Students at Loyola University in Chicago recently voted to add $5 a year to their student fees in order to fund scholarships for their undocumented peers, Politico reports.
(Magis Scholars Fund at Loyola University of Chicago via Facebook)
The drive goes by the name “Magis Scholarship,” which, in Latin, means “more.”
The United We Dream organization, which is led by young immigrants, lists 72 institutions across the country that have so far come out in favor of helping to support undocumented students by making certain commitments. This list includes the University of Maryland, College Park, and the following educational institutions in Illinois:
- University Of Illinois, Chicago (Office of Career Services), including creating brochures that acknowledge the realities and successes of undocumented immigrants
- Loyola Univerity Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, which was, incidentally, the first medical school in the US to admit undocumented students
- Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, including hosting an undocumented immigrant awareness day
- University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, including compiling a list of services on the school’s website and starting a scholarship fund for undocumented students
- Richard Daley Community College, Chicago, including developing a tracking system for undocumented students and building a scholarship fund
- Urbana High School, including support for a national Educators Coming Out Day
- Instituto Health Sciences Career Academy Charter High School, Chicago, including starting an extracurricular club for undocumented students
- Chicago Academy High School, including hosting an undocumented immigrant awareness day
Where do we go from here to support undocumented students?
At Loyola, there’s more to adding a fee for every student—even one as small as $5—than simply having students vote on it. The Board of Trustees, through its Finance Committee, is expected to consider the proposal at its June meeting and probably vote on it in December.
In the meantime, the fight goes on.
“What comes next is the fight,” Student Government President Michael Fasullo said on the school’s website. “What we have to do is ensure that this is implemented.”
Most students, including Student Government leaders like Mr Fasullo, are aware that undocumented students don’t qualify for any financial assistance from the federal government. In Texas, for example, legislators are hearing emotional testimony from undocumented students as they consider legislation that would make those students pay tuition at the higher out-of-state rate for the state’s colleges and universities, the Texas Tribune noted.
“Quite possibly the best part about this effort is that it will be a demonstration of commitment from just the Loyola undergraduate body,” Politico quoted former Loyola Student Government President Flavio Bravo as saying. “Now that the student body has initiated the funding for the scholarship, the doors are open for faculty, staff, alumni, and community leaders to continue contributing to this initiative.”
