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McCook Gazette
Editorial

'Good Neighbor' tuition rate makes sense for college

Thursday, April 2, 2009

The "Good Neighbor" tuition rate being given a trial run by Mid Plains Community College makes sense in a number of ways, including at least one that isn't mentioned in a news release from the college.

Enacted for at least three years after a lobbying effort by college recruiters, the Good Neighbor Tuition rate allows students from Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming and South Dakota to attend a Mid Plains campus for the in-state tuition rate of $67 per credit hour.

That should be especially attractive for students interested in attending McCook Community College or the extended campuses in Imperial or Valentine.

"We also believe that having students who can learn close to home and those who are location bound will be the first to benefit and help in improving the rural economic stability in their communities," Dr. Michael Chipps, MPCC president, said.

Drawing out-of-state students will help boost the local economy through family visits and events, he noted.

Mid Plains is now at an advantage over most Kansas community colleges, with the exception of a few like Coffeyville, which, on the border with Oklahoma and Missouri, gives nonresident students the same tuition rate as in-state students.

The issue wasn't mentioned in the official statement, but Mid Plains' tuition break also corrects another injustice somewhat -- some children of illegal immigrants are eligible for resident tuition rates at state colleges or universities, while out-of-state students were not.

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Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. Please note that those who post comments on this website may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.

  • Sounds like were wanting to be like Californians, give in state tution to the illegal aliens, this is what is behind it all. Why do we law abiding citzens that pay taxes (did you forget the educational system is paid for by law abiding taxpayers) pay for someone who has committed a crime and is here illegally? Go to Mexico illegally and see what they do to you if they catch you. Next thing you will want special classes to teach the illegals how to speak English. Too bad we can't shoot them like in the old days.

    -- Posted by geewhiz on Fri, Apr 3, 2009, at 8:22 PM

  • Geewiz,

    That comment crossed about five lines of decency and didn't even relate to the topic at hand.

    Tuition rates for undocumented immigrants and in-state tuition for out-of-state students are two completely different topics.

    If you're so devoid of attention that you need to go onto message boards and anonymously post hateful filth, you must have a lonely and sad existence.

    It pains me to know that there are people like you who would rather shoot a fellow human being than give them a shot at a decent education.

    You are disgusting.

    -- Posted by billyjb on Sun, Apr 5, 2009, at 3:07 PM

  • Yes, I did read the last paragraph of the article. A child should not be punished for the crimes of a parent.

    -- Posted by billyjb on Sun, Apr 5, 2009, at 3:14 PM

  • Sounds like she hit a nerve with Villie Hoe Bob, thats the Spanish pronunciation. Probably Geewhiz knows what is really going on and not living in a cacoon. All you have to do is read, listen and observe what is going on in our nation, especially California, maybe even watch PBS and you'll understand. She had a point even though it may be a little drastic. Same as California, first they wanted to give the illegals instate tuition and then of course free medical, dental, section 8 housing and etc. Now they have to put water in the desert at differnet staging areas so the illegals don't die of thirst but their Coyotes can shoot them. Maybe Billy Joe Bob is one of them. HMMMMMMMMMMMMM! Where is he hiding?

    -- Posted by Oh what a wonderful day on Mon, Apr 6, 2009, at 4:59 PM

  • I lived in California for many years, not by choice but that is where the Navy took me, then I was stuck. I have experienced or am aware of a lot of what is being said. Billie Blow J. probably has lived an isolated life here and is not aware of all the problems facing our nation. Maybe he should talk to the ranchers that live next to the border in Arizona, Calif. and Texas and find out how many have been shot at and their lifes disrupted even though it is their land. Maybe Billie Blow J. should know how many pot farms there are in the Santa Cruz Mountains, San Jose, Fremont, Union City, Northern Caifornia that are all run by illegal immigrants. Maybe he should learn about the illegal mexican gangs that are in Salinas, San Jose, Fremont, Union City, Newark Ca. and all the killings. Maybe he should chceck how many of our inmates in our jails and prisons are illegals. I say "our" because it effects all of us, it is our problem. Ok you don't need to shoot them, just send them back so they will cross the border again in a few days and we can spend more of our resourses on finding them, arresting them and maybe sending them back while we have people here that are legal that can't afford decent housing and food. Maybe Geewhiz is right and Billy BJ is wrong.

    -- Posted by georgeangermeir on Mon, Apr 6, 2009, at 5:56 PM

  • It's amusing that you both prefaced your argument by taking cheap shots at my screen name and making wild assumptions about my upbringing. It was so amusing that I thought I'd try it out myself:

    To the xenophobic pricks who so thoughtfully took time away from their NASCAR watching/KKK meeting/moonshine drinking/wife beating existence to reply to my previous post:

    I've lived in and around areas with a high Latino population (California, Fremont, Garden City KS) and I've seen first hand the toll that gangs can take on a community. I'm also aware that undocumented immigration is a problem because it can result in stolen identities and the abuse of federal programs.

    To put it simply, I agree that undocumented immigrants should be prosecuted the full extent of the law.

    What irks me to no ends is that children of undocumented immigrants who are born in this country are treated like second class citizens. They deserve the same shot at happiness as the rest of us and to make them pay out of state tuition diminishes their hopes for the unalienable rights that we enjoy.

    In short, I think that any citizen who has the brains, ambition, and drive to attend a post graduate institution should be given an affordable opportunity to do so.

    I look forward to (but am not expecting) any thoughtful rebuttals from geewhiz, oh what a wonderful day, and georgeangermeir.

    -- Posted by billyjb on Mon, Apr 6, 2009, at 10:02 PM

  • I agree with Billy bj, the children should be educated but I don't agree that they should pay instate tuition rates, they should pay the same as foreign students pay.

    -- Posted by geewhiz on Tue, Apr 7, 2009, at 9:46 AM

  • geewhizyou'reanidiot,

    I'm in the ten seconds it took for you to compile that argument, you felt like a pretty diplomatic person.

    However there are some flaws:

    *For an international student to attend a state funded institution like the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, it would cost nearly $35,000 per year. That's over 2.5 times what a resident student would pay. (Source: http://admissions.unl.edu/cost/)

    *By making citizens of the U.S. pay international fees you are allowing states to abridge a person's rights, and that is a violation of the 14th Amendment.

    Nice try buddy.

    Next time I suggest you put as much effort in your argument as you do in ******** jokes.

    -- Posted by billyjb on Tue, Apr 7, 2009, at 10:51 AM

  • "I'm sure that in the ten seconds it took for you to compile that argument, you felt like a pretty diplomatic person."

    ...and I'll put more effort into proofreading.

    -- Posted by billyjb on Tue, Apr 7, 2009, at 10:53 AM

  • Maybe if we send the illegal parents back and keep the children here Madonna will adopt them all.

    -- Posted by ddt4mccook on Thu, Apr 9, 2009, at 9:04 PM

  • What happened to all the "grants" that students can get?? Pell grants?? Did things change in the last few weeks?? They can get student loans for their education. I have and paid it off with the employment I achieved from an education.

    If anyone should get a tuition break, it should be the in-state students who want an education. Or is there an idea of playing favorites for an activity or event to get a gifted out of state student to come to the college?? This idea of a cost reduction will get the college in money trouble and more.

    -- Posted by edbru on Sun, Apr 12, 2009, at 6:12 PM

  • On another note, the illegal immigrants should be sent back to where they came from and give people who are natural citizens get the education needed. We have given enough to the illegal immigrants already. State support, welfare, etc.

    -- Posted by edbru on Sun, Apr 12, 2009, at 6:15 PM
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