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Controversial ex-extremist to visit UWM
Muslim group hosts forum in response
By Stephanie Brien
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Conservative Union’s Dec. 4 event featuring former terrorist, Walid Shoebat, sparked debate and safety concerns after the Muslim Student Association demanded the university cancel the event early last week.
The Muslim group views Shoebat, a former member of the Palestine Liberation Organization, as a threat to Muslim students with his “anti-Muslim” messages. The sponsoring group, the Conservative Union, sees him as a reformed terrorist who recently converted to Judaism.
Instead of canceling the event, university officials chose to charge the Conservative Union around $2,000 for additional security charges, including a metal detector.
The group first paid the fee, but they have submitted an open record request with the university to verify if other organizations have been asked to pay similar charges, which they think they are being unfairly burdened with, said A.J. Piwarun, executive director of the Conservative Union.
University Administration later cancelled the additional fees, saying in a campus-wide e-mail that they had no desire or intention to impact free speech.
UWM Union Director Scott Gore said additional charges are typical for “special security events.” He said the issue was never one of discriminating against free speech but of “maintaining campus security.”
Originally the event was to be open only to students and members of the public on an access list. But because of a large anticipated response, an access list was deemed no longer feasible.
Mohamed Elsayed, the Muslim Student Association president, warns the speech will jeopardize the safety of Muslim students on campus while spreading a message of hate.
“You are bringing in people from outside the community and filling them with hate,” Elsayed said. “I think the appropriate setting would be a church or synagogue.”
In response to Shoebat’s speech, the MSA will be hosting an open forum immediately after his speech that will feature a panel of American Muslim converts and provide time for public question.
The MSA was also being required to pay the additional security fee, which was paid for by group fundraising efforts.
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