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Federal government revokes four U-M students’ visas Following DHS revocations, one impacted student flees country at guidance of U-M International Center
THE MICHIGAN DAILY NEWS STAFF The U.S. Department of Homeland Security revoked the F-1 visas — which allow individuals to enter and reside in the United States for academic studies — of four University of Michigan students Friday. This decision comes as the DHS, prompted by President Donald Trump’s administration, started targeting international students across the country, working to revoke their entry visas and terminate their legal residency. At least one of the affected
students has left the country following recommendations of University officials. In an email to The Michigan Daily, University spokesperson Kay Jarvis wrote the University is aware of the visa revocations and has reached out to the affected students. “The University of Michigan has learned that four currently registered students have had their visas revoked by the Department of Homeland Security,” Jarvis said. “Administrators have contacted these students to advise them of potential
consequences of this action.” In an email obtained by the Detroit Free Press, Jonathan Massey, dean of Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, wrote one impacted student who attended Taubman fled the country at the guidance of the U-M International Center. “Yesterday, as a result of government action, a Taubman College M.Arch student left the country in consultation with the U-M International Center
recommendation,” wrote.
Massey
“Yesterday, as a result of government action, a Taubman College M.Arch student left the country in consultation with the U-M International Center recommendation.” In an email to the School of Environment and Sustainability, Jonathan Overpeck, Samuel A. Graham Dean of SEAS, alerted SEAS students and faculty to the termination of Student and Exchange Visitor Information System records
and the revocation of visas for some University students, including a SEAS student. Overpeck expressed his support for international students and faculty in SEAS and explained the International Center and administration are monitoring the situation. “We want to acknowledge the fear and concerns that exist, especially within the international community,” Overpeck wrote. “To our international community: we are here to support you and you are welcome here. We are working with the International Center and campus administration to keep you updated as we learn more.” Maisie Derlega/DAILY
ANN ARBOR
Ann Arbor community members celebrate FoolMoon and FestiFools ‘It’s just a way for people to come out and connect with members of the community.’ DOMINIC APAP
Daily News Contributor
Downtown Ann Arbor was filled with handmade drums, turtles and dragons as residents danced through the streets dressed as everything from Uncle Sam to basketball players in pink and yellow jerseys. The participants played music ranging from roaring trumpets and tubas to the notes of “Funkytown” on a child’s toy keyboard. The festival, welcoming hundreds of people in Ann Arbor, was the annual FoolMoon and FestiFools celebrations. Created by Mark Tucker, Lloyd Scholars for the Writing and Arts visual arts instructor and art director, the events aimed to foster artistic creativity throughout the community. This year’s FoolMoon theme, “Rhythm and Fools!,” allowed the artists to create musically themed figures to display Friday night. Tucker’s class, Art in Public Spaces, worked throughout the winter semester to create projects for the events. The first few weeks of the class focused on producing the FoolMoon luminaries, light-up
paper-mache figures held together with wire, packaging tape and tissue paper. The rest of the semester centered around creating massive puppets for the FestiFools parade. Participants met at three locations Friday night for FoolMoon: the University of Michigan Museum of Art, the Ann Arbor Farmers Market and Slauson Middle School. All three groups journeyed to the intersection of Washington and Ashley streets in downtown Ann Arbor, with one group accompanied by the Detroit Party Marching Band. In an interview with The Michigan Daily, Engineering sophomore Vanessa Laub said her experience in the Michigan Marching Band coincided with the theme and inspired her FoolMoon luminary — an anteater wearing a shako, the cap band members wear. “Because I’m in the marching band, this is something that I can use to combine my interests and creativity,” Laub said. “I think that the part that tied it together with the theme really was the shako from band.” In addition to U-M students, hundreds of community members also participated in the festival.
In an interview with The Daily, LSA freshman Catherine Melcher emphasized the wide-range of event attendees. “(At the University) it feels sometimes like you’re just in the school, even though it’s a whole city,” Melcher said. “So, (the festival) helps me feel more like I’m part of a greater community and not just a school.” Friday night did not mark the end of the festivities. People took to the street again Sunday afternoon — this time with life-size puppets — for the FestiFools parade. Hundreds of people lined South Main Street as sounds of bucket drums led the parade route. Some of the puppets made political statements about the condition of the United States, which highlighted this year’s FestiFools theme: “RevFOOLution.” In an interview with The Daily, LSA freshman Lauren Lee, who attended the event, said she believes events like these are beneficial because they expose people to different viewpoints.
CONTINUED AT MICHIGANDAILY.COM
CAMPUS LIFE
Student Life VP Martino Harmon talks effects of Trump administration on students
Harmon discussed campus activism, international students and diversity-focused events AUDREY SHABELSKI, ALYSSA TISCH & ABBY HARRIS Daily News Editor & Daily Staff Reporters
The Michigan Daily sat down with Martino Harmon, the University of Michigan’s vice president for student life, to discuss the effects of the Trump administration on campus activism, international students and diversity-focused events. Harmon was provided with questions in advance, before the University announced cuts to all diversity, equity and inclusion programs. This article has been edited and condensed for clarity. The Michigan Daily: Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, his green card revoked, due to what many believe to be his pro-Palestine protesting on campus. This has sparked fear in student protesters moving forward. How is Student Life
working to ensure students retain their right to freedom of assembly? Martino Harmon: University of Michigan has a really long and rich history of student activism. That’s part of who we are, and that’s really important in terms of students’ ability to express their First Amendment rights, and we support that, as long as those rights don’t infringe upon the rights of others. Student Life partners with the Division of Public Safety & Security to make sure that students who want to be involved in activism know and understand how they can do so in a safe way, and how we can support their activism in that way. Student Life staff actually will be present at demonstrations to really support and to help where needed. It’s just important for students to know the guidelines and to make sure they’re aware of those guidelines around time, place and manner. TMD: The University received a letter from the Department of Education to ensure the protection and safety of Jewish students in wake of campus protests. How is
Student Life ensuring all students feel safe? MH: No student should ever feel targeted, and it’s really important that students feel a sense of belonging and they feel safe and they can have a wonderful student experience here. We are very much aware that we have a responsibility to prevent harassment and to not contribute to a hostile environment, but most of all, we want to make sure students feel a sense of belonging here at the University of Michigan. We have a Campus Climate Support team within our Dean of Students Office, and they work really closely with the Equity, Civil Rights and Title IX Office, with DPSS and other campus partners, to make sure the students feel safe and that we don’t have a hostile climate. We also work with the surrounding community and partners off campus to make sure that students off campus are also safe and not feeling targeted in any way. We have a strong partnership with Ann Arbor for that reason.
CONTINUED AT MICHIGANDAILY.COM
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INDEX Vol. CXXXVI No. 12 ©2025 The Michigan
NEWS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 ARTS..........................3 MIC........................5
OPINION........................7 S TAT E M E N T. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 SPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10