It has been almost two weeks since the ASWSU Senate voted 14-2 in favor of Resolution 46-19, which reaffirmed the student government’s commitment to making WSU a welcoming campus for undocumented students.

Several students, including myself, had the opportunity to testify before the Senate. As a student leader in the Young Democrats of WSU, I felt it was necessary to empower my peers by being an advocate.

I asked students who came to the hearing — but who were perhaps not ready to be vocal about their opinions — to write out their thoughts on postcards so I could deliver testimony on their behalf.

The resolution received overwhelming support and was sent to Gov. Jay Inslee, Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson and various other campus administrators.

Unfortunately, now there is a new ban.

Iraq has been removed from the list of banned countries, Syrians are no longer permanently banned and green card holders are now exempt, but none of these exceptions solve the core legal problem with the order — the ban’s intentions are motivated by religious discrimination toward Muslims.

In response to the travel ban and its newest iteration, Pullman City Councilman Nathan Weller is taking tangible steps to help students feel safe. He is currently working on draft language for a City Council resolution that would reaffirm Pullman’s commitment to welcome all people.

“I felt it was important because we continue to have individuals concerned about their status, asking questions like, ‘am I protected?’” Weller said. “We’re in a strange, tenuous time right now, and people need reassurance.”

Weller is the youngest and longest sitting member of the City Council, with about 10 years in office, he said. He is a lifelong Pullman resident and maintains some of the issues addressed between the university and the city are opportunities for great change.

The travel ban’s effect on WSU students and Pullman residents presents a unique opportunity for both groups to affirm their commitment to a welcoming community.

Pullman students should continue to be outraged and voice their concerns against the Trump Administration’s intentions to move forward with an order that clearly discriminates against individuals in our community.

That outrage must translate to actionable steps from concerned voters, who should voice their real concerns to their elected representatives. We simply do not hold our representatives accountable enough, and that needs to change.

Will Stratmeyer, a junior studying music composition, explained the steps he has been taking to make sure the voices of undocumented students and their peers are heard after the ASWSU hearing.

“I still have a lot more emails to write, phone calls to make, and people to help educate,” he said. “To show up and get my hands dirty — it’s really up to us. I had my revelation.”

Elected representatives that do not oppose Trump’s paranoid and discriminatory policies should be voted out of office. It’s up to us to make that happen.

Josh Maasberg is a sophomore political science major from Murrieta, California. He can be contacted at 335-2290 or by [email protected]. The opinions expressed in this column are not necessarily those of the staff of The Daily Evergreen or those of The Office of Student Media.