A coalition of organizations gathered in a rally April 22 to advocate the rights of international students and workers. The rally took place in the Free Speech Zone outside Carr Hall.

The United Campus Workers of Kentucky, West KY NOW, Alliance and the Murray State University College Democrats organized the rally to provide support for international students and information on what students’ rights are. The crowd consisted of students, staff and faculty listening to the speakers and stopping by the table to learn more about the rally’s intent. 

The College Democrats wrote an open letter to the Murray State administration and posted it on their social media page last Friday. The letter calls on “President Bob Jackson and incoming President Ron K. Patterson to make public statements about their commitment to the safety of all members of the MSU community.” 

Katelyn Gardner, junior middle school education major, is the secretary for College Democrats. The University has lacked transparency about the student visa revocation process, she said.

“With both the letter and the rally, we hope that University administration will take more responsibility for student and staff safety and well-being,” Gardner said. “We hope for more information and guidelines to be given to students and staff so that they have a better understanding of their rights, and they feel safer and better supported at a school that they worked incredibly hard to be at.”

She also said it’s important for organizations, like the College Democrats, to advocate for international students since the political climate can make it risky for the students to advocate for themselves. 

“International students and workers provide so much good to our university, and they deserve to be advocated for,” Gardner said. “It’s up to us to provide our support and call on university officials to offer their support as well.”

Four people spoke at the rally, including an anonymous student; Melanie McCallon Seib, instructor of organizational communications; Ali Khatib, newly elected Student Government Association president, and Brian Clardy, professor of history.  

Khatib said that it’s important to address the situation and spread awareness to everyone on campus.

“I do think that we are weaponizing the political system with this tactic, and I think it’s scary that we’re setting precedent for the future to do this,” Khatib said. “I never really expected for something like this to be on our local level and affect people on this campus.”

Khatib said that he hopes more people will step up and advocate for international students. 

“I think if people really know what’s going on and it starts affecting more and more people, then maybe we can get this addressed and we can get more remedies alleviated, because I think it really is on the institution for stepping in (and) helping their students,” Khatib said. 

Video coverage from MacKenzie Rogers and Avery Posten: