Financial aid advocates and Katrina relief group recognized
Briana Hernandez
Issue date: 5/8/08 Section: News
Out of SJSU's 251 registered student organizations and clubs, two were recognized for their accomplishments at SJSU's second annual Student Organization Recognition Banquet on Wednesday, April 30. SJSU's Student Advocates for Higher Education and Gulf Coast Civic Works Project were both named Student Organization of the Year.
Cesar Juarez, community liaison for Student Advocates, said the mission of the group was to promote higher education for undocumented students who are ineligible for government aid to pay for their education.
Cesar's brother, Eddie Juarez, a senior animation major and member of the group since 2003, said he was an undocumented student at SJSU and that his involvement came from the personal struggles that accompanied exclusion from government aid.
"I've been going to San Jose State since 2002," he said, "and I've been paying cash. I can't get no financial aid. I can't get no student loans. I'm paying cash. That's just hard work right there."
According to the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, federal law prohibits Eddie and other undocumented students from receiving financial aid for college in all states except for 10, including California. These 10 states can pay for in-state tuition for undocumented students who attend high school in that state for three or more years.
Eddie said that despite the level of involvement from the group's members, the majority of the members are not undocumented students who do not share his struggles.
"It's good because they have a voice," he said. "Since they are legal, they can vote. We cannot vote."
Throughout his time with the group, Cesar said they won several awards, the latest being SJSU's award for Student Organization of the Year. Previous awards have included the Santa Clara County Human Relations Award, an award from the National Association of Chicana and Chicano Studies and recognition from the office of Congressman Mike Honda.
Cesar Juarez, community liaison for Student Advocates, said the mission of the group was to promote higher education for undocumented students who are ineligible for government aid to pay for their education.
Cesar's brother, Eddie Juarez, a senior animation major and member of the group since 2003, said he was an undocumented student at SJSU and that his involvement came from the personal struggles that accompanied exclusion from government aid.
"I've been going to San Jose State since 2002," he said, "and I've been paying cash. I can't get no financial aid. I can't get no student loans. I'm paying cash. That's just hard work right there."
According to the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, federal law prohibits Eddie and other undocumented students from receiving financial aid for college in all states except for 10, including California. These 10 states can pay for in-state tuition for undocumented students who attend high school in that state for three or more years.
Eddie said that despite the level of involvement from the group's members, the majority of the members are not undocumented students who do not share his struggles.
"It's good because they have a voice," he said. "Since they are legal, they can vote. We cannot vote."
Throughout his time with the group, Cesar said they won several awards, the latest being SJSU's award for Student Organization of the Year. Previous awards have included the Santa Clara County Human Relations Award, an award from the National Association of Chicana and Chicano Studies and recognition from the office of Congressman Mike Honda.
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