Kathleen Hohl, Communications and Events Director
414-297-6208 (office); 414-235-7105 (cell); hohlk@matc.edu

MILWAUKEE (May 25, 2010) - At its May meeting, held tonight on the Downtown Milwaukee campus, the Milwaukee Area Technical College District Board of Directors approved a resolution that directs the college administration to refrain from purchasing good or services from any company headquartered in Arizona; to not send MATC employees to conferences or meetings held in Arizona; and to review existing contracts for the purchase of goods and services with companies headquartered in Arizona and to discontinue those contracts consistent with the terms of the contract.

The full text of the resolution follows:

RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF ARIZONA VENDOR BOYCOTT

WHEREAS, the Arizona legislature passed SB1070, which the Arizona Governor, Jan Brewer, signed into law on April 23, 2010; and

WHEREAS, SB 1070 requires the police “when practicable” to detain people they “reasonably suspect” are in the country without authorization; allows the police to charge immigrants with a state crime for not carrying immigration documents; creates a private right of action to sue cities upon belief the government has a policy or practice that restricts immigration law enforcement; and makes it a crime to stop on a public street to attempt to hire a temporary worker; and

WHEREAS, SB1070 will inevitably lead to racial profiling, jeopardizes public safety, and creates a wedge between law enforcement and ethnic communities; and

WHEREAS, President Barack Obama has stated that SB1070 threatens “to undermine basic notions of fairness that we cherish as Americans, as well as the trust between police and their communities that is so crucial to keeping us safe”; and

WHEREAS, it is the mission of Milwaukee Area Technical College (“MATC”) to offer quality educational and training opportunities and services to its diverse, metropolitan community by collaborating with partners to advance the lives of its students; and

WHEREAS, MATC’s student population is the most diverse of any institution of higher education in the State of Wisconsin; and

WHEREAS, MATC is committed to providing an educational environment that embraces differences and diversity, enabling all students to reach their full educational potential regardless of citizenship status; and

WHEREAS, SB 1070 is in sharp contrast to MATC’s goal to provide equal access to educational opportunities for all which in return enriches the quality of life of its students, particularly those who have been disadvantaged or underserved; and

WHEREAS, the actions supported and promoted by SB1070 potentially put MATC students and employees at risk while traveling to Arizona of being targeted under this law because of their appearance, ethnic heritage or for failing to carry with them immigration documents regardless of whether they are citizens, legal permanent residents, temporary visa holders, or undocumented. NOW THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED, that until Arizona rescinds SB1070 or the law is otherwise ruled to be unenforceable, the MATC District Board of Directors directs the administration to the extent practicable and not in conflict with the law to: 1) refrain from entering into any new or amended contracts to purchase goods or services from any company that is headquartered in Arizona; 2) not send MATC employees to conferences or meetings being held in Arizona; and 3) to review existing contracts for the purchase of goods and services with companies headquartered in Arizona and to discontinue those contracts consistent with the terms of those contracts and utilizing principles of fiscal responsibility; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the MATC District Board urges the district’s U.S. Senators and Congress members to advance and support comprehensive federal immigration reform legislation that respects the due process protections of all individuals in the United States and provides a path so people have the opportunity to become citizens.