ACTION ALERT from GENERAL UNION OF PALESTINE STUDENTS (GUPS)
PLEASE ACT NOW! PLEASE CIRCULATE FAR AND WIDE!
On May 7th, 2002, Pro-Palestinian students at San Francisco State were intending to do an educational exhibit as a form of counter protest to a pro-Israel rally. When barricades were erected to enclose the students, when trashcans were removed off campus, when police forces were brought onto campus and when RACIST slurs were hurled in their direction they began to chant.
The events of May 7th have fit into a continued pattern of discrimination perpetuated by the San Francisco State University (SFSU) Administration. They have made it extremely difficult for GUPS (General Union of Palestinian Students) to reserve rooms, to hold events and to express ourselves freely. Other student groups on campus do not have to jump the hurdles GUPS has to when planning an event. We have been labeled and stereotyped as aggressive terrorists by our own administration. Instead of representing us, it seems as though they are working against us, trying to find any way to suppress our voices and the pro-Palestinian movement on campus. In lieu of the events on May 7th, President Corrigan has released a statement that is one sided and unfair. He along with others on campus, in their attempts to suppress our voices and take away from the Palestinian movement, is attempting to label us anti-Semites and hate mongers.
Unfortunately, they are sadly mistaken. We stand firmly against anti-Semitism and all other forms of racism. We will not be intimidated by these politically motivated attacks on pro-Palestinian students. It is time for the community to get involved and let President Corrigan and the SFSU administration know that their attempts to block free speech on campus will not be tolerated. Here are lists of demands we are making:
1. An apology from the administration for their treatment of pro-Palestinian students 2. Retraction of President Corrigan's letter attacking the counter demonstration 3. The establishment of an Arab and Muslim studies program to expand knowledge of the history of Arabs and Muslims. This is necessary in order to ensure Academic freedom on our campus and a fair and balanced course offering. 4. Administration must drop all disciplinary action against GUPS and pro-Palestinian demonstrators 5. In a post September 11th era, it should be a requirement that members of administration take a sensitivity training course. There has been and continues to be a severe backlash against Arab-Americans and the administration should be sensitive to this, not take part in it.
WRITE TO SFSU President Robert Corrigan IMMEDIATELY!
Please send all letters/email to the following. Address everything to President Corrigan but CC it to everyone else on this list.
FOR MORE ACCOUNTS AND FOOTAGE VISIT OUR WEBSITE:
www.sfgups.cjb.net
President Robert Corrigan
Corrigan@sfsu.edu
1600 Holloway Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94132
415-338-1381
J.E. Penny Saffold
Vice President, Student Affairs/Dean of Students
1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco CA 94132
415-338-2032
psaffold@sfsu.edu
Donna Cunningham
Judicial Affairs Officer
1600 Holloway Ave., San Francisco CA 94132
415-338-2032
drcunn@sfsu.edu
University Dean, Human Relations
Ken Monteiro
1600 Holloway Ave., San Francisco CA 94132
monteiro@sfsu.edu
College of Ethnic Studies
415-338-1693
Office of the Chancellor
California State University
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Senator Jackie Speier
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San Mateo, CA 94402
Senator.speier@sen.ca.gov
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