Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Gues Post: Third Tier Reality's Nando Educates Utah Legislator Carl Wimmer

Nando, the author of Third Tier Reality, is AEM's newest board member. Nando and I are working on a number of collaborative projects, and I invited him to share this piece about Carl Wimmer. (If you are be interested in being a guest writer for AEM, please send an email with your ideas to ccrynjohannsen@gmail.com).


As you can see, the extent of Carl Wimmer’s formal education is Utah P.O.S.T. (Peace Officer Standards and Training) and Salt Lake Community College.  



Here is a bill that seeks to repeal Utah Code §53B-8-106 (Resident tuition requirements)



Here is a chart showing the undergrad tuition and fees for a Utah resident, from two years ago.  Such a full-time student paid $2642.34 in tuition and fees for the 2008-2009 school year.  This represents $5,284.68 for the entire year.


Now, a full-time, in-state student would pay $3,136.82 in tuition and fees for the current semester – or $6,273.64 for the current academic year.  That represents an 18.7% increase for in-state tuition, in two years.  In-state tuition has increased enough, over the last two years.

Now let’s take a look at the undergrad tuition rate for non-resident students at the University of Utah.


A non-resident taking 15 course hours will pay $9,920.57 in tuition and fees for the current Spring semester.  This translates into $19,841.14 for the 2010-2011 school year.  Therefore, the out-of-state student pays 216% more in tuition and fees than a Utah resident attending this school. 

I fully understand that states have an interest in subsidizing the tuition of those students who they believe will contribute to the state’s tax base for several years.  However, this legislator wants to make the children of undocumented aliens pay out of state tuition to attend a state college or university.  Listen, Carl.  I’m sorry that you did not manage anything higher than some coursework at a community college.  But why take this out on children of those who have contributed to the state’s tax base for several years – or, in some cases, decades?!

I recognize that you want the state to remain “business-friendly.”  By the way, most of your corporate and small business friends love the endless supply of cheap, foreign labor.  Why should the business owners and corporate class be allowed to exploit these workers and lower the overall wage structure of this state, while the children of non-legal permanent residents pay through the nose for a college education?!?! 

Here is a sampling of what other decent people think of Wimmer’s bill:



“I ask Representative Wimmer to tell me why . . . we need to put these students in a different class – what makes them so different from other families who also pay their taxes and attend the same schools?”

This subsidy is not going to people who just entered the state, Wimmer! 


“I ask Representative Wimmer to tell me why . . .we need to put these students in a different class – what makes them so different from other families who also pay their taxes and attend the same schools?”

Apparently, Carl is concerned that a child of non-citizens will obtain more education that he has attained.

Lastly, why should someone from this state be treated the same as a person from Washington State who has no intention of staying in Utah – just because their parents came here illegally, Carl?!  Can you put your “extensive education” to use and answer that question?

Oh, but Carl’s bill includes the following language, on page 3, line 79:

“This section shall be enforced without regard to race, religion, gender, ethnicity, or national origin.”

That settles it then, right?!



Nando is the author of the blog Third Tier Reality, a site devoted to informing prospective law students about the dangers of attending law school. He is the first person in his family to graduate from college. Not only did he graduate from college, he went on to obtain a law degree. Nando is also on the Board of All Education Matters, Inc. His opinions are his own and do not necessarily reflect the views of All Education Matters or Ms. Cryn Johannsen.

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