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Consiglio di Stato della Repubblica e canton Ticino: Reconsider the denial of visas for non-European students in Ticino

Consiglio di Stato della Repubblica e canton Ticino: Reconsider the denial of visas for non-European students in Ticino

This petition is closed
50 Supporters

Bet-sinlao M.
started this petition to
Consiglio di Stato della Repubblica e canton Ticino
We the students of Scuola Teatro Dimitri (SUPSI) in support with the students from Hochschule der Künste Bern (HKB), Zürcher Hochschule der Künste (ZHdK) and La Manufacture (Haute Ecole de Théâtre de Suisse -HETSR) are writing to you to rise your awareness to the following problem:

Two Latin American students, Alberto Martinez Rodriguez and Jessica Bastidas, of our Master Program were denied their visa to study in Switzerland and one is still waiting for the answer. The only thing that separates them from us European students, that were granted a visa, is their nationality. In every other way they meet the same qualifications that we do. They have the work and/or educational experience required in order to enter Master studies and also the necessary funding to study and live an independent life in Switzerland. They are not asking to work in Switzerland but to study in the university they were accepted to. These two are not only ones but part of a bigger group of non-European students that were denied a student visa in Ticino.

We are writing to you to claim the rights of non-European citizens to study in the SUPSI. We believe that culture and arts evolve through working with people from different nations and cultures. This can create understanding, dialogue and relations that benefit not only cultural life but also international cooperation between nations in a very large scale. As Albert Einstein said: “Peace cannot be kept by force, it can only be achieved through understanding.”

As we see it, these actions forced upon these non-European students go against the image of Switzerland as an emblem of democracy and tolerance. This is why we are amazed that in a country known as a worldwide center for diplomacy, with the presence of a numerous international organizations, including the headquarters of the United Nations, that precisely protect social, economical and cultural rights, is now, without a clear justification denying the access of these students to their studies.

We ask thus for clear arguments and reasoning in which you base the decision to deny the right of non-European students to study in Scuola Teatro Dimitri. We also wish to open a new dialogue, hoping that understanding can be found. We wish that SUPSI would continue to a be place where the exchange of intellectual and artistic capita can cross national and governmental borders with out limitation.


Posted (Updated )