Fight over Repub event continues
Nick Brennan
Issue date: 3/22/07 Section: News
Four weeks after the College Republicans drew protests and national media attention for their "Find the Illegal Immigrant" event, tensions still run high on campus. Several groups are demanding an apology from the Republicans and refusing their invitation to debate illegal immigration.
The College Democrats - in addition to refusing to debate the Republicans on illegal immigration - have also canceled their normal annual debate with the group.
Controversy over the event, which was held Feb. 22, stemmed from a mock hunt for a student posing as an illegal immigrant. The event drew more than 300 protesters and 12 participants.
After the event, College Republicans president Sarah Chambers extended an invitation to the campus groups that protested to hold a joint debate on immigration policy after the event.
The groups - which have formed a coalition - decided in a meeting earlier this month to reject her invitation because, coalition members say, she had not acknowledged that many found the event to be racist and dehumanizing. The coalition represents the College Democrats, Latinos Unidos Con Honor y Amistad (Latinos United with Honor and Friendship), the American Civil Liberties Union at NYU and Students Creating Radical Change.
Latinos Unidos Con Honor y Amistad, or LUCHA, initially approached university officials to try to revoke the College Republicans' charter through the university's antiharassment policy. That motion was later abandoned after LUCHA spoke to university officials and the other coalition members decided instead to seek an apology from the College Republicans, according to LUCHA president Francisco Guzman.
"You have to respect other groups on campus, and there was a lack of sensibility on their part and we don't want to encourage that," he said, adding that the College Republicans wanted to create dialogue but went about it in the wrong way.
Chambers said she received over 200 letters of support from around the country and added, "Apologizing would be a slap in the face not only to those who participated in the event, but also for those people who have come out and later supported our event."
The College Democrats - in addition to refusing to debate the Republicans on illegal immigration - have also canceled their normal annual debate with the group.
Controversy over the event, which was held Feb. 22, stemmed from a mock hunt for a student posing as an illegal immigrant. The event drew more than 300 protesters and 12 participants.
After the event, College Republicans president Sarah Chambers extended an invitation to the campus groups that protested to hold a joint debate on immigration policy after the event.
The groups - which have formed a coalition - decided in a meeting earlier this month to reject her invitation because, coalition members say, she had not acknowledged that many found the event to be racist and dehumanizing. The coalition represents the College Democrats, Latinos Unidos Con Honor y Amistad (Latinos United with Honor and Friendship), the American Civil Liberties Union at NYU and Students Creating Radical Change.
Latinos Unidos Con Honor y Amistad, or LUCHA, initially approached university officials to try to revoke the College Republicans' charter through the university's antiharassment policy. That motion was later abandoned after LUCHA spoke to university officials and the other coalition members decided instead to seek an apology from the College Republicans, according to LUCHA president Francisco Guzman.
"You have to respect other groups on campus, and there was a lack of sensibility on their part and we don't want to encourage that," he said, adding that the College Republicans wanted to create dialogue but went about it in the wrong way.
Chambers said she received over 200 letters of support from around the country and added, "Apologizing would be a slap in the face not only to those who participated in the event, but also for those people who have come out and later supported our event."
Viewing Comments 1 - 9 of 12
NYU parent
posted 3/22/07 @ 11:35 AM EST
Racist, no. The definition of a racist is one who feels a particular race is superior to others. This was about illegal "status" in our country. Dehumanizing, perhaps. (Continued…)
Esther Nieves
posted 3/22/07 @ 12:37 PM EST
Democracy is an important part of our nation's DNA. Promoting free speech and the right to have an opinion is also part of the freedom train we call the United States. (Continued…)
Joe
posted 3/22/07 @ 1:34 PM EST
What I'm wondering is why don't the College Democrats want to debate the Republicans on this. I was out there demonstrating against the College Republicans on this, but I'm a little disappointed that the Democrats think ignoring debate is a helpful tactic in this. (Continued…)
Haley
posted 3/22/07 @ 1:52 PM EST
The article fails to mention that the NYU College Democrats had already proposed debating the College Republicans on immigration. The Republicans refused, citing that their club was split on the issue. (Continued…)
Tom Wolf
posted 3/22/07 @ 5:49 PM EST
What is it with the Republicans, whether college age or otherwise, constantly acting out in such a destructive nature. Instead of taking a proactive and intelligent course of action, they have to create hype and turn a serious issue into some sick game to fill their perverted lives. (Continued…)
Another NYU Parent
posted 3/22/07 @ 6:12 PM EST
I have been following this situation from afar since it first surfaced. As NYU Parent above has stated in this thread along with the threads associated with this initial report in Feb. (Continued…)
michael baron
posted 3/22/07 @ 6:43 PM EST
this event had very little to do with discussing illegal immigration and had everything to do with calling attention to the nyu republican club, a group with almost no members. (Continued…)
Another NYU paerent
posted 3/22/07 @ 10:06 PM EST
Michael, I've been following this from the start and that's not what the stated intent was... To me it seems like you are doing nothing more than inserting your opinion without references or fact. (Continued…)
mzfitmama
posted 3/22/07 @ 11:00 PM EST
latinos unidos tried to get the university to revoke the republican's charter? please, who's doing the harrassment here. there should be room on this campus for differing opinions. (Continued…)
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