It is offensive that members of the MSA think so little of the UWM student body as to think we cannot decipher the difference between radical Muslims and nonviolent Muslim students.

When the UWM Conservative Union hired former Palestine Liberation Organization member Walid Shoebat to speak on “Why I Left Jihad,” scheduled for tomorrow, controversy flared and respect for the UWM administration and the Muslim Student Association (MSA) declined.

Members of the MSA e-mailed UWM administrators demanding the event be cancelled because it was a direct assault on Muslim students. The administration took the cowardly way out by folding under the pressure and taking down the banner¬ – paid for under contract by the Conservative Union – advertising the event.

The banner was taken down for reasons such as “The administration did not agree with the wording on the banner” (Neal Michals, Union Marketing), “Groups found the wording offensive” (Tom McGinnity, Assistant Dean of Students), “The banner wasn’t paid for” (Jennifer Lyons, SAO), and “The event was not yet approved” (Brandon James, Event Coordinator). The administration replaced the banner after tremendous support from the public.

University administration also attempted to prevent Shoebat’s speech by imposing a hefty security fee. The typical price for bringing in a speaker is $300-500, but the Conservative Union was billed $2,500.

This just goes to show UWM officials really are willing to put a price on freedom of speech. The unusually high fee is meant for security, including campus police and metal detectors.

This fee has since been cancelled, and administrators sent an e-mailed explanation to all students saying that the university wishes to avoid the appearance of any intentional chilling of free speech through the fee.

It’s apparently typical for student organizations who invite a controversial speaker to be charged extra for security. The faulty policy is implemented to silence speakers of an organization who “threaten” disruption and violence. The victims are the ones being punished.

Perhaps security should include a riot squad to handle the MSA.

The Administration is simply yielding to the demands of the MSA. Apparently the message of nonviolence and anti-jihad fundamentalism is offensive to Muslims.

The MSA’s e-mail went on to claim Muslim students are at risk of violence because of Shoebat’s speech.

It is offensive that members of the MSA think so little of the UWM student body as to purport that we cannot decipher the difference between radical Muslims and nonviolent Muslim students. Opposition to free speech does more to hinder the safety of MSA members than a speaker condemning radicalism.

It is fairly certain no one needs Shoebat’s speech to expose that there are radical Muslims aligned with the Jihad against the United States. If such a blatantly obvious fact is a threat to Muslim students’ safety, it is deducible, then, that they would also feel threatened by all Sept. 11 references.

Furthermore, why is speaking out against anti-Semitism considered hate speech? Why is attacking anti-Semitism even controversial? The MSA should be putting itself behind Shoebat’s appeal for fewer Islamic radicals and anti-Semitists.

The MSA has said it will not protest during the lecture but instead is planning a discussion afterward where questions on Islam will be addressed.

If the MSA claims they will not endorse protests, then why was there such a high price on added security?

It would be naïve to think there won’t be protests. Protests won’t just be formally organized by the MSA. Long story short, the MSA takes no responsibility and thus looks to be taking a diplomatic course.

This is the first time I’ve ever been ashamed to call myself a Panther. The UWM administration and MSA have done a brilliant job of tarring Shoebat before he even got a chance to speak. Funny how not a word of controversy was heard when Howard Dean came to town. He’s liberal; he got a free ride.

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