Students received an email from Oswego State President Deborah Stanley on Sunday responding to President Donald Trump’s recent executive order titled “Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States.”
The executive order, which was signed on Jan. 27, suspended the entry of all refugees to the United States for 120 days, banned Syrian refugees indefinitely and blocked entry into the United States for 90 days for citizens from seven predominantly Muslim countries: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. The ban includes green card holders from those countries re-entering the United States.
“We, at SUNY Oswego honor your presence among us as learners, colleagues and scholars and want you to know we stand ready to be of service at this time,” Stanley said in the email.
Stanley advised students and faculty to carefully consider any travel outside of the country and suggested consulting an experienced immigration lawyer before making travel plans. Stanley said the administration will continue monitoring all worldwide cautions, alerts, warnings, orders and guidance from SUNY and the United States government.
“While we have very few students from the specific countries named in the executive order, we are taking the issues seriously,” said Associate Provost for International Education and Programs Joshua McKeown. “Providing our best and most informed advisement, taking into account SUNY guidance and the standards of the international education professional organizations, is the key.”
McKeown said that the office has reached out, communicated with and confirmed the safety and well-being of students affected and let them know that they are there to help.
According to Stanley, Oswego State does not have any study abroad or international education in the seven countries and have no official institutional plans to travel to or hold official programs in the countries.
“We wish all students, scholars, families, and dependents strength and determination as you seek to understand the implications of this new policy,” the email reads. “SUNY Oswego has always been a welcome and hospitable home for international students and visitors since our founding over 150 years ago; we remain steadfast in our commitment to international students, scholars and programs for the creativity, intellectual rigor and cultural diversity you bring to our campus.”
Ahmed Aly, the vice president of the Muslim Student Association at Oswego State, was not personally affected because he possesses American citizenship.
“I feel that as a Muslim, I have an obligation to educate people on Islam,” Aly said. “Not for the sake of converting them and enforcing Sharia law, as some would put it, but rather to show them that we are not so different. I highly encourage anyone who wants to learn about Islam, even with no intention of converting but simply want to learn more about Islam, to speak to a member of the Muslim Student Association.”
Aly said that the members of the organization would love to help students and clear up any misconceptions they make have.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo, encouraging New Yorkers to stick together as a community, spoke during a press conference on Jan. 29 about Trump’s recent order.
“As a New Yorker, I am a Muslim,” Cuomo said. “As a New Yorker, I am Jewish. As a New Yorker, I am black, I am gay, I am disabled, I am a woman seeking to control her health and her choices because as a New Yorker we are one community and the New York community is composed of all of the above.”
Aly is very delighted that Stanley sent the email to students.
“It honestly means a lot when someone speaks up for us and stands by us,” Aly said. “Not just President Stanley, but CEOs of major companies such as Apple, Facebook and Starbucks. Also the celebrities such as Ashton Kutcher and many more because we as Americans in an era of alternative facts, need to stand by each other.”
