Neo Nazis interrupt speech about Holocaust deniers
Kelly Shaw
Campus News Editor
channel4.com
Deborah Lipstadt was on trial for libel when British historian David Irving sued her for calling him a Holocaust denier.
On Sunday, March 18, a group of protesting Neo-Nazis proceeded to interrupt Deborah Lipstadt, an internationally recognized Holocaust scholar, who was speaking to a group of students and community members about “The New Global Anti-Semitism.”
The interruptions began with a single man questioning Lipstadt from the back of the conference room. According to audience members, he commented that Jews deserved to be discriminated against.
Dr. Sara Melcher and Dr. Edmund Cueva, both part of the Ethics/Religion and Society program, asked the man to leave.
“Neither Dr. Cueva nor I touched the individual,” said Dr. Melcher. “He left on his own accord, but an elderly man got up from the audience and pushed the heckler from the back. He was not hurt.”
Dr. Cueva then followed the man into the hall and saw him place a phone call. Shortly afterward, a bigger group of Neo-Nazis, wearing T-shirts marked with swastikas, entered the lecture. This group did not interrupt at first, but began making comments by the end of the lecture. Some audience members also saw the group give Neo-Nazi salutes.
“Lipstadt was very calm,” said Dr. Melcher. “She remarked that the man who interrupted her helped illustrate what she was trying to say. Later she asked the audience not to speak to the people in the back of the room as they were leaving because to give them attention was to play right into their hands.”
Many students were part of the audience attending the lecture. Sophomore Stephanie Morris was one student who was required to attend for a Literature and Moral Imagination (E/RS) class. Like Dr. Melcher, Morris stated that Lipstadt asked the audience to ignore the Neo-Nazis. Morris also said Lipstadt made negative comments about Hitler that were directed towards the Neo-Nazis.
“At first I thought the speech was still successful even with the disruption, but then I realized, after someone in my class pointed it out, that she capitalized on everyone’s fear of the situation. She could say whatever she wanted without opposition from the audience,” said Morris. “Still, her explanation of anti-Semitism was very effective and now I am more aware of what that really is.”
Campus Police reacted by sending an officer to make sure the situation was under control.
“Campus Police had either one or two officers there after they were called and I believe they kept the situation from heating up. I was very pleased with the way they handled the situation,” said Dr. Melcher.
“In the future, I think that events on campus associated with the history of the Holocaust would do well to arrange for Campus Police at the event. Those associated with arranging lectures on campus will be thinking through what kind of protocol should be followed if we experience this kind of disruption again,” said Dr. Melcher.
Students seemed to be surprised or scared at the occurrence, but Dr. Melcher said that most stayed for the entire lecture.
“I didn’t expect people to really believe that still or actually come to the event, but I guess they’re allowed to,” said Morris.
Dr. Melcher stated that after the lecture, the incident was described on white supremacist websites.
The price is right for XU student
Colleen Bott
Contributing Writer
Colleen Bott
As his shirt suggests, junior Christian Sese’s ‘life goal’ was to touch Bob Barker. He recently achieved that goal.
Juniors Christian Sese, Lauren Meisman and Emily Chambers spent their Spring Break in Los Angeles, and Sese came back with more than just pictures.
The group began their camp-out to get into a taping of “The Price is Right” at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, March 5. They were numbers 55, 56 and 57 out of the 325 people who could fit into the small theater.
“It was crazy,” Meisman recalls. “We googled tips for getting on the show the night before and asked Monday participants for advice. They told us to get there early. The first people in line showed up at 3 p.m.”
With rented chairs and scheduled bathroom breaks, the three set up a sleeping routine and made friends with a group of students from Creighton University.
“We started some cheers to get people excited,” Chambers said. “Everyone was sleep deprived.”
After getting in, every member has a few seconds to impress the producer. As the self-titled “Asian Sensation,” Sese thought he might have a good shot.
“I didn’t hear my name the first time they said it, and was so shocked when I got down to the stage that I just guessed.”
Sese said he rushed up to meet Bob Barker after being selected.
“He had white hair and lots of makeup,” he remembers. “One of my life goals was to touch Bob Barker.”
Sese had to play a game in which he was shown six items, four of which cost under eight dollars. For every one he guessed correctly, a zero was added to $1, which means he wound up winning $10,000 overall with help from Meisman and Chambers in the audience gesturing him to pick lotion as the last item.
“When it was my turn to go up and spin, I couldn’t believe I was actually going to touch the wheel,” Sese said. “I spun it pretty hard and it stopped at 90 cents, so I was going to the Showcase Showdown!”
“Emily and I were in shock,” Meisman recalls. “Christian looked so nervous.”
Sese won the Showdown with a difference of $5,151 between his guess and the total cost of the living room set, fireplace and jet skis, valued at $18,151.
“We made a deal with the Creighton kids that if one of us won, we were all going up on stage, and so we were all up there together screaming,” Chambers said.
“It was amazing and overwhelming,” Sese said. “I don’t think it’s settled in yet.”
Afterwards, Sese treated Meisman, Chambers and their new friends to dinner at Maggiano’s. It was their first meal of the day.
“It’s every college kid’s dream to go on ‘The Price is Right’ and we actually did it,” Meisman said. “Bob Barker was really friendly and answered questions during the break.”
“It would have been a wonderful time without winning,” Sese said. “But it was icing on the cake. It was the best birthday present (his 21st birthday was March 7) ever!”
The show will air at 11 a.m. on April 5th.
Police Notes
March 20, 1:20 p.m.—Three students reported the theft of a cell phone, an iPod and their wallets from an unattended classroom in Alter Hall.
March 21, 12:43 p.m.—An employee reported the theft of their cell phone from an office in Alter Hall.
March 23, 12 p.m.—A subject acting suspiciously in the 10th floor kitchen of Schott Hall was cited and escorted off campus.
March 23, 12:30 p.m.—A student reported the theft of their purse that was left unattended in the GSC food court.
March 25, 12:30 a.m.—Two students reported a minor auto accident in the C-1 lot.
March 25, 4:41 a.m.—A non-student was arrested in the C-2 lot on an outstanding warrant.
March 25, 3:25 p.m.—A student notified Campus Police that their residence on Cleneay Avenue in Norwood was burglarized. Several items, including a bicycle and a laptop, were stolen. Norwood Police was notified.
Police Note of the Week
March 23, 7:32 p.m.—Three juveniles who caused extensive damage to the Victory Family Park were arrested and charged with several offenses including criminal damage, criminal trespassing and carrying a concealed weapon.
Katie Rosenbaum
Campus News Editor
Law school info session
The Xavier Pre-Law Society will be hosting the admission directors from the University of Cincinnnati, University of Dayton and Northern Kentucky University law schools from 3-5 p.m. on Monday in Kelley Auditorium. This event is free, and all students considering a career in law are strongly encouraged to attend. For more information about pre-law, contact professor Paul Fiorelli at fiorelli@xavier.edu or professor Ann Marie Tracey at traceya@xavier.edu.
Women’s lacrosse -town shootout
XU Women’s Lacrosse is playing the UC Women’s Lacrosse Club at 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday, March 28, at the intramural fields by R-1. Come support the girls in their last game versus University of Cincinnati this season. On Saturday the XU Women’s Lacrosse Club will be playing at 2 p.m. at Miami of Ohio. Come support and cheer on your Xavier LAX women. For more information, contact oronoha@xavier.edu or maye@xavier.edu.
Photo contest reception
A reception to announce the winners of the First International Photo Contest will be held from 4-6 p.m. in the Faces of the World Lounge on the second floor of the GSC on Friday. All photo contest participants will be honored and refreshments will be provided. Contact the Romero International Center at x2864.
Student elections this week
Student Government Association Senate Elections are this week from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 27, and Wednesday, March 28, in the Gallagher Student Center Lobby. All students are able to vote, including seniors and graduate students, by presenting a valid University All Card. Students can vote for up to 16 candidates. Questions should be directed to Julio Minsal-Ruiz, minsal-ruizj@xavier.edu.
