Behind new sponsors, controversial Middle East writer Norman Finkelstein to speak
by Miranda Neubauer
Staff Writer
News | 3/27/07
Posted online at 11:56 PM EST on 3/26/07
/ Last updated at 3:07 AM EST on 3/26/07
Norman Finklestein, a political science professor at DePaul University and author known for his contention that the Holocaust has been exploited for political and financial gain, will speak on campus April 23, an administrator confirmed Monday.
Finklestein, who was originally invited to speak on the same day that former President Jimmy Carter visited campus, saw his visit saved after two student groups agreed to sponsor the event, Assistant Director of Student Activities Sarah Bordeleau said.
"You can never be sure around here, but it looks like the pieces are all falling together, finally," said Kevin Conway '09, who invited Finkelstein.
That Finkelstein will actually speak on campus after much debate reflects how much momentum is still driving the Israeli-Palestinian debate on campus, which, while always present, ignited with Carter's visit in January. He was slated to speak next month until he lost the sponsorships of the newly renamed Students for a Democratic Society-formerly the Radical Student Alliance-and the Arab Culture Club two weeks ago.
Conway received $970 for the event, then co-sponsored by SDS and ACC, from the Union Finance Board several weeks ago.
But when SDS announced that it would not sponsor the event any longer because Conway, a former member of the club, had invited Finkelstein without the club's consent, it became unclear whether Finkelstein would visit at all.
Following SDS's announcement, ACC also pulled its support because the club wouldn't sponsor the event on its own, Farrah Bdour '07, ACC co-president, said.
In order to receive F-Board funding, Conway needed club support.
The World Can't Wait club, which seeks to promote student activism and social and political awareness will co-sponsor the event with ACC on its originally scheduled date, Tuesday, April 24, in the Rappaporte Treasure Hall, Conway said.
He added that Dr. Sara Roy, a senior research scholar at Harvard University's Center for Middle Eastern Studies, will introduce Finkelstein.
Finklestein, who was originally invited to speak on the same day that former President Jimmy Carter visited campus, saw his visit saved after two student groups agreed to sponsor the event, Assistant Director of Student Activities Sarah Bordeleau said.
"You can never be sure around here, but it looks like the pieces are all falling together, finally," said Kevin Conway '09, who invited Finkelstein.
That Finkelstein will actually speak on campus after much debate reflects how much momentum is still driving the Israeli-Palestinian debate on campus, which, while always present, ignited with Carter's visit in January. He was slated to speak next month until he lost the sponsorships of the newly renamed Students for a Democratic Society-formerly the Radical Student Alliance-and the Arab Culture Club two weeks ago.
Conway received $970 for the event, then co-sponsored by SDS and ACC, from the Union Finance Board several weeks ago.
But when SDS announced that it would not sponsor the event any longer because Conway, a former member of the club, had invited Finkelstein without the club's consent, it became unclear whether Finkelstein would visit at all.
Following SDS's announcement, ACC also pulled its support because the club wouldn't sponsor the event on its own, Farrah Bdour '07, ACC co-president, said.
In order to receive F-Board funding, Conway needed club support.
The World Can't Wait club, which seeks to promote student activism and social and political awareness will co-sponsor the event with ACC on its originally scheduled date, Tuesday, April 24, in the Rappaporte Treasure Hall, Conway said.
He added that Dr. Sara Roy, a senior research scholar at Harvard University's Center for Middle Eastern Studies, will introduce Finkelstein.
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