Sign Our Petition for Academic Visa Reform!

PLEASE DISTRIBUTE WIDELY!

Sign the National Online Petition for International-Student Visa Reform and
International Scholars Rights!

http://www.visareform.net

Since September 11, 2001, international students and scholars seeking to
study and work in America have faced increasing difficulties due to visa
restrictions, background checks, and other security initiatives implemented
by the US government.

In response, a petition proposing solutions has been launched by a coalition
of organizations committed to establishing a fair and supportive environment
for international workers at U.S. universities. This coalition already
includes:
* the AFL-CIO,
* the 43-campus Association of Chinese Students and Scholars of New York
(ACSSNY),
* local graduate employee unions on 20 different campuses,
* the American Association of University Professors (AAUP)
* the National Association of Graduate and Professional Students (NAGPS),
* and others.

You can read the list of sponsors and the text of the petition at:
http://www.visareform.net

A September 19-20 conference by GESO at Yale University (in New Haven, CT)
will highlight the petition's issues, and will build the growing coalition
for international students' and scholars' rights. Please come and join us!
For more information, email:  [EMAIL PROTECTED]

We only have a few weeks to collect signatures on this petition, as we plan
to deliver the petition to all members of Congress during the mass
mobilization and lobbying of the "Immigrant Worker Freedom Rides"
(www.iwfr.org), in DC on October 1, 2003. We also hope to present the
petition at the Freedom Rides rally in Flushing Meadows Park in Queens, NY,
on October 4, 2003. Over 100,000 are expect to rally for immigrant workers'
rights, so please join us in New York on that day if you can!

Please sign the petition and forward this e-mail everywhere.
http://www.visareform.net

More info on Immigrant Workers Freedom Rides: www.iwfr.org
More info on Sept 19-20 conference:  [EMAIL PROTECTED]
More info on GESO:  www.geso.org


Yours in Solidarity,

The GESO Standing Committee on International Students
http://www.yaleunions.org/geso/international/welcome.htm