Graduation celebrated at 110 degrees

Sha'ath's honorarySha'ath's honorarydegree protested The Zionist Organization of America in conjunction with the Coalition for Jewish Concerns -- Amacha -- picketed outside Franklin Field during graduation in protest of the University's decision to award an honorary doctorate to PLO official Nabil Sha'ath. In a letter to University President Judith Rodin, ZOA president Morton Klein stated that Sha'ath has made many statements advocating violence against Israeli Jews. He expressed outrage that the University would grant an honorary degree to a man who has threatened "violence," "strife," and "jihad," with "30,000 armed Palestinian soldiers" if Israel does not make more concessions on the issues of Jerusalem, refugees, and settlements. Coalition President Rabbi Avi Weiss explained that Sha'ath was quoted in a Reuters article on October 28, 1994 as saying that, " we have a political relationship with Hamas, a brotherly relationship." "Who will they think of honoring next -- Saddam Hussein?" asked Ronn Torossian, Young Leadership coordinator for the Coalition. "Given the large number of Jewish students on campus at Penn this honor is especially troubling -- had the university been in session there would have been huge protests against this action," he said. But according to Klein although 2,000 flyers were distributed about the protest only 50 people participated. Still, he added that he was extremely pleased with the turnout, noting that a good percentage of the protesters were Penn students. Klein, noting that Rodin had called Sha'ath "moderate and "constructive," asked "If this matter concerned a man who advocated violence against African-Americans and who boasted of his 'brotherly relationship' with the Ku Klux Klan are there any circumstances under which you would likewise praise him as moderate and constructive?" In a letter responding to Klein Rodin stated that she would oppose any advocacy of violence against Israel. "Just as clearly, however, I believe Dr. Sha'ath's important contributions to the peace process are worthy of the praise and honorary degree," she said. According to Klien, two "well-known University trustees" were also outraged at the decision to honor Sha'ath. However, he said Rodin refused to hear their pleas, saying it was "too late" to change plans. Klien said he believes that, had the protest movement started earlier this spring, there is a good chance plans might have been changed. Sha'ath was the only honorary degree recipient to receive a significant amount of attention from the University community. Many present stood and clapped upon the presentation of his degree while the protesters' booing could be heard in the background. In her Honorary Degree Citation Rodin praised Sha'ath as one of the architects of the Israel-Palestine peace accords. "Among the first to urge reconciliation with Israel, you have championed your democratic ideal of Palestinians and Israelis, living side by side in peace, as the only practical to the continuing crisis in the Middle East," she said.