The Kline School of Law faculty unanimously adopted the following statement on Jan. 31, 2017:
On January 29, 2017, Drexel President John Fry emailed the university community affirming the University’s support for and commitment to all students, regardless of immigration or citizenship status or country of origin. The faculty of the Thomas R. Kline School of Law unequivocally endorses this message and joins President Fry in expressing our support and commitment to our international and immigrant students.
Consistent with our mission as educators of future lawyers and leaders in society, and with our goal to treat all students with dignity and humanity, as well as in recognition of the rich diversity of the United States, the faculty of the Kline School of Law will continue to welcome and support all students without regard to their immigration status or country of origin. The faculty of the Kline School of Law will continue to treat students in a manner consistent with our own nondiscrimination policies and with our obligations under American Bar Association guidelines and applicable federal and state laws.
The faculty of the law school does not tolerate acts of discrimination or harassment against members of our community based on their citizenship or immigration status, religion, race or other status. We will always protect free expression of ideas as vital to learning in an educational setting and understand that freedom of speech can sometimes protect controversial ideas, even sometimes protecting offensive and hurtful language. However, freedom of speech does not protect, nor will we ever tolerate, personal threats, discriminatory conduct or other acts of misconduct directed towards members of our community based on their citizenship or immigration status, religion, race or other status.
Beyond the classroom, consistent with the statement issued by President Fry via email on December 9, the faculty will support applicants and students, regardless of country of origin or immigration status, including those who have been granted deferred action under DACA or who are DACA-eligible. We will also protect the privacy rights of students and support the university’s determination to protect our students’ personal information, including immigration status, to the extent consistent with law.
Being part of an international community of scholars, students and lawyers is not incidental to our values—to the contrary, it is a central part of our mission as an institution, and the new executive order is an affront to this mission. Our faculty members regularly engage and collaborate with colleagues around the world, and we are fortunate that many international and immigrant students choose to study at the Kline School of Law. The entire Kline School of Law community is enriched by the presence and contributions of our international and immigrant students, and we remain fully committed to welcoming and supporting them as integral members of a diverse and inclusive community.