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DAN MULLER’S CONTRACT STUDENTS REACT TO EXTENSION GREAT FOR ISU DACA DECISION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2017 Vol. 130 / No. 06
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Dietz is ‘here to support’ students KEVIN SCHWALLER AND STEPHANIE RODRIGUEZ | News Editors | @kevschwa and @StephanieRoddd
I
llinois State University President Larry Dietz made a point this week to reassure students that the university will continue to provide support for Dreamers. In an interview with Vidette News Editors, Dietz discussed President Donald Trump’s recent announcement to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, the school year’s decreased enrollment numbers and the future of ISU.
DACA and the Quad protest “I know people have differences of opinion on DACA, I understand that. I have my own
personal opinions. But as a university, our role is to provide an education for those who can meet our admissions criteria. It’s not our job to decide who’s here, according to some people, legally or illegally. Our job is to educate the folks and provide employment for folks who are qualified to work here. As long as they’re doing that, it’s our job to serve. It was easy for me to write that email yesterday and say ‘We’re here to support you.’ My hope is that Congress will figure out a strong resolution and a good resolution for this issue. Hopefully these folks who are caught in this predicament [are able to] get on with their
Above: Illinois State University President Larry Dietz discusses the school year ahead in his office Wednesday.
lives. In the meantime, our counseling staff is available for those folks, and our faculty will continue to teach them. We’re glad they’re part of the university community. We’ve got a new group of folks coming in here, and they may not know me, so I wanted to communicate that as long as they’re here and part of this community, I’ll continue to support them. I tend not to participate in the protests, but I want to honor the students and the people that are there. It’s part of my job to go out there and listen. I’m glad I went out there.” see DIETZ page 2
Photograph by MONICA MENDOZA | Vidette Photo Editor