UHCL representatives discuss DACA and Title IX with students over dinner

Campus Activities Board held Food for Thought on campus Oct. 24 in the Garden Room. The event allowed professors and students to have a discussion about DACA and Title IX. The event began at 5 p.m. with 20 students in attendance, sharing different ethnicities and backgrounds. They served salad, spaghetti with chicken, paired with tea or water.

University representatives Erika Garcia, coordinator of Student Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Corey Benson, coordinator of Title IX, talked about the two subjects currently being debated on the political scene, both of which have high impacts on students: the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), a program developed by former President Obama allowing undocumented children to remain in the United States and Title IX, an amendment that protects people from discrimination based on sex in educational activities that receive federal financial assistance.

Garcia, who spoke to the audience about DACA said students are uncertain of their future and scared of being separated from their family.

“DACA is not just an issue that pertains to individuals who are born in Latin America; it is an issue to people that are born all over the world,” Garcia said.

UHCL is a Hispanic serving institution, which means the school serves 25 percent of students that are immigrants or have family members that are immigrants.

Zachariah G., communication major, believes of the importance of DACA and education for anyone that wants it, especially the immigrants who just want a better life and future.

“If the president is going to rid of this program, then they need to pass a better legislation just like the Dream Act,” Zachariah said. “We need something that is a route to their education and citizenship.”

Garcia wants all students, especially the UHCL undocumented DACA students, to know that they have allies and support at UHCL.

“As your allies, we are well aware of the anxiety you are feeling and understand the unfair and unclear circumstance you have been placed in,” Garcia said. “We know that you are made to feel you have to demonstrate to this country that you are good enough but at the same time regularly reminded that you will never be good enough. I want you to know that you are more than good enough, that many of are motivated and inspired by your persistence, your determination and your resilience.”

After Garcia’s presentation on DACA, Benson discussed Title IX with the group.

Benson said UHCL’s sexual misconduct policy prohibits sexual assault, which is defined in four ways: rape, incest, statutory rape and fondling. He went on discussing the rights of the students who experience or become aware of allegations of sexual misconduct and the process for investigating the cases on campus.

Students caught doing any of these are subject to investigation and possible exclusion from the university.

Benson spoke about the different terminologies regarding sexual assault, such as “stealthing,” which is when one partner removes the condom without the consent of the other partner.

“The university is committed to maintaining and strengthening an educational and working environment where all members of the UHCL community are free from sex discrimination of any kind,” Benson said. “Through education, training, policies and serious consequences for violations f its policies, UHCL aims to eradicate sexual misconduct.”

Campus Activities Board (CAB) will host its next event Nov. 9 at the Garden Room in the Bayou Building from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.