There is also an online petition, which has 232 signatures thus far, posted online condemning this year’s Muslim Student Union program.
Efforts to reach Muslim Student Union representatives were unsuccessful.
The week will feature a number of speakers, including Anna Baltzer, an activist for Palestine who will present photos of her time in the area, at noon Wednesday; and Imam Mohammad al-Asi and Dick Platkin, who will speak at 8 p.m. Monday about America’s involvement in Israeli and Palestinian conflicts.
The Zionist Organization of America at UCI will also sponsor events with Arabs for Israel founder Nonie Darwish speaking tonight at 8:30 in the Woods Cove following the showing of the film “Suicide Killers.”
The university police will staff events produced by the Muslim Student Union and Pro-Israel groups on campus to ensure free-speech rights as well as safety.
“We are familiar with some of the issues with some of these speakers,” UCI police Lt. Baltazar De La Riva said. “What we have had in previous incidents is members of opposing points of view will attempt to disrupt that speaker. We want to give everybody an opportunity to exercise [their right to free speech].”
De La Riva said this is police procedure whenever there are controversial issues discussed on campus throughout the year.
Jewish and Muslim groups have been at odds on UCI’s campus for years, stemming from allegations from a number of students that some speakers promoted anti-Semitism and threatened student safety.
Eventually, an investigation from the Office of Civil Rights was prompted and determined the university was not promoting anti-Semitism.
