We, the undersigned core members of the Global Middle East Studies program, University of California, Irvine, unequivocally condemn the Executive Order dated January 27, 2017 issued by President Donald J. Trump, entitled "Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States", which suspends all resettlement of refugees and bans entry to all nationals, potentially including US green-card holders, from seven predominantly Muslim countries.
Not only does this order violate internationally recognized conventions of human rights, it is an inhumane and shameful assault on the lives and dignity of millions of people fleeing war and persecution. It undermines the rights of our students and colleagues to receive an education and to engage in research and collaboration. These are bedrock principles without which no institution of higher education can function.
We call upon the UCI School of Humanities, the University of California, Irvine, the University of California and Office of the President, the Regents, the Legislature and Governor of California, and all other elected and administrative personnel with responsibility for education:
1. To refuse to abide by, acquiesce to, or otherwise aid in the enforcement of this or similar executive orders and policies;
2. To engage in all feasible efforts to press the Trump Administration to rescind the order immediately, and to follow American and international law in its treatment of refugees, asylum seekers and alien residents of the United States;
3. To do all in their power to support and protect faculty, staff, and students who have been directly affected.
Signed,
Houri Berberian, Dept. of History
Victoria Bernal, Dept. of Anthropology
Cynthia Claxton, Dept. of Classics
Ian Coller, Dept. of History
Touraj Darya'ee, Dept. of History
Ketu Katrak, Dept. of Drama
Matthias Lehmann, Dept. of History
Mark LeVine, Dept. of History
Cecelia Lynch, Dept. of PoliticsKristen Peterson, Dept. of Political Science
Bryan Reynolds, Dept. of Drama
Armin Schwegler, Spanish and Portuguese
Roxanne Varzi, Dept of Anthropology
Not only does this order violate internationally recognized conventions of human rights, it is an inhumane and shameful assault on the lives and dignity of millions of people fleeing war and persecution. It undermines the rights of our students and colleagues to receive an education and to engage in research and collaboration. These are bedrock principles without which no institution of higher education can function.
We call upon the UCI School of Humanities, the University of California, Irvine, the University of California and Office of the President, the Regents, the Legislature and Governor of California, and all other elected and administrative personnel with responsibility for education:
1. To refuse to abide by, acquiesce to, or otherwise aid in the enforcement of this or similar executive orders and policies;
2. To engage in all feasible efforts to press the Trump Administration to rescind the order immediately, and to follow American and international law in its treatment of refugees, asylum seekers and alien residents of the United States;
3. To do all in their power to support and protect faculty, staff, and students who have been directly affected.
Signed,
Houri Berberian, Dept. of History
Victoria Bernal, Dept. of Anthropology
Cynthia Claxton, Dept. of Classics
Ian Coller, Dept. of History
Touraj Darya'ee, Dept. of History
Ketu Katrak, Dept. of Drama
Matthias Lehmann, Dept. of History
Mark LeVine, Dept. of History
Cecelia Lynch, Dept. of PoliticsKristen Peterson, Dept. of Political Science
Bryan Reynolds, Dept. of Drama
Armin Schwegler, Spanish and Portuguese
Roxanne Varzi, Dept of Anthropology