Is your social media use private?

Social media extends the reality of our physical lives to the virtual world. With the ability to provide personal information through uploaded pictures, updated statuses and wall-to-wall conversations, the extent to which we open up our lives has expanded as our boundaries of privacy have shifted.

“We want to share with people what we did, who we saw, what our ideas of fun are,” said Erica Finkelstein, a public communications student at American University. “We’re so used to sharing online … because that’s the way our generation works.”

An August 2012 Pew study reported 69% of online adults are plugged into social networking sites — 66% use Facebook. Fifteen percent of Facebook users update their statuses daily, 22% comment on another’s post and 26% “like” a friend’s activity, according to a June 2011 Pew study.

“Ten years ago, the modes of communication were more difficult. The boundaries were that we didn’t expect that people would have such a just-in-time view into our lives,” Jain said. “People have to be more conscious of where the line [of privacy] is for them … and an understanding of what they won’t post online at all versus what they feel comfortable sharing.”

What people choose to censor remains up to user discretion, but with the increased ease in the ability to share, social media plays a larger role as a virtual extension of the physical self. From Facebook profiles to Twitter pages and Instagram accounts, social networks offer a unique insight into users’ lives in a way that individuals might otherwise not have.

“It’s a different time and it’s an adjustment to what’s been acceptable and what’s acceptable now,” Lindsay Gordon, a senior at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. “Expectations of privacy are complicated by social networks … but it also depends on what we consider private.”

Through her study on the legal and professional ramifications of social networking sites, Gordon analyzes college-aged students’ expectations surrounding online privacy. Gordon reports that students are aware of the professional repercussions of inappropriate online activity, citing students’ general consensus that when it comes to privacy, all you can do is self-censor.

“Our private lives have the ability to be more public,” she said. “But it’s up to the discretion of each user of how much they want to publicize.”

Source: Privacy in the age of social networking

Maine to Acknowledge Same Sex Marraiges

The law goes into effect following a required 30-day waiting period after Governor Paul LePage on November 29 certified the results from the November 6 election, a spokeswoman for the governor's office, Adrienne Bennett, said on Monday.

"The long wait for marriage for same-sex couples in Maine is almost over," Betsy Smith, executive director of EqualityMaine, said in a joint statement with Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD).

"Before the end of this year, all loving and committed couples in Maine will be able to stand before their friends, family and community and make a lasting vow to be there for one another," Smith said.

In last month's historic vote approving same sex marriage, some 53 percent of those deciding the issue in Maine voted in favor of the new law, said the ACLU of Maine.

Marriage equality advocates are still trying to determine what level of activity there will be on December 29, because Maine's town halls won't necessarily be open, since it is a Saturday.

"It could be that for the vast majority of people, the first practical time they can get a license will on (Monday) December 31," David Farmer, spokesman for EqualityMaine, told Reuters.

"But we anticipate that some of the bigger municipalities will in fact open; we don't have confirmation of that yet," he said.

While the law allows same-sex couples to marry, there are a number of questions remaining about implementing the law as well as potential action by the U.S. Supreme Court on federal marriage law, the statement from EqualityMaine and GLAD said.

The Supreme Court on Monday remained silent about whether it will enter the legal fray over same-sex marriage and hear one of several pending appeals on the issue. The court's nine justices met in private on Friday to consider whether to review challenges to the U.S. Defense of Marriage Act, which denies federal benefits to married same-sex couples, and to California's gay marriage ban, known as Proposition 8.

Nine of the 50 states and Washington, D.C., have legalized gay marriage, while 31 states have passed constitutional amendments banning it.

Source: Save the Date

You think you know college students?

Nerdfighters. Hipsters. Speedy seniors. Dropouts. Superfans. Slackliners. Drunkorexics. Tanorexics. Adderall addicts. Longboarders. Sleep texters. Thrifters. Illegall downloaders. And one very bold halftime streaker.

Over the past 18 months, for my Campus Beat column, I have written about an array of students involved in a ton of different activities, organizations, scandals and states of mind.

My most popular piece: a glimpse at the rise of college Quidditch teams. The most poignant piece, in my opinion: a Q&A with a student journalist who reported on the surprisingly high number of undergraduates who lose a parent while still in school. The most infuriating piece: a rundown of a university testing center thattemporarily banned students who were wearing skinny jeans. And the silliest piece, among the most shared on social media: the student embrace of the “YOLO” craze.

In recognition of my 100th column — posted late last month — here is a quick top 10 list of things I have learned about college life and the world at-large through Campus Beat.

1. College students’ grades are going up — and it may have nothing to do with the quality of their work. As The Student Voice at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls reports, “For the past 30 years, grades and grade point averages in private and public universities have risen significantly. …[S]tudents should be aware that the ‘A’ they are striving for may not be as big a deal as they once thought it was.”

2. The Freshman 15 is actually the Freshman 3. According to a study featured in Social Science Quarterly, first-year students at colleges and universities only gain a bit more than three pounds during their first two semesters in school. As the study’s co-author tells The Daily Texan, “There are a lot of things to worry about when you go to college. However, gaining 15 pounds your freshman year is not one of them.”

3. Nerdfighting, a cult movement, is increasingly gaining traction on campuses nationwide. Nerdfighters are a loose collection of geeky do-gooders who attempt to enact positive change in the real world and online. As a Butler Collegian student staffer at Butler University explains, “[A] nerdfighter just tries to fight against world suck.” Nerdfighters’ favorite acronym — and call-to-arms — is DFTBA, or “Don’t Forget to Be Awesome.”

4. One in 10 individuals deals with the death of mom or dad before turning 25, including during their time in college. As The University Daily Kansan shares, “College students who lose a parent are affected emotionally, psychologically, physically, academically and financially. At the very time they are about to launch independent lives, they lose the people they rely on most for direction.”

5. Sleep texting has become a common activity on college campuses. As The Lantern at Ohio State University reports, “Sleep texting is as simple as it sounds: a person will respond or send out a text message in the middle of their sleep. Most people who do this usually do not remember doing it and it usually doesn’t make much sense.” A University of Georgia student admits once sending a sleep text that led to an accidental pizza delivery.

6. A hyphenated buzzword receiving evermore attention within higher education: gender-neutral. At a growing number of colleges and universities — in middle America and along the coasts — students are protesting, passing resolutions and publishing commentaries calling for more gender-neutral housing and restroom options. The push appears to be part of a larger student-led fight on some campuses for greater “transgender inclusiveness,” something The Oklahoma Daily hails as the heart of “this generation’s civil rights movement.”

7) Students are becoming increasingly vocal champions of thrifting and the culture it represents. Most broadly, the thrifting movement appears to embody a generational shift built atop five basic tenets: old is new, mixing trumps matching, swapping beats shopping, the best things in life are free (or incredibly cheap) and social responsibility is the new black.

8. It is possible to eat too healthy. It is at the heart of a disorder known as orthorexia nervosa. As The Signpost, the student newspaper at Weber State University, explains, “Orthorexia is the fixation on righteous eating and an unhealthy obsession with eating only healthy foods. Like anorexia and bulimia, it can wreak serious damage on the health of someone trapped in the obsession.”

9. For a brief time earlier this year, the acronym YOLO (You Only Live Once) reached a critical mass among college students. As a Chapman University student wrote in March in The Panther, “[I]t is quickly becoming the new motto of our generation. Found on T-shirts, people’s arms and all over Facebook, YOLO is a new craze that many here at Chapman follow with an almost religious fervor.” By comparison, the following month, a Penn State University student argued via Onward State, “Plain and simple, YOLO needs to die. …While the philosophy is nothing new, the saying has gone way beyond too far to the point that it is being abused.” 

10. Quidditch is cool. Among the many phenomena the Harry Potter book and film series has spawned — a theme park, post-Potter depression, the Pottermore website, HP fan fiction and Daniel Radcliffe’s film career — perhaps none is as quirky and currently en vogue as Quidditch. The sport, based in fiction, is catching on among real-world students at an astonishingly prodigious rate. Hundreds of teams have formed at schools in almost every state and more than a dozen countries. A Quidditch World Cup is held. And the NCAA officially recognizes it as a sport.

Dan Reimold, Ph.D., is a college journalism scholar who has written and presented about the student press throughout the U.S. and in Southeast Asia. He is an assistant professor of journalism at the University of Tampa, where he also advises The Minaret student newspaper. He maintains the student journalism industry blog College Media Matters. A complete list of Campus Beat articles is here.

Source: 10 Things I've Learned About College Students

Get Your Dream Job

Despite the continuing struggle in the world of careers, there were 3.6 million job openings in September, more than the 2.4 million jobs available at the end of the recession in June 2009, according to the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“People make the most money doing the things they do naturally well,” said True Calling master (career) coach Nathan Teegarden.

Teegarden said that with his list of nine key elements to landing a job, anyone, in any stage of his or her life, can find a way to success. His tips include research, preparation, focus, professional wear and a follow-up. The list also instructs others to ask questions and avoid negative topics.

“Every chance you have to get in contact … and bend the rules in your favor, the better off you’ll be,” he said. “For a lot of positions, you might be one of 100 applying and by taking initiative and expressing interest, it can’t hurt you.”

In a recent USA TODAY survey, 70% of those questioned agreed that it is never appropriate to talk negatively during an interview, while 25% said it was OK when asked directly. Three percent approved if it would make the interviewee stand out, and only 2% advocated the act if it were true.

“You don’t ever want to talk about past bosses or past positions, don’t even go there,” Teegarden said. “I can’t even imagine when [speaking negatively] would make you stand out, unless [the company in question] were unethical and you addressed it and got fired for it.”

Teegarden said an easy way to combat questions while remaining truthful about past jobs is by simply stating you left in hopes of finding a company with a better fit. He added that it’s important for students to ask questions.

“When someone knows exactly what they want and they know they are qualified, they ask more questions,” he said. “If you have a choice to be liked or respected, you want to be respected.”

Questions that make the cut: “Why did you come to work here?” “What do you like best?” “What is your management style?” “Do you have anything else you would like to ask me?”

Imants Jaunarajs, the assistant dean for students at the Career and Leadership Center at Ohio University said it’s a good idea to keep responses to about 90 seconds to two minutes. In addition, he said word choice is not too big of an issue though an effort should be made to avoid curse words.

“I’ve been in interviews where people have sworn — don’t do that,” he said. “Everyone is nervous so it is hard to not stumble your words though. So prepare as much as possible and that will help.”

As to be expected, Teegarden also advised students to be on their A-game the second they walk through the door and to maintain a clean social media presence, avoiding any inappropriate posts about employers.

“As soon as you show up in the lobby for an interview, the interview just started,” he said. ”In our digital age you can talk or write about anything. But people from companies can go on and see that and it becomes public information. So, I’d be careful about that. It can come back and bite you.”

A few other tips include taking professional assessments, creating clear and to-the-point resumes and cover letters and taking notes during the interview. At the end, make sure to thank the interviewer for the opportunity, make sure he or she doesn’t have any more questions and ask what the next step is before you follow up by snail mail or email.

“Once you walk out that door, it’s over,” Teegarden said. “You want to assume you have gotten the position and that you are moving forward.”

Source: Shaping your job-search skills

Writing 101

Write Drunk, Edit Sober - Ernest Hemingway

Move it at Work

As we've reported, there's a backlash brewing to sedentary office life as more people realize how sitting all day can do a body wrong.

I work at home and often sit in front of my computer doing research and writing. So I thought I'd give a treadmill desk a try.

I went about this in steps. First, I elevated my sitting desk to a standing desk. For about a month, I grew comfortable standing all day. Then I added a discreet treadmill (without handrails) under my standing desk, and voila — a treadmill desk.

I'm into my second week now and walking at a pretty slow, casual pace, about 1.4 miles an hour. When I first started, I thought I'd simply hop on the treadmill and be off walking all day while working. But it turns out it's really hard to walk, talk, think and concentrate.

James Levine, an obesity expert at the Mayo Clinic who came up with the idea of the treadmill desk, told me that my experience was pretty typical. "There's a tendency to want to jump on the treadmill and walk for hours and hours a day," he says. "Don't do that. Certainly, at the absolute maximum, do half-hour on, half an hour off, for two to three hours a day."

That's a relief. That's about what I'm doing. Levine says that since the 1960s, work spaces have been designed to minimize movement. It's a culturally ingrained mindset, he says, which dominates much of our lives today.

"You could literally spend your entire adult life from graduation to coffin entry without leaving your apartment, without getting up," he says.

Levine is on a mission to get any kind of movement into the workplace and the workday. He's consulted with a number of companies nationwide to help them do this. The most popular activity by far, he says, is the "walk and talk" meeting. "They're generally shorter, more productive, and people don't fall asleep during walk-and-talk meetings."

Take Salo, a financial consulting firm based in Minneapolis. The company has 12 treadmill desks, and encourages walking meetings and a mini-breakaway game — a mixture of pingpong, tennis and a bit of squash.

Throughout the day, employees rotate on and off the available treadmill desks. Craig Dexheimer, Salo's director of operations and administration, loves his. He's lost 25 pounds since he started using it. If employees get distracted while walking, he suggests they stop or slow down the treadmill.

A few years ago, Salo took part in a Mayo Clinic study headed by Levine to see what happened when employees used treadmill desks. The study was small — just 18 participants. For six months, they rotated on and off the desks, walking, on average, about three hours a day. Everyone lost weight. And overall, Dexheimer says, health improved. "Total cholesterol decreased, plasma triglycerides dropped on average 37 percent in total for all 18 participants.

"Remarkable," he says. "We didn't even go to a gym. We just went to work!"

And productivity didn't suffer. In fact, Dexheimer says, during the six months of the study, Salo's revenues were the highest ever. The environment, he says, was simply "more dynamic."

Now, this doesn't mean a treadmill desk or a game of pingpong is for everyone. But even a little bit of activity is better than nothing, says Catrine Tudor-Locke, a researcher at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center.

"Instead of sending e-mail to a colleague two doors down, try actually walking over to them," she says.

As for me, I'm still getting used to my treadmill desk. I can write e-mails, read, have phone conversations. But I haven't yet written a story while walking. Levine and others say certain complicated or creative tasks are often still done best while sitting.

Source: Can You Move It And Work It On A Treadmill Desk?

Powwow Social

Where: IMU NORTH ROOM

November is Native American Heritage Month and Campus Activities Board in collaboration with the American Indian Student Association (AISA) brings you yet another fun and interactive way to broaden your cultural horizons. 

In anticipation AISA's Powwow, local Native American dancers from around the Midwest will be on campus to talk about the importance and etiquette of powwow dancing! Come with your friends and learn about this iconic piece of Native American culture!

Light refreshments will be available.

Choose Yours...

Topics to Avoid in Your College Essay

#5: The most important moment in my life was the big game that my team won (or lost).

Yawn. This is a bad idea because it’s boring, and the lessons learned are typically the same regardless of who writes it. The importance of sportsmanship coupled with the joy of being part of a team. How much it meant to win or how much you enjoyed the experience even though you didn’t win.

One of the primary goals of the essay is to help your application stand out. Don’t blow it by writing about something so common. Either find a more interesting angle on athletics or find a new topic.

#4: Behold all of my successes, aka The List.

Most applications include a place where you will record all of your activities, honors and awards. The essay is not that place.

Instead of trying to cover everything you have ever accomplished within the confines of 500 words, pick one important achievement and focus on that. What sparked your interest in that activity? Why do you do it and what do you enjoy most about it? Does it relate to your future goals and, if so, in what way?

#3: One night I volunteered at a soup kitchen and it changed my life.

Otherwise known as the essay where you tell the admissions people what a great person you are. With three exceptions — yes, three — every single essay I have read about volunteer work came to one of the following conclusions: I never realized how much I had until I met people who didn’t have anything; I never realized anyone could be happy without the things I take for granted; or a combination of the previous two.

You might think that admissions officers want to hear about what a great person you are, but in reality they want to hear about the person you are. Writing about a passion or true interest will always result in a more genuine and impactful essay.

#2: I am a can of seltzer.

This topic probably seems much more unique than the soup kitchen essay. Not everyone is comparing themselves to a bottle of soda — I’m fizzy! — right? Well, there’s a good reason for that: It’s an awful idea.

Admissions officers respond to authenticity. Focus on what’s real rather than on a “creative” idea that amounts to a gimmick. If you can find a more personal story, one that shares something important about who you are, your readers will feel like they know you much better when they’re done.

#1: Here I am writing my college essay (which, did you know, is really hard?!), and there you are, reading it.

You may be under the impression that this topic will show off your intellectually witty side. It won’t. At best, you’ll look like you started to write the essay the night before it was due. At worst, you’ll come off as a self-involved showoff without anything interesting to say.

Showcase your wit and intellect by writing about an absorbing academic or thought provoking experience. Instead of seeming pretentious, you will come across as an engaged learner who will likely make the most of the college experience.

The essay is the primary chance you have in the application process to share something important about yourself. Make the most of the opportunity by spending as much time thinking about what to write as you do actually writing it.

Source: http://www.usatodayeducate.com/staging/index.php/toolbox/5-horrible-essay-topics-for-your-college-application

What you should STOP doing...

Texting

Despite tremendous integration of technology into the modern college classroom, phone use in class is still a gray area that varies by professor.

While some don’t mind and even encourage cellphone use during class time, the professors that refuse tend to have strict policies and punish those who don’t comply.

Another tip? Trying to be sneaky while texting is just as disrespectful as having your phone out in plain sight. Professors can always tell when you’re texting — nothing in your lap can be that interesting.

Showing up late

Being late to events — be it by two or 20 minutes — isn’t a great habit to have, but when it comes to class (especially major-related ones), being tardy is something that professors seriously look down upon.

Being completely silent during discussion

Students that are used to getting participation points just by showing up to class might be in for a shock. Some professors would actually like you to speak up … and possibly even ask questions.

Yes, we all know how easy it is to sit back in class and completely zone out, but this lack of engagement won’t get you any brownie points with your professors. Speaking up in class may seem like something optional, but to your instructors, it could mean the difference between getting a reference letter or not.

Source: http://www.usatodayeducate.com/staging/index.php/campuslife/3-things-you-should-stop-doing-in-class

Romney vs Obama in a Nutshell

Romney vs Obama in a Nutshell: On Taxes:

President Obama -- Pledged to let the "Bush tax cuts" expire for individual incomes above $200,000 and families making above $250,000, meaning the top marginal rate would climb from 35 to 39.6 percent. Obama and Republicans agree that the cuts should be extended for incomes below those levels. Obama would also raise the capital gains tax by one-third, to 20 percent for upper-income households. Corporations would see their taxes reduced from 35 percent to 28 percent. Obama added he'd close loopholes and, in doing so, provide an incentive for companies to keep their profits at home, thus broadening the tax base and government revenue.

Mitt Romney -- In the short term, Romney wants to make permanent the "Bush tax cuts," which lowered the top marginal rate from 39.6 to 35 percent. He would maintain the current rates on interest, capital gains and stock dividends. Going forward, Romney is pushing an "across-the-board 20 percent cut" for everyone. He promises the cuts would be deficit neutral, but has yet to offer details about how he would offset the lost revenue, only suggesting that certain deductions (like for giving to charity) could be capped. Romney would also eliminate the estate tax, which conservatives refer to as the "death tax." For corporations, Romney proposes lowering the rate from 35 percent to 25 percent.

On Health Care:

Obama -- Will fully implement his Affordable Care Act, or "Obamacare," with provisions that would require individuals who do not receive health insurance through an employer but can afford it on their own to buy health insurance from a private provider or face a tax penalty.

Among the controversial law's many provisions, some of which have already gone into effect, insurers are required to allow children to stay on their parent's plan until age 26; insurers can no longer put a "cap" on lifetime reimbursements; insurers must accept customers with "pre-existing conditions"; insurers are required to spend at least 80 to 85 percent of premiums on patients; and states must set up "exchanges," a sort of supermarket for people who are not covered to find, ideally, the most cost-effective plans for them.

Insurers are also now compelled to provide preventive care services, including contraceptive care for women, without co-payments or additional charges.

Romney -- Pledged to begin work to repeal "Obamacare" from "day one." But given the legislative climate, the more likely move would be an executive order allowing individual states to opt out of the program. Romney has, at times, said he would like to keep some of the more popular provisions of the president's reform, but has offered no firm commitment.

On Medicare:

Obama -- Opposes any plan that would fundamentally change the nature of Medicare, including implementation of "premium support," which Democrats call "vouchers." Obama has expressed openness to modifications to the program to achieve savings and extend its solvency. The Affordable Care Act extended the solvency of Medicare by eight years, until 2024, by reducing payment rates to health-care providers and curbing waste, fraud and abuse, all to the tune of $716 billion. Benefits guaranteed under the program are not altered by the law. Obama has also added money to close the so-called prescription drug "donut hole."

Romney -- First, no change in benefits for beneficiaries or anyone nearing retirement age (55 or older). After that, it gets a bit murky. Romney has promised to "preserve Medicare" for future generations, but he'd do it by pushing a "premium support" plan, which means that instead of Medicare paying doctors, as it does now, the program would give money to seniors, who would then use that stipend to pick and purchase their own plans.

On Gun Control:

Obama -- Has offered little more, suggesting only "common sense" measures to ban the mentally unstable from buying deadly weapons. Like Romney, he has distanced himself from past support of stricter legislation, including a 1996 mailer in which he indicated support for a possible ban on "the manufacture, sale and possession of handguns."

Romney -- Despite signing a ban on assault weapons while governor of Massachusetts – saying at the time, "These guns are not made for recreation or self defense. They are instruments of destruction with the sole purpose of hunting down and killing people" – Romney has no plans to change gun control laws at the federal level.

On Gay Marriage:

Obama -- After longstanding personal opposition to gay marriage, Obama in an exclusive interview with ABC News in May announced he believes gay couples should be allowed to wed. Has long said he opposes the Defense of Marriage Act, the federal law that defines marriage as being between one man and one woman, and has called for its repeal. His Justice Department ceased defending the law in legal battles, an unprecedented move. Despite his stated support, Obama says he has no plans to push federal legislation compelling the states to recognize same-sex marriages.

Romney -- Says he will "champion" a constitutional amendment "defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman." He has also promised to appoint an attorney general who will "defend the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)," a law the Obama administration has stopped backing in court.

On Gay Adoption:

Obama -- Believes in equal adoption rights for gay and lesbians.

Romney -- Does not explicitly oppose it, but his initial support has wavered. Now, he "acknowledges" the right of same-sex couples to adopt, but would, it seems, defer to states on the issue.

On Abortion:

Obama -- Supports abortion rights and backs Planned Parenthood.

Romney -- Favors a ban in all but cases of rape, incest, or when the life of the mother is at risk. Has said he supports efforts to have the Supreme Court overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that legalized abortion nationwide. This is a departure from past positions: Romney ran as pro-choice candidate in Massachusetts in a 1994 senate race against Ted Kennedy, and again in 2002, during his successful campaign for governor.

On Energy:

Obama -- Supports an "all-of-the-above" plan that includes federal subsidies for wind and solar power providers. Oil drilling on state and federal lands has gone up during Obama's time in the White House, but Obama says he wants to eliminate tax incentives and subsidies for big oil companies. The president has also enacted a number of pollution restrictions on coal-burning plants. The controversial plan to build a new pipeline for crude oil from Canada's tar sands to the Texas Gulf Coast into the U.S. – the Keystone XL pipeline – was partially blocked by his administration because of an environmental review, but could be revived next year.

Romney -- Has also subscribed to an "all-of-the-above" plan, meaning, in theory, no individual industry would be receive more government investment or support than the others. He wants to amend the Clean Air Act to remove carbon dioxide from its jurisdiction and says he will clear the way for the Keystone XL pipeline, which would transport crude oil from Western Canada to refineries on the U.S. Gulf Coast.

On Regulation:

Obama -- Vows to fully implement 2010's Dodd-Frank legislation in a second term, which the administration officials claim will prevent another financial collapse on the scale that hit the country in 2008. The law includes mortgage law overhaul (lenders must now provide more information about the potential costs to borrowers), greater federal oversight of Wall Street and requires banks to hold more capital in reserve.

Romney -- From his website: "A Romney administration will act swiftly to tear down the vast edifice of regulations the Obama administration has imposed on the economy." That means repealing the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which was passed in response to the 2008 financial crisis. Romney would also amend the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002 to remove what the campaign calls "onerous" accounting standards.

On Immigration:

Obama -- Supports the DREAM Act and a comprehensive immigration system overhaul. With bipartisan reform out of reach, Obama, on June 15, said his administration would grant temporary legal status and work permits to eligible young, undocumented immigrants who came to the US as children, complete schooling or military service, and have no criminal record. Obama has deported record numbers of immigrants during his term -- more than 1.4 million people since taking office in 2009. By contrast, President George W. Bush deported 2 million immigrants over eight years, 2001-2009.

Romney -- Opposes the DREAM Act, which offers a path to citizenship for children brought into the country illegally. He does, however, support allowing permanent citizenship for military veterans. Romney also backs the building of a border fence and Arizona's controversial immigration law.

On Education:

Obama -- Created "Race to the Top," an initiative designed to create competition for federal grants and inspire innovation in American schools. Rejecting Bush administration policy, Obama created a waiver program that offered schools a break from "No Child Left Behind" standards. Wants the United States to have the highest proportion of college graduates by 2020. If passed, his American Jobs Act would steer $30 billion toward public education.

Romney -- Would push for legislation that ties federal funding to reforms that would expand "parental choice," meaning a voucher-style system that allows students and their families to shop for school. For college students, Romney wants to remove the government as much as possible from the student loan game, saying private sector options would create more competition and better deals for students.

On War:

Obama -- Afghanistan-Pakistan -- President Obama ordered a surge of 30,000 US troops into Afghanistan in December 2009. They were completely withdrawn as of September 2012. His administration set a timetable for complete withdrawal of U.S. combat forces by 2014. As part of the deal negotiated with the Karzai government, the U.S. will keep a smaller "residual" force in the country for at least another decade.

Both candidates support the use of unmanned drone strikes on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

Romney -- Afghanistan-Pakistan -- Said during a speech Oct. 8 he would "pursue a real and successful transition to Afghan security forces by the end of 2014," right in line with the Obama timeline for withdrawal. Romney qualified this by promising he would "evaluate conditions on the ground and weigh the best advice of our military commanders" before making that decision. But his position, it seems, has softened since then, making it almost indistinguishable from the president's plan.

Obama -- Iraq -- Per a 2008 campaign pledge, Obama presided over the final withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Iraq in December 2011. Negotiations on a SOFA fell apart when the Nouri al-Maliki government refused to grant legal immunity to U.S. troops, which would have allowed a small contingent to remain past the deadline.

Romney -- Iraq -- Backed the 2007 "surge" and criticized President Obama's decision to end combat operations in 2011 without signing a "Status of Forces Agreement" (SOFA), which would have allowed the United States to keep about 5,000 troops in country to train Iraqi forces. The campaign has said a President Romney would manage the transition in Iraq by using a "broad array of our foreign-policy tools — diplomatic, economic, and military."

On Defense Spending:

Obama -- Opposes the round of automatic defense cuts (sequester). Proposed cutting $500 billion in defense spending in the next 10 years, focusing on building a smaller, more agile force and a larger fleet of drones.

Romney -- Says the military needs "rebuilding" and has promised to guarantee that at least 4 percent of GDP will go to defense spending.

On Israel and Palestinians:

Obama -- His administration, unable to significantly advance peace talks between both side, has called for a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders between Israel and Palestine. Has condemned Palestinian efforts to "delegitimize" Israel and seek independent status at the U.N. Obama has a notably cool and often frustrated relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but both administrations tout unprecedented U.S.-Israeli security ties. Together, they've just conducted the largest ever joint military exercise. U.S. military aid topped $3.1 billion this year, its highest ever amount. Obama has said the United States will stand by Israel's side if it attacks – or is attacked by – Iran.

Romney -- Publicly supports a two-state solution to be negotiated by the Israelis and Palestinians. He has not said what the parameters of that deal should be, nor if he'd support the 1967 borders as a starting point for talks. Romney has also said he would cut aid to Palestine if leaders there continued to push for recognition at the United Nations. But in a secretly recorded conversation with donors in May, Romney was more blunt, saying, "The Palestinians have no interest whatsoever in establishing peace, and the pathway to peace is almost unthinkable to accomplish ... [so] what you do is, you say, you move things along the best way you can. You hope for some degree of stability, but you recognize that this is going to remain an unsolved problem, and we kick the ball down the field and hope that, ultimately, somehow, something will happen and resolve it."

On Iran:

Obama -- Has imposed unprecedented economic sanctions against Iran while simultaneously pursuing multilateral diplomatic talks with China, France, Germany, Russia, the U.K., U.S., and Germany (also known as the "P5+1"). Obama's approach has not slowed Iran's enrichment program, which the IAEA has reported continues apace. He says all options -- including military -- remain on the table to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

Romney -- Has said he would not stand in the way of an Israeli airstrike on Iranian nuclear sites. He has also suggested that the military beef up its presence in the Persian Gulf, impose more sanctions, and, more vocally, he has not proposed material assistance to the current government.

On The Arab Spring:

Obama -- Obama has called for Syria's President Assad to step down. The administration has also provided financial and other non-lethal technical support to the Syrian rebels and pushed for sanctions against the government through the U.N., but that was blocked by a Russian veto. The president has, however, called any action by the regime to mobilize or use chemical or biological weapons a "red line'" that, if crossed, could mean deeper engagement.

Romney -- Called for arming the rebels in Syria, but only those who "share our values." He has also said the U.S. must "identify and organize" those forces in an effort to blunt Iran's influence in the region. Like the president, Romney has so far withheld support for establishing a no-fly zone, Libya-style, over the country.

On Africa:

Obama -- Has kept up funding for programs initiated during the George W. Bush administration, including funding for HIV/AIDS treatment and research. Obama has also initiated a number of smaller-scale initiatives, like Feed the Future, which channels resources into programs that invest in "agriculture and nutrition-related activities."

Romney -- Says the American government needs to be more aggressive in backing "business-friendly" governments on the continent. Romney warns that China will establish a foothold there if the U.S. is not more proactive.

On Russia:

Obama -- Implemented what he called a "restart" with the Russians after taking office in 2009. His administration's "restart" with the Putin government yielded a new arms reduction treaty, but little since. Most experts on the region agree that the "restart" will need a thorough review after the election.

Romney -- Pledged to review the New Strategic Arms Reduction treaty (New START), which has both the U.S. and Russia cutting its launcher fleet by half. Romney has called Russia the country's "number one geopolitical foe," explaining he meant it in a diplomatic sense and that Iran, to his mind, is the foremost "threat" to the U.S.

On China:

Obama -- Has taken a dual approach to China, challenging their trade practices in cases before the World Trade Organization – initiating more new cases in the past four years that George W. Bush did in eight. Expanding the American military and diplomatic presence in Asia.

Romney -- Claims the Chinese have gained their economic stronghold in part by infringing on American intellectual property and by manipulating their currency to make it stronger on the international market. He has proposed trade tariffs and other punitive measures until they agree to new standards written by the World Trade Organization.

On Trade:

Obama -- Sealed three – Colombia, South Korea, and Panama – new free trade agreements since taking office. All of them, however, were put into motion before he took office. They passed Congress with mostly Republican support. Supporters have claimed that the deals will yield about $13 billion new exports annually.

The president has not, as promised during his first run for office, moved to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Romney -- A free trade hawk, he supports (NAFTA) and is pushing for more and larger deals. Most notably, he wants to bring back the Trade Promotional Authority, which would allow the president to negotiate international trade agreements for presentation to Congress, which can give a thumbs' up or down, but not amend the terms of the deals.

Source: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/obama-romney-stand-big-issues/story?id=17611080#.UJLuFhyd6vp