Amid growing concerns about immigration enforcement and its impact on students, a campus organization at California State University, Stanislaus is creating a space for open conversation, support and community.
On Friday, March 20, Students for Quality Education (SQE), a student-led organization within the California Faculty Association (CFA), will host an event focused on student wellness and addressing common fears surrounding immigration enforcement.
The event titled “Strengthening Student Wellness and Community,” will take place from 12-1 p.m. in room 103 of the Student Center.
SQE works to build community and raise awareness about issues affecting public education and students. Earlier this week, two student interns and a faculty advisor promoted their upcoming event in the Quad.
Shayla Garnica (sophomore, public health promotion) who is currently interning with SQE, said the idea for the event came from noticing growing anxieties among Stan State students.
“I’ve noticed recently a lot of students and the public have been seeing a lot of unease about how people are responding or the activity that ICE is having,” Garnica said. “As students, we should be able to have a safe space to talk about that with other students or counselors.”
She shared how her own background helps her relate to students experiencing these fears.
“I am actually a first-generation Hispanic. My parents are from Mexico and I feel like this can relate to me in a sense that a lot of people who are stressed about immigration forces are also either descendants from immigrants or immigrants themselves. As a descendant, I can understand what other students are feeling,” Garnica said.
Heather Oram (senior, sociology and gender studies minor) an intern at SQE, said the event for her is about giving back to the campus community.
“What Stan State has done for me and supporting me, and I want to pay it forward, and have the students know that we’re all there together, and there is strength in that,” Oram said.
Oram added that representatives from Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) will be present to share available mental health resources and speak with students.
“We will have CAPS explain their resources, do their portion, and it’s going to be kind of an open meeting, where we all get to share what we’re going through,” she said.
Dr. Jey Strangfeld (sociology professor and SQE faculty advisor) said the emotional toll of ongoing immigration concerns is something she has seen firsthand in her classroom.
“Every student experiences temporary things, like you have an exam coming up and you feel stress about that. But this is deeper, it’s long term and affects a student’s ability to meet their educational and professional goals,” Strangfeld stated.
She aims for the event to allow students to connect with each other while sharing their thoughts on immigration enforcement, along with how it is directly impacting them.
“The primary goals are to create a temporary sense of safety and connection for students, to let students know that they’re not alone in their feelings and to just facilitate a sense of belonging and community among students during a difficult time,” she said.
All Stan State students are invited to attend the March 20 event to openly discuss their experiences and learn about free campus resources that support student well-being and success.
