International Students (Two-Way)

By Madeline Reilly

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Kaushik:  When you're instilling fear.  Among demographics among these students, why would they come 

I don't want to fear monger and say, oh, people are, you know, they don't want to come here. I think what you'll see now is that. People that do have the options will look at the options and, you know, you're giving away almost your competitive advantage.

But I wouldn't underestimate,  the appeal of the American dream. I think,  this American dream,  just transcends any barriers, boundaries, issues that, you know, we logically might think of that would come in the way.

Reilly:    In terms of like college and and PhD graduate students, is there a different sense of trust with their schools and administration? 

Kaushik:   Yeah, that's a really complicated,  question 

when you enroll in a university or college, And your relationship is less with the US government and more with the university and institution. So at first and foremost, you think, okay, the university and the institution will protect you. And in the past two years, I think, you know, that's been kind of, uh.

Put to the side But what I do think is obviously people are smart enough to know that it is  a government institution, the administration that is.

That is making this happen or en enforcing this, um. 

 I do think that the more academically inclined, I think they have a trust deficit right now with the university and the institutions because of course, I mean this was the freedom of, of academic research and pursuits was, was something that, you know, they thought was enshrined to them and then they thought that, you know, the university would back.

Reilly:  And are there any precautions that students are taking or that you recommend students take? 

Kaushik:  Yeah, I mean, look, people. They're deciding to not be expressive as much, 

 On campus, in on social media. . Uh, it's the fear that has been able to set in and I'm not sure if that's the intention of the administration,

But, you know, people that I thought would never have anything to fear for. Are doing and taking these extra precautionary measures. I mean, they've invested so much. Imagine investing a hundred, 150 K for a degree, and then at the risk at the very last moment being able to, you know, be sent away or your F1 visa be canceled.  

One of the things that.  We were really sure in  that there were constitutionally enshrined values that, and rules that you received regardless of you being a citizen or not in the United States  and all of a sudden, uh, are up for grabs.  

Sudhanshu Kaushik [Sa-dun-shoe Kaw-sh-ick} is Executive Director of the North American Association of Indian Students. He’s a student himself and I want to be clear - an American citizen. I asked him with all that's going on right now, do international students want to come to the US right now to study?