Tuesday, October 9, 2001

College Briefs
Calif. Senator nixes proposed visa bill
BERKELEY, Calif. (U-WIRE) — Sen. Dianne Feinstein scrapped her proposal Friday to place a six-month moratorium on new foreign student visas after meeting with critical educators.

Feinstein, D-Calif., killed her proposed moratorium after receiving a letter from American Council on Education President David Ward, written on behalf of 29 other organizations. She also met with UC and California State University officials critical of the proposal last week.

Feinstein, however, will go ahead with another part of her original proposal to allocate $32 million to swiftly create an electronic tracking system for the Immigration and Naturalization Service, which would serve as a database of foreign students.

As currently written, Feinstein’s revised proposal would enhance the Immigration and Naturalization Service’s tracking system to include fingerprints and photographs. It would also require schools to regularly report to the service on a foreign student's academic status.

— Daily Californian

Gay student group welcomes protesters
MISSOULA, Mont. (U-WIRE) — A University of Montana gay and lesbian group is welcoming a Baptist church that advocates castration and execution of homosexuals to picket on campus in order to encourage community discussion.

Even though the Lambda Alliance booked the only area available to demonstrate at UM on Oct. 15, the day the Westboro Baptist Church is coming to picket, they are willing to give up their reservation.

Kris Monson, chair of the Lambda Alliance, said there is a catch.

“We don’t condone what they're doing,” said Kris Monson. “But we honor their right to free speech. If they show interest, we would be sure to give it up to them, with the understanding that we will counter-protest when they’re done.”

The anti-gay group, led by the Rev. Fred W. Phelps Sr., said they are coming to UM to protest its sanctioning of the Lambda Alliance. Phelps said he is upset because the University is promoting homosexuality.

In a fax sent Wednesday by Phelps' lawyers to the Missoula police chief and the UM director of Public Safety, Phelps requested to picket at the corner of Arthur Avenue and 6th Street at 7:30 a.m. Oct. 15. The Missoula City Police Department said Thursday they would not comment on the group's request for a permit to picket.

— Montana Kaimin