The assistant professor of Educational Leadership was one of several faculty members who spoke about Trump’s immigration executive order at a forum in front of nearly 30 people on Friday in the Charles V. Park Library Auditorium.

“I was always taught that the United States of America does not discriminate against people based on religion or national origin,” said Hozien, who is a Muslim American.

The forum was organized by Sapphire Cureg, director of the Office of Diversity Education, to inform students and faculty about potential impacts from the executive order.

Trump signed an executive order on Jan. 27 blocking refugees and citizens from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entering the U.S. for 90 days. It also suspended refugees from entering the U.S. for 120 days.

The panel of speakers included Carolyn Dunn, associate vice president of institutional diversity, David Brittain, assistant director of the Office of Civil Rights and Institutional Equity, and Tracy Nakajima, director of International Student and Scholar Services.

Brittain clarified misinformation in regard to the executive order and offered recommendations from legal analysts. Brittain said the views expressed at the forum were not necessarily the views of the university.

Brittain said the order does the following:

Applies new immigration standards to student and worker visas

Bans entry of refugees to the U.S. from Syria indefinitely

Reduces the total number of refugees that can enter the U.S.

Establishes requirements for “extreme vetting” of refugees

Suspends visa interviews for applicants

Gives religious minorities priority refugee status

Nakajiwa said approximately 12 students could be impacted by the order. She recommends that all international students, regardless of origin, take caution.

Nicholas Banahene, a graduate student from Ghana, feels the atmosphere in the country is “chaotic.” He’s concerned for himself and fellow international students who wish to visit their homes overseas.

“It’s painful being in a different country where you aren’t appreciated and everyone seems to be against you,” Banahene said.

Freshman Brice Tucker said he’s concerned about the precedent Trump is setting for the country.

“It’s a slippery slope,” said Tucker, a Flint native. “There’s been 20 executive orders in the past two weeks. That’s not democracy to me.”

Hozien encouraged the audience to speak out against discrimination, think critically and open their homes to international students who can’t travel.

Hozien said CMU has resources available to Muslim students. She also gave advice to students with little experience with Islam or Middle Eastern Americans.

“Don’t be afraid to walk up to a Muslim and say hello,” she said. “I really believe that a smile is contagious. If you smile at a person, they’re going to smile back, whether they’re a Muslim or not.”

Hoizen added that University President George Ross’ statement was an important first step, but more needs to be done on campus.

“Nobody wants to be a refugee, nobody wants to be away from home,” she said. “Every minute there are 24 people displaced. Don’t think the Syrian people want to come to the United States of America — they don’t. They want to be home.”

Staff Reporter Greta Ginter contributed to this story.