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| From The Eastern Echo
Student organization educates attendees on rights of welfare recipients
Welfare Rights at EMU, a student organization, held "Know Your Rights" training
Wednesday evening at the Multicultural Center in King Hall, which helped educate 16
attendees on issues such as tenant rights, rights with the police, immigrant rights
and rights to social services.
"Low-income people have been talked about like they are the cause of all problems,"
said Karen Schaumann, faculty sponsor for Welfare Rights at EMU.
Schaumann said this was not the case; and low-income people should not be ashamed to
seek assistance. Schaumann, a mother of four girls, told the group that welfare
helped her support her family as she studied for her bachelor's and master's degrees.
She also spoke about the rights of tenants.
"As an EMU student you have a right to go and see a lawyer in the REACT office for
free if you are having landlord-tenant issues," she said.
Sonia Zeledon, a lawyer from Farm Worker Legal Services, spoke about the legal problems
that undocumented workers face in this country, including problems with law
enforcement.
"We encourage immigrants and people of color to be aware of their rights with the police
because of issues such as racial profiling," Zeledon said.
Senior Allyn Moushey said she attended the event to learn "more information on welfare
and immigrant rights" as part of a project she is working on.
Sophomore Samantha Nelson said she attended for reasons related to her studies, but
that she enjoyed herself and would possibly attend similar events if they were
brought to her attention.
Welfare Rights at EMU is open on Fridays from 1 to 3pm, in the Student Organization
Center in McKenny Union.
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