OTTAWA, January 30, 2017 — The Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences, on behalf of Canada’s 91,000 faculty and graduate students in the humanities and social sciences, expresses its grave concern about U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order to bar people from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States for 90 days, and his suspension of all refugee admissions to the U.S for 120 days.
The ban runs counter to the purpose of the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences, which is to help build an inclusive, democratic and prosperous society by advancing understanding of peoples, cultures, institutions and social relations.
The Federation endorses the statement issued January 29, 2017 by Universities Canada, which represents 97 universities across Canada. Universities Canada says the immigration ban is already having a “real, immediate and profound” impact on research partnerships, international students, academic conference participation and field visits, as well as in some cases family relationships, of students, faculty and staff on Canadian university campuses.
The Federation represents universities, colleges and scholarly associations in the humanities and social sciences. It hosts Canada’s largest academic gathering – the Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences – which welcomes some 8,000 scholars from Canada and around the world annually. The hallmark of Congress is the free flow of ideas across disciplinary and national boundaries, reflecting the value academics in the humanities and social sciences place on transformational ideas shared in an open, globally-connected forum.
It is very unusual for the Federation to express concerns related to a policy decision being taken in another country. It takes that action today because of the dangerous impediment this executive order poses to the diversity, inclusion and openness that are features of a strong and democratic society.
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About the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences
The Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences promotes research and teaching for the advancement of an inclusive, democratic and prosperous society. With a membership now comprising over 160 universities, colleges and scholarly associations, the Federation represents a diverse community of 91,000 researchers and graduate students across Canada. The Federation organizes Canada’s largest academic gathering, the Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences, bringing together more than 8,000 participants each year. For more information about the Federation, visit www.ideas-idees.ca.
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Nicola Katz
Manager of Communications | Gestionnaire des communications
Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences | Fédération des sciences humaines
300 - 275 Bank, Ottawa, ON K2P 2L6
T: 613-238-6112 ext/poste351
C: 613-282-3489
nkatz@ideas-idees.ca
www.ideas-idees.ca