Academy Urged to Protect Undocumented Students

Alumnus Cesar Zamudio ‘16 called upon the Academy to take immediate action towards protecting undocumented Exonians in a letter addressed to Principal Lisa MacFarlane and President of Trustees Eunice Panetta, which he sent to them at the start of the month.

On Dec. 26, 2016, Zamudio, who is an undocumented student himself, posted in a Facebook group called “Exonians,” which serves as a forum for PEA Alumni and is currently run by Russell Washington ‘89. Zamudio’s post listed a series of steps for the Academy to take in the days prior to President-Elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20. On Jan. 5,  Zamudio revised the letter, presenting it as a list of “policy suggestions,” rather than demands and sent the points to both MacFarlane and Panetta. His petition, which entreats the Academy to take action, has since been signed by over 80 Exeter alumni.

“I feel that offering sanctuary and implementing policies to ensure the safety of undocumented students is absolutely essential."

The “Exonians” page consists of over 4,500 PEA alumni, and its posts are also visible to anybody on Facebook. Zamudio posted his letter there as a way of reaching out to and finding support among the rest of the alumni community. The letter was divided into two sections: one detailing policies relevant to the needs of current undocumented students and one detailing policies relevant to the needs of prospective undocumented students.

The letter contained six requests. First, Zamudio requested that the school bar any and all federal immigration agencies from campus, apart from agencies with an explicit warrant. He asked that a policy be put in place to keep the school from giving student information to authorities without the student’s consent and he proposed that the school make a public statement urging the federal government to protect undocumented students from deportation and to foster a path towards citizenship for these students.

Zamudio also called upon the school to create new job options for students without proper work documentation, to provide free legal support for undocumented students and their families and to train faculty to be sensitive towards undocumented students.

Zamudio requested that the Admissions Office offer a new option under the “Citizenship” question for undocumented students and that they actively recruit promising undocumented students. He suggested that they begin classifying undocumented students as domestic students under the need-blind policy.

Finally, Zamudio asked that the Communications Department develop an online resource for prospective undocumented students on the school’s website.

Zamudio’s letter has prompted varying reactions from alumni and administration alike. English instructor Mercedes Carbonell, who is currently on sabbatical, is drafting a letter in solidarity with Zamudio, expressing her belief that it is the school’s responsibility to be a safe haven for undocumented students. “I feel that offering sanctuary and implementing policies to ensure the safety of undocumented students is absolutely essential,” she said. “Undocumented students in our community need to know they are safe. If PEA has selected students into the community, it is the utmost responsibility of the school to maintain and to create a safe environment in which students can thrive.”

Russell Washington echoed this sentiment, emphasising that the school’s priorities should lie in student well-being and care. “Any student we have at the Academy needs to be supported, plain and simple,” he said. “The school is there to ensure your safety and well-being.”

Many alumni feel that the Academy’s mission of educating “youth from every quarter,” must be kept in mind. Matthew “Moody” Jameson ‘01 said, “The Academy’s mission can only be realized if we serve our students irrespective of immigration status.” Julie Chung ‘16 agreed, saying “If you look at his [Zamudio’s] list of requests, any reasonable, compassionate person would acknowledge that these statements actually fall perfectly in line with Exeter’s mission of ‘youth from every quarter.’”

Some alumni took less sympathetic and emotional views of Zamudio’s demands. Matthias Valenta ‘16 was less supportive of Zamudio’s letter and found his “demands incredibly arrogant.”

“Not only is he illegal, he doesn’t even show the humility generations upon generations of immigrants have shown when coming to the United States, be it the Irish, Italians, or Germans,” Valenta said. “This sense of entitlement is truly painful to watch.”

Valenta was not alone in his criticisms of Zamudio’s letter. One alumnus warned that financial action could be taken against the school should they see Zamudio’s requests to fruition, writing, “I know a few dozen grads who will withdraw their financial support of PEA if the school chooses to pursue this policy.”

In response to his critics, Zamudio said, “My demands are well within my privilege as an alumnus of this great school.” He went on, explaining that he was initially inspired by a petition he took part in at Columbia University which outlined policies similar to those he wishes to enact. He also expressed the importance of enacting change within the Exeter community. “It is my duty, as a community member, to ensure that what was missing from my Exeter experience will be in the Exeter experience of future Exonians,” he said.

Zamudio recently met with MacFarlane earlier this month to discuss his petition and the potential future of the policies he proposed. “Principal MacFarlane assured me that the safety, well-being and inclusion of every Exonian are among her top priorities—a founding principle that the Academy must safeguard,” he explained.

According to MacFarlane, the Academy already offers financial aid for undocumented students and arranges for pro bono legal counsel for students whenever possible. “[This is a] very complicated, evolving and very personal issue that has and will need to be examined closely,” she said. “As the legal issues and best paths forward become more clear, we will be able to know more about how to best support our students.”

Carbonell urges the administration to take action, noting that a public statement would allow for clear communication of the school’s aims. “Supporting a path to citizenship is essential,” she said. “As an elite institution, we are in a position to ask ourselves if we want to be in solidarity, if we can offer sanctuary. I do not want to see us betray our undocumented students and our fundamental values. I want to see us act from within and do what is just. ”