A notable ally to the sanctuary movement
Emory University may not call itself a sanctuary campus, but its actions aiding undocumented students helps benefit the sanctuary campus movement.
Emory University is one of the most widely recognized and revered universities ranking at number 20 in national universities according to U.S. News. The campus itself holds a population of about 14,913 students. The campus aims to be open to diversity and welcomes undocumented students.
My group and I tried reach to students via Google forms to get an insight as to what students think on becoming a sanctuary campus. Only a few students responded, but a majority of responses indicated that they knew someone who was undocumented. All participants also indicated that they were at least “well-informed” about what sanctuary campuses are. Students have spoken up about their thoughts on the issue.
[Regarding sanctuary campuses] Necessary to protect students, faculty, and staff, these people are valuable not only to the community but also for the country.
While our participants seem to be well-informed on the issue, it doesn’t seem to be as widely discussed as other liberal campuses in the country. It seems that despite being in support of sanctuary campuses, the campus itself is not in too much of a position to become one.
While Emory isn’t on the map as a sanctuary campus, its student body can put it on the hot seat. The state of Georgia has passed a bill that will cut school funding to any school deeming itself a sanctuary campus. New university president Claire E. Sterk is looking for a median, trying to please both students and faculty who wish for Emory to be a sanctuary campus and the state of Georgia that funds the school. Sterk announced the school would be a “safe harbor” school.
A walkout was demonstrated during Sterk’s formal inauguration, in which 200 students and faculty demanded the school declare itself a sanctuary campus. The walkout was a great stage for the cause but seemed far from eye opening with just 200 students and faculty supporting out of over 14,000 students in attendance. If Emory announced itself to be a Sanctuary campus, the school would be first to be affected by the Bill threatening their funding as no other school in the state has declared a sanctuary state on campus.
While Georgia does not give any DACA-certified student in-state tuition, Emory offers these benefits. Since it is a private university, Emory has used private aid to help cover for financial for undocumented students. Under Emory’s admissions office, DACA-approved students go through the same process as domestic students given that they are DACA-authorized.
Despite the campus being in vehement support of its undocumented student population, it does not consider itself a sanctuary campus. Ajay Nair, Emory’s Senior Vice President, announced in his letter to the people on campus stated that declaring Emory a sanctuary campus holds no effect. Nair still stands in solidarity with the undocumented population as he states in his letter “While the university will not be declared as a sanctuary campus, a phrase with no legal meaning, we remain committed to supporting undocumented students at Emory and understand the symbolic value of them.”
