College campuses once were thought of as places where the fostering of an open debate and free exchange of ideas was a fundamental goal. The decision by the University of Colorado-Boulder to remove the term \u201cillegal aliens\u201d from its library catalog demonstrates how academic institutions are more concerned about protecting feelings than freedoms.<\/p>\n
On August 19, it was announced<\/a> that the University Libraries had added \u201cinclusive, non-Library of Congress subject headings to 5,367 library catalog records\u201d on the issue of immigration. Now, the statement continued, users can perform searches \u201cusing more ethical subject headings, without being limited to using problematic subject headings such as \u2018illegal\u00a0aliens\u2019 in the library catalog.\u201d<\/p>\n What prompted the school\u2019s decision? An effort\u00a0\u201cto foster diversity and inclusion in the libraries\u00a0and on campus,\u201d of course.<\/p>\n It is notable the university opted for the \u201cnon-Library of Congress\u201d version since government agencies, such as the Government Accounting Office (GAO), recognize \u201cillegal alien\u201d as the proper, accurate and official definition.<\/p>\n In fact, the term \u201calien\u201d and \u201cillegal alien\u201d are cited in the United States Code:<\/p>\n The term \u201calien\u201d means any person not a citizen or national of the United States. An illegal alien\u2026is any alien (1) whose most recent entry into the United States was without inspection, or (2) whose most recent admission to the United States was as a nonimmigrant and\u2014(A) whose period of authorized stay as a nonimmigrant expired, or (B) whose unlawful status was known to the Government, before the date of the commission of the crime for which the alien is convicted. CU-Boulder is not alone in sacrificing accuracy on the altar of inclusivity.<\/p>\n Earlier this year, Marquette University published on its website<\/a> a language guide<\/a> to \u201cUndocumented Student Terminology\u201d to offer \u201cguidance for how campus leaders, faculty, staff, and students can show their support through compassionate and inclusive language.\u201d<\/p>\n The page suggests not using \u201cillegal\u201d because \u201cnot only is it inaccurate, it is dehumanizing,\u201d but does not stop there. Teachers and other alleged educators are told to be \u201csensitive\u201d and make \u201cknown that use of the terms \u2018illegals\u2019 or \u2018illegal immigrants\/aliens\u2019 will not be tolerated in their classrooms.<\/p>\n As the bastions of left-wing ideas and group-think that they are , it is not unusual to see pro-illegal alien sentiments promoted on campus. But when academic institutions begin to use their authority (legal and moral) to stifle the freedoms of one to protect the feelings of another, then we cannot remain silent.
\n\u2014United States Code, Title 8, \u00a71101(a)(3)<\/p>\n
\n\u2014United States Code, Title 8, \u00a71365(b)<\/p>\n