The Pacifica Forum has posted pictures and names of students on its Web site, and it has posted the faces of six demonstrators, mostly students, on its literature. Members have sent threatening e-mails and harassed students. In light of this, the Senate heard a resolution to ask Pacifica Forum so stop meeting on campus — not ban them or say they can’t or shouldn’t speak, but ask them to meet elsewhere.
I am deeply saddened by the decision to vote down the Pacifica Forum resolution. Hundreds of students from all backgrounds came out several weeks in a row, showing support, hours after a meeting began and deep into the night. For hours, we were not allowed to be on a speaker’s list. Senators said that they didn’t want to infringe on the free speech of the Pacifica Forum — about a resolution that asked the administration to ask the Pacifica Forum politely to not meet on campus. If we are afraid of even speaking out against bigotry, that’s cowardice! “They are so afraid of stepping on toes, they never end up getting anything done,” says University student Mariah Thompson, who organized last year to try and pass a resolution against sweatshops. The ASUO Senate is standing for more in its silence than its action. The senators indicated they disliked the content of the Pacifica Forum’s bigotry, but wont ask them to stop targeting students. Too afraid to even exercise their own free speech, the senators betray their duty to students.
The senators say they want free speech and to respond to hate speech with more free speech — a great idea. I await the day they will come out to protest and hold a sign. It is easy to say “I don’t like racism or bigotry,” but it is another to actively oppose it. I call upon the senators to protest, to actually challenge the Forum. We are the students you represent, are in service to and receive money from. Why do you think the ASUO stipend exists, but to be student leaders, step up, oppose the Pacifica Forum. Hate groups thrive in the dark, so call them out. Let us bring them into the light! Stop legitimizing the Pacifica Forum. Stand with your classmates.
All students should unite to challenge the legitimacy of groups who advocate violence and target individuals for harassment.
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