On the Recent Executive Order Banning Citizens of Seven Countries from the U.S.

Students, Faculty and Staff,

The Cooper Union is an institution – and a vibrant community – built on core principles of equity regardless of religious, racial, economic, or gender background. On Friday, the president of the United States issued an executive order banning citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S. for at least the next 90 days. Last night, a federal judge blocked part of the order, ruling that those who are already in the U.S. or in transit with valid visas could not be deported. The situation continues to evolve. Whether a community member is directly or indirectly through their friends and family impacted by this order, we will work to our utmost ability to provide guidance, support, and protection during an uncertain time. Our commitment is to do everything we can to protect individual members of our community and to advance the values and principles that are at our core, for our community, our city, and our country.

I have tasked our Dean of Students Chris Chamberlin, in close collaboration with me, to lead the effort on ensuring we are actively providing support to those in our community impacted by the recent executive order.  This will be a team effort and will engage partners across The Cooper Union to ensure the safety of our community. We are also in touch with our neighboring universities to share information in our collective efforts to ensure that all of our communities have the best and most up-to-date information. Chris and others have already been in touch with students who could be impacted. If you believe you could be impacted and have not already spoken with someone at Cooper who can help, please reach out to Chris, your academic dean, a faculty member, or your supervisor. Within all of our legal rights, we remain committed to the privacy of our students, staff and faculty.

It is important that we take active care of every member of our Cooper community.  We must hold onto our core values of justice, fairness, diversity, and inclusion that are hallmarks of The Cooper Union.

With warmth and hope,

Laura

 

 

  • Founded by inventor, industrialist and philanthropist Peter Cooper in 1859, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art offers education in art, architecture and engineering, as well as courses in the humanities and social sciences.

  • “My feelings, my desires, my hopes, embrace humanity throughout the world,” Peter Cooper proclaimed in a speech in 1853. He looked forward to a time when, “knowledge shall cover the earth as waters cover the great deep.”

  • From its beginnings, Cooper Union was a unique institution, dedicated to founder Peter Cooper's proposition that education is the key not only to personal prosperity but to civic virtue and harmony.

  • Peter Cooper wanted his graduates to acquire the technical mastery and entrepreneurial skills, enrich their intellects and spark their creativity, and develop a sense of social justice that would translate into action.