Politics & Government
Trump Order Of 'Great Concern' To University: U of M President
"This university will support members of our community adversely affected by the executive order," Kaler said. "We will advocate for you."
MINNEAPOLIS, MN — In a letter posted Sunday, University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler told students, faculty and staff that President Trump's executive order on visas and immigration is of "great concern to the leadership of the university" and said the school "will support members of our community adversely affected by the executive order."
Though not outright condemning Trump's actions, Kaler noted that "the University of Minnesota is a public, land-grant institution with a long history of global engagement" and said the administration is "committed to supporting all members of our community."
"We are proud to be an inclusive, globally-engaged university that has welcomed students and scholars from around the world for more than a century. We have built a university community that embraces diversity, and we thrive by working toward a common goal to make the world better through education and research."
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Kaler noted that the school has more than 8,000 students and scholars from around the world, including hundreds from the seven nations identified in the executive order. "We have communicated with members of those communities, and we will continue to assess whether any of them have yet been adversely affected by the executive order. If so, we will help."
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"We remain steadfast in the commitment of our five campuses to welcome and support students, faculty, and staff from around the globe. Late Saturday, a federal judge in New York issued a stay on at least parts of the president's executive order."
Kaler called the executive order and its aftermath an "evolving situation" and said he would "continue to monitor it closely."
"This university will support members of our community adversely affected by the executive order. We will advocate for you. You are entitled to be treated with justice and dignity, and the University of Minnesota stands with you."
Image via Fibonacci Blue, Flickr, used under Creative Commons
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