Matt Blaze“Last month I was just worried about my classes. Now I’m worried that I’ll simply disappear.”
- From email from a talented student whose visa was just summarily cancelled because she’s from the wrong country.
God damn this.
The worst part for me is that I have no words to help or even offer meaningful comfort. I can't imagine how stressful this is, for so many.
Kim Scheinberg@mattblaze
I'm so sorry, Matt
What an unbelievably shitty situation for everyone to be in
@kims *I'm* fine, of course. But this is so awful to watch, helplessly.
The one consolation is that my university seems to genuinely have these students' backs.
@mattblaze
Just speaking for me, I try to allow myself grace to acknowledge the helplessness and the moral injury. It feels self-indulgent when others are in much more dire circumstances, but the harm is real
I'm glad your institution shares your integrity
Bob Blaskiewicz 🇺🇦 🇨🇦 🇬🇱@mattblaze @kims I hope you find a way to help them. If they are taking your classes irl, you might let them take it remotely so they don't have to expose themselves to additional danger.
fritzoids@rjblaskiewicz @mattblaze @kims
I've linked a letter from a Columbia student who ultimately decided to leave for Canada to stay safe. In this letter she details the events and how she also decided to temporarily move to a safer place that neither the university nor ICE knew about, before leaving for Canada.
I think having a place to hide and (like you said) being able to take the classes remotely would be helpful.
Gabriel N@fritzoids @rjblaskiewicz @mattblaze @kims the incredible callousness of everyone involved. Only one person helped the student, everyone else just took advantage of the situation.
I guess Columbia can keep the tuition: “Hey! This was not my fault”
Cassandrich@mattblaze @kims One thing to check and fight for if they don't already have it covered: remote learning & degree paths for any student deported so they can finish the education they were entitled to.