October 18, 2005 – Chicago, IL – The DePaul College Republicans, supported by several other Chicago-based Republican organizations and Jewish Groups, will be publicly protesting DePaul University’s paid speaking invitation to controversial professor Ward Churchill, scheduled to speak this Thursday, Oct 20th, 5:30 pm at the University’s Cultural Center on its Lincoln Park Campus.
Churchill is to be DePaul’s headline speaker on the subject of human rights for men of color . The CU Professor has received major attention for an essay he wrote shortly after the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center in New York, where a noted DePaul alumni was one of its victims killed. Churchill’s paid speeches argue that the attacks were a retaliation for a 1991 bombing raid on Iraq and U.S. support of economic sanctions against Iraq following the Persian Gulf War. He referred to the people killed at the World Trade Center as "little Eichmanns inhabiting the sterile sanctuary of the Twin Towers," referring to Adolf Eichmann, who carried out Adolf Hitler's systematic extermination of the Jews during World War II. (The essay was later included in his book, On the Justice of Roosting Chickens.) Churchill has since gone on a paid, nationwide speaking tour arguing that “more 9/11’s are necessary,” for the “fragging of U.S. officers by their own troops,” and to have the “U.S. off the planet, out of existence altogether.”
The crux of Churchill’s argument says that for the world to become a better place, American capitalists should be disposed of through violent means because they drive the instruments of worldwide oppression.
While the DePaul administration is actively supporting this event with student fees, they have recently punished students and faculty for exercising their own free speech rights and academic freedom by expressing viewpoints counter to Ward Churchill and his supporters, including suspending DePaul Professor Thomas Klocek (who has filed suit against the University) for entering into an argument with Muslim student groups over their anti-Semitic and anti-Israel brochures.
When a concerned student, Nick Hahn, inquired of the Administration as to why Ward Churchill was invited to speak at DePaul and how he was being funded, he was met with great hostility and denied any information. Executive director of the Cultural Center, Dr. Harvette Gray, reportedly responded by saying, “I’m the Executive Director of the Cultural Center and I don’t have to explain to you!” before storming out of the meeting. Hahn was then banned from entering the Cultural Center and barred from contacting Dr. Grey, under orders of Dean of Students Greg MacVarish.
Churchill is currently under investigation by the University of Colorado for allegations of “plagiarism, misuse of others' work, falsification and fabrication of authority,” and copyright theft. Churchill is also denounced by first amendment groups such as FIRE (Foundation for Individual Rights in Education), Colorado Governor Bill Owens and the Coiorado State Legislature, The National American Indian Movement (AIM), and numerous American Indian tribal nations, including the Indian nations that Churchill falsely claimed enrollment in (most recently with the Ketoowah Band of Cherokee in Oklahoma).
“This is a crisis for DePaul students, whom are exteremely concerned about the use of school funds to grant a terrorist sympathizer a pedestal from which to speak.” Says Joe Blewitt, President of the Depaul College Republicans.
The level of discrimination against the College Republicans and other “politically correct” student groups on DePaul campus has run rampant. Flyers made by the College Republicans, depicting some of Churchill’s more outrageous quotes were denied approval by the Student Life office, on the grounds that they were “propaganda”. (Even though they were verbatim quotes from Churchill’s books and an actual, undoctored photo on one of Churchill’s book covers.)
The DePaul College Republicans were crossed off the attendee’s list for a workshop to be held the following day on the 21st which would address Churchill’s views. (The Cultural Center, after crossing the group off, added new attendance rules ex post facto.)The DePaul College Republicans and fellow supporters will be holding their protest both outside and inside the DePaul Student Center, starting at 5 pm.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Joseph Blewitt, President(708) 323-8654 or
DePaulGOP@gmail.comTechnorati tags: Ward Churchill Thomas Klocek Chicago DePaul Republican
