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SJSU CENSORSHIP!
San Jose State University is censoring the truth about Occupation of Palestine and Students for Change at SJSU needs your help!
San Jose State University is censoring the Tunnel of Oppression and Students for Change needs your help!
We were selected, by application, to construct a room themed Occupation Palestine at this year's Tunnel of Oppression. After complaints from Zionists on campus, we have been told that unless we compromise our room we cannot participate. We are not being allowed to present the Israeli occupation from a Palestinian perspective unless we present how Israel suffers as well. Our argument is that this room focuses on the oppression that is occurring within the occupied Palestinian territories but the university maintains that this is going to make Israeli/Jewish students feel persecuted. I further argue that, when dealing with oppression, you are always going to have someone who says there is "another side" and if this were to stop this room, it should then stop the entire event. I am asking that you contact the university and tell them you support the room Occupation Palestine AS IT IS and that any attempt to prevent this room from proceding as planned should be deemed CENSORSHIP. Please contact Debra Griffith, the Director of Student Conduct & Ethical Development at Debra.Griffith [at] sjsu.edu
I am meeting with Debra Griffith Wednesday morning, April 21st at 9:30am. She is the person who is responsible for the event, she is not the person who filed the complaint. If you are going to send an email please send it by Tuesday evening.
Thanks!
Sarah Morris
and please share your thoughts/suggestions with me as well studentsforchange [at] sbcglobal.net
We were selected, by application, to construct a room themed Occupation Palestine at this year's Tunnel of Oppression. After complaints from Zionists on campus, we have been told that unless we compromise our room we cannot participate. We are not being allowed to present the Israeli occupation from a Palestinian perspective unless we present how Israel suffers as well. Our argument is that this room focuses on the oppression that is occurring within the occupied Palestinian territories but the university maintains that this is going to make Israeli/Jewish students feel persecuted. I further argue that, when dealing with oppression, you are always going to have someone who says there is "another side" and if this were to stop this room, it should then stop the entire event. I am asking that you contact the university and tell them you support the room Occupation Palestine AS IT IS and that any attempt to prevent this room from proceding as planned should be deemed CENSORSHIP. Please contact Debra Griffith, the Director of Student Conduct & Ethical Development at Debra.Griffith [at] sjsu.edu
I am meeting with Debra Griffith Wednesday morning, April 21st at 9:30am. She is the person who is responsible for the event, she is not the person who filed the complaint. If you are going to send an email please send it by Tuesday evening.
Thanks!
Sarah Morris
and please share your thoughts/suggestions with me as well studentsforchange [at] sbcglobal.net
For more information:
http://www.myspace.com/studentsforchange
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Here's what I wrote to Debra:
"Dear Debra Griffith,
I have read that a group of students planning an 'Occupation Palestine' room at this year's Tunnel of Oppression have been receiving some resistance from your office due to the content of their planned activities. As a Jewish student with family members in what is now Israel, I'd like to urge you to allow the Students for Change at SJSU to proceed with their activities without censorship. Obviously, the Israel/Palestine conflict is a very emotional issue, espeically if you're Jewish, Muslim, and/or have family in the region, but there is nothing that can be achieved by censoring people's views. There will never be any reconciliation in the region and between Jewish and Muslim communities in the U.S. unless we can all feel fully heard. I may not agree with everything the Students for Change may say, but it is their right to say it.
Yes, students with alternative perspectives have a right to say what they wish as well, but there is no reason why it has to be at the same time. They can organize an alternate event (as I imagine they have in the past), or even pass leaftlets out in front of the 'Occupation Palestine' room if they felt strongly enough about it. But it would not be fair to individuals involved with Students for Change to be denied their pre-approved event because some people may hold different politics. It should be left up to the university community to decide how to interpret the event, rather than outright censor it.
As someone who is extremely concerned about the Israel/Palestine situation and its impact on all those who are affected by the conflict, I've found myself personally attacked for expressing my views in the past. I've been called a 'self-hating Jew' and compared to Osama bin Laden by extremist elements of the Jewish community just for expressing concern about humanitarian situations in the Middle East. There's this notion that any criticism of Israel is anti-semitism, and it is frequently used to silence free speech - especially within the Jewish community. Please don't fall into that trap. As a university, you have a important duty to uphold the free, unhindered, flow of ideas. Please don't neglect this responsibility.
I look forward to hearing what steps you have taken to ensure a hands-off approach to Students for Change's event,
(my name)"
"Dear Debra Griffith,
I have read that a group of students planning an 'Occupation Palestine' room at this year's Tunnel of Oppression have been receiving some resistance from your office due to the content of their planned activities. As a Jewish student with family members in what is now Israel, I'd like to urge you to allow the Students for Change at SJSU to proceed with their activities without censorship. Obviously, the Israel/Palestine conflict is a very emotional issue, espeically if you're Jewish, Muslim, and/or have family in the region, but there is nothing that can be achieved by censoring people's views. There will never be any reconciliation in the region and between Jewish and Muslim communities in the U.S. unless we can all feel fully heard. I may not agree with everything the Students for Change may say, but it is their right to say it.
Yes, students with alternative perspectives have a right to say what they wish as well, but there is no reason why it has to be at the same time. They can organize an alternate event (as I imagine they have in the past), or even pass leaftlets out in front of the 'Occupation Palestine' room if they felt strongly enough about it. But it would not be fair to individuals involved with Students for Change to be denied their pre-approved event because some people may hold different politics. It should be left up to the university community to decide how to interpret the event, rather than outright censor it.
As someone who is extremely concerned about the Israel/Palestine situation and its impact on all those who are affected by the conflict, I've found myself personally attacked for expressing my views in the past. I've been called a 'self-hating Jew' and compared to Osama bin Laden by extremist elements of the Jewish community just for expressing concern about humanitarian situations in the Middle East. There's this notion that any criticism of Israel is anti-semitism, and it is frequently used to silence free speech - especially within the Jewish community. Please don't fall into that trap. As a university, you have a important duty to uphold the free, unhindered, flow of ideas. Please don't neglect this responsibility.
I look forward to hearing what steps you have taken to ensure a hands-off approach to Students for Change's event,
(my name)"
FYI,
We met with university faculty and administrators on Wednesday the 21st and it was agreed upon that the room would not be censored in any form and that questions would be posted outside the room to engage students in critical thinking about Israeli policy. Thank you for your support.
Sarah
We met with university faculty and administrators on Wednesday the 21st and it was agreed upon that the room would not be censored in any form and that questions would be posted outside the room to engage students in critical thinking about Israeli policy. Thank you for your support.
Sarah
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