IGNITE Club Observes Undocumented Student Action Week

Members of the Dominican University of California IGNITE Club are observing Undocumented Student Action Week (October 18-22) by posting large monarch butterfly decals across campus and holding an on-campus event to show solidarity with undocumented students.
 
IGNITE Club members distributed more than 140 monarch butterfly pins to faculty, staff, and students outside Caleruega Dining Hall on Tuesday.
 
“The monarch butterfly is a symbol for undocumented people, which is why the graduate is shown using her background (wings) to help drive her towards success rather than letting them be a barrier,” says IGNITE Club president Jacquelyn Torres. “The pin will be a symbol of our support and solidarity for undocumented students and the fact that their lived experiences are valued at Dominican."
 
IGNITE Club members Lauren Cervenak, Caliope Gallagher, Xochitl Lopez, and Isadrina Julliard joined Jacquelyn in distributing the monarch butterfly pins on Tuesday. Stacy Davidson, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Lynn Sondag, Associate Professor of Art and Honors Program Director also worked with the students on the initiative. 
 
IGNITE is a national student organization formed in 2010 to address the lack of women in elected office by building a pipeline of next generation leaders, encouraging female students to get involved with political advocacy. Dominican’s IGNITE club has 11 members this semester, with IGNITE members majoring in political science, history, biology, education, psychology, and English. 
 
Dominican’s IGNITE Club is coordinating with other Dominican student clubs on a social media campaign around Undocumented Student Action Week. With the encouragement of Shay Franco Clausen, the Director of IGNITE's West Coast Region, Jacquelyn also has reached out to other IGNITE chapters within California and beyond to collaborate on activities and to spread solidarity. Jacquelyn is currently talking with leaders from the IGNITE chapter at Baylor University in Texas about a collaborative project. 

For more information about Dominican’s IGNITE Club, visit their Instagram.