"'Sanctuary' Campuses Controversy Misleading" by Sophie Quinton College students across the country are clamoring for their campuses to be declared “sanctuaries,” where administrators do all they can to protect students and employees from any effort by Republican President-elect Donald Trump to deport unauthorized immigrants or register Muslims. In response, Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and Republican legislators in Arkansas, Georgia and Texas are threatening to cut off funding to any colleges or universities that establish themselves as so-called sanctuary campuses. But the protests and proposed retaliation are disconnected from current immigration and student privacy laws, legal analysts say, and from what the Trump administration might do any time soon. There’s no consensus on what it means to be a sanctuary campus. And the word “sanctuary” inflates the relatively minor demands that activists are asking of college administrators. 1 of 9 Question Use the passage to answer the question. Based on your reading, make a valid inference that evaluates the impact of language on public perception. Provide at least 2 examples of factual evidence to support your inference. Use 3–5 sentences.

1 answer

The use of the term "sanctuary" in the context of college campuses significantly impacts public perception by invoking strong emotions and suggesting a heightened level of protection and safety for unauthorized immigrants. For example, the article states that "the word 'sanctuary' inflates the relatively minor demands that activists are asking of college administrators," indicating that the language employed by activists amplifies their requests beyond what they may actually entail. Additionally, the mention of threats from Republican politicians to cut funding to these institutions reflects how charged language can escalate tensions and provoke strong reactions, thereby shaping the political landscape and public discourse surrounding immigration policies.