Chambana Sun

Backlash over a bill to allow undocumented students to be student trustees in the University of Illinois system hasn't weakened the school's resolve, Jan Dennis, assistant director of the school's Office of University Relations, told the Chambana Sun recently.

“The University of Illinois System supports the bill and drafted it after learning of an undocumented UIC student who wanted to run for trustee a few years ago but couldn’t because he had no voter registration card,” Dennis, said. "The student bodies at our three universities are very diverse, and we want the opportunity to serve as a student trustee available to all.”

Senate Bill 598, introduced to the House by Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez (D-Cicero), has had trouble advancing through the General Assembly. If signed into law, the measure would allow a student who is not a legal resident or is determined to be “undocumented" to serve in a voting or provisional capacity as a student trustee alongside the other fully realized members of the student board.

The bill would amend the state’s University of Trustees Act to allow students wishing to join the board to show either a valid driver’s license or other state-issued identification or a valid Illinois voter registration card. At least six months of residency would also be required. 

Sens. Omar Aquino (D-Chicago) and Iris Martinez (D-Chicago) pushed the legislation through the Higher Education Committee in the Senate, and it eventually passed the full Senate on third reading, by a vote of 33 to 15.

Martinez introduced a similar bill last legislative session, but after passing the General Assembly, it was vetoed by Gov. Bruce Rauner.

“While the impetus for the bill was an undocumented student, it’s potential impact is broader,” Dennis said. “Students with a driver’s license but no valid voter registration, or visa-versa, could run if the bill is approved because only one of the two would be required rather than both.”

Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) has been one of the more outspoken opponents of the bill. 

“Every member of this body should have a problem with having somebody who is not a legal resident of the United States sitting as a student trustee on one of our public universities,” she said recently.