Editor’s Note: The Daily News publishes Letters to the Editor with minimal copy edits and provides a headline only if the author does not provide one. We reserve the right to withhold submitted letters depending on the content. Letters should be approximately 500 words and sent to editor@bsudailynews.com.
To Interim President Terry King, the Board of Trustees, the university administration and community,
During our time at Ball State, we found safety in fellow students as well as faculty members in their commitment to inclusivity. We were challenged to think from other perspectives, to learn the ways of different communities, and to stand against any injustice.
The University proudly touts its diverse student groups, such as Spectrum, the Black Student Association, the Asian American Student Association, the Latino Student Union and the Muslim Student Association. It strives for accessibility by going beyond Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act. It also ensures a commitment to the environment by being LEED certified and highlights innovation in the field with its geothermal energy system.
Yet Ball State has remained silent or vague in the face of all that threatens these efforts, from the nomination of Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education to the Dakota Access and Keystone XL oil pipelines, and now the shameful executive order of the indefinite ban on Syrian refugees as well as temporary bans on people with visas from the Muslim-majority countries of Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
It is not enough to write a short, vague statement on the “immigration issue.” It is not satisfactory to put the onus on the community by stating the University is there for those "who might feel particularly vulnerable" when, indeed, this is more than just paranoia.
Not once does the statement mention:
- what the “issue” is
- Muslims
- the University’s opinion on the ban
- how the ban goes against Ball State values (as seen in the Beneficence Pledge under “pledge to act in a socially responsible way” and “pledge to value the intrinsic worth of every member of the community”)
While it is necessary and welcomed that the University would direct people toward the fine staff at the Rinker Center, a public institution made strong by thousands of people from various backgrounds needs to do more.
How will the administration help those who are now vulnerable? Will the University comply with federal orders, or will it stand tall in its sacred commitment to students and faculty by offering a sanctuary campus?
Ball State had a chance to comfort its community, and to make its alumni proud, by issuing a clear message that the University upholds values in the higher-education realm to protect its community. It could have released a strong statement, such as the rebukes from the leaders of Purdue University, Indiana University, the University of Notre Dame and Earlham College.
There is still time for Ball State to properly reassure a true commitment to an inclusive campus. Though it pains us to say, not one dime will go toward our alma mater until it proves it is better than the statement issued Jan. 29, 2017.
We implore all those in power to do better. Lives depend on it.
Respectfully,
ALYSSA VILLABLANCA, CLASS OF 2014
ANDREW MISHLER, CLASS OF 2013
KELLY DICKEY, CLASS OF 2013
ADAM BAUMGARTNER, CLASS OF 2015
STEVEN WILLIAMS, CLASS OF 2015
JOSEPH JACKSON, CLASS OF 2013
MARCUS BINGHAM, CLASS OF 2014
CAITLIN BARTNIK, CLASS OF 2013
MAXINE WALLACE, CLASS OF 2015
TREMAINE TAYLOR-TILLERY, CLASS OF 2013
ELLIE ATCHLEY, CLASS OF 2015
JOHN ELLIS, CLASS OF 2013
ASHLEY DYE, CLASS OF 2015
EMILY RODRIGUEZ, CLASS OF 2014
DANNY DELANEY, CLASS OF 2015
GRAHAM BECHER, CLASS OF 2013
SHELLEY SHEKELL, CLASS OF 2013
GREGORY COULTER, CLASS OF 2013
SETH JOHNSON, CLASS OF 2013
RACHEL LUEBCKE, CLASS OF 2013
JONATHAN MIKSANEK, CLASS OF 2015
CALEB GREEN, CLASS OF 2010 & 2014
ANDREA WATTS, CLASS OF 2012
MICHELLE JOHNSON, CLASS OF 2013
WILLIAM AARON KELLY, CLASS OF 2013
ELIZABETH HIBBLER, CLASS OF 2013
EMILY THEIS, CLASS OF 2014
MATT GIBSON, CLASS OF 2006
JASON PICKELL, CLASS OF 2016
TAYLOR FIRESTINE, CLASS OF 2015
JAMES NAUYOKAS, CLASS OF 2013
ERIN STEVENS, CLASS OF 2015
ELYSIA SMITH, CLASS OF 2013
JENNA WALTERS, CLASS OF 2014
NATALIE SACHS, CLASS OF 2016
JESSICA PETTENGILL, CLASS OF 2015
SHARON HERNANDEZ, CLASS OF 2012
SHELBY SANDERS, CLASS OF 2014
EMILY SANDERS, CLASS OF 2014
ZOE RUSSELL, CLASS OF 2016
RYAN HOWE, CLASS OF 2014
STEPHANIE MEREDITH, CLASS OF 2013
FRANK GENGO, CLASS OF 2016
SAM CONDON, CLASS OF 2015
ASHLEY COX, CLASS OF 2014
AIDAN FEAY, CLASS OF 2016
NATALIE GUYON, CLASS OF 2015
JOHN KING, CLASS OF 1999 & 2004
CASSANDRA MARTIN, CLASS OF 2014
DANIEL EDWARDS, CLASS OF 2015
HEIDI GIBSON, CLASS OF 2006
EMMA FLYNN, CLASS OF 2016
KAYLA CRECELIUS, CLASS OF 2007 & 2009
BRANDON WILHELM, CLASS OF 2016
JORDAN ALANE HUFFER, CLASS OF 2015
REBECCA WOLFLEY, CLASS OF 2015
BRIAN WEISS, CLASS OF 2014
SPENCER SOKOL, CLASS OF 1999
JESSICA HOWEY, CLASS OF 2014
STEPHANIE WYATT, CLASS OF 2014
FATEMEH HAJIZADEH, CLASS OF 2014
KYLE HAYES, CLASS OF 2012 & 2013
GRANT EBERT, CLASS OF 2015
CHRISTIONA DARRIS, CLASS OF 2014
RACHEL ODA, CLASS OF 2015
CHRIS BEAMAN, CLASS OF 2015
RACHEL STENGER, CLASS OF 2015
SARAH GILBERT, CLASS OF 2015
JESSICA NICKEL, CLASS OF 2015
DAVID NICKEL, CLASS OF 2014
VALERIE THORNBURG, CLASS OF 2015
CYNTHIA NESBIT, CLASS OF 2014
NOLAN MARKER, CLASS OF 2012
NATE KISTLER, CLASS OF 2015
JEREMY FLICK, CLASS OF 2013 & 2016
NICHOLAS FAVELA, CLASS OF 2015
CHAYLEE BROCK, CLASS OF 2013
BRITTANY LEEANN COLLINS, CLASS OF 2014
SADEQ MALAKOOTI, CLASS OF 2015
FELICIA KEEN, CLASS OF 2016
MADISON R JONES, CLASS OF 2013
MICHAEL RUSSELL, CLASS OF 2013
STEPHANIE TARRANT, CLASS OF 2013
BRIANA BROWN, CLASS OF 2011
CHANTELLE HEFER, CLASS OF 2013
KENTON OWEN III, CLASS OF 2014
ROSS PIERSON, CLASS OF 2014
MORGAN APRILL, CLASS 2015 & 2017
BRAYDEN BRIDGEMAN, CLASS OF 2014
DANIEL BROUNT, CLASS OF 2016
CLARA HARMONY RESLER, CLASS OF 2014
TYLER NORAGON, CLASS OF2014
ROBERT BROOKS, CLASS OF 2016
CARLI HENDERSHOT, CLASS OF 2016
BRIANNA BECK, CLASS OF 2013
AZIA ELLIS-SINGLETON, CLASS OF 2014
RIANNE LYNETTE HALL, CLASS OF 2014
CHRISTINE HURST, CLASS OF 2014
VERONICA SIPE, CLASS OF 2014
TOREE C. PETERS, CLASS OF 2014
CHARLOTTE SIPE, CLASS OF 2015
JORDYN PRICE, CLASS OF 2014
AHLIAH BRATZLER, CLASS OF 2012
SABRINA ARROYO, CLASS OF 2015
NICOLE MANSFIELD, CLASS OF 2015
KELBY SANKEY, CLASS OF 2014
TANNER DEISCH, CLASS OF 2013
EMMALIE HODGE, CLASS OF 2017
ZOHREH AMOOZGAR, CLASS OF 2007
NATALYA MEZENINA, CLASS OF 2016
JILLIAN SIMMONS, CLASS OF 2015
VIVIAN EDWARDS, CLASS OF 2017
KELLIN CARTER, CLASS OF 2016
AMANDA MEYER, CLASS OF 2013
ANNE HABEN, CLASS OF 2013
JACK SMITH, CLASS OF 2015 & 2016
RYAN COLE, CLASS OF 2013
R. AARON WEBSTER, CLASS OF 2014 & 2016
BRADY MARTIN, CLASS OF 2017
SKYLER BLEVINS, CLASS OF 2015
MITCHELL MCLAUGHLIN, CLASS OF 2015
TREVOR D. OAKERSON, CLASS OF 2013
HUNTER R. LAMBRIGHT, CLASS OF 2013
NATALIE M STRZOK, CLASS OF 2014
SAMARIA M. CHICAS, CLASS OF 2012 & 2017
STEVEN A. WALSH, CLASS OF 2013
RACHEL PODNAR, CLASS OF 2016
BRIANNA KIRKHAM, CLASS OF 2016
JOHN HESSER, CLASS OF 2016
KEVIN C. JEWETT, CLASS OF 2016
BRYAN KUBEL, CLASS OF 2016
MIRANDA CARNEY, CLASS OF 2016
BRIDGET BETANCES, CLASS OF 2015
JESSIKA ZACHARY, CLASS OF 2016
SAIGE DRIVER, CLASS OF 2015
SARAH REASON, CLASS OF 2016
BREANNA BRENNEMAN, CLASS OF 2013
MARC SCHUTZ, CLASS OF 2014
STEPHANIE REDDING, CLASS OF 2015
TARA OLIVERO, CLASS OF 2014
ADAM GULLA, CLASS OF 2014
NOELLE GULLA, CLASS OF 2014
MALLORY BEATY, CLASS OF2015
NICOLE WILBER, CLASS OF 2014 & 2016
JONATHAN KNIGHT (SWINDLE), CLASS OF 2013
ADAM BAILEY, CLASS OF 2013
MICHAEL UEHLEIN, CLASS OF 2010
ANNABELLA ORTIZ, CLASS OF 2014
ALYSSA VANSKYOCK, CLASS OF 2016
ALLISON NIMTZ, CLASS OF 2010
JOHN HOTTLE, CLASS OF 2009 & 2010
MEGAN ROCHE, CLASS OF 2012 & 2017
COURTNEY GIRT, CLASS OF 2013
KYLE FLOOD, CLASS OF 2009
BRITTNI KNOX, CLASS OF 2015
KANYINSOLA AJAYI, CLASS OF 2016
LAWRENCE MATOVINA, CLASS OF 2012
SAMANTHA WRIGHT BALES, CLASS OF 2010
ALISON ZUIDERVLIET BROWN, CLASS OF 2007
TERESA AUCH SCHULTZ, CLASS OF 2006
DELANI WILLIAMS, CLASS OF 2015
KAITLIN JEWETT, CLASS OF 2014
SEAN C. SMITH, CLASS OF 1998 & 2001
MEGANNE WHEELER, CLASS OF 2014 & 2016
MELANIE BLEVINS, CLASS OF 2015
BENJAMIN PEARSON, CLASS OF 2015
JACOB CAIL, CLASS OF 2016
DAVE KENNEDY, CLASS OF 2003
MATTHEW MONTEMAYOR, CLASS OF 2017
RAYMOND GARCIA, CLASS OF 2016
REBECCA PENN, CLASS OF 2014 & 2016
KAIT MAHL, CLASS OF 2017
TIMOTHY EBERHARDT, CLASS OF 2014
PAUL SYMONS, CLASS OF 2008
HAYLEY ANDREWS, CLASS OF 2015
HALEY WISELY, CLASS OF 2014
ELIZABETH JONES, CLASS OF 2016
KYLE JONES, CLASS OF 2016
GEORGIANA SOFLETEA, CLASS OF 2018
LUKE BONVILLIAN, CLASS OF 2016
ALI MARKUS, CLASS OF 2014
BEN SLIGHTOM, CLASS OF 2018
BRITTNEY PERRY, CLASS OF 2013
MAI NGUYEN, CLASS OF 2013
JESSICA SWIM, CLASS OF 2015
ANNA HOOKER, CLASS OF 2017
KATHERINE CORBIN, CLASS OF 2015
DREW FARRINGTON, CLASS OF 2013
KYLE ROYSE, CLASS OF 2013
ASHLEY LANHAM, CLASS OF 2014
SARAH NEWELL, CLASS OF 2007
CHRIS BOLINGER, CLASS OF 2013
TULLY ROLL, CLASS OF 2014 & 2016
JACOB SLIGER, CLASS OF 2018
MANDY LOWE, CLASS OF 2001
MADELYN HESKETT, CLASS OF 2016
FAITH KELLERMEYER, CLASS OF 2015
ANITA J BROWN, CLASS OF 2006
DANIEL PARISH CLASS OF 2012
CHANEIGH CARR, CLASS OF 2013
LISA CRAFT, CLASS OF 2006
CHRISTOPHER CALDWELL, CLASS OF 2002 & 2004
JUSTIN HOGLE, CLASS OF 2008
JACQUELINE S. DAVIS, CLASS OF 2000 & 2012
JESSICA A. ROARK, CLASS OF 2005, 2008 & 2018
ALEX M. BEEMAN, CLASS OF 2009
ASHLEY B. WIGGINS, CLASS OF 2010
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