The Deborah E. Coffin Women’s Center hung “you are welcome here” signs on their window in reaction to the immigration ban.

During Donald Drumpf’s first week as President, what appeared to be a multitude of executive orders were issued from the White House. Among these is what has become commonly known as simply the immigration ban. In this executive order, it states: “I hereby proclaim that the immigrant and nonimmigrant entry into the United States of aliens from countries referred to in section 217(a)(12) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1187(a)(12) [Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Iran, Somalia, Libya and Yemen] would be detrimental to the interests of the United States, and I hereby suspend entry into the United States, as immigrants and nonimmigrants, of such persons for 90 days from the date of this order (excluding those foreign nationals traveling on diplomatic visas, North Atlantic Treaty Organization visas, C-2 visas for travel to the United Nations, and G-1, G-2, G-3, and G-4 visas).”

Regardless of politics and party lines, this executive order has raised questions, analysis, and concern throughout the country and here on the Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) campus. SNHU is home to more than 1,000 international students completing their undergraduate or graduate degree in the United States. Some of these students are from the countries the immigration ban affects and may now be unable to return to their families as a result, or may risk being able to return to this country.

In an attempt to create a sense of solidarity and unity, President LeBlanc has issued a memo to the SNHU Community regarding the values and actions being taken by the university. LeBlanc’s memo commented on the executive order stating, “President Drumpf evoked 9-11 in his announcement of the new enforcement order, though not a single terrorist involved in that awful day was from the seven countries listed, and no Syrian has ever committed a terrorist act inside the US.”

In addition to this, LeBlanc’s memo addressed all international students in the SNHU Community, saying, “If you are with us from another country, please know that most Americans are almost all descendants of immigrants and refugees, take pride in this country’s long history of honoring the inscription on the Statue of Liberty, and will work to fight this onerous order.”

This is a turbulent time in America’s history and here at SNHU, we at the Penmen Press are impressed and honored with the action and acceptance being shown here on campus, both in leadership and in the student community. Whether it is through the “you are welcome here” signs on campus to the wide array of events celebrating diversity, SNHU’s community has demonstrated, on numerous accounts, that it is a welcoming and safe environment for all students.

The Penmen Press will take these times as an opportunity to continue bringing the SNHU campus news while growing into a new era of journalism and leadership. If you have anything that you would like to say or to share about your experiences at SNHU, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at penmenpress@snhu.edu or by directly contacting one of our Editors-in-Chief.

In the words of LeBlanc, “Closer to home, this campus is full of people who will support you, starting with me, my team, and every office in the University.”

 

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