Limited access to technology on reservations can be a hindrance to Native college students, speakers at a University of Arizona forum said.

The lack of Internet access will hurt some Native students because the university is switching to an online-only admissions process, said Karen Francis-Begay, director of the Native American Student Affairs office. Some students already find it difficult to find campus housing because they have to fax in their forms, she said.

Duane Yazzie, a UA graduate student, said some Native communities might want to limit their access to technology. But Yazzie and others said there are benefits to increased telecommunications.

According to government statistics, the majority of homes on reservations and trust lands have basic telephone service. But on some reservations, fewer than 40 percent have telephones.

Get the Story:
Tech gap can hinder enrollment (The Arizona Daily Wildcat 9/22)

Relevant Links:
Indian Initiatives, FCC - http://www.fcc.gov/indians
The Digital Divide Network - http://www.digitaldividenetwork.org

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