President Trump’s Executive Order
The New School’s extensive international community is among our greatest strengths. A variety of cultural, political, ethnic, racial, and religious perspectives—and diversity in all its forms—add immeasurably to the level of our scholarship, creativity, and ability to engage effectively with complex global issues. Further, in 1933, The New School founded the University in Exile, a safe haven for international scholars who were facing persecution in fascist Europe. That courageous and bold stance not only had a profound influence on U.S. scholarship, it also galvanized the core values that continue to define our university today.
The Executive Order issued by President Trump on Friday threatens this educational mission. The Order bars refugees from entering the United States and imposes restrictions on citizens from seven countries—Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen—whose populations are majority Muslim.
The New School welcomes students, scholars and staff from around the world, including the countries the Executive Order singles out for restriction. They are a significant and critical part of our community. The open exchange of ideas—across disciplines, geographic borders and political boundaries—is vital to the continued growth of scholarship and creativity worldwide. We will do everything within our power to support them.
We are working with attorneys who specialize in immigration and visa issues to clearly understand the full implications of the Executive Order and its legal challenges so we can provide appropriate guidance. We expect that the interpretation and landscape will be emerging over the upcoming period. The New School’s International Student and Scholar Services is monitoring the issues closely, updating information on its website, and reaching out to students who are directly impacted. For now, students and faculty from countries included in the Order are advised to consult an immigration attorney if they are considering travel outside of the United States.
As I shared in my message on November 29, The New School’s Board of Trustees passed a resolution underscoring The New School’s commitment to creating a safe environment for our students to pursue their studies, and reaffirms our identity as an inclusive community that stands for social justice. We will continue to act consistently with that resolution. We are also working with other colleges and universities to share information and discuss strategies to demonstrate our collective strength.
The New School’s administration does not take political positions. Positions on policy that impact our community, educational mission and our values are another matter entirely. We must advocate in the strongest ways we can for the preservation of the very qualities that have shaped our university and strengthened our nation.
We will keep you informed of any new information or significant changes, as well as campus events and programs addressing the Executive Order. Our values as a community are more important than ever and I encourage you to remain vigilant in your support of those ideals and your fellow New Schoolers.
David E. Van Zandt, President