By Alex Serrano

Every other week I start this column with something like “The world is in an interesting place,” “The world doesn’t seem too normal right now, but-,” or “These are difficult times.” Well no more, because despite these sentiments being truthful and honest from a certain broad perspective, neither are very helpful in these divisive times. We have to quit soliloquizing the death rattle of a free America and begin building. Building networks that hopefully lead to positive change for all, regardless of your ethnicity or origins of birth.

Nearly everyone has skills and capabilities to contribute towards the greater good of humanity. Some work at soup kitchens. Maybe you volunteer at Planned Parenthood. For others it’s church-based charity. Whatever you do, you’re making the world a better place to be a part of. Here at the Beacon, we write so that hopefully somebody somewhere will be more informed on the issues around the world and on our little campus in Maine.

The conversation within the editorial staff of the Beacon has focused on the paper taking on the role of being an agent of positive support for the SMCC community. Yes, we stand by our conviction that the paper is a forum for all rational voices, regardless of their political stance. However, we also stand by our beliefs that we need to speak out against the abuse of power especially when others are dehumanized by such manipulations.

So, what does SMCC do as a campus to make the world a better place? Should we establish ourselves as a sanctuary campus as other schools, and even cities, have done across the country, prior to and in response to the Immigration Ban? This mostly ceremonial action, seems like the first logical step to protecting our diverse student body.

In November and more recently, President Cantor addressed these concerns in an all campus email. He also asked the advice of Amy Homans, the MCCS lawyer to address these concerns. The most pertinent quote from the email reads as follows: “If law enforcement officials with proper legal authority request student records, the college is obligated by law to comply. Designating the college a “sanctuary campus” is a largely symbolic gesture that would not have any effect on the college’s legal obligations.”

No, SMCC will not be joining the Sanctuary movement. However, there are legal statutes in place, for example, FERPA, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. The federal law is specifically designed to maintain the confidentiality of information in every students’ education records, including their status as undocumented and/or subject to DACA, and legal precedents in place which stop law enforcement from barging in and requesting information on students without a warrant or court order. For now, it seems that this is enough. With any luck, knowing that luck does not favor the disenfranchised, it will be.