EU Administration Responds to New Executive Orders: “We are committed to the protection of our campus community.”

Elmhurst University students who come from a background of insecure immigration status or whose family is at risk of deportation face an uncertain future. In the wake of executive orders targeting immigration and birthright citizenship, EU put out a statement on the matter.

On Jan. 30, EU President Troy VanAken sent an email to the entire campus that laid out how to handle a situation in the event that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) comes to campus.

According to the statement put out by VanAken’s office, “Elmhurst University is committed to the protection, safety and care of every member of our campus community, including students, faculty and staff.”

It also states that they “affirm the privacy protections that exist for DACA [Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals] and undocumented students”, it also discusses “what the University will do to uphold those protections.”

The document goes over multiple different subjects, including ICE’s access to campus, staff guidance on how to deal with ICE, and the different types of warrants needed. This statement also says that campus police are not permitted to ask for immigration status or detain a person due to their immigration status.

President Trump has also made executive orders restricting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in universities and LGBTQ+ rights.

“The latest example of our commitment to this core value is President VanAken’s decision to have the Executive Director for Belonging and Inclusion, Alexander Blumenberg, serve on the President’s Cabinet and assist as one of his closest advisers,” they added.

According to Senior of Communications and External Relations Desiree Chen and Special Assistant to the President for Belonging and Inclusion Alexander Blumenberg, “We remain committed to ensuring that all students feel welcome on campus and will continue to provide support for various groups to enhance the sense of belonging here.”

Of these groups, they put a big emphasis on the newly re-established Queer Straight Alliance, now known as “People Rallying for an Inclusive Diverse Elmhurst (PRIDE),” they continued. “We’ve also hosted listening sessions that have highlighted the importance of programs like Staff and Faculty for Equality (S.A.F.E.), and we are actively exploring ways to nurture this initiative and others.”

They also said, “We believe that Elmhurst University’s diversity is one of our key strengths, and building a welcoming community that embraces belonging and inclusion is one of our core values. So yes, the University remains committed to initiatives, programs and other efforts that will foster a campus community where all students can feel a sense of belonging.”

“We are going to continue to treat all of our students with dignity and respect, and will continue to support them as we have always done.”