Thread: Repubs to host immigrant debate

Repubs to host immigrant debate
By: Nick Brennan
Posted: 4/9/07
The College Republicans, following up on their controversial "Find the Illegal Immigrant" event, will host a panel discussion on immigration tonight that is drawing protests on campus.

The event, which will be held at 7 p.m. on the fourth floor of the Kimmel Center, will be a debate between four panelists representing different sides of the illegal immigration debate, event organizers said. One of the speakers will be Chris Simcox, the president of the Minutemen Civil Defense Corp, a controversial organization that patrols the U.S.-Mexico border looking for illegal immigrants trying to enter the country.

The Coalition for Immigrant Rights, a group that formed in reaction to the "Find the Illegal Immigrant" event, recently called on group members to protest the panel discussion.

When Jim Gilchrist, the founder of the Minutemen Project, spoke at Columbia University last year after being invited by Columbia's College Republicans, protesters charged the stage and clashed with event organizers, forcing Gilchrist to cut his speech short.

Sarah Chambers, president of the NYU College Republicans, said she hoped that NYU students would hold themselves to a higher standard than the Columbia students did.

"We should be able to bring a speaker to campus that the majority of students may not agree with and not have to worry about students rushing the stage," she said. "I would think that NYU students would want to come and listen to hear such discussion on this topic."

Protest organizers said that tonight's protest would be nonviolent and will take place outside of Kimmel.

The other panelists come from a range of different backgrounds and will allow both sides to voice their opinions and answer questions on the issue of illegal immigration, Chambers said.

The other panelists include Temple University professor Jan Ting, a recent Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in Delaware and a frequent commentator on immigration and national security; Enrique Morones, founder of Border Angels, a group that provides water and aid to people trying to cross the U.S.-Mexican border; and professor Guillermina Jasso, a sociology professor at NYU. Bob Buckler, NYU's student activities director, will moderate the panel.

The event comes in the midst of increased tension between political groups on campus.

The College Democrats, who usually host an annual spring debate with the College Republicans, canceled the debate after the College Republicans refused to apologize for holding the "Find the Illegal Immigrant" event.

The College Democrats, along with student groups Latinos Unidos Con Honor y Amistad, American Civil Liberties Union at NYU and Students Creating Radical Change, will hold their own immigration panel at the end of April called "A Community Forum: Find the Facts on Immigration."

Though she said she had nothing but disgust for the Minutemen organization, College Democrat president Nora Toiv said she would be attending the College Republicans' event as a spectator.

"In terms of their event, I'm glad they're finally holding a real legitimate dabate, unlike their last one," Toiv said. "It's a good step."
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The College Democrats, along with student groups Latinos Unidos Con Honor y Amistad, American Civil Liberties Union at NYU and Students Creating Radical Change, will hold their own immigration panel at the end of April called "A Community Forum: Find the Facts on Immigration."

Why?
Did they lose them in the confusion of supporting ILLEGAL ALIENS?

What they are not getting is they never had the facts, Why look at the facts you might find answers you don't want to know or hear about. ignorance is bliss in this case