St. Thomas University is considering offering four full scholarships to Syrian refugees, and the University of New Brunswick may follow suit.
“We put the offer of the scholarships on the table as part of the work the faculty and staff volunteer group is doing on the Syrian Refugees issue,” said Jeffrey Carleton, the university’s communication director.
A group of nine professors and university staff members are discussing the possibility of providing tuition and covering residence and food costs. The group will also talk to Aramark to see if food could be provided to those students. The criteria for the scholarships is still in the works.
“We’ve made it clear that when the refugees come here and one wants to get to university, we would make the offer of a scholarship,” said Carleton. He said it’s too early to have specific criteria.
The professors are also concerned if these students would stay.
The university’s working group on refugees were also working together to sponsor a family of four. But Sylvia Hale, a sociology professor involved in the group, says the paperwork is enough to crush the good will of Canadians.
Steps to sponsoring a family include a guarantee of $25,000. So far the group has raised $20,000. They must also secure an institution, like a church or mosque, to guarantee the sponsorship should the original sponsors fail.
“How could an ordinary family try to get through this? “said Hale.
The Liberal government made an election promise that 25,000 refugees would be allowed in the country before the New Year, of which an estimated 1,500 could be temporarily housed at CFB Gagetown. The group decided to help both. The sponsored family could take 12- 24 months for approval, so the group decided to help the people coming sooner.
“These people are feeling the same monster (from the Paris attacks,)” said Aamir Jamal, assistant professor in Social Work.
Danielle Connell, ORS coordinator, said a list of refugee families is released every Friday which potential hosts can choose from, and “within 24 hours they’re all snatched up.”
The base is guaranteeing shelter, food, and medical help, but Jamal is also worried about the emotional and mental health of refugees.
The STU group is set to meet next week, and will be working with the Multicultural Association of Fredericton.
“We just have to see how it is unfolding in the country, the province and even the local volunteer committees,” said Carleton.
