More Lies from UCI's NEW U
Posted by: Jonathan Constantine | 05/19/2008 8:37 AM
In a conversation earlier tonight, New University writer Paul Backus offered me a sincere apology for allowing Marya Bangee's misstatements to remain unchallenged. He told me that he was operating on a very short deadline and regrets that he didn't contact me for my side of the story.
According to Backus, the paper's editors re-described the incident as "harassment" despite the fact his original copy was written otherwise. He said a correction was forthcoming as he had just contacted his editors.
Baukus stated unequivocally: "The word harassment should not have been used in the article."
It's unfortunate that the editors of a campus newspaper would play thought police and meddle with a student's journalistic integrity. But more unfortunate is the criminalization of student journalists by administrators effectively enforcing directives on behalf of the Muslim Student Union, and further attempts to prohibit who, what, and where they document in public.
Paul Baukus deserves credit for his honesty and integrity.
The New University student newspaper is no stranger to shoddy student journalism, but its even more despicable for writer Paul Backus to do bidding for CAIR officials and the Muslim Student Union, all while making libelous claims in a hard news report.
When CAIR and the MSU hold widely publicized events, they better expect media coverage and scrutiny from both speakers and activists. The spirit of the First Amendment is not one sided, and reporters are reserved the right to photograph, record, and document in public space. When I'm in public I'm afforded the same courtesy by the MSU of having photos and video recordings taken of my face.
Here is what Backus writes regarding CAIR official Marya Bangee:
During a protest after Ali's speech, Bangee was spotted by blogger Jonathan Constantine of RedCounty.com with his video camera.
"Constantine tried to get in my face, to scare me," Bangee said. In response to Constantine's harassment, a few MSU members surrounded him. However, the situation did not reach a violent level.
It is worth noting the following:
1. Backus's description is a third hand account of the events that took place.
2. I was never contacted by the New University writer for a chance to tell my side of the story.
3. I was not holding the video camera.
4. The incident did reach a violent level.
Bangee's statement also comes to no surprise, as the CAIR official has a pattern of deceptive behavior. In early April, she fabricated the terms of a contract with Starplex Cinemas in order to obtain a private screening and fundraiser for a convicted terrorist.
Moreover, since Backus
was clearly not on hand to report the incident, its hard to make such
definitive claims. Backus's report did not contain the conditional
reservation "alleged"
and it is apparent the student newspaper had the full intent of
producing a hit job.
Not only was I not holding a video camera
during the protest, but as evident in this video, the incident reported
did reach a violent level, as Yasser Ahmed (who threw a cinderblock at
a government vehicle last year) and Ilgiz Khisamov both rushed the
person who was simply recording the activists and practicing his First
Amendment Rights.
Backus also failed report other incidents of MSU intimidation.
He
didn't report the assault against Christian Minister Michael Venyah by
members of the Muslim Student Union. Despite how controversial his
speech may have been, he wasn't nearly as inflammatory as the MSU's
Amir Abdel Malik-Ali, who was free to practice his right to free speech
without intimidation.
He also didn't report the assault that
took place after the evening speech by Amir Abdel Malik-Ali, when six
members of the Muslim Student Union followed and assailed a Jewish
woman for videotaping the lecture. I documented this incident in my
post last night:
The attacks from MSU members continued after Amir Abdel Malik-Ali's evening lecture. According to a member of the Orange County community who witnessed the event, a young Jewish female who was filming the event was followed back to her car and surrounded by 6 male members of the Muslim Student Union. When officers from the UCI Police Department arrived at the scene, they stood idly by and watched as the Muslim students began to assail the witness. When the witness (turned victim) called the police department for answers, they explained that the MSU members were just getting back at the Jews.
To Paul Backus and editor Taylor Hudson, your article is defamatory and an immediate correction is warranted. Please respond promptly.
Jonathan, your efforts are well worth it. You are getting the truth out to the whole country. One nasty lie from CAIR supporters and MSU terrorists will not stop your truth telling, I am confident. You are doing a great public service, so keep sticking it to these idiots. RC Campus Watch is a phenom which will only continue to grow.
I witnessed the entire incident. Ms. Bangee wasn't touched and no one even spoke with her. She decided to put her hand on the camera filming the impromptu protest as she walked down the walkway shouting "anti-Israel" slogans. Her MSU "brothers" charged towards the cameraman and started asking him if he wanted to get "jacked."
I assume Marya Bangee didn't want to be on camera. That's too bad. If you're a PR person for the MSU and work actively with CAIR, you have to learn to take the heat.
Moreover, the Muslim Student Union has the right to freedom of speech and expression. But they have absolutely NO right to restrict the 1st amendment rights of people who protest and film at their events.
Freedom of speech/expression cannot be monopolized by one group on campus. The administration and the UCIPD are completely incompetent. They have let this go on far too long!
The article in the New University this morning is an embarrassment. Journalists need to put in a little more time to check their facts and get the story straight.
Funny thing I noticed.
I was watching a discussion between Isaac of AFI and 2 guys from MSU the other week. One of the MSU guys had a camera. When Isaac noticed that he was being filmed, he said that he didn't want his face on camera. So what does this filthy MSU guy do? He faces his camera to the floor so that all he is recording is the audio. How dare he do such a despicable act! To paraphrase Reut: I assume [Isaac] didn't want to be on camera. That's too bad. If you're [the president of AFI], you have to learn to take the heat. Or not in this case. Just thought it was funny how there's apparently a double standard when it comes to respecting others' right to privacy.
Hey Johnny X,
I agree with you! I have been filmed and have had my picture taken several times by the MSU, and I deal with it!
So what's your point? Did you think I would disagree with you? With all due respect, I am not Issac Yerushalmi spokeswoman.
It's a public campus. People can film and take pictures wherever they want.
Thank you,
Reut R. Cohen
I agree that it's a public campus.
Most definitely
But you misunderstood my comment.
What I'm saying is that if someone doesn't want to be filmed, they have every right not to be filmed.
If Marya didn't want to be filmed, she has the right to not be filmed just as Isaac did.
Oops sorry
that last post was from me
Anonymous/Johnny X,
I don't think you get it.
I don't care if you or the MSU film Issac Yerushalmi on campus. That isn't my problem and I don't care whether or not he requests not to have his face on camera. That would be between him and the person filming, and has absolutely nothing to do with this post.
Emanuel had every right to film the MSU protest on May 15th. I assume the MSU protests and hosts events in order to garner attention. Well, congrats, the spotlight is on you!
Ms. Bangee can request not be filmed. However, it's silly for the MSU PR person to publicly assert her hatred for Israel and expect not to be filmed. She also cannot put her hand on anyone's camera or property, and later make up nonsense that she was "violated." The males from the MSU have no right to charge at someone because they don't like that he is filming.
People have a right to request not to be filmed. But that's it. It's a public campus. Individuals can exercise their freedom of speech and freedom press.
I have had a camera shoved in my face by a member of the MSU in May 2007. I may not like that people will film me on a public campus, but that is their right. However, it wasn't lawful of the MSU "sister" to shove a camera in my eye. Therefore I find the objections I am hearing laughable. The MSU is not a civil group. You've got a lot to learn about proper conduct and are in no place to lecture others at this point.
First amendment rights cannot be stifled. I support the right of the MSU to bring hate mongers to campus because it is within their rights to do so. Bring as many speakers as you want! However, the MSU and the campus should respect the rights of people to peacefully protest and to film at these despicable events.
Thanks,
Reut R. Cohen
"People have a right to request not to be filmed. But that's it. It's a public campus. Individuals can exercise their freedom of speech and freedom press."
can you site for me the law which claims that on public property anyone can be filmed or photographed for publication against their will? I've never heared of such a ruling, why are peoples faces blured out on shows like "cops" or the news? I'm prety sure that unless your a public figure, and I'm sorry but M.S.U public relations person or working actively with C.A.I.R does not make you a public figure, you can not be filmed for publication with out your concent.
Anonymous,
Perhaps if you read UCI's policies and regulations carefully you will understand that the university has to ensure 1st amendment rights on campus. This includes freedom of press. Here is UCI's policy on speech and advocacy:
http://www.students.uci.edu/judicial/uci_policy.php#30.00
30.00 POLICY ON SPEECH AND ADVOCACY
30.10 The University is committed to assuring that all persons may exercise the constitutionally protected rights of free expression, speech, assembly, and worship.
The first amendment says: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
Our first amendment prohibits the restriction of freedom of press.
Freedom of press deals with news gathering, and processes involved in obtaining information for public distribution. How do people obtain information? Well, by note taking, filming and taking pictures! The only reason I would actually need to ask ANYONE for permission to film on a public campus is if I plan on using my footage for "commercial" reasons. Commercial, if you don't know, implies that I would be using the material for advertisement or would be selling my material. That is why sometimes you see programs with people's faces blurted out. In some cases a person may be interviewing someone on a sensitive issue and have worked it out with that person to keep their identity confidential. However, in normal news reporting in a public area, faces are not blurred out.
You have no authority at all to restrict a person's rights. I wonder, however, if you think the MSU has the right to climb on top of vehicles, shove cameras in people's faces and charge at them. Because that seems to be a regular behavior for members of the MSU and clearly is unlawful. The MSU does not comply with any rules or regulations. Once again I will reiterate that the MSU is in no position to lecture.
You don't have an argument. We're not in Saudi Arabia. We have rights and it's important for us to uphold them.
And Johnny fails to respond. Hahaha.
The MSU is despicable, shameless, and small-minded. I had a long e-mail conversation with one of their members. When I showed her a photo of Muslims carrying signs in Britain that said "Behead/annihilate/kill those who insult Islam", she told me they were photoshopped. Not probably photoshopped. They WERE photoshopped.
They're brainwashed into swallowing the filth their own brainwashed family teaches them. Unfortunately, brainwashed kids with money is a bad combo.