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NEWS 3
SPORTS 8
SONIA MANZANO TELLS ISU HOW TO GET TO ‘SESAME STREET’
REDBIRDS PUMMEL PELINI’S PENGUINS ON YSU HOMECOMING
FEATURES 6
REVIEW: ‘JIGSAW’ DOESN’T BRING BIG SCARES FOR HALLOWEEN
THE VIDETTE
MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2017
videtteonline.com
Vol. 130 / No. 21
SPECIAL REPORT: COMING TO AMERICA AN ISU PERSPECTIVE
A year after Trump’s election, ISU international students share fears EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first of a multi-part series exploring the 2016 election and the Office of International Studies and Programs. EMA SASIC Editor in Chief | @ema_sasic
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he United States experienced one of its most talked about presidential elections last year that impacted students at Illinois State University and those hoping to study in the U.S. from overseas. Among many issues discussed during the race to the White House was immigration. President Donald Trump said he wanted to implement a wall between the United States and Mexico, deport all illegal immigrants, voiced support for ending President Barack Obama’s executive orders on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and proposed a ban on Muslims entering the United States. As one international student said, “The people that pay the price are the ones that least deserve it.” Marches and rallies took place in the Bloomington-Normal community once Trump issued an executive order banning entry to the U.S. for 90 days by citizens from seven, later six, Muslim-majority countries in January and when his administration announced the end of DACA in September. Residents wanted those in their community who were affected by the decisions to feel welcomed despite decisions from Washington, D.C. ISU President Larry Dietz even issued campus-wide emails to show his support for students affected. News from the election also impacted students planning on studying at ISU from various countries around the world. Whether they arrived just when the race to the White House was in its final stretch, or once Trump’s changes were being made, international students said they experienced a mix of emotions and events leading up to their journey to the U.S. that made them fearful of what could happen to them.
Cosette Groisiller France Senior Communication sciences and disorders Senior communication sciences and disorders major Cosette Groisiller lived in France, Japan and China throughout her life, but has called the U.S. her home since 2010. She graduated from ISU in 2015 with degrees in Spanish and French education and worked at a school in Effingham. She is now back to complete a second bachelor’s degree. Groisiller said she felt like she was “part of an international community” when she arrived in the U.S. during Obama’s first term since he was a “third culture kid” like her. When Trump entered the Cosette 2016 election, she said she Groisiller noticed a “pivot and change” in the country.
Natalie Stuckslager | Vidette Photo Editor
(From left) Ivan Korkes, Helena Finamore Queiroz, Malin Quande Haugen, Vania Pereira and Cosette Groisiller sit in front of the “Hand of Friendship” Sunday on the Quad. “Suddenly foreigners weren’t as trustworthy and many international students felt demoralized,” she said. “We had discussions in International House about what was being talked about, and a lot of my Muslim friends were concerned if they would have to go home.” Some of Trump’s presidential decisions impacted Groisiller directly because of issues with her visa this past summer. She returned home to France to renew her visa, and she said the experience was “atrocious.” “My interview date was switched from the schedule I made, and I called 10 times and they would hang up on me every single time,” she said. “It just showed me they didn’t care.” At the time of her interview, Trump nominated former Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner Jamie McCourt as the ambassador to France. McCourt was an early supporter of his and donated more than $50,000 to the Trump inauguration. Groisiller’s application was delayed for two weeks. During the waiting period, she said she imagined “options A to Z about what happens if I don’t get through.” “My family and friends left to go back to the U.S. and I was just by myself with my aunt not knowing if I could come back. If I got on
the plane with them, I would not be allowed through,” she said. “My thoughts were what about my major, schooling, family, boyfriend — all was going to be damaged.”
Ivan Korkes Iraq and Syria Senior international business and human resource management Ivan Korkes was born in Iraq and escaped with his family to Syria during the Iraq War. They lived in Syria for six years and eventually immigrated to the U.S. in November 2008. “I take pride in where I come from. I know a lot of people want to hide that because of what’s in the news, but I take pride,” Korkes said. “Having one perspective from living over there and coming from the war allows you to see things in a new way and see how misinformed a lot of people are, but I’m thankful for the life I have here.” Iraq and Syria were part of the original seven countries targeted in the travel ban, with Iraq later being removed. As an Iraqi Christian, which is considered one of the oldest Christian communities in the world, Korkes said he was disappointed when Trump enacted the travel ban, as the presdient had previously promised to protect people like
him. “When he ran for his campaign, he used the minority Christians in the Middle East and said he would do everything for them,” he explained. “Right after the ban, in Detroit, where a lot of Iraqi Christians live, they were [at risk for being] deported, and they voted for [him]. I saw it coming and I told my family to not fall for it.” Although the Trump administration is only the second Ivan Korkes one Korkes has lived under in the U.S., he said the difference between how people view issues now compared to eight years ago is substantial. “A couple of years ago, it would be, ‘You have your opinion, I have mine, we’re both Americans, let’s work together to build the country.’ Throughout his campaign, he played off people’s fears and reminded people why you’re divided,” Korkes said. “I’ve lived in a lot of places before, and I’ve never seen people put their views and political party before their country.” see INTERNATIONAL page 5