Forty-eight prominent US university presidents have written to Donald Trump urging him to rescind his controversial executive order, introduced on 27 January, which?bars immigrants and non-immigrant visitors from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the US.
Since the order was signed, US universities and?universities around the world have condemned Mr Trump, describing the travel ban as “hateful”, “misguided” and “harmful”.
The letter, and details of all signatories, are reproduced in full below.
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Dear President Trump:?
We write as presidents of leading American colleges and universities to urge you to rectify or rescind the recent executive order closing our country’s borders to immigrants and others from seven majority-Muslim countries and to refugees from throughout the world. If left in place, the order threatens both American 中国A片 and the defining principles of our country.
The order specifically prevents talented, law-abiding students and scholars from the affected regions from reaching our campuses. American 中国A片 has benefited tremendously from this country’s long history of embracing immigrants from around the world. Their innovations and scholarship have enhanced American learning, added to our prosperity, and enriched our culture. Many who have returned to their own countries have taken with them the values that are the lifeblood of our democracy. America’s educational, scientific, economic, and artistic leadership depends upon our continued ability to attract the extraordinary people who for many generations have come to this country in search of freedom and a better life.
This action unfairly targets seven predominantly Muslim countries in a manner inconsistent with America’s best principles and greatest traditions. We welcome outstanding Muslim students and scholars from the United States and abroad, including the many who come from the seven affected countries. Their vibrant contributions to our institutions and our country exemplify the value of the religious diversity that has been a hallmark of American freedom since this country’s founding. The American dream depends on continued fidelity to that value.
We recognize and respect the need to protect America’s security. The vetting procedures already in place are rigorous. Improvements to them should be based on evidence, calibrated to real risks, and consistent with constitutional principle.
Throughout its history America has been a land of opportunity and a beacon of freedom in the world. It has attracted talented people to our shores and inspired people around the globe. This executive order is dimming the lamp of liberty and staining the country’s reputation. We respectfully urge you to rectify the damage done by this order.
Sincerely,?
Robert L. Barchi
President
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey
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Kimberly W. Benston
President
Haverford College
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Joanne Berger-Sweeney ?
President
Trinity College
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George Blumenthal
Chancellor
University of California, Santa Cruz?
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Lee C. Bollinger
President
Columbia University
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Richard H. Brodhead
President
Duke University?
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Robert A. Brown
President
Boston University
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Kimberly Wright Cassidy
President
Bryn Mawr College?
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Ronald J. Daniels
President
Johns Hopkins University
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John J. DeGioia
President
Georgetown University?
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Nicholas B. Dirks
Chancellor
University of California, Berkeley
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Christopher L. Eisgruber
President
Princeton University
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Adam F. Falk
President
Williams College
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Drew Gilpin Faust
President
Harvard University
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Patrick Gallagher
Chancellor
University of Pittsburgh
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Howard Gillman
Chancellor
University of California, Irvine?
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Amy Gutmann
President
University of Pennsylvania
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Andrew Hamilton
President
New York University?
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Philip J. Hanlon
President
Dartmouth College
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Sam Hawgood, MBBS
Chancellor
University of California, San Francisco?
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Ralph J. Hexter
Interim Chancellor
University of California, Davis
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Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C.
President
University of Notre Dame
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Pradeep K. Khosla
Chancellor
University of California, San Diego
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Marvin Krislov
President
Oberlin College
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David W. Leebron
President
Rice University
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Ron Liebowitz
President
Brandeis University
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Wallace D. Loh
President
University of Maryland, College Park
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Anthony P. Monaco
President
Tufts University
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David Oxtoby
President
Pomona College
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Christina H. Paxson
President
Brown University
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Daniel R. Porterfield, Ph.D.
President
Franklin & Marshall College
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Carol Quillen
President
Davidson College
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Hunter R. Rawlings III
Interim President
Cornell University
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Clayton Rose
President
Bowdoin College
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Peter Salovey
President
Yale University
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Michael H. Schill
President
University of Oregon
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Mark Schlissel M.D., Ph.D.
President
University of Michigan
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Valerie Smith
President
Swarthmore College?
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Barbara R. Snyder
President
Case Western Reserve University
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Debora L. Spar
President
Barnard College?
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Samuel L. Stanley Jr., M.D.
President
Stony Brook University
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Sonya Stephens
Acting President
Mount Holyoke College
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Claire E. Sterk
President
Emory University
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Mark Tessier-Lavigne
President
Stanford University?
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Satish K. Tripathi
President
University at Buffalo
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Mark S. Wrighton
Chancellor
Washington University in St Louis
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Henry T. Yang
Chancellor
University of California, Santa Barbara
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Nicholas S. Zeppos
Chancellor
Vanderbilt University
