On September 29 h State Senator Gil Cedillo (Democrat-Los Angeles) visited San José City College and spoke to a group of over 60 students and staff. Senator Cedillo spoke on a broad range of topics that focused around the role of Community Colleges and their students, particularly undocumented ones. Cedillo called the California Community College part of "the best public education system in the world," and noted that, "the Community College system is extraordinary, a bridge to higher education and careers and when the economy changes it is a place for citizens to retool and retrain." But Cedillo warned, by not fully supporting our undocumented students and giving them access to financial aid, the state is doing itself and its students a great disservice. Indicating the students in the room Cedillo said, "everyone here wants to make a contribution and we (The State of California) aren't supporting that." Cedillo also pointed out that as California ages, it will be younger working immigrants who work to support the aging population. In order to address this issue, Senator Cedillo had introduced California Senate Bill 160, "The California Dream Act" which would have ensured that all California high school graduates who qualified for public higher education institutions are eligible for state-sponsored financial aid. Unfortunately California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger' vetoed this bill last week.

Cedillo's audience included undocumented students like 'Kitos' (not his real name).   Kitos is bright and articulate and while he waited for Cedillo to arrive he concentrated on text-messaging his friends about Cedillo's visit. Kitos has lived in the United States for nine years, attended school here, worked here and contributed his taxes, but because he is undocumented, Kitos cannot receive financial aid. Kitos's father has lived in the United States for 20 years and Kitos's mother for six. Kitos graduated high-school in San Jose and took two years off to earn enough money to go to college. Despite that, because he cannot receive financial aid, Kitos is working part-time while attending City College. Kitos, the first member of his family to attend college, intends to transfer to San Jose State and major in Sociology. Kitos says that it has been a struggle to attain his own education and that he supports Senator Cedillo's bill because his sister is currently a high-school senior and his brother is a sophomore. "It was difficult enough for me," Kitos says, "I don't want my brother and sister to go through that."

As Senator Cedillo concluded his prepared remarks, Kitos walked up to the Senator, shook his hand, embraced him   and offered thanks. To the side of this embrace, San José City College President Dr. Jesus "Jess" Carreon looked on and observed that "students like (Kitos) are the reason we are here. That we can offer them opportunity is one of the reasons this is a great country."

With his remarks concluded, Senator Cedillo noted that he had to leave quickly as he was flying back to Los Angeles immediately to "get arrested." The senator laughed and explained that he was going to be among 300 people protesting the treatment of immigrant workers by hotels near Los Angeles International Airport during two coordinated sit-ins in the middle of Century Boulevard east of the airport. After an ovation from the San José City College students, Cedillo left.