“It is a jihad association,” said speaker David Horowitz, referring to the MSA. “We, by existing, are a threat to them.”

Wednesday, April 30, marked the arrival of David Horowitz on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he gave a polarizing speech titled “Why should we be afraid? The Threat of Radical Islam and Islamo-Fascism.”

Horowitz, who ran a highly controversial advertisement in the UWM Post last week that tied the Muslim Student Association (MSA) to terrorist organizations such as Hamas and al Qaeda, argued that the academic freedoms once associated with college campuses are deteriorating, and that the liberal left is moving to try and control content on campuses. He used the events leading up to his speech, such as the lack of response by MSA to his advertisement and the destruction of materials that were posted around campus promoting his event by MSA and its supporters, as proof of his argument.

In spite of intense criticism leading up to the event, Tyler Kristopeit of the Conservative Union defended the decision to bring Horowitz to UWM, referring to his track record as an excellent proponent of academic freedom.

“To be honest, we brought him to campus to talk because we were very impressed with his record of advocating for academic freedom, and we sat down and talked, and he wanted to speak about Islamo-Facism.” said Kristopeit.

“At first I think the leadership was a little reluctant after Walid Shoebat, you know, you don’t want to be perceived a certain way which you obviously aren’t,” said Kristopeit. “But after a little convincing we felt that it is the issue of our time, and it’s very good to bring it up again. We managed to tie it into academic freedoms a little bit,” he added.

Horowitz entered to a mixed chorus of cheers from the front and boos from the back, which battled back and forth for a good 30 seconds before the speaker even began. His entrance set the tone, as the Wisconsin Room did not seem to be an arena conducive to open discussion this night, with both sides very passionate on the issues.

Horowitz experienced a great deal of vocal opposition from a conflicted crowd, with many from the audience yelling and interrupting the speech, eliciting anger and frustration from the speaker.

“I think this is a disgrace, this is one of the worst campuses I’ve ever spoken at. Just from the point of behavior by the students, of civility and manner,” said Horowitz after the event.

Some of the main talking points concerned the MSA. Mr. Horowitz maintained that the MSA is a front for terrorists and a political group that poses as a cultural/religious group. “It is a jihad association” said David Horowitz during his speech, referring to the MSA. “We by existing are a threat to them.”

Not only was there some hostility at the event itself, but in days leading up to the event there were issues with flyers put up and paid for by the Conservative Union being torn down by opponents of the event. There were also minor confrontations between members of the MSA and the Conservative Union, but nothing that required a security response.

Beyond all of the issues and valid talking points that were brought up by both sides during this event, the lack of decorum in the audience is what stood out during the evening. These sentiments were echoed by both Horowitz himself and members of the Conservative Union, with both parties being disappointed with the way the presentation unfolded.

“It destroys the educational opportunity of students when speakers are invited to campus by recognized campus groups,” said Horowitz. “When they are shouted down, fliers are torn down, you know, or in any way obstructed, the whole idea of a university is that you listen to unorthodox or different ideas.”

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