UNBC President Dr. Daniel Weeks has responded to the recent immigration ban passed by United States President Donald Trump over the weekend.
Weeks says a major part of the school’s identity is their international students and staff.
“We have students and faculty staff from all backgrounds and indeed they strengthen our campus and its with our students and staff we really try to live to our commitment that we’re going to produce an environment at our university that upholds our values towards inclusion and diversity.”
The school’s international flavour is deep within UNBC’s roots according to Weeks. “It’s embedded right in our motto and is incredibly important that we take this opportunity to declare yet again how important this is too us.”
Weeks also believes the school’s international contributions can’t be emphasized enough. “We are committed and believe in the rich nature and strength that we get from having people from other cultures whether they be on our staff, students, or researchers. They all bring that to our campus.”
Here is the full statement from UNBC.
“The University of Northern British Columbia places a high value on internationalization in post-secondary education. This requires that freedom of movement, freedom of thought, and freedom of speech among academics, students, researchers and, indeed, the public at large are valued and respected. We must be vigilant in our defence of these ideals and true to the spirit of excellence found at our post-secondary institutions.
“For individuals to be targeted, or persecuted based only on a birthplace, a nationality, or a religion, is reprehensible at best, and utterly alarming at worst. We welcome individuals every day from around the world to join our community, and know this is essential to maintaining a vibrant and productive learning environment that calls upon many cultures, peoples, and belief systems to be its very best.
“UNBC is proud to offer a stable, productive environment in which our students learn and develop into the leaders who will shape the future of our nation. It’s an environment in which our faculty teach and conduct world-leading research about the issues that are shaping global perspectives. We work together as a community to provide inspiration in a world that offers so much hope and possibility.
“I am proud of post-secondary leaders and colleagues from around the world who are speaking to the values of their own institutions. I am proud that UNBC is a member institution of Universities Canada, which has also issued a strong statement in support of the values of post-secondary education and those who choose to pursue it. Mostly, however, I am proud of the UNBC community, as I know we will always rise above obstacles, stare down the spectres of persecution and division, and embrace the challenge of identifying solutions and demonstrating true Northern leadership.”