Michigan’s new governor, Rick Snyder, proposed a lot of radical ideas to reduce statewide spending since he took office. One of the proposed areas to reduce funding is higher education which Michigan students, faculty and parents alike wondering how is this going to play out?

Almost every department at Eastern Michigan University (EMU) has been urged to expect at least 20 percent decrease in their departmental budget. Tuition which was frozen for the 2010 to 2011 year will now be increased by a minimum of 6.9 percent in the fall semester, 2011 to 2012 year.

A small group of students protested this tuition increase right outside EMU’s Student Center building hoisting signs, yelling chants such as “you raise tuition, we raise hell” and more. After speaking with several students who were just enjoying their time in between classes something occurred. Not enough students knew what was going on. This is the same dilemma on various campuses as well.

Wither you know about this tuition increase and the radical budget cuts both on your respected campus or not, one thing is for certain. We all must brace ourselves for the tough road ahead. No matter what your opinion is about the governor or the current budget cuts we must be ready to adapt in already hard financial times. Easier words said than done, but if history has shown us anything, there’s always a bright light at the end of a dark tunnel.

Latino Higher Ed

We all know that in the next several years we will see a demographic change in our country when Latinos become the majority. This will have an impact on our education institutions, but this is where Latino students are meeting a wall.

Recent studies conducted by the Western Interstate Commerce on Higher Education, suggest that there will be a increase of Latino high school graduates nationwide and some states will see anywhere from a one percent to a five percent increase statewide in graduating Latino high school students. Yet, Latinos are less likely to enroll into a higher education institution and face additional risks of dropping out within their first year than any other ethnic group nationwide. There is no one specific reason why Latino students are facing such a crisis.

Some studies have indicated that it is a cultural issue and that the interaction and support systems for Latino adolescents to pursue a higher education meet its first barriers at home within the family unit. Other studies have shattered this type of thinking saying that Latino parents are encouraging their children to pursue and complete some level of higher education.

Whatever the trend happening a home one thing is certain, more Latinos are graduating and enrolling into college than before. Though Latino students may not be enrolling and graduating in the number as other demographics, their population is increasing and colleges, universities and technical school should anticipate a change within the student body with open arms ready for the future.

Politics Can Kill

American politics have brought up issues of much great debate infusing opinion and emotions. A country where you have the right to choice and vote without being persecuted or harassed has now become a paradox with the newest and most shocking act of political violence in Tucson Arizona.

Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Gifford of Arizona was tragically shot in the head by a gunman at one of her open meeting with voters Saturday. Six other individuals including some of Gifford’s staff members, U.S. District Judge John Roll of Ariz. and a nine-year-old girl who attended the open meeting with her aunt died during the attack. Several others were injured but doctors say that none of their injuries are fatal and will see a speedy recovery.

Pima County Sherriff Clarence Dupnik said Gifford was the target of a gunman, Jared Loughner, 22, whom he described as mentally unstable and possibly acting along with an accomplice but who has yet to be identified. The shooting comes shortly after Gifford’s office was vandalized for her support of the Health Care Bill officials say.

Gifford held an open meeting with voters Saturday at a local Tucson grocery store. She tweeted moments before the shooting "Congress on Your Corner" event: "My 1st Congress on Your Corner starts now. Please stop by to let me know what is on your mind or tweet me later." Gifford was a gubernatorial prospect in 2014.

Loughner was described as being a loner who had his own political agenda and dream for an ideal America. Federal officials say that they were able to obtain a video of Loughner describing his political opinions and threats. Law enforcement officials descended on Loughner’s neighborhood where local residents said her kept to himself.

In a state where so much tension has already been created with issues of Health Care reform and Immigration, Arizona has become the epicenter of anger and hatred. .

Soon after the shooting President Obama dispatched the director of the FBI to Tucson and declared the shooting as”a tragedy for Arizona, and a tragedy for our entire country”.

This year threats on political officials have risen three times from the open threats since last year. Yet none of them escaladed the level of violence and terror as this shooting. Some may argue that some political figures have encourage this type of behavior with statements from Sarah Palin in her remarks of how some opposing political figures are now on her “target list”. In an article by the Associated Press quoted Gifford from an interview with MSNBC, "For example, we're on Sarah Palin's targeted list, but the thing is, that the way that she has it depicted has the crosshairs of a gun sight over our district. When people do that, they have to realize that there are consequences to that action.”

Another example of politicians encouraging acts of behavior of their voters to posing sides is by former Rep. Arizona challenger Jesse Kelly who held fundraisers encouraging his supporters to help him remove Gifford from office by joining him in shooting a fully loaded M-16 riffle.

John Ellinwood, Kelly's spokesman said, “I don't see the connection," between the fundraisers featuring weapons and Saturday's shooting. "I don't know this person; we cannot find any records that he was associated with the campaign in any way. I just don't see the connection.

Whatever the connection may be to the increasing political violence against political figures and civilians, it does not excuse the actions that took place at the Tucson grocery store. Our countries political climate has created tension on all sides mixing opinions and emotions that have boiled up to extreme measures of vigilante justice and persuading that caused the life of six individuals one of whom was only nine-years-old.

Obama talks about Immigration Reform

D.C. – President Obama spoke today on the campus of American University focusing on a new “practical, common sense” practice when it comes to illegal immigration.

In his speech, Obama briefly spoke how his administration has taking record-setting actions in strengthening our nation’s borders and urges Congress to approve “the pathway to legal status”. As a nation strengthen by the hard work of immigrants past and present Obama’s ‘pathway’ will give legal status to the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants. The contributions which immigrants have made to this great nation even during times of discrimination, "Immigrants have always helped to build and defend this country," Obama said.

Obama continued to say, it would be difficult to remove nearly 11 million illegal immigrants and actions like this will have catastrophic repercussions on local economy, communities, and families. Appearing on CNN this morning, Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Cal., said current immigration law splits up families. She also said a more organized immigration system will help the U.S. economy.

The illegal immigration issue has become more than just a political issue and has incorporated emotional issues which have delayed congressional action. "Into the breach, states like Arizona have started to take matters into their own hands." Such an approach is understandable but "ill-conceived," Obama said, arguing that an immigration system requires a national approach rather than a "patchwork" of state laws.

He continued to say that his administration is currently in the process of drafting a lawsuit against the state of Arizona where law enforcement officials have been given greater power to question an individuals legal status solely on physical characteristics and assumptions but did not comment further.

At times Obama seemed to criticize both sides of the immigration debate. With some immigration groups seeming to encourage illegal immigration, Obama said, though at least 11 million people are in fact breaking the law by not going through the citizenship process.

According to a CNN article Rep. Brian Bilbray, R-Cal., said the government should not reward people "for being here illegally" with "amnesty." He said employers should be forced to hire legal immigrants through a system known as "e-verify." Other issues, he said, should be addressed "after we've secured our borders and our workplace”.

With both sides still in a stand still on this controversial issue one can only hope that the individuals on Capitol Hill will come to a conclusion which will strengthen this great nation of ours.

Arizona School Underfire

Arizona has become the battle ground for a new civil rights movement. Thousands of protesters and supporters both in state and out have voiced their opinions on this controversial issue. But now the fight is being taken to the doors of Arizona's class rooms.


Recently Jeff Lane, principal of Prescott Elementary, Arizona, criticized a mural of Prescott student’s using energy conserving methods as being too dark skinned. One week prior, Lane asked the artist of the mural to paint the faces of the students to appear much lighter. This came after Councilman Steve Blair rant on his Arizona talk show saying he felt as if he was being taunted of a happy non-white child working towards a greener community.


According to a Change.org article Blair continued to say, "I am not a racist individual. But I will tell you depicting a black guy in the middle of that mural, based upon who's President of the United States today and based upon the history of this community, when I grew up we had four black families — who I have been very good friends with for years — to depict the biggest picture on that building as a black person, I would have to ask the question, 'Why?”


The mural in question, as show above, depicts a Mexican-American student at the school who was used as a model. The words from Blair on his morning AM talk show resonated with some members of the community who also criticized and shouted racist remarks to the students who were assisting with the mural and to the artist himself.
Parents of students at Prescott protested these new actions which cause Principal Lane to issue an apology for his remarks and promised to restore the mural to its original state. Blair was also reprimanded and was removed from his morning talk show but remains as member of the City Council.


It is this writers opinion that this form of action will only make the gap wider amongst native Arizonian's and their local schools, local and state governments. If such images are cause for such an uproar Arizona and the entire US. have a long road ahead of them to reach equality for all. Yet, we must not turn and bow our heads in shame for it. We must learn that all countries and cultures worldwide have done similar things but it is the present in which we live in now that we may reach a brighter future and the actions such as this hinders our progress as a nation.


I sincerely hope that the state of Arizona will one day be able to one day look back on such actions like these and move forward as a state for the people.

Bachatero

Bachata, the Dominican Republic guitar style music, has grown in popularity since Jose Manuel Calderon recorded what is recognized as the first bachata record "Bachata Rojo" in 1961. This bolero style music, a slow Spanish or Latin style song played with guitars, took almost 40 years for it to become what it is today and has lowly spread throughout the globe being introduced to a new generation of listeners. But, it wasn't until the early to mid-90's that this form of music became popular.

In it's early years, bachata music was primarily played in bars and brothels of lower class areas of cities such as Santo Domingo and with the monopolization of music by former Dominican Republic dictator Ulises Francisco Espaillat and later by Rafael Trujillo, the music was banned due to politicians and upper class elites thoughts and opinions that the music was considered worthless due to the division of social classes and was formally banned from radio for decades. Yet it was because of this division of social classes that the the musical style got it's name which literally means a lower class 'party'.

Bachata has been compared to American blue's due to it's lyrical subjects and word play. With topics ranging from love, lust, and deception the music slowly gained a strong following. Musicians and dancers have been given the nickname bachateros, or an individual involved in bachata music. It's rhythmic style derives from another Dominican form of music meregue, which also has a very similar history to bachata. It's four step dance, as seen in the video below, can vary from style and region but typically it is described as being a very sensual and intimate dance and is similar to merengue.

Today, bachata can be heard in bars and night clubs throughout the Dominican Republic, Latin America, and the United States and has become popularized by artist like Aventura who brings the Dominican bolero music to a new generation of listeners.

Bachata will continue to grow and evolve as musicians, music enthusiast, and dance goers a like continue to bring this once thought of as 'lower class' style music to the masses. It's song's and dance can be heard and seen in night clubs and dance floor's throughout the world.


~Requiem~

Discrimination of Hispanic’s in America

Discrimination is an act that many individuals have partaken and are the victim or have thought to be the victim of. Various social and ethnic groups have dealt with discrimination throughout history and their effects can be felt in the work place, education system, and homes. Discrimination against Hispanics is ever increasing with the increasing Hispanic population throughout the nation. The following are accounts from individuals who wish to remain nameless, events, research and statistics of positive and negative aspects which have caused discrimination of Hispanics and which can be carried to other ethnic and social groups, more which Hispanics are becoming the targets and victims.

At one point in time, you or someone you know may have been or thought to have been the victim of discrimination. According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, discrimination can be defined as “treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit” (Merriam, 1991) . As the population grows there is one ethnic group that is becoming more and more discriminated upon, Hispanics.

According to the Census Bureau, the Hispanic population will double in population by 2020 as it is the fastest growing ethnic demographic in the nation. It is not surprising that discrimination amongst this group is occurring. Steve Bates, a writer for BNET.com, wrote that “31 percent of approximately 3,000 Hispanics have experience discrimination including employment related bias, and not being hired based on their race”. According to the his research finding from the Pew Hispanic Center (P.H.C.), this is a situation that not only happens to Hispanics but other ethnic and social groups as well. Discrimination in the work place comes from preconceived notions and racial stereo types of Hispanics, one of which is that Hispanics are lazy. One hand on account of a Ford Plant Supervisor attest that the factory/plant in Mexico was ran more efficiently and their output product came with less defects compared to their American counterpart. Though there is no research of other stories it gives light to the hard work that Hispanics put into their product and overall work. To say that any sort of ethnic or social group puts an unproven and ignorant spin on racial discrimination and stereotypes. For example, in the last few years with the War on Terror, many men and women in the armed forces have been ousted from their positions because of their sexual orientation and in no way is it relevant or give an excuse to why they have been ousted and discriminated against. This situation only illustrates how one group of individuals can be discriminated upon so easily by a dominant group.

Though some of these individuals may be native born and assimilated into mainstream society there is those individuals new to the American Culture, immigrants. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) there were 12,600,000 legal permanent residents with the leading country of origin being Mexico with 3,390,000 legal residents. The D.H.S. defines legal immigration as “all people who were granted lawful permanent residence; granted asylee status; admitted as refuges; or admitted as non-immigrants for a temporary stay in the United States” (DHS Office of Immigration, 2009). Then there are those who enter the US illegally, or as we know them as “illegal’s”. The D.H.S. reported 791,568 apprehensions through the Border Patrol and of those apprehended individuals from Mexico lead the charts (DHS Office of Immigrations Statistics). Today the immigration topic is a large controversial conversation with both its pros and cons that is effecting hundreds if not thousands of individuals, families and companies. Some of the discrimination comes from preconceived notions that illegal’s come from the language gap and put many Hispanic and non-Hispanics alike at a disadvantage when trying to assimilate. In an article in the ‘American Journal of Economics and Sociology’ by Jin Haum Park, states that those immigrants whose English speaking skills are not adequate are put at a earning disadvantage compared to those who know or are fluent in English.

At a recent student sponsored program at Eastern Michigan University, a discussion of the ABC program “Latino’s in America” the topic of immigration was brought up. There were comments said that all illegal’s must be deported with the only context behind their argument is that illegal immigration is wrong. The trend of creating and making a certain group the outsider is still apparent even with educated people. Though these students offered their opinions on the subject they still are attributing to discrimination against a group of people.

Discrimination is not only limited to the work place illustrated above. Language, according to bates and the P.H.C., is one of the leading causes of discrimination. Throughout many Hispanic children’s school experience, especially those first generation attending American public schools have a discrimination of language. They are taught that Spanish, many times being their first language, or Spang-lish, a combination of English and Spanish, is wrong to speak. You would think that such tactics do not exist or were thrown out with such barbaric tactics as the hitting of the hands if a child spoke Spanish in the class room but no. As recent as 2005,The Washington Post reports an incident where 16 year old Zach Rubio, was suspended for two days after a staff member and the principle of Endeavor Alternative School overheard him Speaking Spanish. The principal was quoted in a ‘discipline referral’, “This is not the first time we have [asked] Zach and others to not speak Spanish in school”. Language discrimination can cause the majority, or insiders, to think that the individual and group of people are not well educated enough. Though English is widely spoken throughout many countries, there are still some who are not well versed in English. Restrictions of language can also cause social restrictions. There is a nationwide program entitled English as a Second language, or ESL classes, where children whose first language is not English are separated from their fellow classmates and brought to a different class room away from the language they are recommended to learn. This discrimination from the mainstream American Culture may cause some Hispanic youth to act out in ways that maybe negative to themselves. Hispanics are amongst the highest ethnic group to drop out of high school, college, to join a gang, and teen pregnancy. Though there are many factors that may attribute to each individual child, discrimination amongst first generation Hispanics attending public schools is a contributing factor. The Pew Hispanic Center (PHC)reported that ‘the enormous growth in the number of Hispanic youth due to immigration and high birth rates, the number of Latino 16-19-years old dropouts grew dramatically, from 347,000 to 529,000 between 1990 and 2000. However, the dropout rate for native born Latinos declined over that period from 15.2 percent to 14.0 percent”.

Discrimination amongst ethnic groups including Hispanics will continue. We have seen how discrimination can affect children which may cause them to act out in a manner unbefitting to society at an early age. Discrimination can lead to misconceptions of a particular group of people wither they be an ethnic or social group that can cause divides in communities and organizations such as schools and work places. Though completely eliminating such prejudices is near to impossible a general understanding of certain individuals and a basic understanding of Hispanic immigrants must be made to bring about social change and understanding. This I believe will reduce the amount of discrimination towards Hispanics and bring about social change that is needed since the nation is always in continuous change. The Hispanic population will continue to grow and current and future generation must adapt to the social culture as to become further assimilated to the American Culture better to better their situation and for future generations.