Last week’s election results have sparked a wide range of reactions from people across the world. Although some are celebrating and feeling optimistic about the possibility for change, oth- ers have shed tears, protested and ex- pressed their anxiety about the future of our country through various media platforms. College students across the country have had exceptionally strong reactions to the rhetoric used by Pres- ident-elect Donald Trump. Students have been particularly responsive to the immigration policies that he pro- posed during his campaign.

Trump’s controversial immigra- tion policies include the deportation of millions, building a wall along the southern border and ending sanctuary cities. Sanctuary cities are areas around the United States that have adopted protection policies for undocumented immigrants by avoiding the use of mu- nicipal funds to enforce national im- migration laws.

Throughout the past week, many colleges and universities across Amer- ica have taken steps to become “Sanc- tuary Campuses,” which are models based off the idea of sanctuary cities. The University of Notre Dame, North- western University, Swarthmore Col- lege, Pomona College and University of California, San Diego are only a few that have already begun working on petitions and resolutions demanding protection for undocumented students, and Hamilton is not far  behind.

At noon on Thursday, Nov. 17, Stu- dent Assembly sent out a petition to the Hamiton community asking President Wippman to make becoming a “Sanctu- ary Campus” a priority on the agenda for the December Board of Trustees Meeting. According to Aleta Brown ’17 and Gillian Mak ’18, this petition demonstrates the need for “Hamilton to make an explicit statement of support for all Hamilton community members,

especially those who are most vulner- able due to their individual or family’s immigration status.”

After the Board meeting in De- cember, Student Assembly will ask that President Wippman conduct an investigation into the feasibility and interest of making Hamilton a “Sanctu- ary Campus” by getting feedback from students, faculty, staff and alums. The results of this research should be pre- sented at the Board of Trustees meeting in March. Mak and Brown also stated, “the need for this petition comes in direct response to community efforts to maintain Hamilton values. The un- fortunate reality is that many of our students have experienced discrimi- nation…it is important to students to know that the institution we all call home supports us.”

Nancy Rabinowitz, Professor of Comparative Literature, commented, “I think that the trustees will be responsive to students’ needs. Such a statement of Sanctuary Status would offer assurance that the College will take seriously the most vulnerable members of the com- munity.” Rabinowitz continued, “It is consistent with our goal of being a di- verse and inclusive institution and with the goals we espouse in our mission. People in our community are afraid, and I think that this kind of statement would help dissipate the fear.”

Student Assembly President Ku- reem Nugent ’18 made the following statment regarding Hamilton’s petition: “When we, the Student Assembly Cen- tral Council, first heard about the idea to petition for ‘Sanctuary Status,’ many of us were in support of the measure. Although we are still trying to figure out how we can best provide support to those students, I do believe it is impor- tant to make a statment that we stand by our students, regardless of their status. I hope that we can commit to ensuring that students feel welcome and safe on campus, especially those who fear for their families and their futures after this election’s results.”