Feb. 21, 2025: Colectiva Legal del Pueblo Training

Requesting journalist: Isabel Mathy

Respondent: Division of Inclusive Excellence

What is the Division of Inclusive Excellence involvement/role with Power and Privilege? What does it hope students may gain from P&P?
The Division of Inclusive Excellence provides the P&P Executive Team to two co-advisors to assist and support the student organizers in planning and executing the symposium. The Division also contributes significant financial resources to P&P. We see the Symposium as a valuable learning space for the entire community that is aligned with the principles of inclusive excellence we advance and regard as essential for a welcoming campus environment.

What was the Divisions involvement with Colectiva Legal del Pueblo? What does it hope students/attendees gain from attending?
The Division of Inclusive Excellence organized the Know Your Rights presentations from Colectiva Legal del Pueblo. As noted in Whitman Today, Colectiva Legal del Pueblo is a nonhierarchical collective organization founded for and by undocumented immigrants working to build community leadership and power for migrant justice through legal advocacy and education. Representatives from Colectiva will be on campus to provide a workshop that helps to demystify the current immigration legal system, explain how to develop a family preparedness plan, provide guidance around relevant documents needed to fight a deportation case, and discuss ways to support a loved one in detention. They also address how to prepare for immigration raids and explain individual rights when approached, detained or incarcerated by police or immigration agents.

Is the event open to the public?
Yes.

Does the Division offer any special services or events for migrants or non citizens at Whitman?
The Division of Inclusion Excellence oversees a fund that is available to provide financial assistance to students with legal consultations with an immigrant rights attorney or to assist students with DACA renewal fees. 

Given the Trump administration targeting of migrants and declaring colleges no longer safe from ICE raids, has/will the Division place any special emphasis on migrant safety, inclusion, and resources?
Whitman College is invested in the safety of all our students. As noted in President Bolton's email from January 17, 2025, "we will maintain our current practice of ensuring the confidentiality of all student and employee records and will not provide private information about Whitman students or employees to any external group without a valid warrant or court order."