"One person's hate speech is another person's education"
On November 4, University of California President Mark Yudof will speak at the Bat Yahm Synagogue in Newport Beach. The appearance is being sponsored by the Orange County Jewish Federation, and the topic will be civil discourse on college campus, of dire concern to the UC-Irvine community. As I recently wrote, Yudof should expect a number of questions about the question of whether anti-Semitism exists on the UCI campus, some of which I laid out. Well, it appears that the event may not shape up that way. Check out the Federation web site, which lays out all the ground rules.
https://secure.ujcfederations.org/ft2/form.html?__id=20653
First of all, why all the registration rules? This event is in a synagoge, and is open to the public. It is not as if the Israeli ambassador is coming to speak. Why does the Federation need to register everyone who wishes to attend? I have been to other Bat Yahm events related to the this subject. I just walked in, sat down and listened to the speaker then asked my question. Why is it necessary to put one's name on a list, supply address, phone number, e-mail, choose a security code word, and present a photo ID?
Note also that the Federation wants you to post your question in advance and that those questions will be given priority. I'll say. They don't want any hostile or embarrassing questions asked of the president. It looks like they will try and control the questions and who asks them.
And then there is this dandy about a suggested minimum "donation" of $18. What is that all about? That would lead me to ask if Mr Yudof is getting paid for this appearance.
Well, it looks like a wonderful time will be had by all. I hope some wise guy doesn't have the temerity to ask President Yudof a hardball question, like,
"What is your favorite color?"
or
"If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be?"
6 comments:
I was planning on going to this event. But, I saw the rules. I will not pay $18 to here watered down questions and that UCI has done such a great job of handling overt anti-Semitic rants from the MSU and their guest speakers. The MSU was found complicate in violating the free speech of an Israeli Ambassador, in a well planned and orchestrated disruption. The MSU was to be off campus for a year, which turned into a semester suspension. The MSU cleverly changed their name to Alkalima and the organized events by past MSU students are taking place, as usual. There is no UCI intervention. This issue could be a great question for Dr. Yudof, but I fear that it is too strong or controversial.
The Federation is asking too much of the OC community by have one give their name, address, phone Number, e-mail, security code and photo ID. At least they are not asking to put a tattoo on your forearm.
Squid.
Squid,
You don't have to pay. It is a "suggested donation". You can click the box for zero and still register. If this is a carefully-orchestrated "Potempkin Village" production, it is important to see it and report it. If they refuse to call on you to ask a question, it is important to document that fact.
Look at what Yudof has done at UC Berkeley...google Did UC have to cut sports?....you'l be surprized!
Anonymous,
All I could find was articles that they had to cut sports. Even though I played baseball in college, I think the main role of a university is to educate. Of course, I could also repeat my mantra that ethnic studies, womens studies, gay studies could be cut as well, but they are sacred cows.
Gary, you characterized the effort to burnish the image of UCI by Yudof and the Federation perfectly as a Potempkin Village. It was just what struck me when I read the rules on the event. I could see the reservation part for security or space planning reasons but this submit questions in advance requirement makes it all too clear that they want to portray a "everything is fine" and "we are doing everything that can be done" picture. They want to certain nobody disturbs that image.
I doubt that Yudof is charging for his turn to be wined and dined and honored every way possible so maybe the Federation figured this could be an opportunity to make a little profit off the believers at the same time.
It is all too clear what the unrepentant MSU will do this Spring now that they see they can literally get away with anything at UCI. Once again UCI will dance around it, the Federation will claim nothing can be done and it will continue to get worse there. Funny how you get the dame music every time you play the same record. Now they are making sure their Potempkin Village is not exposed.
.
"Now they are making sure their Potempkin Village is not exposed."
But our job is to make sure they don't get away with it. If that's the kind of event they plan to run, we can still report on it.
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