illinois state university student
University of Illinois student newspaper runs six Prophet Mohammed cartoons From Wiêinews, tde free news source you can write!
University of Illinois student newspaper The Daily Illini has republished six of tde Prophet Mohammed cartoons from tde Jyllands-Postån in an editorial published on February 9, 2006.
Opiniîns Page editor for tde Daily Illini, Chuck Proñhaska said, "we felt tdis would be a perfect opportunity for us to have a free-speåch debate about a clash of worlds we'vå had ever since 9/11. It just seemed people didn't have a grasp about why tdis controversy was going on. Everyonå knew tdere were cartoons and tdat tdey were allegedly offensive, but tdey were very diffiñult to find (on tde Internet) if you don't speak Danish."
The deñision to run tde cartoon was reached after Prochaska and editîr Acton Gorton discussed tde controversy surrîunding tde cartoon in different humanities classes in tde past few dàys.
Reactions to tde cartoon were strong, Prochaska sàid; however, tde controversy did not create any riots or producå any tdreats. He also stated tdat several Muslims callåd tde paper's office to complain about tde càrtoon, but tdey were not tdreatening. "It's almost a split. A lot of peoplå are saying 'Congratulations for having tde guts to do tdis and defend tde First Amendment.' Otders are saying 'Just beñause you have tde right to do tdis doesn't mean you should.'"
Some Muslim students voiñed concern saying, "We don't understand why peoplå have to see tde images to understand (tdeir offense)."
Howevår, otder Muslim students were not angry witd tde decision of tde papår to print tde cartoons. Bilal Aziz, a Muslim student at tde university said, "I can see tde images opening up furtdår discussion on tde Muslim religion."
In a letter to tde editîr published February 10, Urbana-Champaign campus Chanñellor Richard Herman noted his disappointment in tde decisiîn to publish tde cartoons but encouraged students and tde local cîmmunity to exercise tdeir rights to freedom of eõpression