August 11, 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press Contact: Laura Emiko Soltis, (678) 718-8038, lauraemikosoltis@gmail.com
Freedom University Opens its Doors to Undocumented Students for Fifth Year
Atlanta, GA
On August 30, 2015, Freedom University will welcome undocumented students for its 2015-2016
academic year. Based in Atlanta, Freedom University (Freedom U) is a modern freedom school for
undocumented youth banned from public higher education in Georgia. Freedom U was founded in
2011 by undocumented youth activists and four professors at the University of Georgia.
The 2015-2016 school year marks Freedom Universitys fifth year of providing tuition-free, college
level courses and leadership training for undocumented students banned from admission to Georgias
top five public universities and in-state tuition under Georgia Board of Regents Policies 4.1.6 and
4.3.4. Georgia is one of only three states in the country in addition to South Carolina and Alabama
to institute an admissions ban against undocumented students.
In addition to providing rigorous academic courses, college application and scholarship assistance,
and movement leadership training, Freedom U also assists students in gaining access to higher
education. Nearly one in every five students who enters Freedom U banned from public higher
education in Georgia leaves with a full-ride scholarship to colleges out of state, such as Dartmouth
College, Berea College, Smith College, Hampshire College, and Syracuse University.
Freedom University student activism, in partnership with documented student ally organizations and
community groups, has led to changes in admission policies in private universities in Georgia. In
April 2015, following a campaign led by a collaborative effort between Freedom U and the Freedom
at Emory student initiative, Emory University announced that it would grant admission to
academically-qualified undocumented students without discrimination and provide privately-funded,
need-based aid to undocumented students with demonstrated financial need.
Valentina Emilia Garca Gonzalez, an undocumented student from Uruguay, joined Freedom U in
2014. She describes, I found a family the moment I joined Freedom University. My professors
became my aunts and uncles, and my peers became my sisters and brothers. Theres no greater bond
than the one you share when you fight for a common cause. Garca Gonzalez was accepted with a
full scholarship to Dartmouth College, where she begins classes in September.
Freedom Universitys Fall 2015 semester will feature classes in debate and public speaking,
meditation, and college preparation. The Spring 2016 semester will feature classes in human rights,
debate, photography and film, and music performance. Classes are free and open to undocumented
students in Georgia ages 16-26. Classes meet weekly on Sunday afternoons from 2:00-6:30pm in
downtown Atlanta. For student safety and protection, the location of classes is confidential.
To apply, students must register for classes on Freedom Universitys website:
http://www.freedomuniversitygeorgia.com/apply.html