Iranian Student Statement.docx.docx

On Thursday evening the University of Massachusetts Amherst released a statement saying it would not be accepting Iranian nationals in the fields of Chemical Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Microbiology, Polymer Science & Engineering, and Chemical Engineering. Additionally, "all enrolled Iranian national students will be required to acknowledge the restrictions imposed by the 2012 sanctions and certify their compliance in writing.Nationally, 79 percent of Iranian students study natural sciences, and 80 percent of Iranian students are Phd and Masters students; UMass is no exception to this pattern. Iranian attendance at American universities has steadily increased since 2000. The Iranian student community is largely constituted by Phd and Masters candidates, all who have diverse skills to offer the United States and share the same hopes and aspirations as their American peers. We choose to study in this country because America is a land of opportunity-- an educational melting pot that provides all people regardless of race, ethnicity, or religious denomination, to thrive. Iranian students come to this country to broaden their academic opportunities, and to foster cultural understanding between Iran and the US. Just like any student who seeks to study in the United States, we are entitled to learn and use our technical skills to contribute to the world in a positive way and should not be discriminated against based on our ethnicity.Sanctions have had tough implications on Iranian students in the US in general, and we would hate to see something like this marginalize Iranian students further. Namely, obstacles when attempting to come to America, such as extensive and strict visa procedures, having to leave our families, and enduring stigmatization from some people. Until recently, we were only permitted to come to the States on a one-way visa, meaning we could not go home to visit our families. Despite the difficulty, Iranian students still strive to share a piece of the American dream, but now, UMass has made this nearly impossible for future students. We are in a state of distress, feel betrayed, and are worried for our friends and families who can no longer pursue their dreams of coming to America for an education. Coming to America as an Iranian is already difficult, and now UMass has made it much more intricate, with little explanation. UMass Amherst is voluntarily punishing us as a collective, because of what our home government does. We strongly believe UMass Amhersts recent policy implementation is arbitrary and discriminatory, and should not be tolerated. In the official memo published on the UMass website, the University claimed that it must adopt the new policy to conform to a federal rule that states:The Secretary of State shall deny a visa to, and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall exclude from the United States, any alien who is a citizen of Iran that the Secretary of State determines seeks to enter the United States to participate in coursework at an institution of higher educationto prepare the alien for a career in the energy sector of Iran or in nuclear science or nuclear engineering or a related field in Iran.We understand and respect the federal rules on granting visas to Iranian students, and we fully adhere to these rules, but UMass Amhersts interpretation of this policy is voluntarily broad and unnecessarily takes enforcement of policy into its own hands. This federal law does not prohibit admission to all of the science fields, and it does not make it the responsibility of the University to enforce these policies. It is a federal law and the granting of visas is entirely up to the State Department and Department of Homeland Security.The federal rule does not obligate universities to ban Iranian students from admission. Legal scholar, Tyler Cullis, of the National Iranian American Council stated that the federal rule does not obligate universities to ban Iranian students from admission. In fact, in a statement to the Boston Globe, the State Department said US law does not prohibit qualified Iranian nationals coming to the United States for education in science and engineering. We recognize and respect the need for the Secretary of State rules, but we do not agree with UMass Amhersts decisions to voluntarily adopt stricter policies. In fact, UMass Amhersts policy runs counter to the Obama administrations push to reform and improve relations with Iran and Iranian nationals in the United States. Education is a form of cultural diplomacy, and should be encouraged regardless of political ties. If nothing is done to change this policy, it will impact future prospects for Iranian students who wish to study in the states and cultural exchange. Iranian relations with the United States have been improving, and President Obama has emphasized the importance of collaboration between Americans and the Iranian people to promote peaceful progress with Iran around the world. This is evident in the Obama administration negotiations to make it easier for Iranian students to come to the United States. We question why UMass would choose to implement a draconian policy that does not conform to the policies of thousands of other schools across the nation, and runs counter to US policy, further inflicting undue harm and discrimination onto an entire nation and people. We question why UMass would falsely use federal rules to justify its discrimination, when a plain reading of the law clearly shows that it does not obligate UMass to implement these harmful measures. Finally, we demand that UMass Amherst reverse their decision and offer an apology so that relations between Americans and Iranians can continue to grow and evolve. We Iranians have learned so much about America during our time here as students, and have learned to call this place our home, just as our American peers. We believe in the spirit of America, and value the freedoms, equality, and justice that we are granted in this country. The U.S. Constitution protects the rights of all American residents, and we are entitled to be treated equally under the law as well. We believe in the spirit of America and its values, and hope that with this same spirit we can unite towards reversing this unjust policy and foster a healthy relationship between the UMass Amherst community and Iranian students once again.