Eastern Michigan University Student Government voted to endorse the DREAM Act.
Student Government President, Jelani McGadney, was enthusiastic about the vote and said he will write a “signing statement” to present to the EMU
Board of Regents.
“This is an important piece of legislation,” he said. “It’s rare we get the chance to have a piece of legislation pass that starts immediate social change.”
McGadney plans to make arrangements to sign the official statement at a Latino Student Association meeting.
Antonio Cosme, member of the Latino Student Association, said he was
happy Student Government supported the act.
“I think this is a good first step in the process of adopting DREAM
policies at Eastern Michigan University,” Cosme said.
Cosme said the LSA will ask for support from student organizations and
administrators.
After gaining support, they will present the act to the faculty senate
and the AAUP. Then it will try to meet with the Board of Regents and present at the BOR meeting on April 17.
Student Government decided to endorse the act with a 14-to-1 vote.
The single dissenting vote belonged to Student Government Senator and member of the Political Action Committee Matthew Rutkoske.
“This is a bandage instead of a solution,” Rutkoske said.
Rutkoske said the larger issue the DREAM Act fails to adequately address is enabling undocumented residents to gain citizenship.
