Monday, October 22, 2012 Today
we launch a campaign with the intent to create a safe space for students who
are undocumented, and to share with those who have a strong commitment to
create a community of care, and confidentiality, for all students regardless of
their status in this country.
Student
activism for an immigration reform has been very active all over the country,
and while some are very outspoken about their status there are still many faces
that continue to be in the shadows and feel afraid. This campaign was born out of student
advocacy; it began in Georgia with a group of brave undocumented students, they
did the following to portray how they were feeling about being undocumented and
denied the right to obtain a higher education.
On
January 21, 2012 about 20 students wore a scarlet "U" on their shirts
to a Georgia House Higher Education Committee, which was going to hold a
hearing on House Bill 59. "The bill would prohibit undocumented
immigrants from enrolling in any of the 35 colleges in the University System of
Georgia and the 25 colleges in the Technical College System of Georgia.
Colleges would be required to run students' names through a federal database to
make sure they are in the country lawfully. Only if they are would they be
allowed to attend a public college."
The
scarlet U's represented what they say is the stigma and second-class status
placed on undocumented students.
Below,
"Keish Kim, 20, of Roswell, an undocumented immigrant, speaks during a hearing
on HB 59, which would ban undocumented immigrants from attending any public
college in Georgia. She wore a scarlet U to represent her undocumented status." You can also click on the photo; you will be
directed to a video of Keish addressing the Georgia Board of Regents on behalf
of the Georgia
Undocumented Youth Alliance and undocumented students on November
8, 2011.
In
March, 2012 during the annual National Association of Student Personal
Administrators some student affairs professionals wore scarlet U's on their
nametags. This was initiated by the
mobilization through the Latino Knowledge Community members. This
particular year, the conference was in Phoenix, Arizona, a state where
undocumented individuals have been targeted and ethnic studies have been banned
from public institutions. The purpose
was to bring awareness, be in solidarity with students and for each other as
allies, and also to make sure the issues did not go unmentioned throughout the
conference.
Today,
we invite you to join this student initiated movement, to help these students
stop feeling silenced, unnoticed, and help them be unafraid to share their status with you. Undocumented.
Unafraid. Unashamed.
Safe Space
We
will be providing safe space undocumented student emblems for all those present who wish to take
this back to their campus, and display it.
In the same way that the safe space emblem has been identified for the
LGBTQ community as an indicator of willingness and commitment to provide an
atmosphere of support for persons of all sexual orientations, gender identities
and gender variances. Our hope is that this scarlet U emblem, will be
recognized as safe space for undocumented students, and indicate a commitment
to provide an atmosphere of support, respect, and privacy for all persons who
wish to display their undocumented status.
For
this to happen we need your help, if you are committed to helping undocumented
students, please display this emblem.
Our only request is that if you do display this emblem, then you
- are committed to supporting undocumented students
- have researched the topic and have knowledge of resources, both institutional
and community
- will do everything possible to make sure students are not placed in harm's way
(i.e. sharing their status with others, etc.)
- acknowledge that even the best intent, could have a negative impact if a
student's information are entrusted to anyone other than allies only.
Our
hope is that we collectively start creating a safe and empowering space for all
students, where they are able to be cared for and educated holistically regardless
of their status in this country.
Thank
you!
Juanita Jasso, Krystle Cobian,
Rodolfo Mondragon
Questions: Juanita Jasso (jassoj@seattleu.edu)
References
Diamond,
L. (2012, January 31). Much debate over bill to bar illegal immigrants from
Georgia colleges. The Atlanta
Journal-Constitution. Retrieved
from http://www.ajc.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/much-debate-over-bill-to-bar-illegal-immigrants-fr/nQQtz/.
Undocumented
Immigrant Tumbler [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/undocumented-immigrant?before=1327541072