During October of last year, a new organization was created by Saint Xavier University students to create safer spaces on campus for undocumented students.
The idea for this organization was conceived when SXU student Beatriz Muno with a focus on Political Communication and Advocacy Major realized there weren’t many facilities on campus that assisted undocumented students in the same situation.
This was her wake up call to start this organization. Breatriz Muno, the president of the organization, decided to name it Monarca.
This butterfly has been a representation of immigrants and symbolizes transnationality. They use it to make immagration less taboo.
Muno explains how immigration has been happening for many years, so it should be a topic students should feel comfortable talking about, and to know that there are people who want to help.
Breatriz Muno explains how finding resources and places to express themselves freely is something that undocumented SXU students have not been able to find in the past two years.
Due to this, the main purpose of the club is to help undocumented students receive the help they need. Creating organizations like this gives these students the ability to express themselves freely and ask any questions needed.
It also allows them to create relationships with students in similar situations. This gives them the opportunity to converse and connect with classmates and allows them to not feel alone.
“Since it is hard for these students to express their situations, the administration does not know in reality how many students are undocumented.
They are not aware of how terrifying it feels to say that they are undocumented,” Muno states.
In every meeting, the organizers make students know that they are safe and they will not be judged.
Muno claims this is the first step to making students feel comfortable and more involved with the club. He recommends other SXU students to get involved and support the events created by the organization.
In the future, the organization plans on creating fundraising events to raise money for scholarships. Helping students obtain scholarships is one of their main goals since it is difficult for undocumented students to find scholarships.
The organization also plans on creating panels to inform students on how to apply for these scholarships. The club plans on recording videos teaching students on how to obtain access to these links to apply for scholarships such as the Map Grant.
“It is already hard to be a first-generation student but it is even harder to be a first-generation undocumented student,” Muno adds.
“You cannot find scholarships, you need a social security number for everything, and a lot of people do not pay attention to those students. It is also very difficult for undocumented students to say their legal status, so this club will open more opportunities, guidance, and a safer space”.