Kent State students’ fight for cause shows desire to inform, be informed

Students and leadership groups at Kent State University are advocating against recent decisions made by President Donald Trump, which include his executive order placing a ban on immigrants from seven predominantly-Muslim countries.

A petition to Kent State President Beverly Warren, Provost Todd Diacon, and Members of the Board of Trustees was created in late January in attempts to make KSU a sanctuary campus.

Currently, the petition has over 650 signatures, and, according to Faculty Senate Executive Committee member Dr. Theresa Walton-Fisette, it was addressed at Faculty Senate’s last meeting Monday, Feb. 13.

“The petition … was actually delivered to President Warren,” said Dr. Walton-Fisette. “I think (Warren) took it carefully under consideration. (The petition) started with undergrad students, and then it was shared with the (Faculty Senate Executive Committee). We shared it with Faculty Senate, and because President Warren saw it on our agenda, she decided to be proactive (in discussing it).”

However, despite the support behind the sanctuary campus movement, Dr. Walton-Fisette, a petition signee, does not anticipate the demands of the petition being met.

“In general, I think (President Warren) endorses the spirit of the petition, but she has pretty solid concerns with two aspects of it,” said Dr. Walton-Fisette.

Those two main concerns, according to Dr. Walton-Fisette, are the potential of a sanctuary campus becoming a target, as well as illegal action – six of the nine actions asked for in the petition would involve Kent State breaking the law.

President Warren’s concerns are warranted, as she has to hold Kent State and all of its students to a certain level of safety and protection. Still, her decision to not yet enact the actions in the petition does not mean that students have failed in their goals to affect KSU.

“I think that the sanctuary campus movement is a way for people to coalesce around the idea that they care about it,” said Dr. Walton-Fisette. “And I think that has meaning for the students who are affected, where they see that someone will speak up for them.”

In fact, those who support this cause have potentially jumpstarted a desire to inform and become informed.

“I have been taking more of an active responsibility (in providing) information that comes (across) me,” said Dr. Walton-Fisette. “I shared (the petition) with all my classes because I feel like it is important for (everyone) to be informed that these things are happening.”

What Dr. Walton-Fisette is exemplifying is what President Warren referenced in her response to the executive order on immigration, which was sent to student’s emails.

“As we unite together to create an authentic, caring community where everyone feels safe and supported, I invite every member of our university family to consider ways you can personally offer support and encouragement to others who may be experiencing fear, anxiety, uncertainty or a sense of disenfranchisement,” wrote Warren.

Most young adults obtain their news from social media in today’s day and age, where they can be selective with what information they choose to see. For this reason, Dr. Walton-Fisette sees this time as important to begin informing those who may not see specific information or know where to find it.

“I do not really think there is a good way for students to access information,” said Dr. Walton-Fisette. “In the past, I do not think I would have (shared the petition) because I would not want to influence or sway people. But now there is a bit of an information void. Sharing information is not the same as persuading someone, so I tried to make that clear.”

One student, Evan Gilmore, a junior aeronautics major, agrees that professors should provide accurate, impactful information to their students. However, he believes there should be a boundary.

“I would like professors to give information to students, but they have to be sure they are not being biased toward a specific ideology,” said Gilmore. “When I go to class, I do not want my professor to be Fox News or CNN. I want them to give me accurate, non-biased information, let me research things and make my own decision.”

The presidential campaign run by President Trump focused on the “fake news” organizations, and the sentiment has been continued following his inauguration. What is difficult for people to understand is if this news truly is “fake,” or if Trump is saying this just because he disagrees with it.

Either way, it is important for the public to decide that on its own.

Dr. Walton-Fisette emphasized multiple times the importance of informing not just students, but faculty and other staff members of the news that is becoming uncovered. She referenced the lack of trust in the new administration and the lack of trust in the information the public is given as prime reasons why a new information movement could be beginning.

“I think it ultimately comes down to striving for truth because now, it is easy for people to put anything down on the internet, especially with how our administration provides information,” said Gilmore. “You have to do your due diligence and do research for yourself. It is so easy to pull up Google and get your answer in an instant, but just because you can pull it up in an instant does not make it truthful.”

Despite the administration’s efforts to convince the public of untruthful media, Dr. Walton-Fisette believes students and other people who desire information that is true and unbiased can follow a few simple steps.

“Get information, be engaged and be informed,” said Dr. Walton-Fisette. “Getting out and being active – meaning voting and being engaged – all of those things will be what makes the difference.”

"Get information, be engaged and be informed" – reaction to KSU sanctuary campus movement…more information here https://t.co/F3D7JIIuiU

— Ryan Landolph (@Ryan_Landolph) February 18, 2017