On Feb. 16, the Villanova community received an email from the University acknowledging the recent events and federal policies enacted by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency and advising on the best courses of action if it is on campus.
“Grounded in our Augustinian values, and in light of current national and regional developments, we recognize that you may have questions about the potential impact of federal policies on the Villanova community,” the email said. “The following overview is designed to support students, faculty and staff with questions about protocols, available resources and upcoming opportunities for education, dialogue and prayer.”
In bold, the email went on to emphasize that “for the safety of all Villanova community members, under no circumstances should any student, faculty, or staff member try to interfere with or physically obstruct external law enforcement officers.”
Although I can appreciate that the University sent out this email, it feels too delayed to have the full supportive effect it might have had if it were sent last month. In January, the world witnessed one of the most extreme ICE crackdowns, with the filmed and viral killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. For a few weeks, people everywhere were collectively outraged. Social media was rampant with re-postings of the videos of their deaths, and massive days of economic blackouts were organized. Schools and businesses in Minnesota closed, and an NBA game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors was postponed.
This chaotic time period would have been perfect for the University to issue a statement. Sure, ICE presence in Philadelphia and its suburbs is nowhere near the heightened level that Minnesota is experiencing, but that doesn’t negate the need for some sort of guidance that the administration could have offered. What is worse is that Customs and Border Protection, which was at the center of this controversy, was scheduled to be present at the Spring Career Fair. Customs and Border Protection eventually did not attend the Career Fair, but the lack of initiative by the University means people can’t help but feel a little unenthused about this latest statement.
In the aftermath of January’s events, Jacob Frey, the mayor of Minneapolis, took the international spotlight against ICE with this call for the agency to “get the f*** out of Minneapolis.” Frey is also a Villanova alumnus. He attended the Charles Widger School of Law, graduating cum laude in 2009, and then moved to Minneapolis. Frey was educated in law by the University and is now the poster child for the stand against ICE, so Villanova and its community must take inspiration from him and be timely and active participants in the conversation.
“Over the past year, the University has closely monitored this situation, communicating with various groups through email and individualized guidance from Human Resources, the Office of the Provost, and Student Life,” the University said in a statement to The Villanovan. “We remain committed to keeping our community informed and supported as this situation evolves.”
I am not trying to minimize the importance of the resources and educational opportunities that the University provided in this email. The plethora of offices, counseling, discussions and workshops listed are incredibly relevant and accessible, and I hope that students have the drive and interest to utilize them. However, as the federal government pulls out the majority of its ICE agents in its Minnesota operation and the public’s fervor subsides, it’s hard not to think about how much more help this statement may have offered in the heat of it all. This is the minimum that a university with a significant number of international students should offer.
