We are asking Dickinson College to make a statement declaring a “firewall for freedom” a clear institutional commitment to refuse voluntary cooperation with government requests that would hinder speech or expose community members to unlawful immigration enforcement. This petition demands concrete action to ensure the freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment (speech, assembly, petition, and association) and the Fourteenth Amendment (due process and equal protection) are defended for every student, faculty, and staff member — regardless of citizenship, identity, or viewpoint. 

The Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution guarantees due process and equal protection under the law. It is imperative that Dickinson College formally recognizes these rights in its policies to ensure the protection of its students, faculty, and staff. By instituting a commitment to prohibit collaboration with third parties without judicial warrants, the college will establish a clear path forward that will continue to empower the community and safeguards individuals against any infringement of their constitutional rights, particularly regarding speech and privacy.

Furthermore, we urge the college to articulate a clear institutional commitment to refuse voluntary cooperation with government requests that might discourage free speech or expose community members to immigration enforcement. This stance is not only about preserving rights but also about fostering an environment where intellectual freedom thrives, regardless of country of origin, free from fear of repercussion.

It is important to remember that the First Amendment, which secures freedoms of speech, assembly, and petition, is foundational to democracy and education. Colleges like Dickinson have a unique role as platforms for discussion, innovation, and thought leadership. Our institution can only maintain these roles by ensuring every voice is protected and heard without the threat of intimidation or unnecessary surveillance.

By signing this petition, you are taking a stand to urge Dickinson College to uphold the constitutional rights that define our nation and protect its community members. Your support can help ensure that Dickinson remains a safe haven for free expression and due process. Let's act collectively to ensure these freedoms are not only preserved but reinforced in the face of challenges.

Please show your commitment to these essential liberties by signing this petition today. Together, we can ensure that Dickinson College leads by example, standing firm in its dedication to free speech and due process for all. 

The Resolution is Below:

a resolution calling for a firewall for freedom to protect against the federal government’s attacks on our constitutional, civil, and human rights.

The Dickinson College Student Senate Enacts:

WHEREAS, Dickinson College prides itself on being a campus that supports the civil and human rights of all members of our community, including students, staff and faculty;

WHEREAS, the ability to criticize our government, its policies, and even its foundational philosophies is critical to the exercise of all our civil and human rights--and is protected against government interference by the First Amendment;

WHEREAS, the White House is pressuring university officials to assist it in targeting students, faculty, and staff who are not U.S. citizens, including holders of non-immigrant visas and lawful permanent residents, as punishment for the lawful exercise of their rights to freedom of expression under the Constitution and international law;

WHEREAS, across the country, students are increasingly afraid of being accosted and taken from their communities by federal law enforcement agents, including those who conceal their identity and refuse to provide basic information, and who abuse immigration laws to target students for what they believe and who they are;

WHEREAS, protected political speech and association alone should never be the basis for discipline, nor should it lead to an individual’s arrest, detention or deportation;

WHEREAS, the White House and federal agencies are threatening to deprive universities across the country of federal grant money and other sources of support, in order to gain their cooperation and capitulation in efforts to punish dissent, attack non-citizens, students of color, and LGBTQ+ youth, and dictate educational programs;

WHEREAS, this includes brazen attempts to intimidate schools into abandoning lawful efforts to create inclusive learning environments;

WHEREAS, schools are obligated under federal law to protect students from discrimination, harassment, threats, and violence;

WHEREAS, schools are also obligated under federal law to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of student , faculty or staff records, including against unwarranted disclosure to the government or private parties;

BE IT RESOLVED, the student body of Dickinson College declares its support for the protection of civil and human rights of all members of our campus community and calls upon the Dickinson College president, Honorable John E. Jones, to continue to take all possible measures to ensure that our campus is a safe space, where students may exercise their rights without fear or intimidation;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the student body encourages the Dickinson College President and Board of Trustees to resist White House and federal agency demands that undermine academic freedom and our civil and human rights; the President of Dickinson College shall establish a “Firewall for Freedom” policy, declaring to the community via a statement that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, no employee, officer, or agent of the College shall voluntarily provide information to, or otherwise cooperate with, any request from federal, state, or out-of-state authorities where such request is not supported by a valid judicial warrant, court order, or lawfully issued subpoena, and where the purpose or effect of such request is to deprive any member of the campus community of the rights to due process and equal protection guaranteed under the Fourteenth Amendment.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that such prohibited voluntary cooperation shall include, but not be limited to, requests that seek:

a. to identify, or impose civil or criminal liability or other penalties, including termination or reduction of grant funding, upon a person or entity based on their participation in activities protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution including assembly, petitioning, expression of viewpoints, and speech;

b. to identify or apprehend a person in order to subject them to immigration detention, removal or deportation proceedings; or to prosecute a person or persons for offenses related to immigration status based on their participation in activities protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution including assembly, petitioning expression of viewpoints and speech; and

c. to target, investigate, or profile any student, faculty member, or staff member on the basis of sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, or immigration status,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that nothing in this policy shall be construed to require the College to violate federal or state law, to obstruct justice, or to refuse compliance with a valid judicial warrant, court order, or subpoena issued upon a showing of probable cause or lawful authority.