Thread: NE-UNL Student Accuses Regents Of Tuition Discrimination

Posted: 10:54 PM Mar 6, 2010

UNL Student Accuses Regents Of Tuition Discrimination

Questions why illegal immigrants given break and not him
A University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate student has called on the Board of Regents to ease tuition requirements for some out-of-state students.

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A University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate student has called on the Board of Regents to ease tuition requirements for some out-of-state students.

Troy Weigand cited a Nebraska law granting in-state tuition to some illegal immigrants when he spoke Friday at the board's meeting. He said he moved to Nebraska four years ago, but is classified as an out-of-state student and pays higher tuition.

Under UNL policy, students who move to Nebraska to attend school must pay out-of-state rates.

Weigand, who's studying chemistry, said he owns a house in the state and pays taxes, so he shouldn't pay more tuition. He suggested the university is being discriminatory by giving illegal immigrants a break and not him.

"What are you willing to do to correct this discrimination against legal residents?" he asked the regents.

Chancellor Harvey Perlman said Weigand's tuition issue has nothing to do with illegal immigrants. Nebraska President J.B. Milliken agreed, and added that the tuition break for illegal immigrants is provided by state law. So the university has to comply.

The law passed in 2006 applies to children brought to the United States illegally. They must have graduated from Nebraska high schools, lived in the state for at least three years and be pursuing legal status.

A measure now before the state Legislature would repeal the law.

Milliken and other education leaders have sent a letter to lawmakers supporting the law. They say repealing it would deny children economic, intellectual and social benefits that serve both them and the state.


http://www.wowt.com/home/headlines/86736812.html

But there is also a federal law that provides in-state tuition to EVERYONE if it is offered to illegals.

Milliken and other education leaders have sent a letter to lawmakers supporting the law. They say repealing it would deny children economic, intellectual and social benefits that serve both them and the state.

How can it benifit the state if they can't legally work there?

Originally Posted by ReggieMay

But there is also a federal law that provides in-state tuition to EVERYONE if it is offered to illegals.

there is? i havent heard of this law

Realated story from the Lincoln Journal Star:

UNL student argues he should get to pay in-state tuition
StoryDiscussionBy KEVIN ABOUREZK / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Friday, March 5, 2010 3:45 pm | (43) Comments

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* UNL student argues he should get to pay in-state tuition
A graduate student told University of Nebraska regents Friday that it isn't fair for him to have to pay out-of-state tuition while children of illegal immigrants pay in-state rates.

Troy Wiegand, a fourth-year chemistry graduate student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, said he moved to Nebraska four years ago and has been forced to continue paying out-of-state tuition -- despite owning a home and paying local and state taxes.

"What are you willing to do to correct this discrimination against legal residents?" Wiegand said.

UNL policy requires students who move to Nebraska primarily to attend college to continue to pay out-of-state tuition as long as they attend the university.

Wiegand said legal U.S. residents who move to Nebraska to improve their lives should be given the same privileges as children of illegal aliens.

Nebraska law grants resident college tuition rates to some resident children of illegal immigrants. But state Sen. Charlie Janssen of Fremont has introduced legislation this year to repeal that.

UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman said the university's policy is a common one among universities outside Nebraska. However, he rejected the comparison of how the university treats out-of-state students to how it treats children of illegal immigrants.

"This issue has nothing to do with illegal aliens," he said.

Children of illegal immigrants are graduates of Nebraska high schools and had no control over being brought to the state by their parents, he said.

"So much of this testimony has nothing to do with the facts," Perlman said.

Reach Kevin Abourezk at 473-7225 or kabourezk@journalstar.com.

http://www.journalstar.com/news/local/e ... 002e0.html

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