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The McKelvy House Scholars invite the campus to join them in a dinner discussion of issues surrounding illegal immigration April 30.
The meal will begin at 6 p.m. at McKelvy House, 200 High Street. Ross Lang ’07 (Yardley, Pa.), a double major in biology and English, and David Myers ’07 (Rockville Centre, N.Y.), a double major in government & law and history, will lead the discussion at 6:30 p.m.
“The issue of illegal immigrants has received quite a bit of media attention lately, following on the heels of several bill proposals, including H.R.4437, which was eventually passed in December 2005, ” states Lang. “The issue has brought out strong sentiments on both sides, sparking actions ranging from large-scale protests against immigration and border control reforms, to reform advocates mailing bricks to their representatives to encourage them to build a wall between Mexico and the United States.”
He adds the discussion will focus on the challenges, questions, and concerns that arise with the large undocumented population living within the United States.
According to his research, some argue this population does harm to hospitals and public services by utilizing their resources without paying. Others, such as Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Spector, feel the immigrant workers are important in providing government labor and he has proposed a bill to increase the number of legal immigrants that can enter the U.S. to two million per year.
Lang will debate the economic advantages and disadvantages illegal immigration holds for companies; the political fallout from issues such as deportation and amnesty; and moral questions concerning how illegal aliens should be treated.
Additional information and links to suggested readings for this topic, more about the McKelvy House Scholars program, as well as downtown Easton businesses, are available on the group’s blog web site.
Since 1962, the McKelvy House Scholars program has brought together Lafayette students with a wide range of majors and interests to reside in a historic off-campus house and share in intellectual and social activities. Weekly Sunday, and occasional Wednesday, dinner discussions that engage the students in debate and exchange of ideas are the hallmark of the program. Most members also contribute to the annual McKelvy Papers, written on a topic of each person’s choice. McKelvy Scholars participate in activities together such as field trips to plays, concerts, and exhibits, and sponsor events for the campus as well.
Previous discussions:
April 23 – Sports
April 9 – Infinity
April 2 – Transhumanism
March 26 – Meaning of Life
March 5 – Fashion as Expression of Identity
Feb.19 – Social Darwinism
Feb.12 – Stereotypes
Feb. 5 – Reading as a Virtue
Jan. 29 — Sexuality
Nov. 20 — Value of Performing Arts
Nov. 13 – Blogging
Nov. 9 – Neoconservatism
Oct. 30 – Christian Right
Oct. 26 – Social Groups
Oct. 23 – The Shape of Things
Oct. 19 – Women in Creating and Sustaining Peace
Oct. 16 – “Slow Food” Movement
Oct. 12 – Hugo Chavez
Oct. 9 – Molecular Nanotechnology
Oct. 5 – Folk Music as Vehicle for Social Change
Sept. 25 – Freedom and Other Remembrance Issues
Sept. 20 – The Powerful Thrust of Language on Civic Arousal
Sept. 14 – Apathy
Sept. 11 – Why Do We Care about One Another?