On Friday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning citizens of seven majority-Muslim countries—Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen—from entering the United States for 90 days. The order also blocks the admission of refugees for at least 90 days; for Syrian refugees, the ban is indefinite. The policy is unprecedented in recent history in terms of its totality, immediacy, ignorance and cruelty.

Here at Washington University, at least 41 students and eight scholars from four countries—Iran, Iraq, Sudan and Syria—are directly affected by this callous executive order. It’s virtually impossible to measure exactly how many others will be indirectly affected through their family, friends or neighbors. Thousands of people, many of whom have called America their home for years, are now unable to enter the country; even more are unable to leave for fear of being locked out. The hurt runs wide, and it runs deep.

It’s tempting for many of us to cry out against the executive order while still maintaining a safe distance from the ugly fear that lies at its core. It’s easy to say that we disagree with the ban, but harder to stare it in the face, see it for what it truly is, and not let ourselves fall into the trap of making excuses to placate ourselves.

On Sunday afternoon, Chancellor Mark Wrighton sent a message to the University community addressing concerns about the executive order. The letter aligns Washington University with the Association of American Universities (AAU), which has condemned the immigration ban. Wrighton says that the order should be withdrawn. That’s a good start. He says that the Office of International Students and Scholars will be available to counsel people from countries listed in the order. Again, a helpful step.

But we get the sense that even with this seemingly concrete language, Wash. U. doesn’t quite want to look this beast in the eye. It tiptoes around those people who are the most hurt, most discouraged and most attacked by the order. Refugees who have been told by President Trump that their safety is less important than that of ‘real’ Americans. Iranian, Iraqi, Somali, Sudanese, Syrian and Yemeni citizens, who have been told that this country fears them enough to slam the door in their faces. Muslims, who have been told their religion is reason enough to turn a person away at America’s borders, while Christians are given priority.

None of these people are mentioned by name in the Chancellor’s letter. It instead alludes to “adverse effects on our university,” which isn’t enough, because the entire University is not affected in the same way. The targeted nature of this executive order demands a targeted confirmation of support.

Moreover, the letter falls into the trap of rationalizing immigration through its benefits to those of us with the great privilege to be here in America. Both Wrighton and the AAU argue that “the United States continues to welcome the most talented individuals from all countries to teach, study and carry out research and scholarship at our universities.” Of course we should want people from all over the world with interests in critical research to be able to thrive academically at U.S. universities. But to focus so heavily on their talent as reason for their worth strips them of their essential humanity. The right to live freely, away from violence and discrimination, is not something a person earns because of their laboratory skills. We would be blind not to recognize the value of the thousands, even millions, of other people who may not be considered the “most talented” scientific minds but whose lives have so much value and worth all the same.

The Chancellor claims that Wash. U. is “a place where we draw strength through our differences, and where all feel welcomed, respected and included.” We would argue that you cannot truly respect a person while refusing to fully acknowledge their struggles, their challenges and their fears. Overcoming this adversity in the U.S. today will be a long and difficult road, and we owe it to our friends, family, and neighbors to throw our support firmly and unashamedly behind them.