This August, many of us will peruse through the endless aisles of IKEA with our parents, arguing over comforter patterns and pillowcase sizes. In September, we’ll pack up our lives and drive or fly to Hanover, eager to start anew. Yet leaving our homes behind is far more complicated for some of us. For Omar Rashid, an incoming member of the Class of 2029 currently living in Gaza, the journey to Dartmouth is fraught with unimaginable challenges, and his dream of joining our community hangs by a thread.
Over the last two years, Omar has been displaced more than 10 times, living in tents and homes without roofs while enduring the loss of his best friend, home and only source of income, he shared with a group of incoming freshmen on Instagram. Since graduating from high school in 2023, his plans for higher education have been completely derailed by the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Throughout this tribulation, Omar has fought tirelessly to keep his dream alive. He risked his life to apply to Dartmouth, having to find his way to the Egyptian-Palestinian border to write his application with an Egyptian eSIM mobile network, he shared on Instagram.
On Dec. 13, 2024, Omar’s dedication to his dream was rewarded when he was accepted to Dartmouth’s Class of 2029. Yet, as things stand, Omar may be prevented from joining us in the fall. A multitude of factors have trapped him in Gaza with no path to leave, beginning with Israel’s declaration of a “total siege” on Gaza in October 2023. Since then, according to Amnesty International, Israel has imposed “severe restrictions on visa issuance” for Palestinians. In May 2024, Israel’s seizure and subsequent closure of the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt completed its blockade of the Gaza Strip, sealing the last remaining exit for Gazans. Considering these circumstances, we feel that we cannot remain on the sidelines.
As fellow members of the Class of 2029, we write with a call to action: the Dartmouth community must do everything in its power to help Omar escape Gaza as soon as possible. To bring Omar to Hanover, different corners of the Dartmouth community must come together and leverage their unique roles and expertise. While Dartmouth Admissions has already recognized his exceptional potential by offering him acceptance, the administration must now assist him in navigating the complex visa process for individuals living in Gaza. In this regard, we urge the Dartmouth administration to first help Omar pursue an F-1 student visa, then file an expedited visa processing request in light of the urgent humanitarian crisis. Specifically, the administration should begin by issuing Omar a Form I-20, which certifies his acceptance and eligibility for an F-1 visa. The Office of Visa and Immigration Services should continue to provide him with all necessary documentation and guidance for the F-1 application process.
Simultaneously, the administration should draft an advocacy letter to the United States embassy in Jerusalem as part of an expedited visa processing request. This file should also contain proof of admission, the I-20, Omar’s completed visa application form, evidence of financial support, documentation substantiating the urgency of the request, a copy of Omar’s passport for identification and any supplementary materials that may bolster the case. We further urge the College to petition the embassy to grant Omar’s case an exception to the rule that restricts F-1 visa holders from entering the United States more than 30 days before their program start date. This request should be based on the critical humanitarian situation in Gaza, and the College should actively engage with embassy officials as necessary to ensure the process is as efficient as possible. If those avenues fail, Dartmouth should assist Omar in filing for humanitarian parole based on the urgent humanitarian crisis and facilitate the necessary logistical coordination and advocacy materials.
Furthermore, Dartmouth’s alumni network and faculty possess valuable connections that could be instrumental in overcoming diplomatic obstacles. For example, alumni with ties to the Egyptian or Israeli governments could provide logistical support or create advocacy channels for the organization of border crossings and travel permissions. Faculty members specializing in areas like international relations or Middle Eastern studies could offer insight and strategic guidance. By mobilizing Dartmouth’s networks, we can create pathways for Omar that would otherwise be inaccessible.
As students, we also hold a unique and vital role in spreading awareness and generating grassroots support for Omar’s case. A Change.org petition, along with a GoFundMe campaign, is underway to promote and fundraise for his case. By sharing these initiatives through social media and campus and personal networks, we can amplify our collective reach and impact.
Further, we must continue to support Omar as an incoming student until the fall term, advocating for the residential and financial aid offices to provide him with temporary housing and/or discretionary funding until the fall term. Dartmouth prides itself on fostering a tight-knit, supportive community, placing particular value on inclusivity, compassion and collective action. We must collaborate to apply these principles to Omar’s case — his journey embodies the precise spirit of resilience and ambition that Dartmouth strives to nurture. Working to guarantee Omar’s success is not just a reflection of his future, but also of our identity as an institution and community.
We cannot overstate the urgency of Omar’s situation. The escalation of the Israel-Hamas war puts Omar’s life at immediate risk, and every delay in securing his departure from the Gaza Strip is a gamble with his safety and future. By acting now, we can not only ensure Omar’s safety but also enable him to realize his dream of studying at Dartmouth and making a lasting difference in the world.
Omar’s story presents a rare and powerful opportunity to bridge divides within and beyond our campus, particularly given the deep polarization surrounding the Israel-Hamas war. As we work together to help Omar forge a new path forward, we reaffirm our commitment to the values that unite our community: empathy, action and the belief that we are stronger together. We honor the countless others who have the same dreams and yet lack the support to achieve them. Dartmouth is unique in its ability to unite a diverse group of people into an unfailingly kind and empathetic community. Omar’s case must not be an exception.
We urge everyone in the Dartmouth community — students, faculty, alumni and administrators alike — to seize their power and take action. Support the GoFundMe campaign and sign the Change.org petition. Write to College leadership urging them to prioritize Omar’s case. Reach out to possible connections. Any and every one of these actions brings Omar closer to Hanover and the future we will share as members of the Class of 2029. Let us rise to the occasion and prove that Dartmouth’s values are not just words, but also a lasting promise to uplift each other in the face of any challenge.
Lila Li, Trace Ribble and Rima Alshiekh are incoming members of the Class of 2029. Guest columns represent the views of their author(s), which are not necessarily those of The Dartmouth.
