Elizabeth Barnum, director of UNC International Student and Scholar Services, said her office has been reaching out to students who are and could be affected by the order via email and following up with direct calls.
She said the office made the decision to post a travel advisory for people from the seven countries affected by the executive order Saturday morning. Beginning Sunday, they called international students to address their concerns.
“We then started preparing materials and statements to the wider international student population because, in general, there is an overriding sense of uncertainty,” Barnum said.
Barnum said each student has different needs and UNC ISSS started a resource page so students and families can quickly access new information.
She said she believes the order has had a wide impact on campus, affecting everyone in some way.
“Almost every single major research group on this campus has at one time had someone from one of those countries in their research group, problem solving together,” Barnum said. “That’s why when you look at the major discoveries on campus, it’s because fine minds from all over the world are problem solving together.”
Delainey Kirkwood, a first-year international student from England, said she hopes everyone stays safe.
“I renewed my visa yesterday, but I felt sad because when I looked around I knew a lot of people aren’t safe,” Kirkwood said. “It’s not me that I am worried about, but I am worried about other immigrants.”
