President Trump, the ‘Muslim ban’ and University of Leicester

We are alarmed by the news currently emanating from the United States and we are sure you are too. In particular we note President Trump’s recent executive order to prevent anyone from one of seven Muslim-majority countries entering the US (the so-called Muslim-ban); his ‘gagging orders’ on scientists at the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Agriculture and the way in which his administration has overridden other branches of government, notably his sacking of acting attorney general Sally Yates).

Besides Muslims and climate scientists, it seems likely the Trump administration will target other groups over the coming days and weeks: Latinos (Mexicans have already been described as ‘rapists’and another executive order authorises construction of the border wall); African-Americans; Jews (the pointed absence of any reference to Jews on Holocaust Memorial Day is a worrying harbinger); transgender people; other scientists and academics more generally (who are likely to be vocal critics of Trump, yet can be denigrated as part of an ‘elite’).

We believe that the Trump administration’s actions require a robust response. Indeed we are hearted by the wide variety of actors, both within the US and outside, who are already expressing their opposition — state governors, CEOs, trade union, demonstrators in the streets and at airports. We were particularly heartened by the intervention of the University of Cambridge’s Vice Chancellor, himself the son of refugees, who spoke out against Trump. In a similar manner, we believe that the University of Leicester should add its weight to this groundswell of anti-Trump opposition — and indeed we believe that universities can perform an extremely important role in upholding liberal freedoms when they are under attack. We would happily work with you and the ULT to explore how we can work together to make this happen. Below we sketch out some initial ideas.

The University’s most immediate responsibility is its duty of care to its students and staff, via the formulation of guidelines.

3. There is a lively discussion concerning the merits and demerits of a wider boycott of academic conferences in the US. While we have no fixed position on this, we would hope the University of Leicester will be a place where such debate can take place. One proposal we have seen is that universities outside of the US should offer to host conferences scheduled to occur inside the US or that — given such arrangements would create problems for vulnerable US-based academics worried about their ability to re-enter the country — conferences might be held in twin locations, connected via video links. We suggest that University of Leicester considers offers itself up as a potential host university for such ‘displaced’ conferences.

4. The situation for many individual scholars is grave. The case of the Iranian scientist Samira Asgari has been widely circulated whilst countless other academics and students are in similarly distressing situations. We would like the University of Leicester to explore how it might offer sanctuary to some of these scholars — and to encourage other British universities to do likewise.

5. Finally, while some business leaders have been vocal in their opposition to Trump’s policies to date, others have come out in support. Notable amongst these has been Travis Kalanick, founder and CEO of ride-hailing app Uber. Kalanick is a member of Trump’s economic advisory group; following New York taxi drivers’ refusal to collect fares from JFK airport as a protest of the ‘Muslim ban’, Kalanick insisted that Uber would not participate in this partial ‘strike’ and would even disable its normal (and controversial) ‘surge pricing’ model during this period. Many of the public responded by deleting the app from their phones. We think Uber is just one example of others to come. We would like to explore with you how the University of Leicester might develop — and publicise — protocols that ensures it does not purchase goods and services from companies linked to xenophobic or anti-intellectual policies of the Trump administration.