Michael Rotellini
Mrotell1@uwyo.edu
The Syrian refugee crisis has brought many at the state level to look at their own state policy and discuss the best course of action to handle the problem at a state level.
Governor Matt Mead earlier this year asked the Wyoming Humanities Council (WHC) to have talks focusing on both the pro and cons of bringing refugees into the state.
This is not a problem exclusively for Wyoming, and the issue of a refugee resettlement program is a complex issues, Joshua Watanabe, WHC director of communications and technology, said.
“What we see happening around the country, including in Wyoming, is a lot of reaction rather than reflection,” Watanabe said. “The refugee resettle program is an extremely complex one – one that many governors who allow refugees have stated they do not fully understand.”
Wyoming is the only state in the nation without an established refugee resettlement program.
The WHC will be hosting several discussion and panel talks around the state in 2016, including one at the Casper Humanities Festival in February and a televised panel on Wyoming PBS in March on this issue.
WHC is also partnering with the University of Wyoming’s creative writing program to have readings and talking sessions in January and February featuring UW’s Eminent Writer in Residence Nam Le, an award winning author.
The WHC is a state arm for the National Endowment for the Humanities, its main goal is to serve and strengthen the republic by promoting excellence in the humanities and conveying the lessons of history to all Americans, according to neh.org.
The founding language from the National Endowment for the Humanities states the goals are to educate people, to present multi-faceted issues and to talk about all the sides surrounding it – not to take any position.
In other words, the discussions will not be biased toward any one answer but rather educating people on the issue at hand and to have them critically think about it in order to make an informed decision, Watanabe said.
Not only is the Wyoming Humanities Council gearing up for these talks, but students and others in the public are looking forward to an open dialogue about this issue, Jennifer Baker, UW sophomore political science major, said.
“I think the first step to any problem is identifying it and being able to openly talk about it,” Baker said. “Regardless of my feelings toward it we can only move forward with the various perspectives, and no matter which way it goes the decision will be better because people are informed instead of sticking to their preconceived notions.”
These discussions will be taking place next fall, but this is just the start of Wyoming refugee resettlement program discussions, Watanabe said, adding that ultimately the state legislators and governor will make the final decision.
“We believe that Governor Mead recognizes that this is a complex issue that needs to be explored in a non-political setting before jumping to conclusions or making policy decisions. We respect all opinions on the matter and do not wish to change any person’s opinion,” Watanabe said. “This is a complex issue that people need more of a complete understanding of and, if as a result of this new understanding, people change their minds one way or the other. What we want is for people to listen, not talk at people, but converse and open their minds to understand someone’s point of view.”
