Press Release: SGLC Support for International Students
Dear Loyola Community,
It is with much frustration and heavy hearts that we write to you following the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ruling, which places international (F-1 or M-1 Visa-Receiving) students at risk of “removal proceedings” (i.e., deportation) if they are not taking at least one in-person class this fall. This arbitrary policy takes advantage of and seeks to leverage the health and well-being of international students as political ploys in the middle of a global pandemic.
We, the Student Government of Loyola Chicago (SGLC), denounce this policy and its discarding of the international student experience. While this ruling undermines the livelihood and learning experience of our international students, we fully recognize and value our international students as members of the Loyola community. The complexity and suddenness of this policy leaves us in a position of uncertainty. Yet, we assert that our international student community has a right to an education and a right to be here, at Loyola, and to pursue a premier Jesuit education. We remain committed to ensuring the education of our international students across our campuses.
While we don’t come to you with concrete answers or solutions, we come to you with a commitment to use our position within Loyola to advocate on behalf of international students both at Loyola and across the country. As we continually strive to be the voice of the Loyola undergraduate student body, we will share the uncertainties, questions, statements, petitions, and more that we have seen directly with Loyola staff and administration to aid in securing the education and safety of our international students, throughout and beyond this academic semester.
With that, we want to extend our thanks to Loyola’s International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) team in the Office of International Programs for their support for international students – especially now – and for their work alongside various University departments to ensure the creation and proper communication of creative solutions to the challenges ICE’s policy presents. We encourage all our international students to direct any questions, concerns, and ideas to the ISSS team (isss@luc.edu). As well, we want to commend President Rooney and Provost Grzywacz for their response and commitment to our international students.
Thank you to our international student peers who have spoken out and shared your experiences. We recognize the emotional labor and personal agency being exhausted to ensure that your voices are heard. Thank you to our non-international student peers who continue to speak out and advocate on behalf of the international student community. Your allyship and solidarity is needed. To continue to engage in your advocacy, please review the non-exhaustive list of advocacy efforts both in the Rambler community and across the country on the next page.
In Maroon and Gold,
Maddie Drescher | mdrescher1@luc.edu
President of the SGLC
Taylor Thomas | tthomas16@luc.edu
Chief Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Officer of the SGLC
Resources
• Loyola University Chicago Statement
•Petition for one credit class at Loyola
• Petitions and political advocacy
• Letter of solidarity from university faculty and staff
• Spreadsheets by school for in-person classes for international students
• DePaul Advocacy and Resources
• Harvard and MIT lawsuit against ICE
• What You Can Do to Help infographic
• Calling Script to Contact Elected Representatives
• Options for International Students infographic
• Action Steps for Students to #ReclaimYourCampus
• Email SGLC@luc.edu to contact your Student Government Representatives
• Tag @ sgloyolachicago on Instagram & Facebook posts/stories to share additional resources & steps of advocacy
• Social Media Hashtags for Information
o #ProtectInternationalStudents
o #StudentBan
o #ReclaimYourCampus
o #LetInternationalStudentsStay
Spanish Translation:
Querido Comunidad de Loyola,
Es con mucha frustración y corazones pesados que te escribimos siguiendo la Decisión de Inmigración y Aduanas reciente que pone en riesgo a los estudiantes internacionales de procedimientos de deportación si no están tomando al menos de una clase personal este otoño. Esta la póliza arbitraria se aprovecha de la salud y el bienestar de los estudiantes internacionales como un ardid político durante una pandemia mundial. Nosotros, el gobierno estudiantil de Loyola Chicago (SGLC), denuncia esta la póliza y su descarte de la experiencia de los estudiantes internacionales. Mientras esta la póliza socava el sustento y la experiencia educativa de nuestros estudiantes internacionales, reconocemos y valoramos nuestros estudiantes internacionales como miembros de la comunidad Loyola. La complejidad y la la póliza abrupta nos dejamos en una posición de incertidumbre. Todavía, afirmamos que nuestra comunidad estudiantil internacional tiene un derecho de una educación, a estar aquí en Loyola, y a perseguir una educación jesuita. Estaremos comprometidos a asegurar la educación de nuestros estudiantes internacionales a través de nuestros campuses. Mientras no venimos con respuestas concretas ni soluciones, venimos con un compromiso a usar nuestra posición dentro de Loyola a abogar en nombre de los estudiantes internacionales en Loyola y en todo el país. A medida que nos esforzamos continuamente a ser la voz de los estudiantes de licenciatura, compartiremos las incertidumbres, las preguntas, las declaraciones, las peticiones, y más que hemos visto directamente con el personal de Loyola y la administración a ayudar asegurar la educación y la seguridad de nuestros estudiantes internacionales a lo largo y más allá de este semestre académico. Con esto, queremos extender nuestro agradecimiento al equipo de Servicios Internacionales para Estudiantes y Académicos de Loyola (ISSS) en oficina de programas internacionales por su apoyo de estudiantes internacionales (especialmente ahora) y por su trabajo junto con varios departamentos universitarios a asegurar la creación y comunicación apropiada de soluciones creativas a los desafíos que la la póliza de ICE presenta. Animamos todos nuestros estudiantes internacionales a dirigir algunas preguntas, preocupaciones y ideas al equipo de ISSS (isss@luc.edu). También, queremos elogiar Presidente Rooney y el Rector Grzywacz por su respuesta y compromiso a nuestros estudiantes internacionales. Gracias a nuestros compañeros de los estudiantes internacionales que han hablado y compartido sus experiencias. Reconocemos el trabajo emocional y la agencia personal que se están siendo agotadas a asegurar de que tus voces sean escuchados. Gracias a nuestros estudiantes no internacionales que siguen hablando en nombre de la comunidad estudiantil internacional. Su solidaridad es necesaria. A continuar en su apoyo, por favor revise la lista (que no es exhaustiva) de esfuerzos de abogacía en ambos la comunidad Rambler y todo el país en la página siguiente.
In Maroon and Gold,
Maddie Drescher | mdrescher1@luc.edu
President of the SGLC
Taylor Thomas | tthomas16@luc.edu
Chief Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Officer of the SGLC
Resources
• Loyola University Chicago Statement
•Petition for one credit class at Loyola
• Petitions and political advocacy
• Letter of solidarity from university faculty and staff
• Spreadsheets by school for in-person classes for international students
• DePaul Advocacy and Resources
• Harvard and MIT lawsuit against ICE
• What You Can Do to Help infographic
• Calling Script to Contact Elected Representatives
• Options for International Students infographic
• Action Steps for Students to #ReclaimYourCampus
• Email SGLC@luc.edu to contact your Student Government Representatives
• Tag @ sgloyolachicago on Instagram & Facebook posts/stories to share additional resources & steps of advocacy
• Social Media Hashtags for Information
o #ProtectInternationalStudents
o #StudentBan
o #ReclaimYourCampus
o #LetInternationalStudentsStay
