The Religious Studies program upholds the recent statement by the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Religion on January 30, 2017. The Board’s Statement on U.S. Executive Order “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States" outlines how the recent executive order impedes the academic study of religion and is anathema to our values of diversity, mutual respect, inclusion and free inquiry.
We encourage students, faculty and staff to get involved as they feel comfortable. From contacting your elected representatives, protesting/making your voice heard, to getting involved with local and national immigration/refugee organizations there’s something you can do to help.
For those looking to get involved with organizations supporting immigrants and refugees (and the general St. Louis community) some organizations to contact are:
The International Institute of St. Louis: A welcome center for new Americans, whose mission is to help immigrants and their families become productive Americans and champion ethnic diversity as a cultural and economic strength.
Oasis International: A Christian organization helping refuges settle in St. Louis with practical needs such as furniture, household items, and clothes as well as English, citizenship, and computer classes.
International Rescue Committee: IRC responds to the world’s humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster.
Project Downtown Saint Louis: A Muslim organization providing food and clothing to those in the St. Louis/Florissant area.
Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement: A great resource for how to get involved!
Diversity & Inclusion at WashU: Working to strengthen diversity and inclusion at WashU.
