Salt Lake Community College enrolls more undocumented students than any school in Utah, totaling nearly half of all undocumented students in the state. We chose to tell this story through the eyes of students who live it, and from their perspectives. We used print, digital, and video platforms to tell this story. We believe good stories are backed by data, so we included explicit numbers, tidbits, and facts about undocumented students nationally, statewide, and at Utah colleges and universities. The data includes information on DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), demographics on ethnicity and origins, as well as all relevant and pertinent data related to being undocumented in Utah and America. The story also includes expert insights.
Researching and writing this story was not easy, and roadblocks arose to prevent publication. Top administrators opposed the story. It is politically sensitive, and they worried the story would negatively impact state lawmakers who oversee the college’s largest source of funding. The story was in limbo for six months, but through calm persuasion and solid reasoning, as well as irrefutable data and precautions to safeguard students, we were granted permission to pursue this story.
