On Tuesday evening, March 25, while walking on a public sidewalk from her off-campus home to a community Iftar at the university’s Interfaith Center, Tufts graduate student Rümeysa Öztürk was taken into custody by a group of federal authorities. (The university has since filed a declaration in support of Öztürk’s legal filings in federal district court in Massachusetts.)

Within hours, Tufts International Center had mobilized resources in full support of the members of the university’s international community. By 9 a.m. on Wednesday, March 26, the I-Center was set up to offer support virtually to its population, with all of the center’s advisors on hand to triage calls from students, scholars, and employees across Tufts.

In addition to the virtual support, the I-Center team also organized in-person opportunities across Tufts’ schools and campuses for individuals to be in community together.

To learn more about the response of the university and the International Center in support of the university’s international community, Tufts Now spoke with Garson and Cigdem Talgar, vice provost for education.

What are you hearing from international community members right now?

Garson: We’re used to responding to dozens of questions each week from students, scholars, and employees, on topics like immigration status, travel documents, and the U.S. immigration system.

But now, on top of that, we’re fielding more than 100 questions each day, with students asking if they’re safe in their classrooms, their research labs, or their homes—or walking to the grocery store. We’ve had questions from scholars about whether or not they should go to see a sick family member, out of fear that they're not able going to be able to get back into the country … questions about participating in a study abroad or research trip … questions about if the way they dress or if their participation in their religious practice makes them a target. As reflected in all these questions and more, our community is, understandably, very scared.

What supports are available?

Garson: At the International Center, we’re helping students understand the documents that they need to carry. We are compiling links to and information about campus resources and immigration procedures—and putting everything in writing for ease of access by students. We also field questions from students who have concerns about where they are living.

We also closely monitor SEVIS [Student and Exchange Visitor Information System] to which we, as I-Center staff, have access, very close contact with our counterparts at other universities and institutions locally, sharing information and making sure we’re being as proactive as we can be.

And in addition to what our own team provides directly for our population, we continue to actively share resources from teams like the University Chaplaincy, Counseling and Mental Health Services, and Student Support, among others.

Talgar: We want students to hear this: if you need flexibility and support in your teaching or learning, reach out to your professors—and scholars, reach out to your deans or chairs. We have mechanisms set up to respond to these needs. And CELT [the Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching] is offering programs and consultations to faculty who themselves feel vulnerable or who are teaching students that may feel that way.

No one should feel any apprehension about reaching out. People having each other’s backs is where Tufts shines. We’re stronger for having an incredible community that has come together in support of Rümeysa and also our broader international population.

Are these efforts university-wide?

Garson: Schools across Tufts University have support available. As one example, World Peace Foundation and GAIA from the Fletcher School, in partnership with Tisch College, have convened conflict de-escalation workshops. The sessions aimed to give people skill as active bystanders to stay calm and focus on unsafe situations with the expectation of keeping everyone safe. Fletcher also hosted the Massachusetts Refugee and Immigrant Advocacy coalition to update community members on changes in immigration enforcement across the state.

And the Provost’s Office has held an information session for community members who may be directly impacted by immigration enforcement actions. There's just a lot being done across Tufts for our international community, all of which we’re amplifying to our audiences.

How prepared were you to support international students in these ways?

Garson: For our international student and scholars, we have long had an emergency card for guidance in the face of any issues they might experience at their port of entry to the U.S. The protocol for contacting TUPD [Tufts University Police Department] with any questions was a part of that. Now, we’re doing all we can to make certain our community knows that the protocol applies to any type of immigration enforcement action.

Why is this support so important?

Garson: Our international student, scholar, and employee community is vast, representing more than 125 countries. Many of them graduated at top of their class—or they’re employees who've earned the highest credentials. These are people who have already faced immense challenges to get here. They've left behind their families and friends and communities to come to this country to learn and contribute personally or professionally.

These are integral members of our community. It’s our duty to make sure they receive support, care, and empathy, alongside the resources—immigration and otherwise--they need to succeed at Tufts. On a broader level, having international students, researchers, faculty and staff is essential. It enriches our campus. Global perspectives and the exchange of ideas not only create more dynamic classrooms but also lead to more prepared and empathetic leaders. We should be preparing and exposing students—both domestic and international students—to varying worldviews and ideas to best prepare them to tackle the challenges of the world.

What else do you want the Tufts international community to know?

Talgar: With the density of colleges and universities all around us, Boston remains the very best place for pursuing your educational aspirations. Add to that the support that Massachusetts offers to its citizens. And recognizing that we live at a time when difficult decisions need to be made, Tufts makes those decisions with the interests of its entire community in mind. There’s no other university besides Tufts I’d rather be at right now.