University addresses cartoon controversy with events

The UW–Madison community responded to the international controversy over cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad as a terrorist figure by organizing and participating in a series of discussions and educational events.

Though the issue has been in international headlines for weeks, it hit home in Madison after the Badger Herald published one of the images in its Feb. 13 edition accompanied by an editorial titled “Sacred Images, Sacred Rights.”

To bring opposing viewpoints together, the Offices of the Dean of Students held a wide-ranging panel discussion titled “Free Speech, Civility and the Impact on Campus Climate” on Feb. 21.

The session, attended by 250 students, faculty, staff and community members, featured Mac VerStandig, editor in chief of the Badger Herald, and Ovamir Anjum, a graduate student representing the Muslim Students Association, along with several faculty members.

Several members of the panel accused the Herald of contributing to an uncomfortable climate for Muslims in Madison. Members of the audience asked the Herald for an apology.

VerStandig defended the paper’s decision arguing that any image that caused a similar level of violence and controversy deserved to be printed.

“We printed this cartoon because other people weren’t,” VerStandig said. “Free speech, when not used, does run the risk of atrophying.”

Although speakers were clearly passionate about their viewpoints, the discussion was orderly and productive, said Interim Dean of Students Lori Berquam.

“It accomplished our goals,” she said. “We weren’t expecting students to convince one another of our respective viewpoints. Rather, we hoped to all come to a better understanding of these viewpoints through respectful, intelligent dialogue.”

In addition to the Dean of Students forum, the Muslim Students Association held its own educational event called “Campaign for Truth: The Life of Muhammad” on Feb. 22. The event included seven stations with posters and information about the Prophet Muhammad and Islam, as well as a short movie.

A final event, “Blasphemy and Free Speech: The Danish Cartoons and World Reaction” took place on Feb. 27. The Center for the Humanities organized the discussion around an internationalist perspective.

Chancellor John Wiley defended the Herald’s right to published the images, but he also acknowledged that Muslims have been deeply hurt by the decision, and that the paper needed to address their concerns.

“People that we all know, work with and study with are hurt, scarred by what they believe to be a senseless prolongation of an intentionally insensitive, racist and distorted commentary on the very foundation of one of the world’s great religions,” Wiley wrote.

To read the full statement, visit http://www.news.wisc.edu/releases/12180. html.