FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Northridge — In an important vote at CSUN’s University Student Union (USU) on Monday, Sept. 18, the student-led USU Board of Director’s (BOD) approved the allocation of $50,000 from the non-profit’s undesignated foundation account to help CSUN Dreamers cover the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) renewal fees due in early October. The contribution was made to provide funds for CSUN students who are eligible to renew their status, but are unable to pay the required $495 fee.
“This allocation is an extremely meaningful decision that is going to help many students affected by the Trump administration’s plan to end the DACA program, which threatens the status of recipients,” said Debra Hammond, USU Executive Director.
Iris Ramirez, Chair of the USU Board of Directors added, “The result of this vote is no surprise to me because the University Student Union is firmly in solidarity with supporting the rights of undocumented students, with DACA being an immediate need for our students who are eligible.”
The USU Board of Directors has a long-standing dedication to making decisions and providing resources to foster the growth of all students who attend CSUN. In June of this year, the BOD voted to make a $15,000 contribution to the Matador Food Pantry and another $25,000 to the MataCare Grant Fund. Both of those programs align with CSUN retention efforts to aid students in persisting to graduation.
The DACA contribution will be allocated from the USU’s undesignated foundation funding and will have no negative effects on the current operating budget of the organization. No student fees are being used in this contribution. The USU and its Board of Directors are proud to announce this decision in support of DACA recipients at CSUN.
For more information on the vote, please visit the USU Board of Directors website at www.csun.edu/usu/boardofdirectors and for more information on CSUN’s AB 540, Dream Act and DACA related resources, please visit the website for the Education Opportunity Programs’ Dream Center at www.csun.edu/eop/dreamcenter.
