Artist to perform despite student protest
Association for Inter-Cultural Awareness approves guest performer with 17-1 vote


Shannon Hewkin
Daily Titan Staff
Monday, February 28, 2005


In a 17-1 decision, the Association for Inter-Cultural Awareness voted Thursday afternoon to allocate $1,750 of the club’s money to Audio-Intifada and the performance of spoken word poet and activist Mark Gonzales, despite objections by the Jewish student group Hillel.


This decision is being called one of the most controversial and emotionally charged decisions that AICA has made in years, prompting many to wonder what effect the vote and the discussions will have on future meetings.


"For the first time in a long time, people are actually talking about a proposal," said Tony Ragazzo, AICA adviser and director of program support for Associated Students, Inc.. "That’s what the spirit of academic discourse is all about. AICA is about having a seat at the table and a voice in the vote."


Before AICA took a vote, Ragazzo encouraged people to ask questions and allow the assembly to decide the outcome.


The proposal to fund Audio-Intifada was initially introduced two weeks ago by student groups Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan, Middle Eastern Student Society, and the Muslim Student Association during the AICA meeting.


The vote was held off until Thursday due to Hillel’s concerns about the performance of Gonzales at Audio-Intifada.


"We don’t think he promotes cultural diversity based on his past history," Hillel member Elaine Snitzer said.


Gonzales, a spoken word poet, hip-hop artist and political activist, visited Palestine in December of 2003 and has since used his observations as fuel for his performances.


His discussions of human rights, the occupation of land and economic disparity are often heated and emotional.


The decision to have Gonzales perform was not a malicious one, the organizing parties of Audio-Intifada said during the meeting


"This in no way was meant to upset Hillel or any other club," said Fahmi Farahat, public relations director for MESS. "We are looking forward to bringing peace and promoting tolerance."


Mark Gonzales came to last week’s AICA meeting in order to personally speak with Hillel’s members about their concerns, but Hillel was absent from the meeting.


Gonzales was upset about Hillel’s absence, a feeling he expressed in an open letter to AICA that was distributed at Thursday’s meeting.


The representative from MEChA said that he personally contacted Hillel president Matt Gross and let him know that Gonzales would be at the meeting, but Gross said that no Hillel members were available to attend the meeting. Snitzer said she was never told that Gonzales would be coming.


"We tried to form a coalition between the clubs, but MSA and MEChA were the only ones that responded," said Rashad Aldabragh, president of MESS. "Mark Gonzales is coming with an alternative view from that of the mainstream news media. He saw the realities of Palestine. Hillel would rather not see an event like this happen on campus."


Repeated attempts were made to contact Hillel president Matt Gross, but he didn’t respond.


Before voting, Ragazzo spoke of the significance of the discussion.


"Whether this passes or it doesn’t, I hope this leads us to a better scrutiny of what is happening and a better dialogue between us," he said.


"This isn’t a council of mono thought, and I hope this begins a new era in AICA about discussing programs and ideas," he said.


The proposal received 17 votes in favor of it, with Hillel voting against it, and two groups abstaining from the vote.


"Most decisions we vote on don’t hit so close to home," Farahat said. "There won’t be controversy like this again unless it gets personal like it did this time."


Audio-Intifada is scheduled to take place on March 10 in Pavilion C of the Titan Student Union from 6:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.