I am deeply disappointed in the tepid response of the leadership of the University of Chicago to President Trump’s anti-humanitarian and discriminatory executive order targeting Muslims and refugees. The impact of this order is to discriminate against a religion and to withdraw from the country’s responsibility to assist the persecuted and the terrorized. The U.S. has a strong and admirable tradition of welcoming emigrants, including the forebears of those issuing the order. It is incumbent on us, if we wish to represent ourselves as guardians of civilized values, not to stay silent. The University is reneging on its duty by cowering pusillanimously behind bromides about the impact of this executive order on academic discoveries.
—Colm O’Muircheartaigh, former dean and current professor at the Harris School of Public Policy
