Take Action: Tell USA Today to Not Call Students 'Illegal'

by Mike Smith · 2009-12-21 12:28:00 UTC
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USA Today recently wrote an article titled "Groups try to delay deportations of illegal students." It contains a factual error not in the first paragraph or first sentence, but in the headline. It isn't actually possible to be an "illegal student." Campus Progress note that "public schools are obligated to teach every child, undocumented or not."

The USA Today piece is about a college student, but similarly, he is able to go legally go to college, he just can't qualify for financial aid — he isn't an illegal student — being a student is not illegal — he's just undocumented.

Why is USA Today calling out so-called illegal students? Why are they even calling a person illegal, personifying them, objectifying them, and making their access to education something criminal?  Join the 500 people already outraged, and take action right now by sending a direct message to John Hill Kirk, Executive Editor - USA Today, demanding that no-one, especially not mainstream media outlets label an entire community of disenfranchised people as "illegal." Journalists need to educate themselves, not deny a student's own right to an education.

Photo credit: Upton

Mike Smith is associate editor at Change.org.
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