Student groups demand that UCSD become a ‘sanctuary campus’
Students at the University of California, San Diego are demanding that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) be banned in order to make UCSD a “sanctuary campus.”
Two student groups, Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlan and Migrant Rights Awareness, declare in their list of demands that they “stand in solidarity against the xenophobia and racism perpetuated through the ‘chalkening’ incidents that occurred at the University of California, San Diego.”
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The document condemns the pro-Trump messages, saying that UCSD cannot advocate for “equitable education” when “disruptive incidents” such as the “chalkening” continue to occur.
“This event is not an isolated incident but rather is part of a widespread phenomenon that affects both potential and current students at institutions of higher education, at UCSD, and in other institutions across the nation,” the groups write. “As a community we demand from our institution that statements that incite violence or oppress students of color are no longer tolerated, but rather are accounted for.”
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Their very first demand calls for the complete removal of ICE from campus, along with a requirement that the UCSD police department sever all ties with the United States Border Patrol (USBP) and a prohibition against either agency participating in any career fair or job recruitment events hosted by the university.
“We demand that UC San Diego become a sanctuary campus immediately, banning all Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from collaborating with or operating within the university,” the groups state.
In addition, they demand that the UCSD police department be “trained on bias within their department, and within the university as a whole, including but is [sic] not limited to racist, homophobic, xenophobic, gendered, transphobic” trends.
The students also want the school take legal action against those responsible for the pro-Trump messages, demanding “educational as well as disciplinary consequences for the perpetrators of such actions,” even though the group also claims that it is “not the intention of this movement to condemn the ability to chalk these statements.”
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The ultimatum then goes on to call for specialized housing for various ethnic groups on campus, imposing a Fall 2017 deadline for the creation of permanent campus housing communities for Muslims and “undocumented” students in addition to “Multicultural Housing, Black/African Diaspora Housing, [and] Raza Interest Housing.” Each community would receive support and input from a relevant student organization, and would technically be open to all students.
To support the effort, they are also asking for a 50 percent increase in funding for those communities, as well as full housing scholarships for at least 50 undocumented students starting in Fall 2017, with the number increasing annually to “meet demand.”
The students also want additional accommodations specifically for Muslim students, such as “the use of zabihah meat [slaughtered according to Islamic rites] by the spring 2017,” and “a remodeling of the bathrooms by each Contemplation Lounge to provide a space for Muslim students to make wudhu (ablution)” no later than Winter 2019.
According to The [UCSD] Guardian, administrators have not reached out to either of the student groups, and no meetings are scheduled to discuss the ultimatum, which does not outline any repercussions in the event that the university fails to implement any or all of its provisions.
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