{"id":624,"date":"2015-09-25T20:45:30","date_gmt":"2015-09-25T20:45:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/?page_id=624"},"modified":"2021-02-08T00:06:28","modified_gmt":"2021-02-08T00:06:28","slug":"internationalworkers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/internationalworkers\/","title":{"rendered":"International Students&#8217; Working Group"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"ezcol ezcol-one-third\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b><i>About Us<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The international students working group (ISWG) is an open working group under Columbia University\u2019s student-workers union, the Graduate Workers of Columbia (GWC-UAW 2110). We fight for the rights of all international students and scholars at Columbia University. The ISWG has been one of the most active and successful sub-committees of the GWC since its inception in 2014.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b><i>Get Involved<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contact us: <\/span><a href=\"mailto:gwcinternational@gmail.com\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">gwcinternational@gmail.com<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/tinyletter.com\/ISWG-GWC\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sign up for our newsletter here.<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Open weekly meetings, Wednesdays 9AM-10AM EST, biweekly. Email to receive a Zoom link.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We also maintain a community Whatsapp chat. Join by emailing with subject line &#8220;Whatsapp.&#8221;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div> <div class=\"ezcol ezcol-two-third ezcol-last\"><div id=\"metaslider-id-625\" style=\"max-width: 700px; margin: 0 auto;\" class=\"ml-slider-3-20-3 metaslider metaslider-flex metaslider-625 ml-slider\">\n    <div id=\"metaslider_container_625\">\n        <div id=\"metaslider_625\">\n            <ul aria-live=\"polite\" class=\"slides\">\n                <li style=\"display: block; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-2278 ms-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/2017\/01\/28\/rally-against-trumps-anti-muslim-executive-order\/\" target=\"_self\"><img src=\"https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/20170131-muslimrally-700x300.jpg\" height=\"300\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-625 slide-2278 colorbox-624\" \/><\/a><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\">Rally Against Muslim Ban Executive Order<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-626 ms-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/internationalworkers\/opt-stem-extension\/\" target=\"_self\"><img src=\"https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_2392a-700x300.png\" height=\"300\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-625 slide-626 colorbox-624\" \/><\/a><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\">Information Session + Q&amp;A on the OPT STEM Extension<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-468 ms-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/due-process\/\" target=\"_self\"><img src=\"https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/20150625_longxi-700x300.png\" height=\"300\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-625 slide-468 colorbox-624\" \/><\/a><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\">Organizing for Due Process<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-320 ms-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/2015\/03\/30\/workshops-on-taxes-and-visa-issues-held-last-week\/\" target=\"_self\"><img src=\"https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/20150327_workshopsgroup-700x300.jpg\" height=\"300\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-625 slide-320 colorbox-624\" \/><\/a><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\">Immigration + Visa Issues and Taxes Q&amp;A workshops held in the Spring<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n            <\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n        \n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-624 gallery-columns-4 gallery-size-medium'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_1945a.jpg'><img width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_1945a-300x200.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium colorbox-624 \" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_1945a-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_1945a-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_1945a.jpg 1296w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/DSC02788.jpg'><img width=\"300\" height=\"199\" src=\"https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/DSC02788-300x199.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium colorbox-624 \" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/DSC02788-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/DSC02788-1024x680.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/DSC02788.jpg 1228w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/IMG_0154_resize.jpg'><img width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/IMG_0154_resize-300x200.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium colorbox-624 \" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/IMG_0154_resize-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/IMG_0154_resize-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/IMG_0154_resize.jpg 1296w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/aIMG_2370.jpg'><img width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/aIMG_2370-300x200.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium colorbox-624 \" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/aIMG_2370-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/aIMG_2370-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/aIMG_2370.jpg 1037w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/20151211_international-e1462895145197.jpg'><img width=\"300\" height=\"143\" src=\"https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/20151211_international-e1462895145197-300x143.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium colorbox-624 \" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/20151211_international-e1462895145197-300x143.jpg 300w, https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/20151211_international-e1462895145197-768x367.jpg 768w, https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/20151211_international-e1462895145197-1024x489.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/20160225_103254-e1456523757759.jpg'><img width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/20160225_103254-e1456523757759-300x200.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium colorbox-624 \" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/20160225_103254-e1456523757759-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/20160225_103254-e1456523757759-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/20160225_103254-e1456523757759-1024x683.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_20170130_174320.jpg'><img width=\"300\" height=\"169\" src=\"https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_20170130_174320-300x169.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium colorbox-624 \" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_20170130_174320-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_20170130_174320-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_20170130_174320-1024x576.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_20170130_172928.jpg'><img width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_20170130_172928-300x225.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium colorbox-624 \" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_20170130_172928-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_20170130_172928-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_20170130_172928-1024x768.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div><div class=\"ezcol-divider\"><\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><b><i>What We Do<\/i><\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union protections are good for all student workers, for example by providing us with job security and real recourse for grievances for harassment. However, workers with student visas face some unique challenges. Our goals as the ISWG is to hold Columbia accountable to its <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.columbia.edu\/content\/about-columbia\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">stated mission<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u201cto attract a diverse and international faculty and student body [and] to support research and teaching on global issues.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Currently, we support international students by:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sharing information that affects international students, particularly related to their immigration status and immigration policies (as well as helping students navigate healthcare, taxes, and housing in the US), as well as collating this information into an easily accessible form (such as this <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/193NCvARWq4PyBoFNTXXnzLry-asNwK-_FVwVmwKBn5U\/edit\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">link repository<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Researching and representing the interests of international students in the bargaining process and other exchanges between GWC and Columbia administration.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Organizing campaigns to directly pressure the university to support international students outside of contract provisions, for example in relation to ISSO services.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Building community so that international students can support each other in what can be a difficult and at times alienating experience of study and work as a visa holder. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Coordinating with other international and immigrant student and worker groups across the USA, including through a nationwide cross-campus alliance of international and immigrant student groups in graduate student unions called IISWA (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/iiswalliance\/?epa=SEARCH_BOX\">facebook.com\/iiswalliance)<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b><i>Our Goals<\/i><\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our short and long-term goals include:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Establishing a sanctuary campus, so that immigration officials are not permitted to enter or access data from the university without a court order; and so that staff are trained in how to interact with immigration officials.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ensuring that international, immigrant, and\/or undocumented student workers have equal opportunities for employment and scholarships; and that their income and aid is protected by sudden changes in their individual immigration status and federal policies.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Free legal assistance for international students\/workers facing immigration difficulties, especially those who are affected by policies outside their own control.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A more responsive, transparent, and communicative International Students and Scholars Office, that offers regular town halls for international students to air their concerns, weekly call-in or drop-in hours as is common in peer institutions, workshops on in-demand topics, and prompt guidance on changing federal policies.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A hardship fund that is accessible to international students for emergencies, similar to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/health.columbia.edu\/content\/special-healthcare-needs-fund\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Special Healthcare Needs Fund<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">; such funds were common practice in international student offices until recently.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reimbursement or cancellation of discriminatory fees that only international students must pay, such as the SEVIS fee and the International Service fee.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Litigation and lobbying, both by our parent union and by the university, against discriminatory and xenophobic legislation, and for more favorable policies on DACA, OPT, employment visas, and other issues as described in\u00a0 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/uaw.org\/immigration\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UAW\u2019s position on immigration.<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A university-wide contingency plan in the case of future emergencies such as changes in immigration policy, for international students and scholars, developed in conjunction with and the consultation of a university-wide student committee, including our student workers union.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Responsiveness to international student issues in university decision-making, through, for example, the expansion of the Provost\u2019s International Issues Working Group must be expanded to include, at the very least, the International Students Working Group of the GWC.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fighting against racism, both individual and systemic, to create a campus where all international students and scholars are truly welcome.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b><i>Our History<\/i><\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the last few years, we have achieved several wins. These are just some of the actions and achievements we can be proud of:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During the pandemic, we have pushed the university to acknowledge the issues we face through <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1eTbQi7hVyMB2EJ4TLaSPlIrJ2SgtD1opQ9otxn1I0Bc\/edit\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">an email and phone campaign<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">; we have forced ISSO to hold two town halls that it was reluctant to hold and to verbally commit to instituting call-in hours for the first time.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We have continued to hold Q&amp;As with professionals and also among peers related to immigration law, taxes, healthcare, and housing, including emergency <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/events\/1130697620615422\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">town halls<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 workshops in relation to changing <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/mailchi.mp\/columbiagradunion\/ice-is-targeting-international-students-join-us-in-fighting-back?e=8c0016d34c\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ICE-SEVP guidelines<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and against <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/events\/680786142688093\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">COVID-related racism<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We have led and supported the issuing of statements condemning <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/mailchi.mp\/columbiagradunion\/columbia-must-condemn-xenophobic-policies?e=6aac300bd3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">xenophobic policies<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/mailchi.mp\/columbiagradunion\/a-statement-on-coronavirus-and-racism-on-campus?e=1a916b45ef\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">COVID-related racism<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When Columbia issues incorrect tax forms to international students, leading to international students losing thousands of dollars in income, we campaigned for and achieved the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/internationalworkers\/international-grad-worker-2014-tax-problems\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">return of misfiled tax monies<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The ISWG supported the right of international students to a fair workplace, as when it stood behind <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/due-process\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Longxi Zhao, a Chemical Engineering PhD Student, who was fired as a TA without any due process<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and was left with no choice but to return home.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the first year of its existence, ISWG secured <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/2015\/05\/11\/gsas-dean-announces-intl-grad-summer-funding-after-our-petition\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">increased summer funding and summer research and language training scholarships for international students in the humanities and social sciences<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>GWC has an active community dedicated to international students\u2019 issues.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1884,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/624"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=624"}],"version-history":[{"count":24,"href":"https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/624\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4146,"href":"https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/624\/revisions\/4146"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1884"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=624"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}