Members of OU Hillel alerted members of Student Congress Tuesday that the Westboro Baptist Church will protest their celebration of Rosh Hashana, the celebration of the Jewish New Year, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Friday. A posting on the Westboro Baptist Church Web site states that members of the church will protest at Hillel at that time on Friday, and then will stage three protests in Oklahoma City.
Members told Student Congress that they are planning events to counter the protest that will portray the Jewish community in a positive manner, but they also were expecting other students to counter the protest in a manner of noisemaking.
“We want to represent the Jewish community and our traditions in a positive manner, but we also wanted to let everyone know what is going on,” said the two students who represented OU Hillel. “We are thinking of having an open house or some other event.”
Student Congress also began planning for Green Week 2010 by giving the Physical Plant $1,500 to implement a more efficient recycling program.
“We all have to do our part, and tonight, it starts with us,” UOSA Student Congress Chairman John Jennings said. “2010 and Green Week will be here before we know it.”
Though Green Week 2010 is going to be held in the spring, UOSA began to plan Tuesday on ways to improve upon Green Week 2009.
Student Congress also heard about the Physical Plant’s environmentally-friendly initiative, Crimson and Green.
“We have a new Web site that allows students to make green commitments across campus,” Physical Plant spokeswoman Amanda Hearn said. “For every commitment received, we will contribute to $2 to green initiatives.”
Hearn said the green projects that are occurring at the Physical Plant will not be heavily marketed with paper in order to be environmentally friendly. She said students should spread the news mostly by word of mouth, and if students want to make a green commitment, they can sign up at the Crimson and Green Web site, www.ou.edu/sustainability.
Hearn was present to receive the forms for a money transaction between the UOSA account and the Physical Plant account since UOSA as a public entity can not give out checks for donations of generosity. The money will go to a new recycling program.
Rep. Brett Stidham, Student Congress Ways and Means Committee chair, said all budget analysis and data will now be digital in an effort to go green.
“We use 8-1/3 reams of paper when we compile a budget. I’ve been told that is nearly [one-] half of a tree,” Stidham said. “When we do things from now on, everything will be online, not in printed copies.”
Student Congress also donated $1000 to Green Week 2010 fundraising efforts for green organizations.
In other issues discussed at the Student Congress meeting, members were given the opportunity to talk to Deborah Engel of University Libraries.
Before the representatives asked questions to Engel, they were given an update on new innovations in the libraries, specifically Bizzell Memorial Library.
Engel told members that printing in the library is now linked to their Bursar account and that the library is also checking out laptops for students to use while they are in the library. She also said the library Web site has a Facebook chat-like feature on its Web site in which students may ask questions about the library.
After Engel’s presentation on updates to the library, representatives took the time to ask Engel about the library’s hours of operations and further renovations and future innovations.
“It costs a lot to keep the library open 24 hours, seven days a week,” Engel said. “We have implemented and will continue to improve upon our online services so students can get after-hours access to things they would get in the library if the library were open.”
Engel said the custodians also need the entire time the library is closed to clean the building and run industrial-sized vacuum cleaners.
Student Congress considered five pieces of legislation after the two special orders involving the library and Green Week 2010 were complete.
One approved resolution sent condolences to Sarah Lester, a senior whose father, mother and two sisters perished in a plane crash on their way to the OU-BYU game in Dallas Sept. 5.
“I don’t think this resolution can embody the pain and sorrow Ms. Lester is feeling, but we want her to know that we are thinking about her in this hard time,” UOSA Student Congress Vice Chair Matthew Gress said.
A second resolution honored all first responders that serve in Norman in both the OU and Norman Police departments and the Norman Fire Department.
“We want to honor those who continuously and altruistically put their lives on the line for our safety, especially since the anniversary of 9/11 just passed,” said Spencer Pittman, bill author and UOSA spokesman.
Two bills additional bills were emergency appropriation bills for student organizations totaling $3,750. The money will go to fund activities within student clubs and organizations for special events they will participate in throughout the semester. Another bill created a new position in Student Congress to have a member assist as a liaison to the Student Congress chair in appointments and legislation management.
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The Westboro Church is a sham organization which consists of members of a single family who make their living by hiring themselves out for phony confrontations, playing the role of stereotypical right wing bigots, so that the target group can gain political benefit by publically suffering yet bravely standing tall. Their funding comes primarily from Left wing groups.
They were here not long ago to help out the gay community. Then as now the target group gets plenty of advance notice so it can gin-up sympathy and garnish attention for its image as oppressed victim. It only lasts about an hour because it entirely a media event.
The lack of real oppressors and prejudice has been causing the Left to hoax hate crimes for years now. This is just one more case of boob-bait for the Bubbas.
Oh, I hope you're not a student mustafa. I refuse to believe any student, even those who drink themselves under the table at least four out of seven days, believes such right-wing conspiracy bs. Where are you getting this information, what expage-produced website?
I guess the Army hires them to protest soldiers' funerals to drum up support for the wars, no?
Westboro is a very small congregation, and if people would simply ignore them they would no longer be relevant. There is no point in getting all pissed off over a dozen close minded people that are good at getting attention and pressing your buttons. I will admit their behavior angers me, but it doesn't have to affect me.
mustafa's a troll, just ignore him.
Yeah, the Jewish community needs to drum up fake sympathy. Seriously? Being raised as a Jew, I know the role guilt plays in the culture, but you are one giant nut mustafa.
Google Westboro Church, or Phelps Charter .
The Phelps family is comprised on a large number of liberal lawyers who specialize in minority civil rights cases. They have received awards from the NAACP and are supported by the ACLU. Phelps and his family helped run Gore’s 1988 campaign in Kansas. Phelps' son, Fred Phelps Jr., hosted a Gore fundraiser at his home in Topeka and was a Gore delegate to the 1988 Democratic National Convention.
The fact remains that Westboro never, repeat never, shows up un-announced. They always give plenty of notice so that their targets can organize counter protests. Their business is to be a shill,allowing their targets to generate attention and sympathy.
As to their actions at servicemen’s funerals, it could be chalked to maintenance of their extremely highly negative image, although there are plenty of haters of the military ( all on the Left) who support such acts.
It should be noted that it is a testament to the general cool-headedness of the American people that someone with a pump shotgun hasn’t waded into their mists during such demonstrations and killed as many possible. The trial of such a gunman would make an interesting news event. I can’t imagine any life insurance company being will to cover anyone engaged in such dangerously provocative activity. Abortion protesters get shot but not the Phelps, go figure.
I am a student, a History/Spanish senior. Why that should matter, you’ll have to explain. You know, sooner or later you’ll need to train to confront the big world outside your liberal cocoon.
All Googling indicates is that Phelps happens to be a Democrat, supported Gore because he was against a gay Bill of Rights, and the ACLU defended the church's right to act stupidly. The ACLU has defended the KKK as well, and that doesn't make the KKK part of the "Left".
Wow, great selective points Mustafa. You failed to mention that Al Gore was anti-homosexual when Mr. Phelps supported him and that Mr. Phelps protested at a Hillary Clinton speech in 1992. You are correct that Mr. Phelps’ law firm took on a lot of racial discrimination cases, but what exactly does that prove? He also filed a law suit claiming his children should be considered minorities due to his civil rights work, but then decided to sue for discrimination due to their whiteness. He ran as a Democrat for several offices, and again how does this prove he is a leftist? Have you ever met a Kansas Democrat? I assume you have some evidence that the church is funded by left wing groups.
http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelrepo...
Again, mustafa's a troll. Just ignore him. Reasoned arguments will have no effect on him. He likely knows his facts, and he is very good at what he does (trolling, that is), but if you think that he actually believes the assertions he is making, or if he does that rehashing the facts will convince him of anything, then you're fooling yourself.
The only good that arguing with him will accomplish is presenting the facts to other readers who haven't done their own research, but his claims are so ridiculous that I don't think he'll be convincing many people.
Speaking of being very selective, you all keep by passing my main point which is, who mbenefits from their visits? It certainly isn't legitmate opposition to gays , abortion, etc. I said they give their target plenty of notice so it can organize counter protests and gain sympathy and attention for their cause or whatever. So, who is benefiting from their coming here and what will be the result. The article said it clearly:
"Members (Hillel) told Student Congress that they are planning events to COUNTER the PROTEST that will PORTRAY the Jewish community in a POSITIVE MANNER, but they also were expecting other students to COUNTER THE PROTEST in a manner of noisemaking."
“We want to represent the Jewish community and our traditions in a POSITIVE MANNER, but we also wanted to let everyone know what is going on,” said the two students who represented OU Hillel. “We are thinking of having an open house or some other event.”
All this going down for what? Do you think any of it would happened if this shill group hadn't made arrangements to do Hillel this favor. They should call themselves Dial-a-Bigot. It is painfully obvious that this is a calculated media event with Westboro's willing particiption. Westboro is the best friend the Left has, if it didn't exist it would be necessary for the Left to invent it. Grow up, very little happens by accident in politics.
Glad to see mustafa is still spouting conspiracy theories in a new semester.
These Westboro people are bonkers, and are seriously trolling for someone to punch them so they can file lawsuits. What they do is disgusting. The best thing you can do is just make fun of them, like these kids at UChicago:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZfZiBRFM...
Speaking of being selective everyone keeps bypassing my main point .
Westboro always gives advance notice so the picketed group can organize counter protests, play the victim of bigotry, and generate positive press for themselves and their cause.
But lets look at the very words of the article and from Hillel:
“(Hillel) Members told Student Congress that they are planning events to COUNTER the PROTESTS that will portray the Jewish community in a POSITIVE MANNER, but they also were expecting other students to COUNTER the PROTESTS in a manner of noisemaking.”
“We want to represent the Jewish community and our traditions in a POSITIVE MANNER, but we also wanted to let everyone know what is going on,” “We are thinking of having an open house or some other event.”
Open house?, other events?, plenty of noise making?, plenty of attention?...
Just who is benefiting from this visit? Certainly not legitimate voices of opposition to things like homosexuality, or even Zionism.
If it weren’t for Westboro Hillel Rosh Hashana celebration would have passed by unnoticed. But thanks to Dial-a-Bigot not just Hillel but the whole liberal community have an opportunity to get all lathered up over a bogus opponent.
In politics things are rarely what they seem. Westboro is the best thing to happen to the Left. If it didn’t exist is would be necessary for the Left to invent it.
I'd say Westboro benefits since the more counter-protesters that show up, the more attention they get. That is the simple, and I's say most rational, explanation.
You have an interesting point mustafa, it is too bad it rests entirely on circumstantial evidence and your own extreme biases.
Well, lets look at some of these reasoned arguments I've been getting..
Oh, I hope you're not a student mustafa. I refuse to believe any student, even those who drink themselves under the table at least four out of seven days, believes such right-wing conspiracy bs- awesome_face
mustafa's a troll, just ignore him.-oumotorcyclist
...but you are one giant nut mustafa.-dargus
Again, mustafa's a troll. Just ignore him.-oumotorcyclist
Glad to see mustafa is still spouting conspiracy theories in a new semester-eightbitgirl
I don't understand. What is so threaten to your Lefties about my badmouthing of Westboro. Why so necessary to insist that their incredible un-credible beliefs are in fact credible?
It is necessary because I have yet to see any evidence to the contrary. There are plenty of people out there who believe crazy things and act upon them. I'll ask you again to present some evidence of your claims that they are funded by left wing groups. If you can't present any, the above comments you highlighted would seem to be a fairly accurate portrayal of the positions you've taken on this website.
As you saw in the Google search that the sources of income have proven difficult to pin down. I have seen an article expressing the sentiment I expressed. The fact that I can't call it up presently is not an admission that I made it up.
It been recently suggested to me that they provoke incidents against them sue the host city for failure to protect them. This seems unlikely as I indicated their actions make protecting them problematic. They would have to apply for a permit which, based on their acts should easily be denied. Besides what good does being able to sue if they and their kids are dead.
Nothing like that has ever happened to them and until it does they will feel safe to keep tempting fate.
We certainly don't see them picketing masques with signs that say "God hates Towel-Heads,' or "Mohammad Was a Pedophile." The reason is obvious
Haha. Westboro as a sham front for "left-wingers?" Classic! Oh, and, your assumption of this based on who "actually" benefits from their announced visits is beyond hilarity.
You’re the not the master of correlation without causality, but you may be one of the louder proponents of its silliness around here.
Thanks for the laugh, mustafa.
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