Eastern listens to '9/11' professor

Hundreds showed up at EWU to hear controversial Ward Churchill speak

CHENEY — High noon was the culminating moment of the day as hundreds of students, including Ryan Hopkins of Moses Lake, made their way to the center of campus Tuesday at Eastern Washington University to hear controversial University of Colorado Professor Ward Churchill speak.

Hopkins, a graduate of Moses Lake High School and freshman this year at EWU, said having the opportunity to hear Churchill was important to him. "I don't agree with his policy, but I agree with his right to be here," Hopkins said.

Churchill, an ethnic studies professor at UC, first came under fire in January after excerpts from an essay he had written titled, "Some People Push Back: On the Justice of Roosting Chickens," in which he refers to 9/11 victims as "little Eichmanns."

Since then, investigations made by UC Board of Regents have raised concern about Churchill's writings and his background as a Native American.

Wearing black sunglasses, an overcoat and smoking a cigarette — three things that seem to have become Churchill's trademark at public appearances — he began his address to Tuesday's crowd with a warm greeting.

"Hello my relatives, it's good to see you here," Churchill said from the podium. He was invited to EWU to speak as part of the Native American Studies program to speak on Native American issues, and then was uninvited after EWU president Stephen Jordan said Churchill's presence posed too much of a security threat to the university's students and to Churchill himself. Students protested the university president's decision March 10 in a rally on EWU's campus, prompting Jordan to change his mind and allowing Churchill to speak at the university before 300-400 people Tuesday, most of whom were students. Security was tight with armed guards posted on the roof of university buildings and in entryways as Churchill made his way to the mall at the center of campus.

"I'm proud to be here," he said several times throughout his 15-minute public appearance, which surprised some who were expecting a longer presentation. The quick public speech was preceded by an hour-long private appearance Churchill made before students of the university's Native American Studies program.

During his speech, Churchill began by applauding the crowd for standing up for free speech and then went on to express his disgust for Jordan, Colorado Gov. Bill Owens and others who have outright opposed him or his speaking engagements around the nation, calling attempts to cancel his appearance at EWU illegal and cited a judge's court ruling Tuesday morning that ruled in favor of allowing him to speak.

"He considers this to be his own private property so that he can be heard," Churchill said of Jordan, adding that he wouldn't be surprised if the EWU president lost his job.

Other students who were present said they thought of Churchill as an inspiration to the cause of upholding free speech in the United States.

"When we come to a university, we come here seeking knowledge; he speaks a lot of truth, he's inspiring for activism and individual thinking," said EWU student Lili Hungerford, also a member of the Movimiento Estudiante Chicano de Aztlan (MECHA).

Opponents to Churchill called his appearance at EWU hypocritical and a demonstration of his unwillingness to debate anyone on the issues surrounding his writings and background.

"He's got to debate someone now," said Grant Crowell, a cartoonist who has worked at the University of Hawaii and had a previous run in with Churchill, who tried to get him fired. "He promised that in Boulder and failed to do it … that's an out of control ego," he said.

Representatives from activists groups around the state were also present to prevent violence and promote peaceful discussion of the Churchill controversy.

"We live in a country that's richer because we're taking things from other people," said David Weyeneth, chairman of the NAACP Political Action Committee out of Yakima and a precinct committee officer with the Democratic party, who came to hear Churchill's message.

Weyeneth said he believes Churchill has a valid message to share, which in his opinion is that the United States government and its citizens need to be conscientious of the decisions they make and the repercussions they have on others around the world.

"People were shocked and hurt when they heard the term 'little Eichman's,'" Weyeneth said, adding, "maybe the bottom line isn't (just the cost of the thing itself), but the quantity of life you give up for that," he said in reference to the way the U.S. conducts business and the choices of individuals that have repercussions on a global level.

"It's a right and an obligation; we are in this together," Churchill told the crowd as he turned from the podium to leave.

"Power to the people," he yelled.