Ongoing Efforts by Georgetown University in Persistence for Austin Tice's Liberation from Syria
Georgetown perseveres in their campaign for the freedom of Austin Tice, a former student who's been imprisoned in Syria for over a decade now. With the recent fall of Assad's regime, there's renewed optimism for Tice's reunion with his family. At a press conference on Dec 6, Tice's parents, Debra and Marc, revealed they'd received information suggesting their son was alive and being cared for.
Back in 2012, Tice had just completed his second year at Georgetown Law when he worked as a freelance photojournalist in Syria, covering the country's civil war for organizations like McClatchy, Washington Post, and CBS. He vanished in August 2012, and U.S. officials declared he was held captive by the Syrian government. Georgetown joined the Tice family in their advocacy efforts in 2015, connecting them with policymakers and crucial government stakeholders through federal relations channels.
The university's schools, programs, and students have also been vocal in raising awareness for Tice's case. Joseph Ferrara, Georgetown's senior vice president and chief of staff, expressed the university's commitment to the cause: "Georgetown remains steadfast in advocating for the release of Austin and offering whatever support we can to the Tice family."
An informal advisory group, which includes several Georgetown leaders like President Emeritus John J. DeGioia, Ferrara, William M. Treanor, and Joel Hellman, has been supporting Tice's release. In December, Georgetown hosted a strategy session to brainstorm methods to advocate effectively for Tice, taking advantage of opportunities in the final month of the Biden administration and preparing for the incoming Trump administration.
The Tice family's tireless efforts to raise awareness and support have seen them collaborate with politicians across several presidential administrations, work with media outlets such as the Washington Post and NBC News, and team up with organizations like the National Press Club. The family has also presented Centennial Honors to Tice in 2019, and Debra Tice spoke at the SFS commencement ceremony in 2023, urging students to stand against injustice.
Over the years, the National Press Club has cooperated with the Tice family to organize bipartisan congressional letters, garnering support from legislators to push for increased efforts to secure Tice's release. The future remains uncertain, but continued advocacy and the recent evidence uncovered by the BBC could eventually lead to diplomatic attempts for Tice's release. Keep your fingers crossed for this long-held hostage to finally return home.
It's worth noting that while Bashar al-Assad's regime has not collapsed as of now, the Syrian government remains in power, and investigative reports by the BBC have provided the first hard evidence linking the Assad regime to Tice's imprisonment, making it a significant development in the case. However, without official acknowledgment from the Syrian government or concrete actions by involved parties, the situation remains clouded in uncertainty.
- Georgetown University has been actively involved in politics, lobbying for the release of Austin Tice, a former student who's been imprisoned in Syria, even connecting with key government stakeholders through federal relations channels.
- In the realm of crime-and-justice, Austin Tice's case has generated extensive coverage in general-news, with the Tice family collaborating with various media outlets like the Washington Post and NBC News, and organizations such as the National Press Club.
- The university's involvement in advocacy efforts extends beyond local matters, as the schools, programs, and students of Georgetown have raised awareness for Tice's case, a situation deeply entwined with war-and-conflicts and international law.
