A Document Analysis Examining the Experiences of Muslim College Students at a Public University in the U.S. South

Abstract:Immigration, Islamophobia, and xenophobia have been subjects of much public discourse for decades. However, the recent re-emergence of nationalist populism in the U.S. and western Europe and the refugee crises in Syria have arguably brought a more intense focus on Muslim individuals and immigrants, particularly in light of President Trump’s issuance of Executive Order No. 13769 in January 2017. Although the original travel ban has since been struck down in courts, the travel ban signaled to many a move to further stigmatize Muslim individuals. The authors conducted a document analysis to understand the collegiate experiences of Muslim college students in the U.S. South, as reported by a student newspaper, and how these experiences have changed since the issuance of Executive Order No. 13769. Findings revealed four themes: hostile climates for students with minoritized identities; support and lack of support from institutional agents; the utilization of counterstories, acts of resistance, and solidarity; and the specific impact of the executive order. We conclude with implications for practice for supporting Muslim students and areas for further study.