CWU Urges Congressional Support for DREAM Act

June 2, 2011Written by Zuri Cambron

Central Washington University President James L. Gaudino and Board of Trustees Chairman Sid Morrison signed a resolution on June 2, 2011 to the Washington State congressional delegation in support of the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAM Act).

In conjunction with the resolution, Dr. Gaudino and Dr. Morrison wrote a letter to Senator Maria Cantwell expressing the urgency to pass the DREAM Act. They ask Senator Cantwell to continue to support the DREAM Act and extended an invitation to Cantwell to the signing ceremony. Cantwell was unable to join but she expressed her continuous support of this cause. Cantwell has been an original co-sponsor of this bill since 2001.

“The DREAM Act recognizes what is already reality: the children of immigrants are as American as you or I," declared Gaudino. "The truth is that these young people live and work in our communities. They are members of our churches and schools. They are friends, neighbors, and family, and we want them to know that they are welcome at CWU."

The DREAM Act passed the House of Representatives but unfortunately, failed to pass the Senate. But the fight continues on. This year Illinois Senator Dick Durbin reintroduced the bill on May 2011.

Don’t give up amigos/as we need people like you to organize and advocate for equality and human rights. Let’s continue to work hard. It will take continuous commitment but we will ultimately succeed. Like people say we might have lost a battle but not the war. If we continue to work together along with other communities around the nation we can work to advance the DREAM Act. Let this year be the year. Encourage others to be part of this movement; professors, neighbor’s, family and friends, members of our community, and most of all call your congressional senators to take part of this important cause. Take the CWU example and see how one community can work together.

The Latino/a Educational Achievement Project (LEAP) of Washington state will continue to work with the United States Congress to pass the DREAM Act. LEAP is committed to developing educational policies directed to achieve higher education. One of the most important workshops in the LEAP annual conference in February is to advocate for the DREAM Act. We ask students to participate in such workshops and to bring new ideas. Have any ideas? Don’t hesitate to share these ideas with others or post them on this site. Together we can bring change. Si se puede y adelante con la educación!

Generate your ideas here or any other web site that advocates for the DREAM Act, don’t limit yourself. For more information or for ideas, please visit the following websites to get connected to other activist around the nation.

http://www.dreamact.com/
http://www.dreamact.info/
http://www.unitedwedream.org/
http://www.action.dreamactivist.org/
http://www.change.org/

Thank you, Dr. James L. Gaudino and Dr. Sid Morrison from CWU for all of your support. Other sincere thanks go to U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray who have continued to be supporters of the DREAM Act since the beginning. Additional thanks to Senator Durbin who reintroduced the DREAM Act and to everyone else who continues to fight for this cause.

Zuri Cambron is currently a communication major at Eastern Washington University. She has been interning at Sea Mar Community Health Centers in its communication and accounting department. She considers herself a DREAM Act activist and is excited to graduate with her BA at the end of July.