The case of Tariq Ramadan and his revoked visa is a cause of outrage for members of the Muslim Students' Association of Michigan State University, but it might have only a minimal impact on the lives of international students.
The association, a nationwide student group, is holding presentations at campuses across the nation in an attempt to educate students about what happened to Ramadan.
In August, Ramadan, an internationally recognized Islamic scholar, and his family were in the process of relocating to Indiana to teach at the University of Notre Dame, when the U.S. Department of Homeland Security canceled his visa.
The MSU branch of the association will hold a lecture by English Associate Professor Salah Hassan at 8 p.m. today in B-104 Wells Hall.
"The government has a responsibility to people and the public to give the exact reasons why they were denied access to the country but (the government) didn't feel like they have to do that," he said.
Hassan said he is concerned about the Ramadan issue because it can affect students and faculty.
Rosemary Max, the assistant director of the Office of International Students and Scholars said students should not be worried about losing their visas like Ramadan did.
"We have a lot of Muslim and Arab students here and they're just like everybody else as long as they comply with the rules," Max said.
It is unusual for the U.S. government to cancel visas before people come to America, Max said.
Student infractions that can warrant a revoked visa include not taking a full course load, committing a crime that causes expulsion from a university and working illegally.
Some MSU international students and professors have encountered delays of their visas. But Peter Briggs, director of the Office of International Students and Scholars, said the circumstances were not comparable to what happened to Ramadan, who is thought by the government to be a threat to national security.
"(International students and professors) are presumed to the United States to be an intended immigrant unless they prove otherwise - which is a problem we have seen in the last three years," Briggs said.
Several students have encountered six-month waiting periods for their visas, Briggs said.
"Obviously the Department of Homeland Security has a mission to keep our borders and country secure," he said. "They're trying to keep bad people out - how they're doing that is where people disagree."
Kashif Saleem, MSU branch president and an accounting junior, said he doubted MSU students would be affected by the Ramadan case or that a precedent would be set for all Muslims entering the country.
But, he said, it should be made clear such a precedent is not welcome.
The association will be circling petitions at today's lecture to reverse Ramadan's visa status.
"I think they should try to be more accurate (with the cases)," Saleem said. "There have been a few mistakes, and (students) should be aware."
