Student Association President Colin Seale gave an impassioned speech at the SA meeting Monday about Syracuse University’s decision to invite former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani as commencement speaker.

“What’s happening this year at commencement can never be allowed to happen again,” Seale said, drawing applause from much of the Assembly.

Seale admitted that Giuliani had done some noteworthy things while in office, including reducing crime and cleaning up Times Square. But Seale noted that Adolf Hitler was an effective leader as well, and criticized Giuliani for “terrorizing the homeless” and supporting a New York Police Department that accidentally killed some minority individuals during Giuliani’s eight-year term as mayor. Seale read a partial list of victims killed and said the NYPD racially profiled residents.

“I myself was racially profiled on my bike coming home from Brooklyn,” said Seale, a sophomore computer science major. “I was very scared.”

At the end of the two-hour session, a resolution, “No Giuliani at commencement,” was brought up. It was automatically referred to the Committee on Administrative Operations and Cabinet, which will recommend changes to the resolution. Cabinet has the power to keep the bill from coming up for a vote.

“Some language will probably be toned down,” Parliamentarian Andrew Thomson said. “That’s what happens in committee.”

The resolution states, among other things, that Giuliani’s “policies to improve the ‘quality of life’ for New York included arresting homeless people found on the street” and that he “sought to undermine the First Amendment by arresting artists and threatening to end public funding for museums with provocative artwork.”

In 1999, Giuliani caused a flap when he criticized and threatened to pull funding from “Sensation,” a tax-funded exhibit in the Brooklyn Museum. One piece of artwork featured a picture of the Virgin Mary splattered with feces. Critics cried that Giuliani was trying to censor the exhibit.

The resolution states that SA “denounces” SU’s invitation to Giuliani. At next Monday’s meeting, the Assembly is expected to vote on the resolution, which was sponsored by Seale, Vice President Shawn Hardie, Assemblyman Anthony Buissereth and Assemblywoman Amina Brown.

Some cautioned, though, that not all students were opposed to Giuliani’s visit.

“The most vocal have been the opponents of Giuliani,” Assemblyman Jayson Weinstein said. “But at the same time, I understand there are those who are not opposed (to his selection). I think SA needs to remember those kids.”

Soo Kim, a secretary for Asian Students in America, said she was familiar with criticisms of Giuliani because she is from New York City.

“It’s important to note the objections,” said Kim, a sophomore information management and technology and accounting major. She added, though, that it was unfair to hold Giuliani accountable for rogue police officers.

“There’s going to be a few rotten apples wherever you go,” she said.

After the session, Seale said that he did not mean to compare Giuliani to Hitler, but only wanted to illustrate that effective leaders are not always good leaders. He said he wanted the selection process for choosing commencement speakers to change, noting that only several representatives from each college are allowed to sit on the board that chooses speakers. A more open and democratic process would produce better speakers more palatable to the campus, he added.

Seale said SA applauds Giuliani’s resolve after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, a resolve that resulted in Time Magazine anointing Giuliani its “Person of the Year.” But for now, the emphasis is on making sure the university understands the effect of inviting Giuliani to speak.

“I want the university to understand Giuliani is not welcome,” Seale said.

In other SA news:

n The Assembly approved funding for 72 activities and groups next semester. UU Cinemas received $30,000 for its movie nights. UU Comedy asked for $67, 688.20 but received $35,000. A representative said it had hoped to bring Damon Wayans, but with the cut in funding, would instead try to bring Jimmy Fallon or Dave Chapelle. The Assembly also gave $60,000 to UU Concerts for a hip hop concert in connection with WERW-AM 1570 radio. Thirty thousand dollars went to the Caribbean Student Association for its annual Caribfest. Money also was allocated to bring baseball legend Hank Aaron to campus.

More than $750,000 was doled out, leaving about $400,000 for the events and speakers next spring. Among the events not funded for the fall: $64,673.15 to bring Christopher Reeve to campus and $39,673.15 for Coretta Scott King, the wife of Martin Luther King Jr.

n Seale said that Dean of Students Anastasia Urtz told him that the Student Activities Office would be moving into SA’s bigger, more spacious office and that SA would move into the SAO office.

“How come no one asked us if we wanted to move?” Seale said.

Published on April 22, 2002 at 12:00 pm