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OU President Speaks Out About Immigration Order
By: Susan Tebben
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UPDATE Feb. 1: Hocking College is joining with other colleges and universities in supporting the inclusion of international students on its campus.
“Our international students offer a unique cultural perspective to our campus and our students,” the college said in a statement emailed to media. “We are committed to the proposition that diversity leads to unity rather than divisiveness.”
The college said they have about 54 international students studying there, also saying the institution “must abide by the laws of the State of Ohio and the laws of the United States.”
Hocking College is working with international students to “make sure they understand the possible restrictions on travel at this time,” according to the statement. Officials plan to monitor the situation as “specific ramifications” from the new policy are laid out.
Still, the release stated, international students offer “a unique cultural perspective to our campus and our students.”
“The more we understand about each other, the less we will fear one another,” the statement read.
Ohio University President Roderick McDavis sent a message to university members about the executive order on immigration release by the president.
“A climate that represents and embraces different cultures enhances the University’s ability to provide all of its students with the experiences necessary to successfully compete and achieve in an increasingly diverse and complex society,” McDavis wrote in a statement sent in an email.
The executive order was released by President Donald Trump on Jan. 27 and enacts a 90-day ban on the entry of visitors from the following countries: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. Those who hold valid U.S. visas are also affected.
McDavis wrote that he shares “the increasing concerns from many members of the Ohio University community who are reaching out to me” about the executive order.
He expressed his support for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
“The DACA program has allowed many students to attend Ohio University in pursuit of the transformative education we champion,” he wrote.
According to Department of Homeland Security statistics provided by the university, 17,000 students nationwide were allowed in the United States for the 2015-2016 school year from the seven countries listed in the executive order.
“Based on the information we have seen so far, we are recommending that citizens of those countries refrain from leaving the United States at this time,” McDavis wrote.
Any impacted university members are encouraged to get information from the International Student and Faculty Services.
“We will continue to monitor these national discussions and will keep the University community informed of important developments as they unfold,” the president’s email stated.