Student Union
- By Devon Sgubin
International Students Offered Free Housing
President Trump's executive order suspends travel to the United States from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days and halts the U.S refugee program for 120 days. Federal judges in Maryland and Hawaii have challenged the legality of the ban while it remains on hold across the nation according to CNN. A judge in Virginia will consider the order on May 8.
Although visa-holders who are authorized to travel to the U.S. are technically not affected, many are cautious about leaving for fear of not getting back in.
“Although the EO purportedly will not automatically invalidate current unexpired visas, individuals from the six countries should be advised to refrain from exiting the U.S. when possible” said immigration law expert Peter Asaad, Partner at Quarles and Brady LLP in Washington.
The liberal arts school has 121 students from 51 countries, including a Syrian and an Iranian, according to The Ithacan.
Although the Student Governance Council passed the bill to allow free housing during the summer for international students from those from countries on the travel ban list, students from other countries who don’t feel safe traveling can also apply for the housing, said Diana Dimitrova, director of International Student Services, to the The Ithacan.
Students taking up the offer will be housed in the same accommodations used for summer students, so there should be no significant cost added, according to The Ithacan.
“We thought that it was important to give the students who didn’t necessarily have the opportunity to go home ... [the opportunity] to be able to stay,” said Isabella Grullon, international senator for SGC, to The Ithacan.
“We value diversity because it enriches our community and the myriad experiences that characterize an Ithaca College education,” Ithaca College says about the importance of diversity on their website.
Other schools have pushed back on the Trump travel ban. Thirty-one universities filed an amicus brief with the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals over their concern about banning international students from American colleges and universities.
“By prohibiting entry by persons from the six affected countries, the Executive Order divides current students and their families, impairs the ability of American universities to draw the finest international talent, and inhibits the free exchange of ideas,” the brief said.
Schools in the Toronto District, Canada, are suspending trips to the United States over concerns that Canadian citizens who were not born in the country may have difficulty crossing the border.
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Trump administration opens antisemitism inquiries at 5 colleges, including Columbia and Berkeley
The Trump administration is opening new investigations into allegations of antisemitism at five U.S. universities including Columbia and the University of California, Berkeley, the Education Department announced Monday.
It's part of President Donald Trump's promise to take a tougher stance against campus antisemitism and deal out harsher penalties than the Biden administration, which settled a flurry of cases with universities in its final weeks. It comes the same day the Justice Department announced a new task force to root out antisemitism on college campuses.
In an order signed last week, Trump called for aggressive action to fight anti-Jewish bias on campuses, including the deportation of foreign students who have participated in pro-Palestinian protests.
Along with Columbia and Berkeley, the department is now investigating the University of Minnesota, Northwestern University and Portland State University. The cases were opened using the department's power to launch its own civil rights reviews, unlike the majority of investigations, which stem from complaints.
Messages seeking comment were left with all five universities.
A statement from the Education Department criticized colleges for tolerating antisemitism after Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and a wave of pro-Palestinian protests that followed. It also criticized the Biden administration for negotiating "toothless" resolutions that failed to hold schools accountable.
"Today, the Department is putting universities, colleges, and K-12 schools on notice: this administration will not tolerate continued institutional indifference to the wellbeing of Jewish students on American campuses," said Craig Trainor, the agency's acting assistant secretary for civil rights.
The department didn't provide details about the inquiries or how it decided which schools are being targeted. Presidents of Columbia and Northwestern were among those called to testify on Capitol Hill last year as Republicans sought accountability for allegations of antisemitism. The hearings contributed to the resignation of multiple university presidents, including Columbia's Minouche Shafik.
An October report from House Republicans accused Columbia of failing to punish pro-Palestinian students who took over a campus building, and it called Northwestern's negotiations with student protesters a "stunning capitulation."
House Republicans applauded the new investigations. Representative Tim Walberg, chair of the Education and Workforce Committee, said he was "glad that we finally have an administration who is taking action to protect Jewish students."
Trump's order also calls for a full review of antisemitism complaints filed with the Education Department since Oct. 7, 2023, including pending and resolved cases from the Biden administration. It encourages the Justice Department to take action to enforce civil rights laws.
Last week's order drew backlash from civil rights groups who said it violated First Amendment rights that protect political speech.
The new task force announced Monday includes the Justice and Education departments along with Health and Human Services.
"The Department takes seriously our responsibility to eradicate this hatred wherever it is found," said Leo Terrell, assistant attorney general for civil rights. "The Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism is the first step in giving life to President Trump's renewed commitment to ending anti-Semitism in our schools."
- By VOA News
STEM, business top subjects for international students
The Times of India breaks down the most popular subjects for international students to study in the U.S.
STEM and business lead the pack. Read the full story here. (January 2025)
- By VOA News
Safety and visa difficulties among misconceptions about US colleges
U.S. News & World report addresses some of the misconceptions about U.S. colleges and universities, including the difficulty of getting a visa.
Read the full story here. (January 2025)
- By VOA News
Work opportunities help draw international students to US schools
US News & World Report details the three top factors in foreign students' decision to study in the U.S. They include research opportunities and the reputation of U.S. degrees. Read the full story here. (December 2024)
- By VOA News
British student talks about her culture shock in Ohio
A British student who did a year abroad at Bowling Green State University in Ohio talks about adjusting to life in America in a TikTok video, Newsweek magazine reports.
Among the biggest surprises? Portion sizes, jaywalking laws and dorm room beds.
Read the full story here. (December 2024)
