Lizzie Swanson ’28
Chief News Editor
[DISCLAIMER: This article replaces an earlier post that was published without sufficient editing and quoted students who wished to be removed. The comments on this page reflect the previous article.]
The Center for Career Development is a resource at Holy Cross which students of all class years are encouraged to engage with. Focused on helping students discover their passions, connecting with alumni, and setting them up for a successful career after graduation, the center regularly hosts career workshops which often feature guest speakers. On Thursday, November 13th, a Special Agent with the Department of Homeland Security was set to discuss “the ins and outs of USA.jobs.gov and how to put together a resume for federal government positions” as well as answer questions “on work in the careers at the Department of Homeland Security.” This event was originally supposed to be held in Hogan at 4:30pm. However, due to a large amount of dissent from both Holy Cross students and faculty as well as the Worcester community at large, it was moved to Zoom. The Student Social Justice Collective, a club on campus “dedicated to advocacy for human rights and justice around the world” took to their Instagram page on Wednesday, organizing a protest which was originally intended to disrupt the event itself (before it was moved online).
In response to this action taken by Holy Cross administration, members of the community gathered on the Hoval in solidarity with those who have been affected by the recent ICE raids around the country. ICE, otherwise known as Immigration and Customs Enforcement, operates as a part of the Department of Homeland Security. Under President Trump’s administration, a series of mass deportations have gone underway. The Department of Homeland Security has reported that 1.6 million undocumented immigrants have left the country on their own accord and that over 527,000 people have been deported. DHS has not provided evidence to back up these claims. The number of those who have been affected by recent actions taken by ICE cannot be verified. However, NBC News reports that as of September 25th, more than 59,000 individuals have been detained in an ICE detention center since the beginning of the Trump administration.
In a message posted on their Instagram page, the Student Social Justice Collective stated “Holy Cross has decided to show their allegiance, by hosting the fascist DHS for a career get together- the parent organization of ICE, currently carrying out the mass kidnappings of innocent families. We have no intent of letting HC sit silently while they lull students to join in on this project.” Several student organizations released statements regarding their dissatisfaction with the event including but not limited to: BSU (Black Student Union), ASIA (Advocating Student Interest in ASIA), DESI (Developing and Educating South Asian Ideologies) LASO (Latin American Student Organization), and SBIP (Spring Break Immersion Program). The Justice, Equity, Belonging, and Identity office (JEBI) released a statement a few hours before President Rougeau’s email informing the HC community about the change in plans regarding the event. Titled “Holding Space for the Community” the JEBI division stated that the workshop has “stirred deep emotions and important conversations around our campus. We foster a campus where all feelings, concerns, and voices are heard. We understand that issues of justice, equity, belonging, and identity affect us all differently, and we’re committed to creating space for healing, dialogue, and support during this time.” JEBI finished their email by informing students of drop in hours held in the Carey Lounge in Smith Hall on both Thursday the 13th and Friday the 14th.
President Rougeau’s email, in addition to informing the community about the online switch regarding the workshop, emphasized the importance of peaceful discourse. “As you engage in dialogue on these complex topics with those around you, I would encourage us all to remember the values we embrace as members of the Holy Cross community and as a Jesuit Catholic liberal arts college. These are difficult, emotional conversations, and it is my hope that we can continue to navigate them in solidarity and community with one another.”
The protest itself lasted about an hour with roughly 100 participants in attendance. During the rally, members engaged in chants such as “DHS off of campus now!” “Smash the cages, break the chain! End the ICE fascists’ reigns!” “Say it loud. Say it clear. ICE is not welcome here!” The Student Social Justice Collective stated on their Instagram page after the protest, “We’d like to thank everyone who joined us for today’s action. The solidarity and unity every affinity group, member of ours, member of the Worcester community, alumni, religious leader and faculty was truly astounding on our end. Moments like this are why this collective was founded! Our victory should not be taken lightly: this has to be the beginning of more, or they will come back tomorrow. As leaders on campus, we can only bite back on aggressions like the kind we saw this week if we stick ever closer together.”
Holy Cross is a college that works to foster free speech and respectful dialogue between dissenting parties. The community’s ability to protest exemplifies the Jesuit values of justice, equity, and openmindedness, as proclaimed by the college’s mission statement.
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Featured image courtesy of the Worcester Telegram
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