Dear Editor,
In response to the Oct. 17 Eastern Echo article, “Dream Act a bad idea, gives scholarships to wrong people” by David Konarske, I applaud his strong stance on the controversial issue and further appreciate his opinion on the subject. It isn’t an everyday occurrence that undocumented students, not “illegal immigrants,” receive the attention and publicity they deserve.
Unfortunately, Konarske wasn’t fully informed. His column was just an opinion. Many statements in his article were from his own personal experience of not knowing “any of these people personally.” We need writers such as Konarske to give their opinions on matters such as these from their vantage point to inform readers that ignorance is still among us at large as citizens of the United States of America.
Those of us fortunate to have been born and raised in the United States don’t know what it is like to live undocumented and labeled a criminal all our lives. We don’t know the hardships of living in the U.S. without proper documentation and the same God-given rights granted to us as American citizens. These undocumented students requesting tuition equality for a higher education deserve the opportunity to reach their goals and dreams just like anyone else.
Many of these undocumented students hoping for the Dream Act’s passage were placed into these situations by their parents simply looking for a better future for their families. These undocumented students are simply victims of circumstance.
If undocumented students provide evidence of good behavior and good
academic standing, why can’t they be awarded citizenship and the opportunity to attend a university at an affordable price? Are we afraid to lend a helping hand to those in need? Are we not living in the land of the free? Shouldn’t we all have the opportunity to pursue our goals and dreams?
I hold my strong stance on the Dream Act being a good piece of legislation. According to dreamact.info, the Dream Act offers undocumented high school graduates, or GED equivalents, the opportunity to “be eligible for a six-year-long conditional path to citizenship that requires completion of a college degree or two years of military service.”
For more information on the Dream Act and Eastern Michigan University’s stance, contact the Latino Student Association at latinoSAEMU@gmail.com.
-Arturo Rodriguez
