Student-supported 'Dream Act' bill fails in Ark. Senate
Taniah Tudor
Issue date: 4/1/09 Section: News
Senate Bill 799, Arkansas' version of the "Dream Act" that would allow undocumented students to pay in-state tuition if they meet the same criteria as other residents, failed to pass through the Senate Monday, even with student support.
The bill had been recommended to pass by the Senate Committee on Education, but was voted down in its third reading by the Senate. The bill had been proposed by Sen. Joyce Elliot.
As part of a coalition called Arkansas Youth Thinking Ahead, UA students and graduates, including members of the League of United Latin American Citizens Council No. 761, attended Youth Lobby Day in Little Rock March 19 to show support for the passage of SB799 and to express concerns about other issues that affect students' education in the state, said Raphael Arciga, former president of LULAC.
Youth Lobby Day was organized by the Arkansas Citizens First Congress. Bill 799 was made a priority by ACFC after a presentation was given by LULAC during a summit convention last year, Arciga said.
Arkansas Youth Thinking Ahead is a statewide group that works closely with legislators on issues that benefit the overall population of the state, Arciga said. The main area of focus is education, he said.
"We believe education is the base for having better communities," Arciga said.
Youth Lobby Day was important because students used time during Spring Break to train in lobbying and learn how the legislative branch works when trying to pass a bill, Arciga said.
More than 30 students from around Arkansas attended Lobby Day, including 15 UA students, 13 of whom were LULAC members, Arciga said.
A press conference was called for by Elliot to show student support for the bill, and it was attended by a diverse group of students, including Latinos, African Americans and Caucasians, several of whom spoke at the conference.
One student who spoke at the conference was Chris Bucks, a second-year law student who labeled himself an average Arkansas student.
The bill had been recommended to pass by the Senate Committee on Education, but was voted down in its third reading by the Senate. The bill had been proposed by Sen. Joyce Elliot.
As part of a coalition called Arkansas Youth Thinking Ahead, UA students and graduates, including members of the League of United Latin American Citizens Council No. 761, attended Youth Lobby Day in Little Rock March 19 to show support for the passage of SB799 and to express concerns about other issues that affect students' education in the state, said Raphael Arciga, former president of LULAC.
Youth Lobby Day was organized by the Arkansas Citizens First Congress. Bill 799 was made a priority by ACFC after a presentation was given by LULAC during a summit convention last year, Arciga said.
Arkansas Youth Thinking Ahead is a statewide group that works closely with legislators on issues that benefit the overall population of the state, Arciga said. The main area of focus is education, he said.
"We believe education is the base for having better communities," Arciga said.
Youth Lobby Day was important because students used time during Spring Break to train in lobbying and learn how the legislative branch works when trying to pass a bill, Arciga said.
More than 30 students from around Arkansas attended Lobby Day, including 15 UA students, 13 of whom were LULAC members, Arciga said.
A press conference was called for by Elliot to show student support for the bill, and it was attended by a diverse group of students, including Latinos, African Americans and Caucasians, several of whom spoke at the conference.
One student who spoke at the conference was Chris Bucks, a second-year law student who labeled himself an average Arkansas student.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 3
M. Thorne
posted 4/01/09 @ 3:39 PM CST
This was not "student supported:" I am a student and I don't support this legislation in any way.
I think Ms. Aguayo is a liar. If what she said was true, she would expose whomever said it. (Continued…)
Gentry Lassiter
posted 4/02/09 @ 1:09 PM CST
Arkansas legislation should not be a bandage for a more severe problem. There needs to be change that facilitates legal immigration into the US. Allowing in-state tuition for undocumented students doesn't solve the problem - there will be more undocumented students to follow. (Continued…)
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