Light the Way: The Campaign for Berkeley

Following the U.S. presidential election, many Berkeley students expressed anxiety about what the future holds, including the nearly 500 undocumented students who are concerned about their legal status and ability to remain at Berkeley. Said one student, “My world has been turned upside down in all aspects of life. I’m scared and worried my family won’t be here tomorrow.”

Yet the moment also catalyzed the university to publicly reaffirm its values of respect, inclusion, and equal opportunity, and to quickly determine how to protect these students, whose unique hardships make them among the most vulnerable in the Cal community. With leadership from Chancellor Emeritus Robert Birgeneau and Chancellor Nicholas Dirks, Berkeley launched an emergency effort to raise $638,000 in private gifts for the Undocumented Student Program (USP), with an immediate focus on increasing mental health and legal support. As of mid-January, nearly $500,000 had been raised.

Undocumented students — who count family and financial issues among their top concerns — benefited from mental health services in 2015–16. Since the election, demand for counseling has doubled. In addition, with the uncertain fate of DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), which protects young adults who came here as children from deportation, more students are turning to USP for legal consultation. Successfully completing this campaign would enable Berkeley to expand its professional resources for the near term.

“We are committed to providing access and support without fear,” says Meng So, director of the USP. “More than ever, Berkeley needs to be a beacon of hope and remain unequivocal in our vision for equity.”