Freeholders get support, but …
February 24, 2011 4 Comments
do they want it?
That may be hard to tell. Five people addressed the board at Wednesday’s meeting in regard to the decision by County College of Morris to admit undocumented, or if you prefer, illegal alien students.
Four of the speakers applauded the move; one opposed it, suggesting that students being helped are those “who should not be here” in the first place. That ignores the reality that the students have lived most of their lives in the U.S. and that educating young people can benefit society.
The freeholders said little about the policy change, although Bill Chegwidden, the director, said the freeholders, which help fund CCM, did not know about the change in advance. That seems odd. He also talked about how the CCM board is an autonomous body. Only up to a point. It is, after all, the freeholders who appoint members. Chegwidden also said that the freeholders would work with CCM to implement the policy.
This is a political quandary for the all-Republican freeholders. The policy change at CCM has been praised by many as a bold step in removing educational barriers. On the other hand, there are elements in the conservative Republican base that demand no compromise with “illegals.”
The hope here is that the freeholders take a hands off approach and leave a wise policy decision alone.
About fsnowflack
Morris County Politics 
Hi Fred,
I doubt the freeholders will do anything to try to set aside this policy, or much to support it. The CCM policy is correct.
Your bias is showing Fred when you call the decision “wise”. But, you never have hidden your liberal leaning. But, from a logical standpoint, of course you must admit that “wisdom” is a matter of perspective.
This has nothing to do with bias. It is an opinion,.
This is only going to be another attractor for more and more illegals to come to our country, our state and our county. It really bothers me that a US Citizen student from Sussex County going to CCM will pay more than a student from another country here illegally. This is especially aggravating is the Citizen student’s father was in the US services.