Students Pack Tsai for Great Debate on Immigration Policy

Students Pack Tsai for Great Debate on Immigration Policy

By William Hinkle

BOSTON--Supporters of immigrant rights and temporary worker programs emerged victorious in the Great Debate on Wednesday night. Hosted by Boston University, the 24^th Great Debate posed the question, “Can stricter law enforcement at the border and the workplace solve the U.S. illegal immigration problem?”

Led by B. Lindsay Lowell, the director of policy studies at the Institute for the Study of International Migration at Georgetown University, the winning “negative” side argued for comprehensive reform that would include legalizing or granting amnesty for the country’s 12 million illegal immigrants, ridding the system of the backlog of immigrants waiting for legal status, and instituting temporary worker programs.

Lowell was joined on the “negative” panel by Shuya Ohno, the Director of Communications for the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, and Anuj Shelat, a senior in the B.U. School of Management who stressed that America should help develop a stronger Mexico to curb the immigration problem.

“We need to end agriculture subsidies and stop unfairly exporting our problems to other nations,” Shelat said.

The “affirmative” side was led by Mark Krikorian, executive director for the Center of Immigration Studies, a non-profit, non-partisan research organization in Washington, D.C. Krikorian presented “attrition through enforcement” as the only workable solution. The goal of “attrition through enforcement” is to increase the number of illegal immigrants leaving the country and decrease the number entering.

In order to achieve their goal, Krikorian and the “affirmative” team proposed a two-front attack – stricter enforcement on the border and in the workplace. Emphasizing that all people respond to incentives, Krikorian concluded, “Enforcement inside the country and on the border will make it less attractive here and induce some illegal immigrants to deport themselves.”

Lowell countered by saying, “Enforcement cannot be the only solution. It is not a panacea.”

Stephanie Hoffman, a first year law student at B.U., and Mayor Louis J. Barletta of Hazleton, Penn. argued with Krikorian for the “affirmative.” Barletta’s presentation focused on anecdotes of crime and murder that he said were committed by illegal immigrants Hazleton, the first town in the country to pass legislation that punished businesses and landlords who knowingly hired or harbored illegal immigrants.

Not quite at its maximum capacity of 525, the Tsai Performance Center was mostly filled by students, in addition to professors and concerned citizens. The crowd lauded Shelat, Barletta, and Ohno with cheers of “Hear! Hear!” and also hissed, “Shame!” to Ohno.

During the contributions from the floor, eight members of the audience sided with Lowell and the “negative” side whereas six voiced their support for Krikorian and the “affirmative.” The question, which will be one of the major issues of the 2008 election, engendered passionate and thought-provoking responses from both sides of the debate.

Although the “negative” side of the debate won and garnered more crowd support, it was a close contest in which many members of the crowd recognized the strong arguments presented by both sides.

Andy Birosak, a 21-year-old senior in the College of Communication, said the outcome should have been different, however. “Although I agree with the ‘negative’ policy-wise, I don’t think that team answered the question and should have lost the debate.”

Samantha Hoy, also a 21-year-old senior in the College of Communication, disagreed, “I don’t think either team answered the question because I don’t think the question has an answer. The ‘negative’ team framed their debate better and that is why they won.”

Fans Show Up In Droves to Celebrate Championship

Fans Show Up In Droves to Celebrate Championship

By William Hinkle

BOSTON--Boston fans are growing accustomed to championship parades. With the Boston Red Sox’s 2007 World Series Championship, October 30^th marked the city’s fifth championship parade since the New England Patriots won Super Bowl XXXVI in 2001. The Patriots also won the Super Bowl in 2003 and 2004 and the Red Sox won the World Series in 2004 as well.

Thousands of loyal, passionate Red Sox fans packed the parade route that ran from Fenway Park to City Hall Plaza. Decked in American League Championship, World Series Championship, and any other Red Sox gear they could find, the Red Sox faithful chanted, cheered, and celebrated with their team.

Driving through Copley Square, Red Sox outfielder Bobby Kielty led the crowd in their favorite “Yankees suck” cheer. Kielty hit a pinch-hit solo home run in the eighth inning of Game Four of the World Series that turned out to be the difference in the 4-3 final.

The crowd also serenaded General Manager Theo Epstein and the Red Sox front office with resonating chants of “Re-sign Lowell!” Mike Lowell, the 33-year-old third baseman for the Sox, won this year’s World Series MVP.

Lindsay Douglas, a 21-year-old junior at Simmons College, lives at the corner of Beacon Street and Park Drive, where she can see Fenway Park from her front doorstep. After the Red Sox won the ALCS and the World Series, she saw the police preparing for the riots and had no desire to join the rowdy crowd.

However, when she was leaving for class at 11 o’clock Tuesday morning, an hour before the parade was scheduled to begin, she said, “This looks like it is going to be so much fun. I wish I could skip class and go celebrate.

After the Red Sox broke an 86-year World Series Championship drought in 2004, more than 3 million people attended what Mayor Thomas M. Menino dubbed the “rolling rally.” This year’s event was similar as the team rode in the famous duck boats again, but was different in that they did not go into the water of the Charles River. As a new addition to the parade, the Dropkick Murphys performed on a flatbed truck accompanied by a dancing, kilt-wearing Jonathan Papelbon.

Also, the 2004 rolling rally was on a cold, rainy day whereas the 2007 edition was under a bright, blistering sun. Many fans had to shed their jackets and sweatshirts.

James Schmitz, a 21-year-old Boston University junior and lifelong Boston sports fan, added, “This year wasn’t as crazy as 2004. People were still climbing trees and stuff like that, but the craziness wasn’t there. It was still just as fun, though. Championships are always fun.”

Anticipating future success, Schmitz predicted, “We’ll get another one of these when the Pats win the Super Bowl this year. These parades never get old, and I can’t wait to celebrate another one. Even the Celtics might have a chance this year.”

Sox fans line the street at Copley Square as the team approaches in duck boats

Mehta Searching for Answers on Immigration

Mehta Searching for Answers on Immigration

By William Hinkle

BOSTON—Varun Mehta, a 21-year-old senior at Boston University, believes immigration is one of the most difficult issues facing the United States. As an Indian and the head of US India Political Action Committee’s nation presidential campaign, it is also an issue that directly affects him and his community.

Mehta is well-versed in America’s immigration policies and has observed as family members go through all the legal channels to obtain a visa or become a citizen. Even so, Mehta admits, “It is an issue I have not quite figured out for myself.”

In the late 1950s, Mehta’s great-uncle immigrated to the states and matriculated to the University of Michigan. He did not realize how much higher education cost in the United States and ran out of money after one semester. However, he worked his way through school, with the help of scholarships and loans, until he was able to bring Mehta’s grandmother stateside. Once here, Mehta’s grandmother applied for his uncle and his father to come, too.

Mehta’s father discovered that he disliked life in the United States and worked to make enough money to return to India. Back in India, he married the woman who would become Mehta’s mother before unspecified reasons forced him to India leave again. Although his wife could not come until a year later, Mehta chose to return to the states.

Mehta’s father quickly became a U.S. citizen, got a job at a bank, and began working his way up the bank’s business ladder. On the other hand, Mehta’s mother did not become a U.S. citizen until after her son was born. “I remember going to the immigration office with her,” Mehta says, “and all of the studying she had to do. I also remember trying to get a visitor’s visa or a green card for my grandmother.”

He continues, “My thing is, I have watched people go through all the proper legal channels and how nuts it can be. One angle I have on this issue then is, why should we let people continue to come in illegally?”

Mehta disagrees, however, with the construction of a wall or fence across the border, considering it a “cowboy or laymen’s way to think.” Agreeing with President Bush, he believes the immigration problem needs to be fixed because, as he says, “This is not just a Republican issue or just a Democrat issue – it’s an American issue.”

Because of his involvement with USINPAC, Mehta sees people wrestle with all of the important political issues in America. Nevertheless, immigration is often at the forefront. Peering through his glasses, Mehta concludes, “Immigration is one of the toughest questions our country, my community, and America in general faces. After all, we are a country of immigrants.”

Bush Announces Troop Reduction in Iraq

Bush Announces Troop Reduction in Iraq

By William Hinkle

BOSTON—As he sat behind his desk in the Oval Office Thursday night, President George W. Bush announced for the first time that he is bringing home troops from Iraq. Based on General David Petraeus’ recommendation, the president declared that the United States has “reached the point where we can maintain our security gains with fewer American forces” and that there will be a total reduction of 5,700 troops by Christmas.

The president also said, however, that he expects the United States to continue its political, economic, and security engagement with Iraq beyond his presidency.

Bush also continued to maintain that “the success of a free Iraq is critical to American security.” Citing what he termed as success in Anbar province as a sign of things to come, the president said he believes that “as local politics change, so will national politics.”

In addition to the 5,700 troop reduction by Christmas, the president also said he expects the number of combat brigades in Iraq to decrease from 20 to 15 by July.

Despite the announced reductions, Bush made it clear that Americans should expect to maintain a presence in Iraq for however long it may take – “In Anbar, the enemy remains active and deadly. Earlier today, one of the brave tribal sheikhs who helped lead the revolt against al Qaeda was murdered. In response, a fellow Sunni leader declared: ‘We are determined to strike back and continue our work.’ And as they do, they can count on the continued support of the United States,” said the president.