Pepperdine University has long granted faculty members' children free tuition to attend Pepperdine University. Joaquin, son of Maria Schwartz, Buenos Aires IP assistant program director, was accepted to Pepperdine University for the upcoming fall semester. He was told he will not be granted this same opportunity because he is an international student.

Maria has been with Pepperdine University for almost 15 years. Her job entails the same amount of work any other faculty member on Malibu's campus would, if not more. She has been making students feel at home while miles away from their families, coordinating educational field trips inside and outside of Argentina for students to enjoy, teaching yoga classes, as well as daily work in the office. She is a hardworking faculty member and wishes for her child to have a good education. Maria, nor Joaquin, should have to face discrimination or inequality amongst other faculty members simply because they are foreigners. International programs are an essential part of the Pepperdine experience, and Joaquin should be able to experience studying abroad in America, just as Maria has assisted with this same experience for our beloved Pepperdine students for years.

Overall, Maria is a Pepperdine faculty member, and Joaquin is her son. What makes her any different from faculty members who work on campus? She meets the requirements, after all she is a Pepperdine faculty member, and if I must say so myself, is fantastic at her job. It is unfair and unjust. ALL international programs staff deserve for their children to have free tuition. If you want your voice to be heard and believe Joaquin's tuition should be paid in full, please sign this petition and spread the word. We believe in equality for all. FREELY YE RECEIVED, FREELY GIVE (in the words of Pepperdine).