CSUSB DREAMers Resource and Success Center Celebrate Anniversary

SAN BERNARDINO>> California State University, San Bernardino’s DREAMers Resource and Success Center celebrated its one year anniversary in providing a place where undocumented students can meet on campus, exchange ideas and provide support to one another. "In a relatively short time this center has become an extremely valuable resource of our campus community,” CSUSB President Tomás D. Morales told about 100 students, faculty, staff and guests at the Santos Manuel Student Union. “A dedicated staff provides workshops on college preparation, financial aid, scholarships and immigration and so much more.” Along with providing services to the campus community, Morales said the center has also extended its reach off campus. “Through collaborative efforts, the center has secured pro bono legal assistance from community attorneys to help our students and their families,” Morales said. “The center not only serves our campus community, but also the larger community.” The DREAMers center is part of the university’s ongoing mission to help students excel. That effort also includes the Pan-African Student Success Center, which opened in October and other centers currently in the works as CSUSB takes a multi-cultural approach to ensure the success of all of its students, Morales said. The center’s anniversary celebration comes two weeks after the presidential elections, which has left uncertainties in the status of DREAMers. Morales said California State University system Chancellor Tim White and Cal State Student Association President David Lopez “have pledged that both the CSU and the Cal State Students Association will seek to hold our political leaders to account, regardless of party, and will be leading advocates in advancing the rights of our students, faculty and staff.” Morales added that White, at the CSU Board of Trustees meeting on Nov. 16, said the “CSU is deeply committed to fostering a campus community that is safe and welcoming for everyone. We are joining hands with other universities, colleges and educational associations across America, to protect access, affordability, intellectual freedom, inclusivity and diversity for all students including supporting DACA students and the communities that support them.” The California Government Code states that “the CSU will not enter into agreements with law enforcement agencies or immigration officials for the enforcement of federal immigration law, University police will not honor immigration hold requests, University police do not contact, detain, question or arrest individuals solely on the basis of being – or suspected of being – a person that lacks documentation.” Morales said those were not new policies. They were system-wide guidelines put in place months ago and many CSU campuses have had such policies in place for longer than that. U.S. Rep. Pete Aguilar, who presented the center with a congressional proclamation, sought to reassure the attendees. “I know there is a lot of fear out there within the community as well when it comes to the decisions that could be made within the next administration,” said Aguilar, whose the 31st Congressional District includes Loma Linda, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, San Bernardino and Upland. “But I want you to know something. Everyone here is supportive of you and will offer a safe space to work, to be educated to learn and to share with one another.” “We’re going to fight to make sure we move this country forward and that no one is left behind,” Aguilar said. “We will not back down and we will not compromise your freedoms or your future,” Located in the Santos Manuel Student Union, the DREAMers Resource and Success Center is part of the Division of Student Affairs. It focuses on bringing awareness to the California Dream Act (financial aid), employment opportunities, scholarships, internships, immigration services, information about graduate school and other resources that will help achieve student success.