[Press Relase] Undocumented Students Speak Out Against Increase Tuition and Unchallenged Discriminatory Practices at Northeastern Illinois University

[José G. Herrera]

For immediate release

For Tuesday, March 26, 2013

 

Press Contacts:

Jose Herrera, 773-632-9992

Joselyn Galvez, 773-206-4476

 

Undocumented Students Speak Out Against Unchallenged Discriminatory Practices and Increase Tuition at Northeastern Illinois University

 

Chicago IL – Undocumented students of Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) have organized a Speak Out event in which they will address NEIU administrators, faculty and staff on what they consider to be discriminatory practices that the University holds against students lacking a social security number or citizenship status – this is in connection to the One year anniversary of the undocumented student club “Undocumented Resilient and Organized – URO.”

 

URO demands full access to education, on campus resources and job opportunities, and full participation in all programs and services at NEIU, no matter the student’s immigration status – something that is currently denied to undocumented students. Some of these policies of the university have long gone unchallenged - until now. In addition they will touch upon a recent decision by the board of trustees to increase tuition to incoming students and those who have been at the University for more than six years.  

 

“We recently learned that tuition was going to increase. We can only hope that the number of scholarships will also increase. They say it takes a village to raise a child. In our case, it is an undocumented child and we hope that our village, which is NEIU, can remove the barriers we face on-campus” stated URO member and graduate Joselyn Galvez.

“Tuition will increase this coming fall, and this increase will disproportionately affect undocumented students who pay out of pocket; they will also affect students who have been at the university for over 6 years, as I have. Students stay here for many years because we are poor and further impoverished by having to pay tuition” said Jose Herrera a student and migrant justice advocate.

 

NEIU board of trustees members were invited to attend. Administrators, faculty and staff were also invited to attend. Dr. Frank Ross, Vice President for Students Affairs, other administrators, staff and faculty have confirmed attendance.

 

WHAT: URO’s One Year Anniversary and Speak Out Event

WHEN: Tuesday – March 26, 2013

WHERE: 5500 N. St. Louis, Student Union Building - Golden Eagles Room (SU 103)

TIME: 2:30PM-4:15pm

 

*Media is welcome to arrive at any point of the program. Speeches will be made between 3:10 and 3:45pm.

Program is as follows

 

·         2:30 - Social: Networking, food/Appetizers and Music provided by our URO friend Bryan Castillo

·         3:05 - Welcoming: by URO members Jazmín Morales (URO - President) and Lisbet Ruiz

·         3:10 - Speak Out: Guest Speakers include

o   Elizabeth Cervantes: NEIU Alumna, former URO member, community organizer, and an awesome friend! She holds a BA in sociology. She is also the co-founder of the Bolingbrook community-based organization, Southwest Suburban Immigrant Project (SSIP). Elizabeth has done extensive work on electoral organizing and immigrant rights activism. She currently is an organizer for the Dupage County Area Project promoting the Youth Mariachi Arts program.

o   Dra. Christina Gómez: URO club adviser an amazing professor and friend. Dra. Gómez is a sociology professor and serves as the coordinator for the Latino and Latin American Studies program at NEIU. She helps cultivate humbleness, confidence and agency for URO. She shares with us the many ways we can express ourselves, valuing the many knowledges and experiences of students, e.g. undocumented students, always prioritizing students as agents of solutions.

o   Dr. Erica Meiners: An amazing friend and scholar-activist. Dr. Meiners is a professor of Education and Women's and Gender Studies at NEIU. She is also a great mentor! Always engaging with students, sharing knowledge, opening new pathways and breaking down barriers with students at NEIU. On and off campus she is well known for her amazing work both theoretical and practical. Working for justice, she addresses topics e.g. prison industrial complex, militarization, immigration, border, detention, deportation, and queer and feminist politics. She shares an abolitionist and critical perspectives that challenge our ways of thinking and viewing our daily lives.

o   Joselyn Gálvez: NEIU graduate, co-founder and alumna adviser for URO, a great friend and colleague! She holds a BA in mathematics and secondary education; currently she is pursuing Bilingual/Bicultural Education at NEIU. Joselyn has been recognized for her excellence in her academic studies as well as for her passion in education, especially with immigrant Latino/a high school students. URO sees Joselyn as an example of dedication and commitment to the undocumented struggle. She uses her life experiences as a political tool for education and mobilization.

·         3:30 - Special Recognitions: These are to be revealed on the day of the event, as well as in the program brochure on that day.

·         3:40 - Call to Action and Final Remarks: by: José G. Herrera, a senior majoring in sociology and Karen Figueroa, former NEIU student and longtime migrant and social justice advocate.

·         3:55 - Belly Dance Performance by Gabriela Buitrón and

o   Guitar and viola Performance by Franklin Ortega and Samuel Aguirre

·         4:30 End of event

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In solidarity,

URO Team

Visit us at www.neiu.edu/~uro

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Undocumented Resilient & Organized is an organization of undocumented and fellow students who can relate, commit and contribute to the following:

• Building a community of support among undocumented students at NEIU.
• Creating awareness about issues affecting undocumented students and students of mixed-status families. This includes educating administration, faculty, staff and students but also ourselves.
• Mentoring undocumented high school students as they transition to higher education.
• Building bridges among other student organizations on and off campus.
• Expanding financial resources available to undocumented students through: fundraisers, new scholarships, and other incentives.

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José G. Herrera

(773) 632-9992