Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s inflammatory and racist comments during the presidential election cycle so far have drawn derision and criticism from politicians and figures in the media.
Now, they might be harming international students’ desire to come to the United States.
According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, “60 percent of prospective international students say they would be less likely to study at an American college if Donald J. Trump was elected president.”
The Editorial Board condemns Trump’s rhetoric of anti-diversity that could potentially keep international students away from American campuses.
According to Forbes, international students provide roughly $34.6 billion to the economy, which makes them a valuable economic asset for our country.
The Chronicle of Higher Education also reported “the potential cost of a Trump presidency could be $4.75 billion ... based on an annual estimated per-student impact of $31,600 on the American economy.”
Trump’s derogatory statements about numerous groups, including but not limited to Mexicans, Muslims, those with disabilities and women, are an embarrassment.
More than that they could have a very real detrimental effect on the University system.
They could keep the dollars, talents and abilities of international students away from campus life. They are also an insult not just to American politics, but to our reputation around the world.
The Wall Street Journal reported officials from Britain, China, Japan and other nations have expressed concerns about a potential Trump presidency and how it would affect international relationships.
Trump’s potentially dangerous relationships with other countries could affect international students and whether or not they want to come to America.
The Editorial Board strongly disagrees with Trump’s controversial statements and welcomes diversity not just in Bloomington, but on college campuses across the country.
According to the Atlantic, almost 1 million international students studied in the U.S. during the 2014-15 school year, which was a 10-percent increase from the previous year.
A Trump presidency could drastically alter these numbers, as international students seek other educational opportunities away from the U.S. to avoid encountering bigotry in their daily lives.
Indiana’s international students have already been touched by the kind of racist sentiments that Trump shares. The Washington Post reported that in February, self proclaimed white supremacist Dana Ericson attacked a highschool chinese exchange student with a hatchet in Brown County.
A diverse student population benefits not just our universities but our workforce as it leads to an increased number of skilled employees in the U.S.
Trump supporters are sending a clear message to international students and the international community as a whole that they are not welcome in the U.S.
The Editorial Board wants to reject this message, for the well-being of our college students and for the country at large.
