President Randhawa addresses Blue Group's letter, pledges support to undocumented students

By Erasmus Baxter
On November 13, President-elect Donald Trump promised to immediately deport up to 3 million undocumented immigrants. The same day, Blue Group, a group representing undocumented students at Western, published a letter asking for support from the university administration.
In an interview on Tuesday, November 15, the AS Review was able to ask President Randhawa about his thoughts on Blue Group’s letter. Randhawa expressed support for undocumented students on campus, including providing financial support if necessary to help them finish their education; he did not commit to any particular requests at the time of the meeting.
“In terms of the specific requests they are making, we’ll think about it,” he said. “To me, the important thing is that we support them. If things start going south and there are financial issues and things of that matter in terms of their tuition, in terms of their education and so on, that we have some way to backfill those types of things so they can complete their education.”
Randhawa pointed to private funding as a possible source of support for undocumented students and said that his staff had been in touch with Blue Group and would be open to meeting with them in the next few days.
The full text of the conversation is available below. Present at the interview were University President Sabah Randhawa, Director of University Communications Paul Cocke, AS Review Reporter Erasmus Baxter and AS Review Photographer Ricky Rath.
Undocumented students have come under attack from from staff and faculty on campus since the election, according to the letter.
“After this Presidential election many of us are uncertain about not only our future at Western, but our futures overall,” the letter reads. “We are asking Western Washington University to come out as an institution for and with undocumented students.”
Among other things, the letter asks that Western:

• Come out in support of undocumented students
• Create a center to support undocumented students,
• Provide funding for immigration lawyers
• Ensure there is greater training for offices and departments on campus about the issues undocumented students face

The whole letter can be read and signed here.
Undocumented students on campuses across the country have published similar letters in the days since the election. Many are concerned about the financial impact that repealing DACA would have, as well as the possibility that students and their families could face deportation.
To read the full interview and Randhawa’s thoughts on Divestment, increasing the number of International Students and other topics, pick up the AS Review on stands Monday, November 28.
. . .
This is an excerpt from a longer interview.
Answers have been edited and condensed for clarity and readability.
Erasmus Baxter: Another thing you’ve talked a lot about is diversity, and fostering and supporting diversity at Western. One area of diversity that isn’t discussed as much is immigration status, and the role of undocumented students on campus. I just saw, I think it was over this weekend, the Blue Group published a letter asking for some more resources from university administration. What are your thoughts on that letter and do you think this is something that’s doable?

Sabah Randhawa: Let me start off by saying that, particularly post-election, I totally understand how they are feeling. We don’t know what the new government will do. The president-elect and his government. Nevertheless, based on that statements that have been made during the election that we’ve had, there is a lot of concern going forward.
I’ve shared this with other groups too: We are really committed to our undocumented students, as we are committed to all students here at Western. To make sure that we enable their success. To make sure we create a safe environment for them. Make sure that there is space for them, particularly at times like this, where they can process their emotions, their fears, going forward.
As you may know, the university was one of the leaders in terms of advocacy for the DREAM act [that allowed undocumented students in Washington to receive financial aid]. It was really a commitment to undocumented students, and how we enable their success since they are part of our community.
We will continue to support those students and we are very closely monitoring what the incoming government is going to do, and [if] there are going to [be] impacts to them financially or otherwise and how can we provide [support].
In terms of the specific requests they are making, we’ll think about it. Again, to me, the important thing is that we support them. If things start going south and there are financial issues and things of that matter in terms of their tuition, in terms of their education and so on, that we have some way to backfill those types of things so they can complete their education.

EB: Would you be willing to go to the legislature to ask for additional funding for the kind of resources they’re asking for, and to fill those kinds of holes?

SR: To be honest with you, I’m not sure. Because we just have to wait for what type of directives we get from [the legislature and federal government]. How open they are for this type of funding.
Another way is to try to backfill [undocumented student’s financial needs] through philanthropy, and provide a lot of private scholarships for students. A lot of times [if] the feds are, the state is giving us money–Pell Grants for example, there is a certain directive attached to it. And if there is a directive from the feds or whatnot [it can] limit what we can do in terms of support.
I have a conference call this afternoon with the Council of Presidents’ office [an organization of the six presidents of public universities in Washington], and part of it is trying to have a conversation about exactly what you’re talking about: Where are they at in this particular process? And if you’re going to do it, at times there is power in doing it together. In terms of having a position and seeing where they are in this particular [issue]. It’s not just Western, it’s the other six campuses that are in the same boat.

Paul Cocke: And it’s important to note it’s very early in this process, and very little is known about what will actually happen.

SR: And you know, knock on wood, the ideal thing is nothing happens. Fears are very justified given the rhetoric during the campaign, and we need to address that fear, but obviously the ideal thing is saner heads prevail.
In fact, I was reading a couple of things today from the “Chronicle of Higher Education,” about an hour ago, from Tennessee’s Lamar Alexander, who is a Republican senator from Tennessee, saying that there is no way that the Department of Education, or Pell Grants are going away. There is way too much of an investment in those type of things. So there are good people, no matter what party they are, and I think hopefully there are the right checks and balance that can help in that process.

EB: In terms of the specific Blue Group on campus, I know they’ve asked to meet with members of the administration. Do you have any plans to meet with them, or members of your staff to meet with them, in the future?

SR: I know our staff has been in touch with them. I know Shari Robinson [director of the counseling center], is chairing a group here that is closely monitoring how our students, the reaction that’s happening.

PC: I would just say it’s a committee. A response commitee kind of.

SR: A committee. And she’s the head of counseling here. And so what we’re doing, the intent of the group, is really not just the undocumented students, but all the groups that have feelings of fear or disconnect, or hear things on the media, or other ways, that are not positive. On both sides of aisle. That we closely monitor and take care of them.
Anyhow, to your specific question, we have been in touch with the Blue Group in terms of their concerns and the requests that they have made, and would certainly be open to meeting with them as we move through the next few days.

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Pick up a copy of the AS Review between November 28 and the end of the quarter for more of this interview and read about Sabah Randhawa’s views on a wide variety of topics.