This semester, Students for Justice in Palestine asked Bard administrators to provide free housing for international students over summer break. We made this request as a response to the increased hostility towards international students by the Trump administration, as well as the potential for any non-citizen student to be denied re-entry into the country during this time of heightened nationalism, racism, and xenophobia. 

Last year, international students came to SJP asking for support in lowering costs of living over summer, due to exorbitant pricing which put many non-citizen students in an untenable financial position. Bard administration has flatly denied our request to waive housing fees for international students two years in a row, despite the self-evidently growing importance of doing so. Last year, Bard agreed to reduce the nightly rate for refugee and displaced students staying on campus to $14.20/night (~$100/week), but this year has raised it to $150/week, higher than any rate previously charged.

We want to support international students financially this summer, to help ensure that members of our community can meet their basic needs while maintaining their right to an education. If Bard is going to fail their international students, we will try not to. 

Donations will be distributed to students who request support from us based on how much they need and how much we are able to give. We commit to making the process for distributing that donation more equitable and less biased than Bard has ever done.

If you are interested in supporting international students through other means, ie: non-monetary donations of toiletries, non-perishable foods, or other materials, email [email redacted] and we will coordinate with you!