Pitch/FOIA request

Pitch:

Two-Sentence: For this project I’d like to report on how there might not be as many (or any) Brazilian foreign exchange students here in the years to come. This includes an explanation of why the program was cut and Brazil's current economic situation. I’d then like to explore the stories of these two exchange students to make the story more personal and relevant.


Why Now:I have recently found out that the Brazilian government has “frozen” funding for the “Ciencias Sem Fronteiras”, or “Science Without Borders” program. According to two foreign Brazilian exchange students that attend Washington State University, this will drastically cut down the influx of Brazilian foreign exchange students here at Washington State University.  This program offered financial aid and scholarships to over 25,000 Brazilians a year for them to study abroad. According to Brenno A. Cruz and Daniel Filho, the two Brazilian students that I interviewed, the change in the program will also force many Brazilian foreign exchange students to go home earlier than they expected.

Evidence: Brenno is one of these students, he intended on staying at least until the end of Spring Semester. He has a long term girlfriend here and he recently found out that he will have to return to Brazil by the end of this month. Brenno intends on going to Brazil, finishing his undergraduate program in engineering, and find a way of coming back to get his PhD here in the U.S.

Daniel Filho already had planned on leaving as this is the end of the two years he was supposed to visit Washington State University. Along with Brenno, he expressed that he would rather stay here to finish his studies before going back to Brazil, but this isn’t even a possibility because the program has been “frozen”.

FOIA request:

Lucas Catunda

3214 175th ct. ne,

Redmond, Wa, 98052

Dec 4 2015

Office of International Programs

International Undergraduate Admissions

PO Box 645121

Pullman, Wa, 99164-5121

USA

To whom it may concern,,

Pursuant to the state open records law Wash. Rev. Code Secs. 42.56.001 to 42.56.904, I write to request access to and a copy of any records regarding the number Brazilian foreign exchange students at Washington State University for the last five years. This includes any records regarding how many of them will be attending next semester.

I'd also like any records regarding how they pay for school here at Washington State University. This includes but is not limited to any public record concerning scholarships or financial aid that the University knows they are getting and any records regarding the "Ciencas sem Fronteiras" program. If your agency does not maintain these public records, please let me know who does and include the proper custodian's name and address.

I agree to pay any reasonable copying and postage fees of not more than $75. If the cost would be greater than this amount, please notify me. Please provide a receipt indicating the charges for each document.

As provided by the open records law, I will expect your response within five (5) business days. See Wash. Rev. Code Sec. 42.56.520.

If you choose to deny this request, please provide a written explanation for the denial including a reference to the specific statutory exemption(s) upon which you rely. Also, please provide all segregable portions of otherwise exempt material.

I would note that violation of the open records law can result in a fine — payable to me — of up to $100 for each day that I am denied access. Litigation costs, including reasonable attorney fees, may also be awarded. See Wash. Rev. Code Sec. 42.56.550(4).

Thank you for your assistance.

Sincerely,

Lucas Catunda

425-283-7758





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