I hope Californians are calling their governor to veto this.
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Protestors gather in support of Dream Act
Students call for financial aid access for undocumented students
By: GEOFF JOHNSON
Issue date: 10/2/07 Section: City News

The California State Capitol was the scene of protest Monday as students gathered in support of a bill that would grant financial aid to undocumented college students.

The bill, SB 1, authored by Senator Gilbert Cedillo, has passed both the California Senate and the Assembly and now awaits the governor's signature. Last year the bill reached the governor's desk, only to be vetoed.

Members of campuses as far-reaching as UC Irvine and CSU Northridge were joined by UC Davis and Sacramento State University students in a series of chants including "The people united will never be defeated" and "Ain't no power like the power of students, because the power of students don't stop!"

Many also bore signs declaring their support for the bill, otherwise known as the "California Dream Act."

Through AB 540, undocumented citizens are eligible for a college education after four years of high school or more. But they still face a number of financial burdens that make a college education difficult, said UC Davis senior genetics major R.K. Mateo.

"I have a friend that works over 40 hours [to pay for their education]", Mateo said.

Dina Cervantes, Executive Committee Chair for the California State Student Association, said many such students are already indoctrinated into California culture.

"Many of these students have been raised as Californians through the educational system," Cervantes said.

Cervantes also said the creation of additional college graduates was necessary for California, as California will be facing a shortage of citizens with a higher education in the coming years.

"It's necessary to the future of California," Cervantes said.

As such, SB 1 could strengthen the California economy, she said.

Miguel Cervantes, chair for the CSSA's legislative affairs committee, said funds have already been set aside for a program such as SB 1. As such, the program the Dream Act would introduce would be "non-competitive," and would not affect financial aid for U.S. citizens.

Alexis Montoya, a student at California State Northridge, said she was only able to attend college through AB 540. But to get the education she wanted, she would need the help of the Dream Act, she said.

"A lot of students don't know about [AB 540]," she said. "I learned about it from my high school counselor."

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