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Palestine | Peninsula | Education & Student Activism

Political Censorship at Stanford U.
by S.U. Connected
Monday Apr 21st, 2008 4:19 PM
SCAI *Students Confronting Apartheid by Israel* held a rally at
Stanford University today to protest an act of political censorship
by administration officials. About 80 members of the larger Stanford
community attended.
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SCAI member students reported as follows:
The Old Union [building] administration approved a photo exhibit hosted by Students Confronting Apartheid by Israel (SCAI) to remain in Old Union April 7-April 21.

Due to anonymous complaints after the exhibit had been up for only two days, the administration of Stanford's Old Union building removed the display on Wednesday, April 9th, without successfully reaching any SCAI student to notify them of the decision to remove the photos.

In a recent meeting with student leaders, the Director of Old Union explicitly stated that while she has the authority to re-instate the exhibit, she has no intention of Old Union being a place of free political speech for students; and while she could not present any policy to this end, she claims that "controversial political exhibits" have no place in the building. This comes just several weeks after another student organization put up a photo display illuminating "acts of intolerance" at Stanford.

This incident of political censorship reveals the severe institutional restraints on student free speech at Stanford; we must take action NOW to pressure Old Union administrators to ensure that Old Union is declared a place for open political expression.
gals
by S.U. Connected Monday Apr 21st, 2008 4:19 PM
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students sign banner to be delivered to Old Union administration
by S.U. Connected Monday Apr 21st, 2008 4:19 PM
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these photos were part of the display removed by administrators
by S.U. Connected Monday Apr 21st, 2008 4:19 PM
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Inside Old Union Hall
by S.U. Connected Monday Apr 21st, 2008 4:19 PM
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Student speaker, native of West Gaza...
by S.U. Connected Monday Apr 21st, 2008 4:19 PM
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This Stanford student is from Ramallah (Israel-Occupied Territory). He spoke about being stopped by soldiers in an airport AT GUNPOINT for carrying similar photos. He is shocked that Stanford is doing the same thing, albeit without weapons.
Later outside
by S.U. Connected Monday Apr 21st, 2008 4:19 PM
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Speaking with fellow students
listening to speakers
by S.U. Connected Monday Apr 21st, 2008 4:19 PM
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listening too
by S.U. Connected Monday Apr 21st, 2008 4:19 PM
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APPLAUSE for speakers
by S.U. Connected Monday Apr 21st, 2008 4:19 PM
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back outside
by S.U. Connected Monday Apr 21st, 2008 4:19 PM
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Stop Censorship Signs
by S.U. Connected Monday Apr 21st, 2008 4:19 PM
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crowd
by S.U. Connected Monday Apr 21st, 2008 4:19 PM
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Raging Grannies brought songs/chants
by S.U. Connected Monday Apr 21st, 2008 4:19 PM
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Free Speech song from the Raging Grannies
tune: My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean

At Stanford we Cheer for our sports teams
We stay up and study all night
At Stanford we work in research labs
At Stanford we fight
for our rights!

Refrain:
Free Speech, Free Speech
Oh bring back my free speech to me--ee--ee!
Free Speech, Free Speech
Oh bring back my free speech to me

Old Union does not like our artwork
Old Union does not like our views
Old Union had better rethink things
Free speech is
too precious to lose!

Refrain
Granny Shirley
by S.U. Connected Monday Apr 21st, 2008 4:19 PM
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Stanford students stand up for their campusAnne Monday Apr 21st, 2008 4:43 PM