Eastern News
Wednesday
“Tell th e t r u t h a n d d o n ’ t b e a fr a i d . ”
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SEPTEMBER 26, 2012 V O LU M E 9 7 | N o. 2 7
EASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY CHARLESTON, ILL. D A I LY E A S T E R N N E W S . C O M T WIT TER.COM/DEN_NE WS
Faculty recital opens with duo performance
Panthers swept by in-state rivals
Page 3
Page 8 PROTEST
Pro-life demonstrators cause controversy By Nike Ogunbodede Associate News Editor
A female student walked by crying, professors cringed and a multitude of seething students gathered around a man holding a pro-life sign in the Library Quad Tuesday afternoon. At the top of the sign were the words “Hitler’s Holocaust” with a picture of the decaying bodies of Jews and on the bottom was “Obama’s Holocaust” with a picture of a partially dismembered aborted fetus. The other side said “NOBAMA CARES” with another picture of a partially formed, yellowed fetus. The sign, which inspired a slew of responses, was held up by Randy Crawford, 60, who was a part of the Milwaukee-based Missionaries to the Preborn, a pro-life advocacy group. “People have such disregard for human life now…it makes you wonder,” Crawford said. “We are de-evolving.” The demonstration began at about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday and lasted for two hours delving into issues like sexual assault, government corruption and politics. Another protestor accompanied Crawford and talked about the Biblical implications of abortion. Crawford said the sign was not attacking Obama in support of Republican candidate Mitt Romney.
In fact, Crawford said he is not politically affiliated with the Democratic or Republican parties and identified himself as an agnostic. The current issue of abortion and the Holocaust are not incomparable, Crawford said. “If it’s immoral for it to happen to (Jews) then it’s immoral for it to happen to (unborn babies),” Crawford said. Seth Moyer was one student who stayed throughout Crawford’s demonstration. “It’s even more so immoral, according to American traditions, to take the rights away from somebody else,” said Moyer, a junior English major. Moyer said he thought the attempted correlation made between the Holocaust and abortion was a poor conclusion made. “Partially being a person of Jewish descent, I do take a little bit of an offense at using the word holocaust,” Moyer said. “I know (he is) going for an emotional appeal and emotional appeals being everything that they are, are not fact.” In protest of Crawford’s signs, Taylor Bainter held her own selfmade cardboard “Keep your politics out of my pussy!” and ‘“Prolife’ is anti-woman” signs.
By Nike Ogunbodede Associate News Editor
In the wake of pro-life controversy, students stayed through the rain and had their own heated debate over a woman’s right to choose and religion—a discussion that brought Dan Nadler, the vice president for student affairs, out of his office. Nadler said he was aware of the signs the demonstrators were holding prior to the predominantly student debate, but came down to make sure the discussion did not turn violent. “I think free expression and freedom of speech is a very good thing as long as people are peaceful and
they don’t interrupt the normal operation of the university, it’s perfectly fine,” Nadler said. The student debate began shortly after Randy Crawford, 60, of the Missionaries to the Preborn, and student John Robinson took Crawford’s side calling those students in disagreement with him “stupid” and “retarded.” Robinson, a junior communication studies major, said abortion is evil and is killing another human baby. “If you can’t recognize that it’s evil, then something is wrong,” Robinson said, to a gathering crowd. “If somebody killed you, then you wouldn’t be here.”
DISCUSSION, page 5
DOMINIC BAIMA | THE DAILY EASTERN NE WS
Students debate their beliefs with Dan Holman, 60, of Missionaries to the Pre-Born of Iowa, Tuesday in the Library Quad. Several students questioned Holman about his sign, abortion views, and political views.
JACOB SALMICH | THE DAILEY EASTERN NE WS
Several students stand in the Library Quad protesting against "Missionaries to the Pre-Born," a pro-life organization. The organziation had several volunteers in the library quad on Tuesday with pro-life signs.
C AMPUS
Funding for study abroad available By Kenny Micks Staff Reporter
Students have the choice of different study abroad programs that can be funded by scholarships, grants and financial aid. The Office of Study Abroad will be having a discussion at 3 p.m. Wednesday in Coleman Hall Auditorium Room 1255.
The discussion will talk about getting financial aid and scholarships to fund study abroad programs. Kelly Holland, a study abroad coordinator, said in order for students to qualify for the scholarships, they need to have a 2.5 GPA and be a full-time student at Eastern. She said it is easy to receive these
Rally, events postponed until April By Tenicha Hudson Staff Reporter
CONTROVERSY, page 5
Demonstration sparks discussion
TAKE BACK THE NIGHT
grants, scholarships and financial aid. The office is capable of giving away between $500 and $2,000 to any student who can meet the standards, she said. Holland said she encourages students to study abroad. To qualify for study abroad, students need a 2.0 GPA and cannot be on university probation.
Students who have questions about study abroad can contact the study abroad office at 581-7267 or visit it in room 1207 in Blair Hall. Holland said people come back from trips with new ideas. “It makes you see the world differently,” Holland said. Kenny Micks can be reached at 581-2812 or kmicks@eiu.edu.
This year, the annual Take Back the Night sexual assault awareness rally, usually held at the end of September, will instead take place in April. Last year the event took place on Sept. 29, 2011. Erin Walters, the executive director of the Sexual Assault Counseling and Information Service on Eastern’s campus, said April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, which is why they decided to change the timing of the rally. Walters said Take Back the Night is a rally and walk to spread awareness of violence to people who feel unsafe. “Sometimes we’re just afraid to walk alone,” she said. “This is a reason to speak up and stand up against sexual violence.” Walters said Take Back the Night was created in the ’70s on a national scale, but Eastern began hosting the event 22 years ago. “Sexual Assault Awareness Month is in April, but when the event came to EIU there was no such thing of this month,” Walters said. The purpose Sexual Assault Awareness Month is to raise awareness and educate people on how to prevent sexual violence. President Barack Obama established April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month in 2009. The event also has speakers who will discuss sexual assault, none of whom have been picked yet. Walters said she wants to have someone to speak specifically on sexual violence. Because April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Walters plans to have other events, including an art auction. “We’re in the planning stage with the art auction,” Walters said. “We are going to ask local artists to draw or paint that shows the healing process or the different stages relating to sexual violence and we will auction off the art and will have a raffle as well,” Walters said SACIS may do the auction before Take Back the Night and the proceeds will go to help fund SACIS. Take Back the Night has volunteers and support from other organizations, including many Greek organizations and the office of student community service. Angie Hunt, the housing program director of HOPE, a domestic violence helpline organization, said SACIS sometimes asks for volunteers to help with Take Back the Night because the two groups often help similar clientele. Walters said Women’s Studies Program and the Women’s Empowerment League have provided a lot of support to SACIS. “Despite the change, we’re hoping to have the same large crowd and support at the Campus Pavilion in April,” Walters said. Take Back the Night will take place at the Campus Pavilion, however the exact date has not yet been determined.
Tenicha Hudson can be reached at 581-2812 or tshudson@eiu.edu.