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DePauw President McCoy issues statement, students rally in support of DACA
In the aftermath of Tuesday's announcement that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program (DACA) has been rescinded, at least two responses emerged on the DePauw University campus.
President Trump ordered the program ended Tuesday, calling it an "amnesty-first approach" and urging Congress to pass a replacement measure before he begins phasing out DACA's protections in six months.
In response, DePauw President D. Mark McCoy emailed students, faculty and staff, offering support for the DACA program.
"DePauw University expresses its profound disappointment in the decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program and reaffirms its commitment to stand with and for all of its students, especially those with DACA status," his email began. "We will continue our efforts to work with our elected leaders, on both sides of the aisle, to pass legislation protecting these students. We support the sentiments expressed by members of both parties, including Speaker Ryan and Sens. Durbin, Graham and Hatch in support of DACA. We are encouraged by the bipartisan proposal of the Bridge Act.
"DePauw University's motto states that 'the college is the splendor and light of the common good.' We hold fast to that motto and to our values of respect, diversity, inclusion and trust. We stand with all of our students in solidarity in our commitment to a transformational education.
"We join the National Association of Independent College and Universities in urging all concerned citizens to contact their elected officials in support of DACA; we join with the business leaders that have called upon the continuance of DACA; we join the American Association of Colleges and Universities in their 'abiding commitment to the values of diversity, inclusion and equity as critical to the wellbeing of our democratic culture and as the cornerstones of excellence in liberal education.'
"We believe that this is our opportunity to reaffirm the founding principles of the United States of America," McCoy concluded in his email message.
DACA is a program that had protected nearly 800,000 young undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children from deportation. These children have come to be known as "Dreamers." Those Dreamers are students, soldiers and workers who were brought to the U.S. by their parents and know no other home.
Meanwhile, DePauw students and faculty and administrators, including President McCoy, joined community members to gather outside the Union Building Tuesday afternoon to show their support for DACA through art.
DePauw students read speeches, made signs and jewelry and showed support for one another. Students said they felt support from each other and the adults present but the greatest feeling was that of belonging.
Students questioned in their speeches, "Where do I return to? This is my home. There is no other place that I know as home."
There was no talk of politics or of political parties during the event. There was just concern voiced about what happens over the next six months now that the ball has been passed to Congress to deal with the rescinding of DACA.