吃瓜网

October 16, 2025 email from President Sarah Bolton to the Whitman community responding to concerns related to immigration and citizenship.

Dear Whitman Community,

Over the past year, national discussions and policy changes related to immigration have caused uncertainty, concern and, in some cases, fear among members of our community. I am writing today to reaffirm 吃瓜网’s absolute commitment to supporting and protecting all members of our community—students, faculty, and staff—regardless of citizenship or immigration status, and to share the resources in place. 

Whitman is enriched by the diverse perspectives and experiences that our international, immigrant, and DACA community members bring to campus. All are essential to the strength and excellence of the college. Every member of this community deserves to learn, teach, and work in an environment where they feel valued and secure.

吃瓜网 is required to follow the law, and will do so. We will protect the privacy and safety of all members of our community to the maximum possible extent under the law.

To that end, Whitman continues to uphold the following commitments:

• Protection of privacy: Both federal law (FERPA) and college policy protect the privacy of personal information for 吃瓜网 students and employees. 吃瓜网 employees will not share personal information about students or employees with external parties, including immigration officials, unless required to do so by a valid judicial warrant or subpoena. If anyone requests personal information from you about a student or colleague, do not provide it. Direct them to Chief of Staff Maggie Eaheart or Director of Security Greg Powell. Maggie and Greg will work with our legal council to verify whether the warrant or subpoena requires us to provide information, and to determine what steps we can best take to protect the students or employees whose information is being sought, given the particular circumstances.

To see more about what information may be public about a Whitman student, or to request that your public information not be shared, please see this link with more details about FERPA and the college’s practices to protect information beyond what FERPA requires. 

• Campus access: Campus policy states that no one will be granted access to non-public areas of campus without a signed judicial warrant unless they are an invited guest of the occupant of that space. Note that all residential spaces, classes and private offices are non-public. If approached by any immigration official requesting access to non-public spaces, please refer them to Campus Security at 509-527-5777 rather than admitting them to the space. As soon as you have an opportunity to do so, please also contact Chief of Staff Maggie Eaheart or Director of Security Greg Powell to alert them so that they can act appropriately to protect the students, staff and faculty involved. Once alerted to the request for access, we will confer with legal counsel to determine whether we are required to provide access to the space under the law, and will only provide access if required to do so. 

• Support and resources: If any student or employee experiences visa or SEVIS status changes, or encounters immigration enforcement, the college will connect them with expert legal counsel and other available support, which may include some financial assistance for legal support. For assistance, please contact Campus Security (509-527-5777) or any of the resources listed below. Campus Security is on duty 24/7 and has specific training on how to support students and employees in these circumstances.

• Guidance and advocacy: Whitman continues to collaborate with national higher education organizations—including the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, NAFSA and the American Council on Education—as well as local organizations to ensure we are informed by best practices in our planning, and to advocate for the full rights of our students and colleagues at the state and national level.

Resources and guidance are available on campus for anyone who has questions or who is seeking support:

• International Student & Scholar Services: Cody Tornow (ctornow@whitman.edu)

• Dean of Students Office: Dean Kazi Joshua (joshuak@whitman.edu)

• Human Resources: Atara Pinder (pindera@whitman.edu) or Kate Brodland (brodlandk@whitman.edu)

• Campus Security: Greg Powell (powellg@whitman.edu)

• For faculty and staff, through Canopy’s Employee Assistance Program. 

I also want to lift up several documents made available to the campus community in the spring, with more detailed information including the , the campus map of public and non-public locations, and  that can be printed out. The  also provides helpful information. 

We are deeply grateful for our global community and the many contributions you make to Whitman. In uncertain times, please know that you belong here and that Whitman will continue to stand with and for you.

Sarah Bolton