Xenophobia—fear or hatred of people from other countries—is a real barrier to international community members who come to the University of Minnesota to study, work, and research. This is not a new phenomenon, but it has become more visible due to the global pandemic and has been escalated by incendiary rhetoric. Further, while many international students come to the U.S. with a sense of, and language for, their own identities in the context of their home nations, these are more often than not experienced differently in the U.S. racialized context. Most international students undergo challenges as a U.S.-centric label and identity are imposed upon them by the institution, policies, or individuals, often attaching an experience of minoritization not previously experienced. 

In this session, we will raise awareness of these issues and discuss how we can support the international community and understand our complicit role and active anti- racist actions we can take. Our aim is to foster a more inclusive and just campus where everyone—including international community members—can contribute at their highest and best.

This workshop is a collaboration between the Office for Equity & Diversity (OED), Global Programs and Strategy (GPS) Alliance, and the Minnesota English Language Program (MELP).