The University of Massachusetts Amherst decided to no longer allow Iranian-native students to enroll in various science courses because they could take that knowledge to develop nuclear weapons for Iran.
The university explained this was in compliance with a 2012 federal law restricting science education for Iranian students pursuing careers in the energy and nuclear fields.
Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department pushed the blame back onto UMass Amherst as such limitations do not apply to all Iranian students but are rather the ?result of a “case-by-case” decision.
After outrage about the controversy ensued, UMass Amherst reversed the ban.
However, the Editorial Board finds this troubling because the decision to introduce a ban at all still brings to light the fact that such legislation can exist. Not to mention, universities can still racially profile and deny Iranian students access to these classes in said case-by-case assessments.
Such an attitude is only adding discriminatory fuel to the fire that is the scorched diplomatic ?relationship between the U.S. ?and Iran.
As the school’s Iranian students and alumni said, “We always felt like an integral part of the university community. Now we’re just kind of ?confused.”
Confused is one word. Alienated is another. These students arrived under the impression the U.S. was this mythical land of freedom.
Instead, we are giving an Iranian transfer student wanting to learn about nuclear science a valid reason to find our nation repugnantly oppressive and worthy of annihilation at the hands of nuclear weaponry.
There are many things a person can do with knowledge of the energy and nuclear fields of science. Is a public university really so foolish as to imply all Iranian nationals interested in certain areas of study are hateful terrorists trying to pursue an education in the U.S. to turn around and blow it sky high?
God forbid someone from Iran wants to work in areas of science to procure positive outcomes, such as finding alternatives to fossil fuels.
With this logic, IU should employ profiling to keep white people from enrolling in business classes so they don’t one day become douche bags.
“Hey, not all white people studying business turn out to be douche bags. That’s an offensive stereotype,” you might say to us as you set down your briefcase in a huff and angrily adjust your necktie.
And you’d be right. It is an unfair stereotype.
At this point, UMass Amherst is backtracking on a point that should have never been made.
The true tragedy is this policy undermined part of what is so great about the university system in the U.S.
We should embrace people coming from far and wide to study here rather than shy away in a paranoia that was last?fashionable during the Cold War.
