To: John C. Hitt, UCF President
Invite Camila Vallejo to speak at UCF Fall 2013 Graduation Ceremony
We urge President John C. Hitt to invite Camila Vallejo, a student and human rights activist, to speak before our University of Central Florida graduates at the Fall 2013 Commencement in December.
Why is this important?
Camila Vallejo as a leader of the Chilean Student Movement has been a pioneer in the empowerment of students in the 21st Century and an inspiration for young people across the world. The Movement and Vallejo’s own ideals reflect the values of the State of Florida as laid out in the State’s constitution:
“The education of children is a fundamental value of the people of the State of Florida. It is, therefore, a paramount duty of the state to make adequate provision for the education of all children residing within its borders.”
In modern times there has not been a student leader that has more personified these values and empowered young people than Camila Vallejo. The organizing and community-building that she helped to lead is not unique to Chile or even to South America, but are ideas firmly entrenched in American history as well. The Civil Rights Movement, LGBTQ Movement, Women’s rights, and other struggles for marginalized people in the United States show that we share many values of history and community with Vallejo.
With the University of Central Florida having the largest student population in the United States, her presence, sharing of experience, and encouragement will help thousands of students continue the tradition of fighting for fair, affordable, and accessible education in Florida and across the country. With Florida continuing to go through tough economic times, and problems directly affecting students such as budget cuts, annual tuition increases, and mounting student debt, we need an empowered student body to address these issues. Thus with Chilean students facing many of the same problems and with their movement in a maturing spot, having Camila Vallejo speak is more appropriate and relevant than ever.
“The education of children is a fundamental value of the people of the State of Florida. It is, therefore, a paramount duty of the state to make adequate provision for the education of all children residing within its borders.”
In modern times there has not been a student leader that has more personified these values and empowered young people than Camila Vallejo. The organizing and community-building that she helped to lead is not unique to Chile or even to South America, but are ideas firmly entrenched in American history as well. The Civil Rights Movement, LGBTQ Movement, Women’s rights, and other struggles for marginalized people in the United States show that we share many values of history and community with Vallejo.
With the University of Central Florida having the largest student population in the United States, her presence, sharing of experience, and encouragement will help thousands of students continue the tradition of fighting for fair, affordable, and accessible education in Florida and across the country. With Florida continuing to go through tough economic times, and problems directly affecting students such as budget cuts, annual tuition increases, and mounting student debt, we need an empowered student body to address these issues. Thus with Chilean students facing many of the same problems and with their movement in a maturing spot, having Camila Vallejo speak is more appropriate and relevant than ever.