The University of Illinois’ editor in chief and one other editor have been suspended over publication of the controversial Muhammed cartoons after the rest of the staff goes soft on them. The Daily Illini has taken down the web posting of the original editorial, but thanks to the wonders of the Google cache, we can see the original.

Updated : 02/20/06 : Peoriapundit has published the University of ILL Daily Illini paper's new blog policy.

Hat Tip : Instapundit.

U of I Daily Illini Newspaper Chief Editor Acton H Gordon via Google Cache: To the right you'll see a series of cartoons about the Islamic prophet Muhammad that have fueled a firestorm of debate all over the world.

These cartoons are bigoted and insensitive to the Islamic faith because they are depictions of the prophet Muhammad. In much of the Muslim faith, there is an absolute ban on drawing or portraying religious figures. I agree they are bigoted and insensitive, as do many others.

However, this serious controversy has not been addressed by the press. By refusing to run the cartoons, Americans have no idea how "offensive" they are. The ensuing death threats, riots, murders and laying siege to embassies, leave most of us confused and appalled.

Recently, the U.S. State Department criticized the editorial cartoons, originally published in the Danish Jyllands-Posten. A student newspaper in Wales had all of their papers confiscated after they published the cartoons. Editors have resigned from the New York Press after the cartoons were pulled from the press at the 11th hour. Only one of the major newspapers in this country has run an example of the cartoons.

All across this nation, editors are gripped in fear of printing ... for fear of the reaction. As a journalist, this flies in the face of everything I hold dear. By refusing to print these editorial cartoons, we are preventing an important issue from being debated openly by the public.

If anything, journalists all over this country should be letting the public decide for themselves what to think of these cartoons.

As an editor of a college newspaper, I cannot claim to be a champion for free speech and at the same time restrict it from running its course. My gut has been turning for days questioning how to address this issue. It is only proper that you, the public, are allowed to think for yourselves.

Within the coming days, I hope to promote a dialogue on the campus and in the community as to how people feel about this issue. I encourage everyone to write a letter to the editor and let us know what you think.

Exercise your First Amendment right and don't be afraid to say something unpopular. As citizens, we have a right to use that freedom.

Daily Illini : "After hearing that CNN and other major newspapers were respectful to not print it, I was shocked that our own paper at such a higher education institution would print it, said Shaz Kaiseruddin, Muslim Student Association president and graduate student. "The fact that comparable anti-Semitic sentiments and other forms of racist expression are socially unacceptable is an indication that Islamophobia is rampant in our community. This is not an issue of free speech, but rather a failure to recognize hate speech."

Student Press Law Center ILLINOIS — Two editors at The Daily Illini were suspended Monday night, five days after they decided to publish the controversial Danish cartoons of the Muslim prophet, Muhammad.

Mary Cory, the newspaper’s publisher, suspended Editor in Chief Acton Gorton and opinion editor Chuck Prochaska because the two did not consult with the entire editorial board and other editors before publishing the cartoons, said one of the paper's interim editors in chief, Jason Koch.

A statement released by Koch and co-interim editor in chief Shira Weissman said Cory made the decision to suspend Gorton and Prochaska “only after it was requested by other student members of this newspaper and a newsroom-wide staff meeting about the issue.”

Student members of the newspaper staff are not allowed to suspend an editor in chief, according to the statement. Cory, who is not a student, acts as the newspaper’s publisher and adviser.

Gorton said that as editor in chief, he is not obligated to receive the approval of the editorial board or other editors before he publishes his opinion.

“There are no bylaws in [Illini Media Company] or any policies that say that I have to go to the editorial board before I publish anything,” Gorton said.

Chicago Triubune Ezorn Blog : I will no longer be posting about The Daily Illini, which currently employs me as a reporter and night editor. At most, I may link to outside Web sites that have articles about us, or our own articles, but whether or not I am allowed to do such things is at the moment unclear.
As for the reason why I will no longer be posting about The Daily Illini, a new policy has been instituted about personal Web sites and blogs. Essentially, I can no longer blog about work, blog while at work or give an “insider’s scoop” any longer; and doing so will result in immediate termination.

• Today, I am proud to be writing for the Daily Illini because of the bold decision made by editor in chief Acton Gorton last week to run cartoons few other papers in the nation would run. College newspapers have a great obligation to present extreme perspectives so they can be rigorously scrutinized in academic communities.
Some have suggested that Mr. Gorton should lose his job. If he is fired, this will be my last column. This is a matter of principle, and his actions do not warrant his termination. Whether or not you agree with Mr. Gorton's decision, it is hard to deny that his actions took courage.

Also see Rhymeswithright.

Updated: One note that I negleted to get in earlier.

SPLC : Gorton said that he believes the suspension will lead to his being fired and he has retained a lawyer, Junaid Afeef, a founding member of the Muslim Bar Association in Illinois and also one of the original members of the National Association of Muslim Lawyers.

Now that's great that a Muslim can support Mr. Gorton for his objective editorial.

Posted by: Howie at 11:11 AM | Comments (9) | Add Comment
Post contains 1147 words, total size 8 kb.

1 Makes perfect sense. U Ill has a large muslim minority student population, and there are significant numbers of muslims through-out the area and state. They would be upset and get angry.

It would be relatively easy for some to simply aquire firearms, go on campus, and execute (selectively or indiscriminately) fellow students and teaching staff.

Also, security at campuses is relatively weak - a dedicated (an offended) muslim student (or otherwise) could easily assemble explosive materials and deliver a bomb to say the Admin building, or Library or Student Cafeteria etc. killing dozens if not hundreds of young (and potentially important) people.

Makes perfect sense to me. ALLAH AKBAR!

Posted by: hondo at February 17, 2006 01:19 PM (fyKFC)

2 I love the "Stop...Stop...We ran out of virgins" cartoon

Doesn't this make sense to everyone? Afterall it's fine to dump the bible in a jar of piss and call it art. But let's kill everyone who draws Mohamed the pedaphile!!!

Posted by: joey at February 17, 2006 01:51 PM (DkQ4u)

3 All the cartoons are rather tame compared to the filth that MUSLIM PUBLICATIONS in the Middle East routinely run on Jews and Christians. This entire controversy has nothing to do with respect for Islam, but everything to do with the power of Islam to silence its critics.

Wake up, America, before it is too late. The more you give in to these people, the more you reward their threats of violence. Rewarding threats of violence breeds violence.

Posted by: jesusland joe at February 17, 2006 03:26 PM (rUyw4)

4 JJ

Look closely at who are the ones giving in. Notice anything?

Posted by: hondo at February 17, 2006 03:41 PM (fyKFC)

5 Muslims and liberals need to be killed off.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at February 17, 2006 04:50 PM (0yYS2)

6 Liberals at their usial dirty work making is so only liberals can be heard

Posted by: sandpiper at February 19, 2006 10:26 PM (stdEd)

7 Yeah sandpiper, but it ain't gonna work no more, because of this newfangled intarweb thang. Heh.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at February 20, 2006 04:06 PM (0yYS2)

8 I thought the rules were pretty harsh, so just to get em up here where we can see what policies may be in the future. Not good. They may have been suggested before but I saw this link had em spelled out.

Posted by: Howie at February 20, 2006 07:45 PM (D3+20)

9 One would think that the self-appointed champions of a free press would not run and hide so easily.

What militant Islam wants, militant Islam gets.

Posted by: Mark at February 26, 2006 02:44 AM (9by0x)

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