On January 22 at 8:30 p.m., we launched this petition asking Susquehanna University to address the harms of hosting Mike Pence and to prioritize student safety and inclusion.

Within the first 24 hours, 57 people signed. By January 27, just five days after launch, we had already hit our goal of 150 signatures. As of today, February 22, 174 people have added their names, mostly current students, alumni, and Selinsgrove community members.

This petition did not stop Mike Pence from coming to campus. SU did not rescind the invitation.

But it did accomplish important things:

Forced a response: After continuous pressure from students and alumni, SU finally released information about safety guidelines and logistics around the event. The administration claims this was always planned, but the details came late and only after people kept asking.

Put concerns on the record: There is now a public record that students, alumni, and community members raised serious concerns about safety, belonging, and the message this event sends, especially for LGBTQ+ students.

Drew attention: Our organizing was covered by the student paper, and a local outlet (The Daily Item) began following the campaign. That visibility increases pressure and documents what’s happening on campus.

Built a network: This petition helped connect people who care about campus climate and are ready to stay engaged beyond one event. That network is the foundation for future action.

Petitions are not magic wands; they are tools. This one showed public will, recruited people into the conversation, and laid groundwork for what comes next.

We are now closing this petition and our anonymous reflection form and turning our focus to longer‑term organizing around student‑identified issues (including potential ICE involvement affecting international students and students of color, Turning Point SU, and campus safety and inclusion more broadly). Our ongoing demand is that SU listen to students and open real dialogue before harm is done, not after.

Thank you to everyone who signed, shared, and spoke up. Your signatures and stories matter, and they will continue to shape what we do next.