Login to Change.org
Use Facebook to connect with friends and mobilize your social network.
Create an Account
The Chicano Caucus has been planning an initiative to get President Bollinger to come out to publically support the S. 729, the Development, Relief, Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, and we would appreciate if you sign this letter of support.
The DREAM Act would allow undocumented students to gain conditional permanent legal resident status as they pursue their undergraduate education. This act also grants a path to citizenship for those who fulfill the requirements specified, which would allow hard-working individuals who have shown their dedication to the United States to work in their chosen field and legally contribute to the American economy.
Our goal is to get President Bollinger to make an official statement of support for the DREAM Act by this June, so we must act fast! The Presidents of Harvard, UPenn, and Stanford have already made similar public statements of support. The Caucus is planning on meeting with President Bollinger and presenting him the letter of support. We feel that it is important for President Bollinger to see support from many students on campus. Therefore, if you are interested in supporting our efforts, we ask that you sign on to this letter.
If you know of any other people who would be interested in signing on as well, please forward them the link to this letter of support.
Thank you so much!
Chicano Caucus
President Bollinger: Please publicly support the DREAM Act
Greetings,
Dear President Bollinger,
I write to ask for your support for S. 729, the Development, Relief, Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act.
As you may be aware, approximately 65,000 undocumented students graduate from our nation’s high schools each year. Unfortunately, many of these students are unable to pursue a higher level of education because of their immigration status. Many of these students have lived in the United States for most of their lives and have extraordinary records of high academic achievement and community involvement. The DREAM Act would allow these students to gain conditional permanent legal resident status as they pursue their undergraduate education. This act also grants a path to citizenship for those who fulfill the requirements specified, which would allow hard-working individuals who have shown their dedication to the United States to work in their chosen field and legally contribute to the American economy.
From the DREAM Act’s first introduction to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives in 2001 to its most recent launch in 2009, it has garnered the support of numerous politicians, university presidents and organizations that promote higher education. President Barack Obama, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, Senator Arlen Specter, Harvard President Drew Gilpin Faust, University of Pennsylvania President Dr. Amy Gutmann, Stanford University President John Hennessy, the College Board, and the University of California Board of Regents are a few of the many supporters of the DREAM Act.
Columbia University prides itself on dedicating substantial attention and resources to improving access to higher education. As the President of Columbia University, you are in a position of profound influence, and we respectfully request that you help in this effort by publicly supporting and formally recognizing the importance and the necessity of the DREAM Act. Passage of this act would mitigate the educational inequality that undocumented students face in this country, providing already hard working students the well-earned ability to reach their fullest potential, and achieve the American Dream.
Based on the aforementioned, I urge you to join the many supporters of the DREAM Act and ask that you send a letter to our local senators and representatives, or in the alternative, I respectfully request that you make an official statement in support of the DREAM Act.
It is imperative that the Columbia University community recognize the dream of higher education present and palpable both within and outside our campus by supporting the DREAM Act! President Bollinger, your leadership on this legislation would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much for your time.
Sincerely,
[Your name]