April 21, 2025 • 4 mins
In this week's episode of Arrow on the Air hosted by Neva Wodochek, Alex Barton reports on the termination of visa records for 24 international students and graduates. Then, Ari Ortiz gives us a preview of Earth Week and how SEMO students are celebrating the planet through events on campus.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to this week's episode of Arrow on the Air.
I'm Neva Witacheck, and in today's episode, we'll hear two
stories covering what's happening on and around Simo's campus. First,
Alex Barton reports in the termination of visa records for
twenty four international students and graduates, a move that could
result in deportation for some. Then Ari Ortiz gives us
a preview of Earth Week and how Simo's students are
(00:22):
celebrating the planet through events on campus. First up, here's
Alex Barton.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Twenty four international students in recent graduates at Southeast Missouri
State University have had their Student and Exchange Visitor Information
System or CIVIUS records terminated, potentially placing them at risk
of deportation. The news was confirmed in a statement from
CIMO President Carlos Vargas, which was sent to faculty members
on April seventeenth. According to the statement, the group includes
eight current students and sixteen recent graduates. CIVUS is a
(00:51):
system used by the US Department of Homeland Security to
monitor international students and exchange visitors. When a CIVIUS record
is terminated, that individual may no longer be legally allowed
to remain in the country. The termination of these records
was reportedly due to lower level offenses, municipal violations, or
other causes, according to President Vargas. While details are limited,
one student who spoke on a condition of anonymities, said
(01:12):
some of the violations stem from unauthorized off campus work.
They also confirmed the involvement of Immigration and Customs Enforcement
or ICE, and said that some of the affected students
are from India and Bangladesh. The consequences of a terminated
CIVIS record are serious. According to the Department of Homeland Security,
students lose all on and off campus work authorization, cannot
re enter the US on that VISA, and ICE agents
(01:33):
may be dispatched to confirm to student's departure. The termination
also affects the legal status of spouses and children connected
to the students visa. In his statement, Vargas said the
university has encouraged affected students to contact immigration lawyers and
emphasize cemo's continued support for its international community. This incident
is not isolated. According to Higher Education, more than thirteen
(01:54):
hundred students have been deported from over three hundred US colleges,
including several in Missouri. More updates may be provided on
this story as it develops, so be sure to visit
Southistero dot com for Era on the air. I'm Alex Barton.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Now we turn our attention to Simo's Earthweek, where a
brand new student led event is bringing a week long
celebration of nature, sustainability, and community. Rirts has more on
the story.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
Junior Environmental Science major Lavi Silva is the president and
self described founder ish of Simo's Environmental Science Club, and
this spring she's leading something new Earthweek.
Speaker 4 (02:32):
Earth Day is just you know, a national holiday, international holiday.
I believe we just celebrate Earth, We just celebrate being green,
just you know, trying to reconnect with nature a little more.
Earthweek is a way for us to have that day
to celebrate Earth, but other days to celebrate our campus.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
Silver says the idea came together just about a month
ago a mix of inspiration from past events and a
desire to keep people outside. Activities range from painting tope
bags and outdoor yoga to trivia night and all with
an environmental twist.
Speaker 4 (03:04):
Just kind of like a mix of everything that I like,
all related to the environment. They're all environmental questions, but
not nothing too specific. It's we got a chemistry section,
we got a general knowledge section. It's just kind of
and you gotta win a lego. That's my favorite part.
If I could play, I would because I really want
that lego.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
The week kicks off with a rest day on Monday,
followed by an Earth Day Fair on Tuesday from noon
to two pm outside of the University Center. Students can
pick up free plants, make a DIY keychain, and here
talks on local wildlife. Wednesday brings a five point thirty
trivia night at Rhodes Hall, Thursday at tote Back Painting,
(03:41):
and Friday wraps up the week with outdoor yoga Sila
helps The event helps students reconnect with campus life and
the natural world around them.
Speaker 4 (03:51):
I want them to be able to realize that. Like
I said earlier, it's the campus is a beautiful place
and you can be outside and you can enjoy your
outside activities, and I think to having a club pushing
that to people is really important because you see things
happening outside, but only when you organize them well.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
This is the first Earthweek SIMO has hosted in recent memory.
Silva hopes it becomes a tradition, one that continues even
after she graduates. For Er on the Air, I'm Ari Ortiz.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
That's all for this week's episode of Arrow on the Air.
You can find more stories online at southeastero dot com
or by following at Southeast Arrow on your favorite social
media platform. For Errow on the Air, I'm even with
a check
Welcome to this week's episode of Arrow on the Air.
I'm Neva Witacheck, and in today's episode, we'll hear two
stories covering what's happening on and around Simo's campus. First,
Alex Barton reports in the termination of visa records for
twenty four international students and graduates, a move that could
result in deportation for some. Then Ari Ortiz gives us
a preview of Earth Week and how Simo's students are
(00:22):
celebrating the planet through events on campus. First up, here's
Alex Barton.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Twenty four international students in recent graduates at Southeast Missouri
State University have had their Student and Exchange Visitor Information
System or CIVIUS records terminated, potentially placing them at risk
of deportation. The news was confirmed in a statement from
CIMO President Carlos Vargas, which was sent to faculty members
on April seventeenth. According to the statement, the group includes
eight current students and sixteen recent graduates. CIVUS is a
(00:51):
system used by the US Department of Homeland Security to
monitor international students and exchange visitors. When a CIVIUS record
is terminated, that individual may no longer be legally allowed
to remain in the country. The termination of these records
was reportedly due to lower level offenses, municipal violations, or
other causes, according to President Vargas. While details are limited,
one student who spoke on a condition of anonymities, said
(01:12):
some of the violations stem from unauthorized off campus work.
They also confirmed the involvement of Immigration and Customs Enforcement
or ICE, and said that some of the affected students
are from India and Bangladesh. The consequences of a terminated
CIVIS record are serious. According to the Department of Homeland Security,
students lose all on and off campus work authorization, cannot
re enter the US on that VISA, and ICE agents
(01:33):
may be dispatched to confirm to student's departure. The termination
also affects the legal status of spouses and children connected
to the students visa. In his statement, Vargas said the
university has encouraged affected students to contact immigration lawyers and
emphasize cemo's continued support for its international community. This incident
is not isolated. According to Higher Education, more than thirteen
(01:54):
hundred students have been deported from over three hundred US colleges,
including several in Missouri. More updates may be provided on
this story as it develops, so be sure to visit
Southistero dot com for Era on the air. I'm Alex Barton.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Now we turn our attention to Simo's Earthweek, where a
brand new student led event is bringing a week long
celebration of nature, sustainability, and community. Rirts has more on
the story.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
Junior Environmental Science major Lavi Silva is the president and
self described founder ish of Simo's Environmental Science Club, and
this spring she's leading something new Earthweek.
Speaker 4 (02:32):
Earth Day is just you know, a national holiday, international holiday.
I believe we just celebrate Earth, We just celebrate being green,
just you know, trying to reconnect with nature a little more.
Earthweek is a way for us to have that day
to celebrate Earth, but other days to celebrate our campus.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
Silver says the idea came together just about a month
ago a mix of inspiration from past events and a
desire to keep people outside. Activities range from painting tope
bags and outdoor yoga to trivia night and all with
an environmental twist.
Speaker 4 (03:04):
Just kind of like a mix of everything that I like,
all related to the environment. They're all environmental questions, but
not nothing too specific. It's we got a chemistry section,
we got a general knowledge section. It's just kind of
and you gotta win a lego. That's my favorite part.
If I could play, I would because I really want
that lego.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
The week kicks off with a rest day on Monday,
followed by an Earth Day Fair on Tuesday from noon
to two pm outside of the University Center. Students can
pick up free plants, make a DIY keychain, and here
talks on local wildlife. Wednesday brings a five point thirty
trivia night at Rhodes Hall, Thursday at tote Back Painting,
(03:41):
and Friday wraps up the week with outdoor yoga Sila
helps The event helps students reconnect with campus life and
the natural world around them.
Speaker 4 (03:51):
I want them to be able to realize that. Like
I said earlier, it's the campus is a beautiful place
and you can be outside and you can enjoy your
outside activities, and I think to having a club pushing
that to people is really important because you see things
happening outside, but only when you organize them well.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
This is the first Earthweek SIMO has hosted in recent memory.
Silva hopes it becomes a tradition, one that continues even
after she graduates. For Er on the Air, I'm Ari Ortiz.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
That's all for this week's episode of Arrow on the Air.
You can find more stories online at southeastero dot com
or by following at Southeast Arrow on your favorite social
media platform. For Errow on the Air, I'm even with
a check
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