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Illegal aliens (Library of Congress Subject Heading) Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge

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Study Guide: The Evolution of Library Subject Headings: The 'Illegal Aliens' Controversy

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The Evolution of Library Subject Headings: The 'Illegal Aliens' Controversy Study Guide

Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) System

The Library of Congress Classification is a system used to describe the content of library resources, similar to subject headings.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Library of Congress Classification (LCC) is a distinct system used for organizing library materials by subject using alphanumeric codes, differing from subject headings which describe content.

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The term "topical subject term" refers to a standardized label used for cataloging and retrieving information on a specific subject.

Answer: True

Explanation: A 'topical subject term' is a standardized phrase or word used within a thesaurus, such as the Library of Congress Subject Headings, to represent the main subject of a resource for cataloging and retrieval.

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A "thesaurus" in information retrieval is a collection of unrelated terms used for broad searching.

Answer: False

Explanation: In information retrieval, a thesaurus is a controlled vocabulary that lists terms and their relationships, used to standardize indexing and searching for improved accuracy, not a collection of unrelated terms.

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The Library of Congress's subject heading system is primarily used by academic institutions, not public libraries.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Library of Congress's subject heading system is widely used by academic and public libraries globally, providing a standardized framework for information organization and access.

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The Library of Congress Classification system, mentioned in the source, is primarily used for what purpose?

Answer: To organize books and materials using alphanumeric codes based on subject.

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What is the function of a "thesaurus" in the context of information retrieval, as described in the source?

Answer: A controlled vocabulary listing terms and their relationships to standardize indexing and searching.

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The Library of Congress's decision to make its subject heading change process publicly available signifies:

Answer: Increased transparency and accountability in its decision-making.

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History of the "Illegal Aliens" Heading

The Library of Congress Subject Heading (LCSH) "Illegal aliens" was primarily designated for cataloging resources pertaining to legal immigration processes.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Library of Congress Subject Heading (LCSH) 'Illegal aliens' was designated as a topical term for cataloging resources pertaining to undocumented immigration, not legal immigration processes.

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The subject heading "Illegal aliens" garnered significant political attention in the United States around 2015.

Answer: False

Explanation: The subject heading 'Illegal aliens' garnered significant political attention in the United States in 2016, largely due to the Library of Congress's decision to revise it.

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In 2016, the Library of Congress decided to replace the "Illegal aliens" heading with "Undocumented immigrants" exclusively.

Answer: False

Explanation: In 2016, the Library of Congress decided to revise the 'Illegal aliens' heading, intending to replace it with terms such as 'Noncitizens' and 'Unauthorized immigration,' not solely 'Undocumented immigrants'.

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The subject heading "Illegal aliens" was initially established by the Library of Congress in 1993.

Answer: False

Explanation: The subject heading 'Illegal aliens' was established in 1993, evolving from the earlier term 'Aliens, Illegal,' which was first introduced in 1980.

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The subject heading "Aliens, Illegal" was revised to "Illegal aliens" in the year 1980.

Answer: False

Explanation: The subject heading 'Aliens, Illegal' was established in 1980. It was later revised to 'Illegal aliens' in 1993.

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In February 2015, the Library of Congress agreed to change the "Illegal aliens" heading, citing evolving language standards.

Answer: False

Explanation: In February 2015, the Library of Congress initially declined to change the 'Illegal aliens' heading, citing the term's established use in resources like 'Black's Law Dictionary'.

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The Library of Congress officially announced its decision to replace the "Illegal aliens" subject heading in March 2015.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Library of Congress officially announced its decision to replace the 'Illegal aliens' subject heading in March 2016, following advocacy efforts and discussions.

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What was the primary purpose of the Library of Congress Subject Heading (LCSH) "Illegal aliens"?

Answer: To provide a standardized term for resources on undocumented immigration.

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In which year did the subject heading "Illegal aliens" become a focal point of significant political discussion in the U.S.?

Answer: 2016

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What action did the Library of Congress decide to take regarding the "Illegal aliens" subject heading in 2016?

Answer: Revise it, intending to replace it with terms like "Noncitizens" and "Unauthorized immigration."

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Which two headings were announced by the Library of Congress in March 2016 to replace the "Illegal aliens" group?

Answer: "Noncitizens" and "Unauthorized immigration"

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When was the subject heading initially established by the Library of Congress, before being revised to "Illegal aliens"?

Answer: 1980

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Why did the Library of Congress initially decline to change the "Illegal aliens" heading in February 2015?

Answer: Because sources like "Black's Law Dictionary" used the term.

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Advocacy and Activism for Terminology Change

The "Drop the I-Word" campaign was initiated by the Associated Press to encourage more precise language in reporting.

Answer: False

Explanation: The 'Drop the I-Word' campaign was initiated in 2010 by the racial justice organization Race Forward, advocating against the use of 'illegal' for undocumented immigrants due to its dehumanizing, racially charged, and legally inaccurate connotations.

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Student activists from Harvard University were the primary group requesting the change from "Illegal aliens" to "Undocumented immigrants."

Answer: False

Explanation: Student activists from the Dartmouth Coalition for Immigration Reform, Equality and DREAMers (CoFIRED) were the primary group requesting the change from 'Illegal aliens' to 'Undocumented immigrants'.

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The American Library Association (ALA) passed a resolution in January 2016 characterizing "illegal aliens" as a potentially acceptable term.

Answer: False

Explanation: In January 2016, the American Library Association Council passed a resolution characterizing the term 'illegal aliens' as 'dehumanizing, offensive, inflammatory, and even a racial slur,' urging its change.

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The documentary film "Change the Subject" focuses on the activism of students at Yale University regarding library subject headings.

Answer: False

Explanation: The documentary film 'Change the Subject' focuses on the activism of students at Dartmouth College regarding library subject headings, specifically the 'Illegal aliens' heading.

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The Brooklyn Public Library produced an 11-minute video titled "Words That Hurt" discussing language impact.

Answer: True

Explanation: The Brooklyn Public Library produced an 11-minute video titled 'Words That Hurt,' which addresses the impact of language, particularly concerning terminology used for individuals.

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Which organization launched the "Drop the I-Word" campaign in 2010?

Answer: Race Forward

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Which group of student activists requested the Library of Congress change the heading to "Undocumented immigrants"?

Answer: The Dartmouth Coalition for Immigration Reform, Equality and DREAMers (CoFIRED)

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What characterization did the American Library Association Council apply to the term "illegal aliens" in their January 2016 resolution?

Answer: Dehumanizing, offensive, inflammatory, and potentially a racial slur

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Linguistic and Ethical Dimensions of Terminology

In 2013, the Associated Press began using the term "illegal" to describe people who entered the country without authorization.

Answer: False

Explanation: In 2013, the Associated Press revised its policy to use the term 'illegal' exclusively to describe an action, not a person, acknowledging that individuals cannot be 'illegal' in the same way actions can.

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The term "dehumanizing" in relation to "Illegal aliens" suggests the label ignores the person's humanity by reducing them to a legal status.

Answer: True

Explanation: The term 'dehumanizing,' when applied to 'Illegal aliens,' suggests that the label strips individuals of their identity and dignity by reducing them to a legal status rather than recognizing their inherent humanity.

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The term "racially charged" implies that the use of "illegal" for people is often linked to specific racial or ethnic groups and prejudice.

Answer: True

Explanation: The term 'racially charged' implies that the use of 'illegal' for people is frequently associated with specific racial or ethnic groups and carries connotations of prejudice or discrimination.

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From a legal perspective, applying the term "illegal" to a person is considered precise and accurate by most standards.

Answer: False

Explanation: From a legal perspective, applying the term 'illegal' to a person is often considered imprecise, as illegality typically pertains to actions rather than the inherent status of an individual.

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What change did the Associated Press implement in its style guide in 2013 concerning the word "illegal"?

Answer: It decided to use "illegal" only to describe an action, not a person.

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The "Drop the I-Word" campaign argued that using "illegal" for immigrants was problematic because it was considered:

Answer: Dehumanizing, racially charged, and legally inaccurate.

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What does the term "legally inaccurate" imply about calling a person "illegal"?

Answer: It is imprecise because illegality typically applies to actions, not people themselves.

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Political and Legislative Interventions

Congressional intervention in the Library of Congress's decision regarding the "Illegal aliens" heading was unprecedented in U.S. history.

Answer: True

Explanation: Congressional intervention in the Library of Congress's decision to revise the 'Illegal aliens' subject heading was unprecedented, marking the first instance of such interference in the determination of an LCSH.

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Following the March 2016 announcement, Democratic lawmakers attempted to block the Library of Congress's revision of the "Illegal aliens" subject heading.

Answer: False

Explanation: Following the March 2016 announcement, legislative efforts, including proposed bills and provisions in appropriations acts, were made to block the Library of Congress's revision of the 'Illegal aliens' subject heading.

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The House of Representatives' provision in the 2017 appropriations bill successfully mandated the Library of Congress retain the exact phrase "Illegal aliens."

Answer: False

Explanation: The House of Representatives' provision in the 2017 appropriations bill required the Library of Congress to make its subject heading change process publicly available, though it did not mandate retaining the exact phrase 'Illegal aliens' without revision.

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Senators Ted Cruz and Mike Braun praised the Library of Congress's 2021 subject heading changes as a necessary update.

Answer: False

Explanation: Senators Ted Cruz and Mike Braun criticized the Library of Congress's 2021 subject heading changes, describing them as a 'politically-motivated and Orwellian attempt to manipulate and control language'.

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Senators Cruz and Braun used the term "Orwellian" to suggest the Library of Congress was making neutral cataloging updates.

Answer: False

Explanation: Senators Cruz and Braun used the term 'Orwellian' to suggest the Library of Congress was engaging in language manipulation and thought control, rather than making neutral cataloging updates.

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What was unique about Congress's intervention concerning the "Illegal aliens" subject heading change?

Answer: It marked the first instance of Congressional interference in determining an LCSH.

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What was the outcome of the House of Representatives' inclusion of a provision in the 2017 appropriations bill concerning the "Illegal aliens" subject heading?

Answer: It required the Library to make its subject heading change process publicly available, though not mandating the exact original wording.

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Senators Ted Cruz and Mike Braun described the Library of Congress's 2021 subject heading changes as primarily:

Answer: A politically motivated and Orwellian manipulation of language.

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Key Figures and Perspectives on Terminology

Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel believed that the concept of a human being being "illegal" was a valid legal classification.

Answer: False

Explanation: Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel argued against the concept of a human being being 'illegal,' stating it was a contradiction and emphasizing inherent humanity over legal status.

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Jose Antonio Vargas argued that the term "illegal" applied to people is accurate because laws govern actions.

Answer: False

Explanation: Jose Antonio Vargas argued that the term 'illegal' applied to people is problematic, asserting that it is dehumanizing and marginalizing, and questioning the application of 'illegal' to individuals rather than actions.

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The slogan "No human being is illegal" was popularized by which individual?

Answer: Elie Wiesel

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What was the core argument behind the slogan "No human being is illegal"?

Answer: The concept of a person being "illegal" is a contradiction, highlighting inherent humanity.

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Jose Antonio Vargas argued that applying the term "illegal" to people is problematic because it is:

Answer: Dehumanizing and marginalizing.

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Subsequent Revisions and Ongoing Debates

Over fifty libraries and library systems have revised the "Illegal aliens" heading in their local catalogs.

Answer: False

Explanation: Over forty libraries and library systems have revised the 'Illegal aliens' heading in their local catalogs, indicating a broad adoption of alternative terminology.

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Harvard University revised its cataloging of the "Illegal aliens" heading in 2021.

Answer: True

Explanation: Harvard University revised its cataloging of the 'Illegal aliens' heading in 2021, as did several other university libraries.

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The Library of Congress announced a revision to immigration-related terms in November 2021, changing "Aliens" to "Noncitizens."

Answer: True

Explanation: In November 2021, the Library of Congress announced revisions to immigration-related terms, changing 'Aliens' to 'Noncitizens' and 'Illegal aliens' to 'Illegal immigration'.

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Some librarians agreed with the 2021 changes, believing that "Illegal immigration" fully resolved concerns about dehumanizing language.

Answer: False

Explanation: Some librarians expressed criticism of the 2021 changes, arguing that the retention of 'illegal' in 'Illegal immigration' did not fully resolve concerns about dehumanizing language.

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Approximately how many libraries and library systems had revised the "Illegal aliens" heading in their local catalogs by the time the source was compiled?

Answer: Over 40

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Which of the following university libraries is mentioned as having revised its cataloging related to "illegal alien" by 2021?

Answer: Harvard University

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In its November 2021 revision, the Library of Congress replaced "Illegal aliens" with which new heading?

Answer: "Illegal immigration"

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What criticism did some librarians voice regarding the 2021 subject heading changes, specifically concerning "Illegal immigration"?

Answer: The change did not go far enough, as the word "illegal" remained attached to the concept.

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What was the primary criticism some librarians had regarding the 2021 change from "Illegal aliens" to "Illegal immigration"?

Answer: The change did not go far enough, as the word "illegal" remained attached to the concept.

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