2008 Woodie Awards
Video related to this article is available below.Issue date: 10/22/07 Section: News
After name conflict, groups begin events
College Republicans, MSA reach agreement on awareness weeks
Jody Pollock
The UA later facilitated a meeting between the MSA and College Republicans since "a large portion of the undergraduate community is appalled and disgusted by Islamo-Fascism Week," said UA chairman and College senior Jason Karsh.
Both Penn groups reached the compromise amicably.
Terrorism Awareness Week is receiving financial support from the David Horowitz Freedom Center to bring in speakers Daniel Pipes and former Sen. Rick Santorum, whose visits typically cost $25,000, said College sophomore Zac Byer, president of the College Republicans.
The name change is not supported by the Freedom Center, said Stephen Miller, national campus director of the Terrorism Awareness Project. "Just calling them terrorists is only telling a fraction of the story," said Miller, whose group runs Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week at over 100 campuses, though it has never been brought to Penn.
Still, changing the name is unlikely to change the message itself.
"We changed the name of the week, but that doesn't mean that Pipes and Santorum aren't still going to address the same problems," Byer said.
Though the College Republicans say they were initially unaware of the coincidental timing, others question the overlap.
"It is curious that [the Freedom Center] planned it for this week specifically," Malik said, noting that it is a known fact that Islam Awareness Week often occurs around this time.
Horowitz has final say over the date of Islamo-Fascism Week, and Miller did not know whether the coincidence was intentional.
Both Penn groups hope to use their respective events to start a dialogue across campus and are encouraging students to attend the events with open minds.
Islam Awareness Week begins tonight with popular comedian Azhar Usman, and Terrorism Awareness Week begins with a panel discussion among Middle East experts.
Both Penn groups reached the compromise amicably.
Terrorism Awareness Week is receiving financial support from the David Horowitz Freedom Center to bring in speakers Daniel Pipes and former Sen. Rick Santorum, whose visits typically cost $25,000, said College sophomore Zac Byer, president of the College Republicans.
The name change is not supported by the Freedom Center, said Stephen Miller, national campus director of the Terrorism Awareness Project. "Just calling them terrorists is only telling a fraction of the story," said Miller, whose group runs Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week at over 100 campuses, though it has never been brought to Penn.
Still, changing the name is unlikely to change the message itself.
"We changed the name of the week, but that doesn't mean that Pipes and Santorum aren't still going to address the same problems," Byer said.
Though the College Republicans say they were initially unaware of the coincidental timing, others question the overlap.
"It is curious that [the Freedom Center] planned it for this week specifically," Malik said, noting that it is a known fact that Islam Awareness Week often occurs around this time.
Horowitz has final say over the date of Islamo-Fascism Week, and Miller did not know whether the coincidence was intentional.
Both Penn groups hope to use their respective events to start a dialogue across campus and are encouraging students to attend the events with open minds.
Islam Awareness Week begins tonight with popular comedian Azhar Usman, and Terrorism Awareness Week begins with a panel discussion among Middle East experts.
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 9
MSA Dossier
posted 10/22/07 @ 10:34 AM EST
So, the students met with MSA fascists and agreed not to identify their fascism. Have they also agreed to cover up MSA funding of Hamas terrorism?
As fund raisers for Hamas, the MSA remain unindicted co-cospirators in the Holy Land Foundation trial. (Continued…)
JM
posted 10/22/07 @ 12:40 PM EST
Horowitz Exposed
www.yousefmunayyer.blogspot.com
Real Issue
posted 10/22/07 @ 1:24 PM EST
Though the College Republicans agreed to change the name, I'm sure the messages relayed by Monday's panel and Rick Santorum on Wednesday will be right on target. (Continued…)
Penn 08
posted 10/22/07 @ 3:09 PM EST
everyone needs to google "santorum" right now. be sure to click the first link.
never stops bein' funny.
Free Speech
posted 10/22/07 @ 3:59 PM EST
No Islamofascism? Then how about we take the "White" out of White Supremacy?
Seriously, someone needs to stand up to the liberal censorship masquerading as ridiculous political correctness. (Continued…)
Free Speech
posted 10/22/07 @ 4:11 PM EST
PS. In no way do I condone either white supremacy or terrorism, and in fact consider both heinous evils that need to be addressed. Nevertheless, I feel that the renaming analogy stands, though no offense is meant. (Continued…)
Undergrad
posted 10/22/07 @ 6:46 PM EST
Us conservatives usually pride ourselves on standing up to censorship in the name of political correctness (a.k.a. not telling the truth to avoid hurting people's feelings). (Continued…)
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