Dear Department Chairs and Center and Institute Directors,

I write to bring to your attention President Paxson’s communication to campus regarding the recent Supreme Court decision upholding the Trump administration’s most recent travel ban.

I echo President Paxson’s profound disappointment with this decision. While the ban may be deemed as legal and constitutional by the nation’s highest court, it is also deeply flawed public policy that is detrimental to the mission and values of Brown and US higher education. 

We will continue to do all that we can to advocate for legislation, policies and practices that promote the free and open exchange of ideas, and to ensure our continued capacity to attract the most promising individuals to our campus to contribute to the advancement of knowledge across the disciplines. 

We will also fully support our current and future students, faculty and visitors in navigating the shifting legal landscape so that we can benefit fully from their active participation in teaching, learning and scholarship.

Please remind your departments about the community gathering being hosted today by Global Brown, 4:30 to 6 pm, in the Global Brown Lounge, J. Walter Wilson room 313. Also, if you know of individuals affected by this decision, please contact me directly or Associate Provost Shankar Prasad at [email protected].

Sincerely,

Rick

Richard M. Locke
Provost
Schreiber Family Professor of Political Science and
International and Public Affairs