March 22, 2010 WWW.UNEWS.COM Vol. 77, Issue 26 TEASER INSIDE STORY page X STORY page X STORY page X STORY page X 2 News March 22, 2010 www.unews.com Violence in Mexico ELECTION story impacts some spring break plans Alexia Stout-Lang stricken. Nikki Bomgardner News Editor “Most homes had dirt floors – some people Assistant News Editor Recent violence across Mexico has impacted did not even have home,” Wendy Trueblood said. spring break and mission trips to the country. “They lived in cars, in structures constructed out Last week, news agencies reported the shoot- of straps. Water was not readily available and ing of two American citizens in Cuidad Juarez, there was no electricity in the homes.” Chihuahua, in northern Mexico. In the western state of Guerrero, at least 25 people were killed in U.S. government travel warnings a series of violent acts March 13. In addition, the The Department of State has issued a travel bodies of 14 people were found in various parts of warning until April 12 for U.S. citizens traveling the resort city of Acapulco. to Mexico. Last week, while most schools in Kansas were Specific areas of concern include the states of on spring break, a group of 16 Kansas City Metro Durango, Coahuila and Chihuahua. residents left March 13 bound for Ciudad Juarez to Dependents of U.S. government personnel build a house for a family in need. (The reporter from U.S. consulates in the Northern Mexican accompanied the group on the trip.) border cities of Tijuana, Nogales, Ciudad Juarez, “We received news while on a rest stop in Nuevo Laredo, Monterrey and Matamoros have Oklahoma about the shootings,” said German Por- been authorized to evacuate. tillo, team leader and praise and worship leader at “While millions of U.S. citizens safely visit Kaw Prairie Community Church, in Lenexa, Kan. Mexico each year (including tens of thousands “We were also told a man was shot just outside who cross the land border daily for study, tourism the camp where we were going to be staying. It or business and nearly one million U.S. citizens was the result of a party getting out of hand, but who live in Mexico), violence in the country has the mission camp was being evacuated for safety.” increased,” according to a statement from the De- Mexican authorities report that more than partment of State. “It is imperative that U.S. citi- 2,600 people were killed in Ciudad Juarez in zens understand the risks in Mexico, how best to 2009. Additionally, the city of 1.3 million people avoid dangerous situations and who to contact if experienced more than 16,000 car thefts and 1,900 victimized.” carjackings in 2009. Officials are advising to avoid traveling at The Kansas City group members consulted night, visit only legitimate business and tourist with a group of 18 residents from Wichita, Kan., areas during daylight hours and avoid areas where they were planning to work with in Mexico and prostitution and drug dealing might occur. decided an alternate plan must be made. Waits at the border entering and exiting Mexi- The groups were rerouted to Puerto Pinasco, co have been shorter than usual. Prior to entering across from Baja California, which added an extra Mexico, the U.S. Border Patrol will ask questions day to the trip, giving them two days to build the about destination, the amount of money a group home. is carrying and more to ensure the safety of U.S. “We had five kids under the age of 18 in the citizens. whole group so it was a tough decision,” Portillo For those with plans to visit Mexico over said. “I am thankful their parents were all there spring break, go to http://travel.state.gov/travel/ with them.” cis_pa_tw/spring_break_mexico/spring_break_ After driving through a snow storm in New mexico_2812.html and read the information pro- Mexico that claimed the lives of four teenagers vided prior to departure. traveling with another group, the four vans filled For more information about the situation in with 32 people arrived in Puerto Pinasco Monday Mexico, visit http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_ night. pa_tw/tw/tw_4755.html. “We knew we had a job to do and it was not go- [email protected] ing to be easy,” Portillo said. “We put up the house in record time. I know a lot of other groups never made it to their destinations and many people in Mexico suffered this week.” The location where the home was built did not have electricity. So, the home was constructed with hand tools. Bryan Kidney, finance director for the city of Shawnee, Kan., who was also on the trip, said the biggest regret was not being able to give the family in Ciudad Juarez a home. “They are going to have to wait even longer to have a home of their own,” Kidney said. “I feel badly for them. There are so many families in Mexico in the same situation.” All members of the group said they were not prepared for the culture shock they experienced in Puerto Pinasco. While one side of the city is a beach resort, the area where they were working was poverty Get turned on ... Follow us on Become a fan on Visit Twitter! Facebook! www.unews.com @UNewsScoop to the U-News! 3 News www.unews.com March 22, 2010 NEW HEADLINE, DONT WANT TO USE “HOW TO”... Melissa Oribhabor Some business schools, such even if a program doesn’t require Culture Editor as the Bloch School of Business any. If the admissions board is on and Administration, require the the fence about an application, it Recently, many people who GMAT for admittance. might be that final push necessary have been laid off from their jobs Some business schools will ac- for admission. have gone back to school to either cept the GRE, but students will be Most graduate schools require get or complete a bachelor’s or ineligible for assistantships. a general application to the gradu- master’s degree. Study material for these tests ate school, and possibly a second With the number of people en- are available through the campus application to the program. tering the workforce with college bookstore and most other major These applications, like the degrees on the rise, it is becoming booksellers. undergraduate applications, have more important to have more than There are also classes offered a fee. This application process just a bachelor’s degree. through Kaplan and The Princeton Re- should be done first and accu- Although many are choosing to view that can be extremely beneficial. rately. go to graduate school, the process Prices range from $1,049 to Official transcripts are re- is not simple and, if not done right, $1,700. quired for admission anywhere can severely delay a student’s edu- and there is usually a $5-$20 fee cational goals, giving an advan- “Start preparing early. to request an official transcript, tage to those who got it right the depending on the school. first time. I would say early in the A transcript is needed from all Requirements to get into grad- junior year or the third year institutions where classes were uate school vary between uni- if college in the undergrad taken. Undergraduate grades are versities and programs, but there important and it’s not too late to are overall guidelines potential program.” get grades up. students should follow to ensure The closer to graduation, the they are accepted and successful TERRENCE GRUS harder it is to move a GPA. But hav- in their chosen program. Director of Graduate Admissions and ing high marks junior and senior One of the most crucial things Records at the University of Missouri- year shows growth as a student. is timing said Terrence Grus, di- Columbia Visit the specific Web site of rector of Graduate Admissions the desired program early on to and Records at the University of know exactly what needs to be Missouri-Columbia. International students are re- done to meet the department’s “Start preparing early,” Grus quired to take the TOEFL (Test of needs. said. “I would say early in the ju- English as a Foreign Language) or Sometimes even when every- nior year or the third year if col- IELTS (International English Lan- thing is completed and submitted lege in the undergrad program. guage Testing system) in addition by the deadline, the applicant pool Start finding out what the admis- to the other required standardized is too good and qualified students sion timeline and admission re- tests. don’t get in. But there is hope. quirements are for the program. All of these admission tests “We’ve had people, for in- There’s number of things they come with costs to take them. The stance, who have applied to our might have to do in terms of start- GRE is $140 and the GMAT is journalism school who have ap- ing standardized tests like the $250. plied for multiple years and maybe GRE [Graduate Record Exami- Letters of recommendation are they didn’t get in the first time nations] or the GMAT [Graduate also very important. they applied, they maybe got in Management Admission Test]. Not all programs require let- the second time they applied,” Once they get into their senior ters of recommendation, but it is Grus said. year, it starts moving real fast.” always good to have at least three The rejection letter can actu- These and similar tests are re- letters from professors and/or em- ally hold good insight into why a quired for entry into most gradu- ployers who can speak to an appli- student was rejected and reading ate programs.