Spring Break
URI College Republicans shed light on Islamic fundamentalism
Samantha Turner
Issue date: 10/19/07 Section: Campus
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The fourth event of the week will be a showing of the documentary "What the West Needs to Know" at 7 p.m. in Atrium 2 of the Memorial Union.
Ending the week will be a memorial service, also being held in Atrium 2, for the victims of Islamic terrorism.
The event is part of Terrorism Awareness week, organized by conservative writer and activist David Horowitz and the David Horowitz Freedom Center. Terrorism Awareness Week is being held on 200 college campuses nationwide, including Brown University, Yale University and Princeton University.
When Horowitz and his organization last stopped at URI two years ago, Horowitz's speech on indoctrination was interrupted by protests and debates from students and opponents of Horowitz.
"They made fools of themselves," Bilodeau said. "It was just disrespectful. They were yelling when he was trying to speak."
Melvin Wade, director of the Multicultural Center, disagreed with Bilodeau's negativity regarding that night's protest.
"I thought the way students handled it the last time was incredibly strategic and disciplined," Wade said.
Wade also disagreed with the titling of the week's events.
"I think titles that are needlessly incendiary make dialogue impossible because they actually shut down dialogue, in my opinion," Wade said. "You can imagine if someone were to say 'American-Fascism Awareness Week' how Americans would feel about that."
Also wanting to open up dialogue on the subject is Hughes, who said she hopes this event will foster a "open discussion" of the subject on campus.
"My view is that I'm very happy that they're introducing this debate on campus," Hughes said. "This is a very important women's and human rights issue, as well as a terrorist issue."
Bilodeau admitted that past events sponsored by the College Republicans "have been polarizing," but he hopes to make this next week's event more consistent and honest.
"What we're trying to do is bring ideas to the people and let them decide and hopefully they'll be respectful," Bilodeau said.
Ending the week will be a memorial service, also being held in Atrium 2, for the victims of Islamic terrorism.
The event is part of Terrorism Awareness week, organized by conservative writer and activist David Horowitz and the David Horowitz Freedom Center. Terrorism Awareness Week is being held on 200 college campuses nationwide, including Brown University, Yale University and Princeton University.
When Horowitz and his organization last stopped at URI two years ago, Horowitz's speech on indoctrination was interrupted by protests and debates from students and opponents of Horowitz.
"They made fools of themselves," Bilodeau said. "It was just disrespectful. They were yelling when he was trying to speak."
Melvin Wade, director of the Multicultural Center, disagreed with Bilodeau's negativity regarding that night's protest.
"I thought the way students handled it the last time was incredibly strategic and disciplined," Wade said.
Wade also disagreed with the titling of the week's events.
"I think titles that are needlessly incendiary make dialogue impossible because they actually shut down dialogue, in my opinion," Wade said. "You can imagine if someone were to say 'American-Fascism Awareness Week' how Americans would feel about that."
Also wanting to open up dialogue on the subject is Hughes, who said she hopes this event will foster a "open discussion" of the subject on campus.
"My view is that I'm very happy that they're introducing this debate on campus," Hughes said. "This is a very important women's and human rights issue, as well as a terrorist issue."
Bilodeau admitted that past events sponsored by the College Republicans "have been polarizing," but he hopes to make this next week's event more consistent and honest.
"What we're trying to do is bring ideas to the people and let them decide and hopefully they'll be respectful," Bilodeau said.
