Over the last several months, a group of University of Delaware students have been circulating a petition called #NoBlueHenIsIllegal.
Ever since last year’s presidential election – many UD students have feared for their immigrant and undocumented peers.
“Just a bunch of students and faculty just felt like we had to do something," said JamesTaichi Collins, a senior who helped put together the petition after a similar sanctuary campus petition was rejected.
The petition calls for UD to appoint an undocumented student coordinator, develop a policy for campus police, and provide diversity training to faculty and staff per undocumented students.
“Undocumented students – they don’t have the luxury to call the police if they’re robbed, or if there’s a sexual harassment case," Collins said. "So they feel more vulnerable because if something terrible happens, they can’t call the police.”
Along with the petition’s 10 demands, Collins says its title is also a hashtag widely referenced on Twitter.
“It’s a reminder that when people see it – that it’s a movement," Collins said. "It’s not just a demand, it’s a movement. It’s almost a symbolic way of reminding people that this is something big, it’s important.”
The petition has over 800 online supporters – and prompted a response from UD President Dennis Assanis, who emphasized the university’s dedication to diversity and inclusion.
He also cited this Tuesday’s professional development training for UD employees focused on diversity and social justice, and says the university plans to release a guide for undocumented and DACA students by the end of the summer semester.
