Laura Klotzkin, Managing Editor
On Feb. 19, Career Services hosted its annual Career Internship Expo.
“An expo is a chance to network, a chance to talk to employers that are looking for employees,” director of career services Lamark Shaw said.
Among these employers were places that deal with healthcare, social services, and law enforcement, among others.
A group of students had concerns about one of the companies that ended up being represented at this event.
“This year, U.S. Customs and Border Protection will have a table at the event with literature about employment opportunities,” career services said in an email sent to campus on Feb. 18. “Please note that this table will not be staffed by anyone from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.”
A group of students voiced their concerns about this to the university.
Because border patrol was setting up a table at the university, a small group of concerned students set up a table with informational material outside of the career and internship expo in order to voice their reservations about having a table from Border Patrol on campus at all.
“We are concerned about the school sending messages to immigrants that they are not welcome there. We want to let them know that they are welcome there.” Said Jaymi Stephens, a junior social work major and a participant, “I know students personally who had a fear of immigration and actually chose to stay home that day rather than come on campus and have a possibility of border patrol being there.”
These students had a meeting to organize a way to express their viewpoint to the Daemen community. Involved in this group of students, other than Stephens was Kierstyn Klahn, a senior social work/political science major, Devon Ruddock, a freshman social work major, Xachary Szewczyk, a junior natural science major and Zorian Edwards, a sophomore English major.
(From left to right)Devon Ruddock, Xachary Szewczyk and Jaymi Stephens.
“There were a group of students who were interested in expressing their concerns about the event, so when it was brought to my attention, I met with them,” said dean of students, Luke Haumesser. “We went over the university’s policies and procedures and just ensured that they were following our dissent and demonstrations policy and most importantly making sure that whatever their view on the situation was that they felt heard, that they were respecting university policy and that we weren’t disrupting the day-to-day operations of the university.”
Haumesser worked with the group to ensure that they were following the university’s code of conduct, and Career Services reacted to their right to protest in a positive manner.
The event was posted on Handshake and was open to any employers in the community who wanted to attend. Border patrol ended up signing up through this.
“We have students who may want to enter law enforcement, we have criminal justice majors and political science majors, and we wanna be respectful of that to have equal opportunity around the board,” said Haumesser.
Klahn shares her view on the university’s interactions with the concerned student group.
“While we had some professors and staff that were supportive in our efforts, Daemen University as a whole cannot take a particular political position for one side or another.” Said Klahn, “Although, in my opinion, having the agency on campus is its own statement and could be interpreted as support for currently corrupt and scrutinized federal organizations.”
Overall, the student body had mixed opinions about the protest. Many students seemed supportive of the group, while others chose not to engage. Some community members didn’t realize that border patrol was still attending the event, and the concerned students made them aware.
“There was not a clear cut outcome. I felt happy that we were able to provide education to students about why this is an issue they should be concerned about,” said Klahn. “I think there is an indication for a need for further dialogue about these issues as a campus community.”
Stephens, however, felt more positively about the outcome of the protest.
“We were able to inform students of their rights regarding immigration and let them know that there are people here that welcome them,” said Stephens.
Overall, the event was peaceful and informative for those who chose to interact with the group, as well as those who chose to avoid them.
“I just wanna commend the students involved. I really do appreciate working with them,” said Haumesser. “We feel very strongly that we want our students’ voices to be heard here on campus, and I appreciate their willingness to work with us on that.”