Our esteemed members & alumni,
We hope that you had a great semester and enjoying your much-deserving break & holidays with your friends and families.
In case you might not be already aware, the International Students' Association would like to bring to your attention towards the recent event that unfolded on our campus when one of our peers was detained on December 11th by public safety officers in the Hirst Lounge. The administration's response to the altercation, as we all were notified via email, was that it was an "unauthorized event", even though our referenced peers have maintained that they were not there for any event and it was just an informal gathering like any of us would do at campus spots like the Hirst Lounge.
Now, whether their gathering was an "unauthorized event" or not (if an event at all), such disproportionate use of force against a university student to detain her by over a dozen public safety officers offered a terrifying glimpse into the administration's continued mishandling of resolving diverse international voices and ideas at the University of Rochester. Many of you reached out to us with your fears about racial profiling which is a concern we all share now.
We, at the International Students' Association (ISA) whose foundational roots trace back to the famous Bring Back the Flags Protests of 2021, which we held against the administration's decision to remove international flags from the Hirst Lounge permanently, are disappointed to see that the stature of international representation, voices, and acceptance of the existence of diverse international ideas, has continued to decline on our campus instead of improving.
ISA would like to firmly assert that every student has the right to express themselves freely and peacefully, without fear of persecution or harm. We are committed to fostering a safe and inclusive environment for all international students, regardless of their political views or beliefs. We firmly believe that peaceful dialogue and mutual respect are the only viable means to resolve conflicts and build bridges between communities.
We understand that the conflict in the Middle East is a complex and sensitive issue, with deep historical and cultural roots. But remember that loss of lives, regardless of either side, is a loss for humanity. And regardless of which side (if any) you support, ISA stands by our belief that every student, irrespective of their nationality or background, has the right to express their opinions and engage in peaceful protests.
We urge all members of the university community to educate themselves, respect each other's opinions and engage in constructive dialogue instead of resorting to violence or intimidation. ISA is dedicated to creating a welcoming and supportive environment for all international students, and it cannot be achieved without everyone's strong commitment to this goal.
ISA will continue in our efforts to engage with the university's administration to find ways to improve international representation, inclusion, awareness, and appreciation of the rich international diversity we have at the University of Rochester.
But as we all know, such initiatives cannot be achieved without your continued collaboration efforts and feedback so, if you have any suggestions/opinions for how ISA (along with working with the administration) can further support, improve, and promote international voices, ideas, and initiatives on our campus, please do so by filling up this short form (which can be submitted anonymously): ISA General Feedback Form
We appreciate our members and alumni for their continued support of our initiatives and new events like the International Fashion Show and we will continue to try to find unique and new platforms for our international peers to showcase our rich multicultural community at the University of Rochester.
Thank you for your attention and we wish you a happy new year.
Sincerely,
ISA Executive Board
|
