Chancellor Nicholas Zeppos joined the presidents of seven other Nashville universities in decrying the possible adoption of the English-Only ballot initiative. The joint statement, submitted to The Tennessean, claimed, “It is especially important that the higher education community in Nashville be heard on this issue. It is the obligation of institutions of higher education to help their communities think critically about important issues of public policy, especially when the policies have a deep and lasting impact on these communities.” The letter later goes on to say the amendment would have a shotgun effect, which would cause severe, unexpected repercussions while only marginally correcting problems concerning illegal immigration.
Zeppos and the others should be commended for taking a stand against an initiative that would limit Nashville’s ability to grow into a truly multicultural city. As it stands, this initiative, if passed, will be the first major metropolitan community to pass an English-Only law in the United States. Considering Nashville is known as the Athens of the South, this ban would be an ignominious mark on a fairly distinguished municipal history.
Furthermore, as Zeppos and his colleagues pointed out, a language ban would hurt Nashville’s ability to recruit international business. They claimed, “A multilingual population is the logical consequence of our efforts to become the business relocation site of choice in the United States. Middle Tennesseans cannot expect to have a thriving, or even stable, economy without an environment that is welcoming and accommodating of the needs of business and those individuals that businesses bring with them.”
While their comments might seem like an exaggeration, it is important to note Nissan, Toshiba and other foreign companies do operate within the metropolitan statistical area. Like many multinational companies, some of their staff and administration have been transplanted from other countries, and though they might speak English, it seems unreasonable to deny them services in a language with which they are more familiar. If anything, it makes Nashville appear backward or even xenophobic. This is hardly a cause to rally behind.
In the end, it will not prevent illegal immigration or even force the immigrants currently residing here to leave. In fact, it will pose a more serious problem to foreigners legally living in Nashville. The initiative will prevent newcomers from becoming fully acclimated to Nashville culture. Without the ability to bridge the language gap, important civil and social services will remain out of their reach. Not only will this ban cause legal issues, but it also prevents access to services most of us take for granted.
The president’s letter emphasizes both the multicultural aspect of Nashville and the role the higher education system plays in drawing immigrants to the city. Not to mention, the importance of international students at their respective institutions. We should support them as they support the rights of Nashvillians — new and old.
