By Brianna Wallen
News Editor
Marketing major Thomas Gilbertie, a senior, psychology major Pierce Kozlowski, a junior and
computer science major Crossby Dessalines, a junior are conversing.
In a time when marginalized communities urgently need their voices to be heard, the Student Government Association (SGA) is stepping up to inspire action.
SGA hosted a “From Campus to Capital,” a powerful event designed to equip students with the knowledge and tools needed to advocate for undocumented communities facing ongoing challenges.
“It’s important that we advocate on their behalf,” Jonathan De Los Santos, SGA’s board of student experience, a junior, said. “We should know how to advocate for ourselves and others who can’t.”
Students had the opportunity to write letters to state senators and legislators about immigration policies.
They were able to learn from guest speakers Cynthia Stretch, Chairperson of the English Department, Yanahi Román, CEO of La Casa Del Inmigrante and Josh Elliott, Connecticut State Representative, on how they can make their voices heard and directly engage with their legislators.
Joseph Merly, SGA’s board of outreach and communications, a junior, said that he hopes students will take full advantage of the space to actively engage and get involved in the cause.
“Students have the opportunity to learn how to write letters, learn what numbers to call and know several methods to make a change,” Merely said.
In a world where change begins with conversation and resistance, this event provided students with the opportunity to learn, act and contribute to rights for undocumented individuals.
Communication and history major, Jace Flanagan-Bonilla, a freshman, said that he came to this event to advocate for immigrants.
“I feel it’s important as a country to allow others to come in when they are being persecuted,” Flanagan-Bonilla said. “It can show that as a country we have empathy for others.”
Flanagan emphasized that adopting more lenient immigration policies would allow the country to become even more diverse and inclusive.
“In reality we’re a melting pot of people and were not meant to be a nation of one color,” Flanagan-Bonilla said.
Similarly, De Los Santos said that undocumented students and individuals can enhance the community.
“Undocumented students and families provide a wealth of cultural knowledge, experience to our own culture,” De Los Santos said.
De Los Santos also said that they have a right to be here, similar to generations before them.
“Most have issues back at home and come here to make a better life for themselves,” De Los Santos said. “Just like how our parents and grandparents had those opportunities, they should too.”
Through workshops of writing letters and including personal stories and statistics, De Los Santos said he hopes that students leave with a deeper understanding of how they can support immigrants and overall become a better advocate.
“I want them to know that their voice matters and we dictate how our future actually goes,” De Los Santos said.
Additionally, De Los Santos stressed that advocacy is not something confined to a single event or moment but is an ongoing effort that students must carry with them.
He encouraged attendees to recognize that the work of supporting immigrants and standing up for justice extends far beyond the workshop itself.
“Advocacy doesn’t stop here, it starts with you and you take it wherever you go,” De Los Santos said.
