Ben Stein's speech at Penn, though eagerly anticipated by many fans, has incited protest from several student groups after he allegedly made controversial remarks about the Sept. 11 attacks during an appearance at Loyola University in Chicago.
In a Loyola Phoenix article, which was published Sept. 26, Stein was quoted as saying that he has little sympathy for Arab American who have been the victims of racial backlash.
Stein, however, denied ever making such a remark in an e-mail statement sent to members of Connaissance, the group bringing him to Penn.
According to the Phoenix article, Stein reportedly said, "Well, 6,500 people are being buried, and I cannot afford to shed a tear for the Arabs that are feeling the backlash. Arabs attacked this country, so I can't be sympathetic toward any Arabs."
In his statement, sent last night, Stein speculated that the remarks were pure fiction.
"This is simply made up, probably by someone who was not even at the lecture," he said.
Stein explained that a student, at his speech, questioned him on the use of racial epithets towards Arab Americans. According to Stein's e-mail, he responded to the student by saying that while racially motivated events were horrible, when compared to the magnitude of the 6,500 killed at the World Trade Center, "there was simply no moral comparison."
But some students, unaware of Stein's e-mail, said that bringing someone who allegedly made racist remarks is inappropriate. Officials from Connaissance, which brings various public figures to campus each semester, said the organization does not endorse Stein's reported viewpoint and supports the student concerns, but has no plans to cancel the speech.
Tickets for the event went on sale on Locust Walk yesterday and sales will continue today.
Lincoln Ellis, spokesman for Penn for Peace, is spearheading the movement against Stein. He said he doesn't blame Connaissance for bringing Stein to Penn, but hopes that in the future they will choose what he considers to be a more socially conscious speaker.
"I think that we can all learn a lesson from this: Sometimes seemingly innocuous and even admirable public figures and politicians are the most dangerous people," Ellis said. "We learn to respect them, and we forget that they are often racist extremists."
After reading the Loyola article, the Penn Arab Student Society issued a statement to University President Judith Rodin stating their disappointment.
Members of PASS are calling on the Penn community to examine these statements as a possible catalyst for further backlash against Arab Americans.
"We hope that the University of Pennsylvania will also demonstrate a sense of solidarity not only against the past and possible future attacks against Arabs, Muslims, and South Asians in the United States and throughout other regions of the world," said PASS member Michael Nabil Khoury, a College sophomore.
A group of about 20 concerned students met Sunday night to form an action plan to responding to the reported remarks.
According to College junior Shaun Gonzales, who attended the meeting, the group's plans include a media campaign, a banner on the Walk and high attendance at the Stein event to question him.
Samantha Cohen, chairwoman of Connaissance, said she welcomes the student response.
"We hope that students will be challenged and will challenge the ideas that may emerge during our events," Cohen said.
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