Recent criticisms toward Northwestern administrators’ lack of attendance at events supporting the Illinois DREAM Act raise the question of whether the University should become more involved in immigration reform efforts.

The Illinois DREAM Act, signed into law by Gov. Pat Quinn last August, authorized the state’s first government-backed scholarship fund for undocumented students.

The legislation took another step forward Feb. 4, when Quinn announced the members of the Illinois DREAM Fund Commission at the second annual Illinois Immigrant Integration Summit.

The new commission will receive private donations for a college scholarship fund for undocumented students and distribute the funds it receives through a nonprofit organization.

Private citizens can contribute money to the cause, attend rallies and vote for progressive candidates who support reform. However, The Daily believes the University is not required to show this strong level of participation.

Although University President Morton Schapiro had already signed a letter supporting the legislation, critics maintain Schapiro needs to show his involvement by attending events like the summit.

However, it is not Schapiro’s obligation to lobby for the beliefs of individual student groups. Schapiro told The Daily he is supportive of the legislation and hopes it can be enacted nationally “so that the full range of federal student aid would be available to deserving young men and women.”

If Schapiro personally believes that undocumented students should receive aid, he can and should pursue that goal as an individual, separate from the interests of the University.

But when acting as a representative of the University, he cannot be expected to come out swinging for the DREAM Act, even if it aligns with his personal beliefs.