By: Paige Scofield
Campus Life Editor

On April 17 in the Willamette Room of the Werner University Center, Emily Plec, professor of communication studies, held an unveiling of the Alma’s Project website for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival students.

“Alma Pacheco Santamaria began an ambitious project during fall term of 2016–a website of financial, academic, and psychological support resources for undocumented (DACA) Students,” stated the Alma’s Project flyer. “This spring, volunteers and students in COM 325: Intercultural Communication continued Alma’s efforts by researching and compiling relevant information. With the help of participants from the Cesar Chavez Leadership Conference, we have created a website aimed at recruiting and supporting DACA students.”

The website contains links and resources for DACA students who are looking for information with regards to paying for college, clubs and organizations, student resources, immigration policy and faculty and staff resources.

The website also contains videos of, “Current and former WOU students telling their stories, and sharing with us their experience,” said Plec. The videos contain anonymous speakers discussing what it is like to be an undocumented student, and what they wish to pursue with their educations.

President Rex Fuller attended the event, and had a few things to say about making Western a sanctuary campus.

“It’s great to see the progress that is being made with regard to the resources that exist for our students. As you know our campus is fully committed to that,” said Fuller. “We had a robust discussion last fall following the election around what we needed to do. Students came and really talked about the need to be supported, it challenged us to think about, ‘what would we do if we were in their shoes?’”

The Alma Project website for DACA students is now available at wou.edu/daca.

“This wouldn’t of happened without Alma, we are very grateful for her,” concluded Plec.

Contact the author at journalcampuslife@wou.edu