UNR faculty members complain about choice of immigration panelists

By Lenita Powers • lpowers@rgj.com • November 12, 2009

The scheduled appearance next week of an anti-illegal immigration activist at a student-sponsored forum on the University of Nevada, Reno campus is causing outrage among some faculty, students and members of the community.

Jim Gilchrist, founder of the Minuteman Project, is one of two panelists in a Nov. 19 forum sponsored by the Associated Students of the University of Nevada's Flipside Productions.

"We're hoping there is a way we can prevent his visit to our community," Daniel Perez, an assistant professor in languages and literatures, said Wednesday. "Gilchrist is part of a vigilante group and of an organization that clearly uses hate speech, and that clearly translates into hate crimes."

The other panelist is Miguel Acosta, a member of an immigrant rights organization in New Mexico.

Nicolas Blevins, contemporary issues chairman for ASUN Flipside Productions, said the forum is "purely educational" and intended to start a dialogue.

"Not many people are talking about immigration and immigration reform, but they are big issues for our country at this time, and we need to talk about them," the 20-year-old political science major said.

"I've been getting calls from people who are concerned about Miguel Angel Acosta, too, because his ideas are just as extreme on the other side," Blevins said. "But this is a way to get the conversation started, and it's a conversation that needs to take place."

The forum, originally to include local community members, is funded solely by the students and the Joe Crowley Student Union, which was built with student funds.

The ASUN is paying Gilchrist and Acosta air fares and per diem for meals, Blevins said. Although Gilchrist is receiving no speakers' fee, Acosta will receive a $500 stipend. Their hotel rooms have been donated, Blevins said.

Emma Sepulveda, director of the Latino Research Center at UNR, said she was "completely surprised and shocked" that Blevins would invite Gilchrist to the campus without consulting with the Latino center or any Latino groups.

"There are many other organizations around the country that are anti-immigration that are peaceful and could provide an intelligent debate," she said. "But Jim Gilchrist has been connected with criminal activity and paramilitary groups that advocate violence and contribute to hate speech that has led to the deaths of immigrants around the country."

To counter Gilchrist's appearance, Sepulveda said the Latino Research Center and the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada will sponsor their own immigration discussion and cultural celebration from 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 19 at the William J. Raggio Building.

"I don't want to silence somebody just because they have an opposite view," she said. "I support free speech, but I think hate speech has no place on our campus or any other campus."

UNR President Milton Glick said he might not like what Gilchrist has to say, but "a university should be a place for the open exchange of ideas and a bastion of free speech."

He cited the appearance last year of filmmaker Michael Moore, which drew protests from some conservative members of the community.

"Our goal isn't to make ideas safe for students but to make students safe for ideas," Glick said.

Harvard University retracted its invitation last month for Gilchrist to be on a panel discussion on immigration after students opposed his aggressive stance.

During Gilchrist's appearance at Columbia University in 2006, students stormed the stage in protest.

Glick said he doesn't believe that will happen at UNR.

"I have great confidence in the maturity and sensibility of our students," he said.

Blevins said UNR police and additional security measures would be in place for the immigration forum, including a barrier in front of the stage and outside areas where protests could be held.

"I understand the fears people have, and I also understand the experiences people go through," said Bevins, whose great-grandparents immigrated from Spain and Mexico. "And I think this is a good way to get those issues out there."

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