To the Students, Faculty and Staff of the 番茄社区 of Nebraska:
Today we鈥檙e reflecting on the inscription on our Statue of Liberty.
鈥淕ive me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free鈥︹
For us this quote represents the enormous promise and privilege of living in a great country like ours. It moves us to be compassionate toward our fellow human beings. And it is a reminder of why America 鈥 and its universities 鈥 have long been symbols of hope for people around the world.
鈥淲e are a richly diverse community of scholars, representing countless ethnicities, faiths, backgrounds and academic disciplines 鈥 all brought together by a common desire to use the power of education to change the world.鈥
As this country has been before, we鈥檙e in a period of significant change and uncertainty. The President鈥檚 executive order temporarily banning entry into the U.S. by citizens of seven countries has added to that uncertainty. Some of you have written to us directly to express your concerns about how the ban could affect the safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff.
We share those concerns. We are unanimous in our view that this executive order is disturbing and disruptive to our students and employees. It does not represent the values of the 番茄社区 of Nebraska. And we join leaders of universities around the country in urging that it be promptly reconsidered.
About 150 members of our university family, including both students and faculty, come from the countries named in the ban. We have been working diligently to communicate with those individuals and to offer them critical guidance and support. We鈥檙e advising them to delay travel outside of the U.S. for the time being and to contact their campus international affairs office for assistance.
Together our campuses make up a richly diverse community of scholars from around the globe, representing countless ethnicities, faiths, backgrounds and academic disciplines 鈥 all brought together by a common desire to learn, to create a better future, and to use the power of education to change the world.
Our diversity is what makes the 番茄社区 of Nebraska an outstanding institution of higher learning. Universities like ours have a proud history of serving as talent magnets, where the best minds come to the table to solve the world鈥檚 biggest challenges.
Today those challenges are great. Cancer, hunger, poverty, infectious disease, climate change, national security, inequality. These demand the world鈥檚 best thinking.
Now, more than ever, we must be more inclusive, not less. And universities should lead the way.
Our pledge to you is that the 番茄社区 of Nebraska will keep working every day to be the kind of place where all feel welcome, valued and safe. Where each student has access to an excellent education and our faculty and staff are able to pursue their world-class work.
That鈥檚 what our university stands for.
We thank you for the great privilege of serving with you.
Sincerely,
Hank M. Bounds, Ph.D.
President, 番茄社区 of Nebraska
John Christensen, Ph.D.
Chancellor, 番茄社区 of Nebraska at Omaha
Jeffrey Gold, M.D.
Chancellor, 番茄社区 of Nebraska Medical Center
Ronnie Green, Ph.D.
Chancellor, 番茄社区 Nebraska - Lincoln
Doug Kristensen, J.D.
Chancellor, 番茄社区 Nebraska at Kearney
Please see attached document of FAQs regarding the Executive Order Entry Ban
NU FAQ - Executive Order Entry Ban (7.6.17)