The lives of undocumented students are unlike others, as they live in uncertainty about their future, not knowing where they fit and where they belong. For these students, a little affirmation can go a long way.
“Dream On!” and “You’re Important” are just some of the heart-warming messages written on the colorful banner on the table that stood before the Undocumented Trojan Success Assembly (UTSA) members Tuesday.
Students gathered in front of Tommy Trojan to celebrate the inauguration of the new assembly that serves undocumented students at USC. As one of their first official events since becoming an assembly, students were invited to decorate a banner with personalized messages, later to be hung in the First Generation Success Center.
The event kicked off UTSA’s first-ever Undocumented Student Action Week from October 14-18.
Melissa Paz-Flores, assistant director of the assembly, sees beauty in the rich array of experiences of undocumented students that “comes in so many different facets.”
Paz-Flores, who is not undocumented, added that “it’s so beautiful to share our stories through … this little art exhibit that we have here.”
Before this semester, the UTSA — formerly known as IDEAS (Improving Dreams, Equality, Access, and Success) — was already a recognized student organization. One UTSA member described that the club’s transition into an assembly aims to elevate undocumented students’ status through more access to additional funding through the USC Undergraduate Student Government (USG) and stronger connections to the administration at USC. The student, who identifies as undocumented, asked to remain anonymous out of fear of endangerment because of their citizenship status.
The UTSA member said that becoming an assembly may translate into more institutional support, including resources, for undocumented students at USC.
According to Paz-Flores, the assembly’s three main goals include building a community on campus and doing advocacy work and service in nearby communities. The assembly’s board members of the club emphasized the importance of creating a collaborative community with other groups on campus.
“We are here on campus, and we are fighting from within as much as we can, but also we can’t do it without allyship and support from other community members,” said Paz-Flores.
The assembly also hopes to eventually open a Dreamers, Resources, Empowerment, Advocacy and Mentorship (DREAM) center, which is a center that creates a safe and inclusive environment for undocumented students.
Noting that undocumented students are “as much students as anyone else,” the UTSA member added that “we have the right to be here, and we have the right to education, and we have the right to resources and asking [for] those resources.”
Paz-Flores, the daughter of Peruvian immigrants, reflected upon the importance of her own involvement in this organization.
“Realizing that I can take my parents’ spirit into mine and into my aspirations is so important and crucial to me,” she said. “I’m so involved in UTSA because it means uplifting all the people who have uplifted me … so it’s really wonderful.”
The UTSA banner-drop event also aimed to attract students interested in the assembly’s services, such as mentorship programs and networking within the community. UTSA members plan to continue holding events throughout the week and will also host UndocuWednesdays, a three-part event on October 23, November 6 and November 20, where undocumented students and alumni will speak about the undocumented and immigrant experience and the 2024 election.