Growing dissent over the planned appearance of former vice president and environmental activist Al Gore came to a head last week when several students took a proactive stance against a speaker they believed to be "detrimental" to the undergraduate population.
Gore had been slated to speak in late April as part of the 2006-2007 Don Davis Auto World Distinguished Speaker Series, but officials say that due to the recent opposition he will now be replaced with a more "universally appealing" guest lecturer.
The controversy erupted Friday evening when a 200-strong group of protesters rushed UB President John B. Simpson's office as part of a demonstration that group leader Joseph Christian hoped would "incite change."
"There's strength in numbers," said Christian, a senior communication major. "Sometimes the only way to truly make change on campus is to go straight to the source with a band of other likeminded individuals."
When members finally entered the office however, they were greeted with an empty chair and informed that Simpson had left to negotiate education incentives overseas.
Quote Simpson via videophone, "Dude, I'm like in China, OK?"
Christian believes that the group, unofficially titled UB-Anti Gore, is successful in that all members are united by a common cause rather than a specific idea or political affiliation.
"Members of UB Anti-Gore don't discriminate based on gender, race, religion or beliefs," he said while being led away in handcuffs. "We all just hate Al Gore."
According to Christian, dissent for the former vice president had been growing from different corners of the campus for several years, but it wasn't until this season's Distinguished Speakers itinerary was announced that things really sparked.
"My parents always questioned what Gore did while in office," said Bobby Violanti, freshman communication major. "Now I'm continuing the legacy. It's so great to see that there are other people out there who are equally passionate."
Members interviewed had diverse reasons for their participation in the event.
"God, the man's voice is about as compelling as a golf cart in neutral. He could put a cracked-out poodle to sleep," said Shannon Headstrong, a junior communication major and one of the original members of Anti-Gore.
Patsy Arkansas, sophomore communication major, disagrees with Gore's environmental beliefs.
"Global trends actually show that the Earth is cooling off, not warming as the common belief holds," Arkansas said. "That's why I think we should legalize drugs."
Dennis Black, Vice President of Dealing with Student Complaints and former communication major, negotiated with the group through the weekend and decided to bring in a speaker he believes all students will find "compelling," "spellbinding," "pertinent" and "close to home."
"Johnny (B. Simpson) and I came up with something we think the student population will really find spellbinding, pertinent, and close to home," Black said.
A pile of burning tires is now slated to appear in Gore's place on April 27 at 8 p.m. Free tickets are available to UB students with I.D., $25 general admission.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
