FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – A petition to protect Fresno Pacific University’s undocumented students has been signed by dozens of students, professors and alumni.
The petition calls for FPU President Richard Kriegbaum to refuse to release any information regarding students’ immigration status, and publicly pledge to protect such students.
Jay Pope, the Associate Professor of Psychology, says students approached them with their fears having heard the President Elect Donald Trump’s promise to reverse DACA on day one.
“One of the big criticisms that people who hear about this petition would raise would be that the chances of something like this of happening is very slim or that we’re engaging in some sort of fear mongering. The reality is that the students that we’ve had have been watching this issue for a very long time, and they in many respects have come to us and have been telling us about their fears and concerns. The fear is real, it is not something that has just been invented.” -Jay Pope, Associate Professor of Psychology, Fresno Pacific University.
Tim Neufeld, the Professor of Biblical and Religious Studies also signed the petition and stands behind the students.
“They need folks with authority and power and privilege, and I’m one of those people, to speak up on their behalf because that helps them know that there’s another community outside their own that supports and cares for, and loves them, and that’s our primary interest here. -Tim Neufeld, Professor of Biblical and Religious Studies, FPU University.
Neufeld who says he spoke to FPU President Richard Kriegbaum on Monday, December 5th, commented that their administration is not adversarial, but rather inviting for this conversation.
Students at Fresno Pacific say they do want long term immigration reform.
Click below to listen to a report by KMJ’s Liz Kern:
