The Cal Poly Dream Center opened up dialogues for immigrant, undocumented and mixed status students at its second annual “State of Immigration” event.
The event gathered around 70 people and took place on Wednesday from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Phillips Hall.
“We’re all different,” student panelist Jesus Serrano said to the crowd. “That’s why immigration is so beautiful, because we all have different stories, different experiences.”
The sociology junior was joined on the panel by two other students and one faculty member. Theatre and dance assistant professor Ramón Esquivel moderated the discussion.
The four panelists answered a series of moderated questions centered around their immigrant backgrounds. They spoke about navigating higher education, their experiences on a majority white campus and recent Cal Poly administrative decisions.
All of the panelists scrutinized Cal Poly administration for allowing Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) to recruit at the Fall Career Fair, as previously reported by Mustang News.
READ MORE: U.S. Customs and Border Patrol to recruit at Cal Poly Career Fair
When panelist and child development junior Julianna Muñoz found out CBP would not come to campus due to the government shutdown, also reported by Mustang News, she still felt disappointment that the absence was not because administration listened to students.
READ MORE: U.S. Customs and Border Patrol will no longer be attending the career fair
“Resources [like the career fair] are for students, that’s where their money is going. Students should be able to decide who’s at the career fair,” Muñoz said during the panel.
Serrano, who almost skipped classes for fear of his safety due to CBP’s anticipated presence on campus, agreed. Cal Poly administration should keep funding resources such as the Monarch Scholarship, Latinx Center, Latinx/e Center for Academic Success and Achievement and Dream Center, he also said.
Student panelist Paul Tungol encouraged professors to go over these campus resources and others that provide basic needs during syllabus week during the discussion. The theatre arts junior wants to destigmatize discussions about immigrant and undocumented students’ barriers to access.
Journalism freshman Valeria Noriega felt heard by the panelists as an attendee with immigrant parents who each work two jobs. Noriega also works two jobs on top of being a full-time student in order to support her family and pay tuition.
“A lot of people are privileged,” Noriega said. “I see people going out all the time and having fun and [I] can’t really do that.”
Noriega wasn’t aware of the resources that Serrano brought up and is now planning on reaching out to them, she said. She hopes to find community in these spaces.
Theatre and dance lecturer Hala Baki was the faculty panel member and reminded attendees that immigrant and undocumented folks are not a monolith. She encouraged Cal Poly administration to avoid performativity by taking a more holistic approach to diversity, equity and inclusion.
“We are all one community,” Baki said toward the end of the panel discussion. “So we, and our leadership in particular, should be looking at immigrants and immigration as part of a whole rather than as siloed groups or issues.”
The event ended with a short Q&A session between panelists and audience members.
“State of Immigration” was the Dream Center’s second “UndocuWeek” event, an annual celebration highlighting the undocumented community. The week’s other two events were a kickoff that had resources, games and food and a social with breakfast snacks and a painting activity.
This article has been updated to correct a misspelt name.
