Buffalonians to protest Blair

 
            Prepare to face angry members of the Western New York community when you walk by Alumni Arena within the next two weeks.

 
             A handful of frustrated people who are displeased with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair's inclusion in this year's Distinguished Speaker Series plan to protest prior to his speech on October 7.

 
            Jim Holstun, a professor in the Department of English, organized the protest with his friends and colleagues at the Peace, Justice and Antiwar Coalition of Western New York. The protest will be peaceful, but Holstun is encouraging people to bring signs to voice their opinions.

 
            'We're expecting over 100 people,' Holstun said. '[Tony Blair] is guilty of leveling murderous sanctions and leading a war of aggression on Iraq, both of [which are] war crimes. It started well before the Bush presidency in 1993 when he led a campaign in Iraq, which killed mostly women and children through water contamination. Blair has killed over a million Iraqis with his campaigns.'

 
            Blair was the Graduate Student Association's choice this year.

 
            'We've been trying to get Tony Blair for years,' GSA President Nicole Jowsey said. 'When he was first elected he was very much an excitement for Britain and the Labor Party. He was like Britain's Barack Obama. His election was a big deal for the British.'

 
            However, Holstun believes that the university should choose distinguished speakers who represent real distinction and character, which he feels Blair lacks. Holstun would also like to see a real question and answer session, as opposed to one with preselected answers.

 
            'Blair is just one of a series of war criminals to come to UB as a speaker, Colin Powell and Karl Rove being a few of the others. His question and answer session will be screened and that's censorship – which should not occur at a university,' Holstun said.

 
            Jowsey feels differently. She feels that Blair is a great choice and that his appearance will benefit the UB community.

 
            'He's always been a top choice for the GSA distinguished speakers committee and senate,' Jowsey said. 'He was the Prime Minister of England and a very important political figure. Despite what he may have done during his term, he's still going to have something interesting to say.'

 
            Holstun is also upset about the amount of money UB is paying Blair to speak.

 
            '[Blair] is receiving an obscene amount of money to appear and answer screened questions which is ridiculous at this crucial time for UB when President [John B.] Simpson is proposing a raise in tuition,' Holstun said.

 
            According to Blair's agent, the former prime minister will receive $150,000 for his speech, as well as travel expenses and accommodations for four.

 
            Holstun has been protesting in front of Alumni Arena this week and plans to continue speaking out against Blair. He's planning to boycott the event and hopes that the turnout for the protest will be an alarming number to make his point strong.

 
            Though there are some on campus, like Holstun, who believe Blair's invitation is a misstep on the university's part, many students still lined the halls of Alumni Arena last Thursday to get their tickets. As of 6 p.m., the line for both graduate and undergraduates students reached to the back of the building.

 
            While Holston understands that Blair is a major political figure, he just hopes that his campaign has some kind of an impact.

 
            'We just want [Blair] to see some empty seats and know that we're not happy with his decisions and his war crimes,' Holstun said.

 
 

 
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