ASG voted to support the Free James Foley campaign and shed light on the ongoing search for the Northwestern alumnus while calling for heightened awareness Wednesday.
The legislation focused on missing freelance journalist James Foley, who disappeared while reporting for GlobalPost in Syria's Idlib Province on Nov. 22. Foley (Medill '08) was previously held captive for 44 days in Libya in 2011.
The bill, written by Senate Speaker Ani Ajith, will “use all available resources and channels to raise awareness of Foley’s detainment and encourage students and community members to take steps to help secure his release,” according to Wednesday’s Senate agenda.
“He’s a Wildcat and he’s not home. We need to do everything we can,” Ajith said while addressing ASG at Wednesday’s Senate.
Ajith, who also authored a bill of a similar nature following Foley’s 2011 detainment, said the measure shows support for the family.
“I felt compelled as a Wildcat to do everything we can to see he is home safely,” Ajith said. “It’s important his family knows Northwestern is here for them.”
Northwestern has been connected to Foley’s story since his original capture in Libya. Following his detainment in April 2011, supporters held a rally on the Evanston campus calling for his release. Two weeks after returning home in 2011, Foley spoke to students about his ordeal in the McCormick Tribune Forum.
Now ASG is pledging again to support Foley’s cause. The effort focuses on increased awareness, especially across the Web and through social media. Students can sign a petition for his release on the family’s website or receive updates from Facebook and Twitter.
The website is written in both English and Arabic in order to reach out to supporters not only in the United States but also those living near where he was captured in Syria.
Ajith said he hopes using social media and Northwestern’s extensive network will bring positive results.
“Our Northwestern family stretches across the globe,” Ajith said. “Hopefully with every Facebook ‘like’ someone else will see it and pick up on it.”
More to come.