephen Dilks, professor of English origi- tions is that roadblocks pop up once a person ap- plies for citizenship. Marquez said she and her husband paid close to nally from England who has had permanent resi- $2,000, even though they did their own paperwork dency in America since 1997, said, despite being “The hard part is getting the green card [per- manent residency],” she said. instead of hiring an attorney. married to an American, he struggled to deter- “An attorney might charge between $1,200 and mine if he would become an American citizen While Dilks noted the process of gaining per- manent residency and citizenship is not easy, he $3,000 to do it for you,” Marquez said. “So, know- because of the impact it would have on his mother. ing what you are doing is a good thing. It can save “I have nothing against America,” Dilks said he recognizes it has been easier for him than for others. you a lot of money.” said. “In fact, I love many contributions to life One thing Marquez said is important to re- and culture made in the name of America. For “I spent many hours in lines at the INS in Photo courtesy GOOGLE IMAGES me, being married to an American for 17 years Newark, N.J., and would sometimes have to argue A wall is constructed between America and Mexico. and having an American Ph. D., there are no ad- my case,” he said. “My own situation was always See IMMIGRATION I page 7 Making UMKC accessible to all Alexia Stout-Lang things,” Sparks said. “I had a classes in the same building barriers that the disability cre- News Editor Political Science class last fall because it takes a while to ates,” Laurent said. “Typical A hilly landscape, steep I had to get a book for, it was switch classrooms.” accommodations can include stairs, slow elevators and con- so tough to get in there. I had She also chooses classes extended time on exams, a struction zones can make get- to talk to the teacher so we that are on the same day as peer notetaker, sign language ting around campus tough for could make accommodations. much as possible. That way interpreters, books in elec- many of us. It’s not really safe for anyone she can just spend a couple tronic format for people with But these features place a in a wheelchair to go there.” long days on campus instead vision impairments, etc.” heavier toll on students with of multiple short days. Laurent said continual disabilities. “Uphill and downhill. Sparks said UMKC has improvements in technology Lorie Sparks, a senior been accommodating to her allow his department to pro- in Liberal Arts, gets around Some of the students needs as a student. vide better and more effective campus in a wheelchair with don’t really stop and Because she is also deaf, services. the assistance of her Labrador, say, ‘Can I help you?’ Sparks is provided with sign “When I started working Bailey. Sparks said she has the language interpreters during with students almost 12 years most trouble maneuvering the So, it’s tough.” classes, notetakers and test ago, we had someone read sidewalks and streets on cam- taking services. their textbooks onto cassette pus. LORIE SPARKS Scott Laurent, with Stu- tape for students to listen to “Uphill and downhill,” she Senior, Liberal Arts dent Disability Services, is who had a visual impair- responsible for ensuring stu- ment,” he said. “Today, we said. “Some of the students Photo ALEXIA STOUT-LANG don’t really stop and say, ‘Can dents with disabilities have are able to scan and convert Maneuvering around UMKC can be difficult for some students with dis- I help you?’ So, it’s tough.” In an effort to make her equal access to the learning the books into digital text and abilities. She said University Cen- days easier, Sparks puts a lot environment at UMKC. His they can have their computers ter, Grant Hall and Miller of thought into her course office serves 200-225 stu- read to them. There are more Building handicap ac- Exceptions include Ep- Nichols Library are the hard- schedule each semester. dents each year. improvements in this area that cessibility person House and the sec- est places for her to go. “It is easy to get around “The kinds of services are on the horizon that we Most of the buildings on ond floor of the building “I have a tough time going in buildings if I pick the right a student receives depends hope to implement when the the UMKC campus are handi- to the library to get books and class,” she said. “I try to pick upon their disability and any technology matures.” cap accessible, Laurent said. See ACCESS I page 20 2 3 News News March 22, 2010 www.unews.com www.unews.com March 22, 2010 Violence in Mexico UMKC takes Mock Trial championship The road to graduate school Melissa Oribhabor Some business schools, such These can become imperative impacts spring break plans Culture Editor as the Bloch School of Business even if a program doesn’t require and Administration, require the any. If the admissions board is on Recently, many people who GMAT for admittance. the fence about an application, it Alexia Stout-Lang nition as top witnesses. have been laid off from their jobs Some business schools will ac- might be that final push necessary News Editor Nikki Bomgardner have gone back to school to either Assistant News Editor The program is con- cept the GRE, but students will be for admission. Recent violence across Mexico has sistently winning ballots get or complete a bachelor’s or ineligible for assistantships. Most graduate schools require master’s degree. impacted spring break and mission The 13 members of the against teams with third and Study material for these tests a general application to the gradu- With the number of people en- trips to the country. UMKC Mock Trial team fourth-year c o m p e t i t o r s , are available through the campus ate school, and possibly a second tering the workforce with college Last week, news agencies reported competed at the Opening while the UMKC program bookstore and most other major application to the program. degrees on the rise, it is becoming the shooting of two American citi- Round Championship Tour- consists almost entirely of booksellers. These applications, like the more important to have more than zens in Cuidad Juarez, Chihuahua, in nament (ORCT) in St. Louis, first-year competitors. There are also classes offered undergraduate applications, have just a bachelor’s degree. northern Mexico. In the western state Mo., beating out 25 teams for Although the team has a through Kaplan and The Princeton a fee.