Freedom University helps immigrants achieve dreams

By Gracie Bonds Staples

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Despite the model minority stereotype that presumes all Asian-Americans are prosperous and well educated, Keish Kims family is not well-to-do and she cant get into her dream college.

The first blow to Kims quest for success came when the lawyer hired by her family to handle their immigration from Seoul, South Korea, in 2000 (when Kim was 8) missed a crucial deadline, making it impossible for them to attain citizenship. The second came in 2010 when the state Board of Regents barred illegal immigrants from attending the states top five universities.

But not long after the regents made their decision, Kim found herself receiving instruction from University of Georgia professors at Freedom University, an underground classroom for illegal immigrants provided by volunteer teachers at an undisclosed location in Athens.

We were all qualified professors, so we thought that is something we can do, said history professor Pamela Voekel, a co-founding faculty member of Freedom University. All it would take was our time and effort, while the students and their families were risking so much.

While the volunteers at Freedom University hope the regents eventually change their policy, many Georgians support the rule, believing that for every illegal person attending a public university, a U.S. citizen is turned away.

And, as regents spokesman John Millsaps said, There are 30 other public institutions in the University System of Georgia that undocumented students can attend.

However, some believe the policy should go farther. Earlier this year Rep. Tom Rice, R-Norcross, sponsored a bill that, had it passed, would have barred illegal immigrants from attending all public colleges.

Thousands of Gwinnett students cant get into the University of Georgia because its full, said Rep. Don Balfour, R-Snellville, who supported the bill. People who are legal in the state should be getting positions before people who are illegal.

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Freedom University helps immigrants achieve dreams