Letter to the Editor: Stand up for international students

On Sunday, President Roderick McDavis sent an email out to students expanding on the university’s stance towards the most recent executive order from President Donald Trump which bans individuals from seven countries from entering the United States. President McDavis advises students to “stay in the country” and contact International Student and Faculty Services with any further concerns or questions. But is that enough? The Pomona College Statement of Support for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals is a nice gesture but has actually no change in policy. Earlier this year, many of our faculty signed a petition to make Ohio University a “sanctuary campus,” but President McDavis said that it was a “premature” step. A sanctuary campus is essentially a promise that the university will not comply with highly immoral and ungrounded federal laws that harm students. It is a more-than-mature time to make a stand and defend your students. These executive orders are real and affect the lives of Bobcats. So why does Ohio University policy not defend basic rights to education and basic human rights? Why have our administrators remained neutral in a time of fear and a time when students need leaders?

For the past four years, I have been involved with the international community. I have gone to numerous cultural events, made friends from around the globe and gotten involved. I have met students from all seven countries on the list during my time at Ohio University. International students on campus have been a thriving and important part of my Ohio University experience. These students deserve more than what President McDavis and Ohio University have offered.

These are students just like you. These are students who go to class every day just like you. These are students who just want to graduate and get a job. These are students with amazing hearts, goals and futures. These are students who just want to go home for the holidays to see their family, their loved ones and not get denied at the US border when they just want to go to school.

Suggesting students simply should “refrain from leaving the country” is not a real solution and not comforting. This is surely not the end of executive orders and surely not the end of policies aimed at discriminating against Muslim students. Ohio University administrators, Ohio University Student Senate and all departments and peoples: stand up for Bobcats, stand up for what is right. Make Ohio University a sanctuary campus.

Alena Klimas is a senior studying political science and global studies: war and peace at Ohio University.