11 Dec 7th–Dec 13th, 2023 phoenixnewtimes.com phoenix new Times | NEWS | FEATURE | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & CULTURE | MUSIC | CONCERTS | CANNABIS | condemned, and they are not welcome in the state of Arizona,” the statement said. “ASU should not use public dollars, collected through student fees, to support SJP – an organization that, in addition to opposing the existence of Israel, proudly denies the existence of the United States (calling America ‘occupied Turtle Island’).” The next day, ASU released a written statement that it canceled the event since it was planned by groups not affiliated with ASU. “Organizers of events using ASU facili- ties must be properly registered with ASU and must meet all university requirements for crowd management, parking, security and insurance,” the statement said. “In addition, the events must be produced in a way which minimizes disruption to academic and other activities on campus. The event featuring Congresswoman Tlaib was planned and produced by groups not affiliated with ASU and was organized outside of ASU policies and procedures.” Tlaib’s presentation was hosted by ASU chapters of Students for Justice in Palestine and the Arizona Palestine Network. According to ASU’s website, SJP “is a diverse group of students, faculty, staff and community members of all cultures and backgrounds at Arizona State University.” SJP also holds weekly meet- ings on campus. The statement did not elaborate on what policies and procedures were not followed, nor did it explain why the school questioned SJP’s university affiliation. Double standards for speakers at ASU? ASU’s reaction to Tlaib stands in clear contrast to a number of recent far-right events held on campus. Last year, the university spent more than $11,000 on security for white nation- alist Jared Taylor to speak at an ASU College Republicans United event. Taylor was the editor of a now-discon- tinued magazine that regularly published proponents of eugenics and sought to conduct research proving that white people are superior to those of other races. “Blacks and whites are different. When blacks are left entirely to their own devices, Western civilization — any kind of civilization — disappears,” Taylor wrote in 2005. On Feb. 8, ASU hosted a “Health, Wealth and Happiness” seminar at Gammage Auditorium in Tempe. The event featured a number of conservative speakers, including talk show host Dennis Prager, activist Charlie Kirk and financial author Robert Kiyosaki. ASU faculty members allegedly raised concerns about the speakers, stating that they are “purveyors of hate who have publicly attacked women, people of color, the LGBTQ community (and) institutions of our democracy.” The event was allowed to proceed, and ASU later was required by the Arizona Legislature’s Ad Hoc Committee on Freedom of Expression to launch an inves- tigation into allegations that faculty bullied students into not attending. “Arizona State University is committed, in practice, not just rhetoric, to all things that support free speech and all its compo- nents,” the university said in a written statement about the allegations. The university released a 75-page report that found no evidence of wrongdoing. In September, ASU doubled down on its practice of granting meeting space for right-wing figureheads as it welcomed Kirk — founder of Turning Point USA — to its Tempe campus. The Phoenix-based organization agitates conservative youth, particularly on college campuses. Ironically, as Kirk spoke inside Katzin Concert Hall on Sept. 27, he called for state lawmakers to defund the university. “As an Arizona taxpayer, I think the Arizona House has to defund Arizona State University,” Kirk said at the event. A month later, Turning Point USA representatives bullied and assaulted a queer ASU professor on National Coming Out Day. Attendees at a Nov. 17 event on ASU’s Tempe campus listened to speakers virtually after the school revoked access to the venue. (Photo by TJ L’Heureux) Censored from p 10
