In Student Senate Tuesday night, the Student Alliance brought forth a resolution to condemn the Quran burning event by the Dove World Outreach Center scheduled for Sept. 11. The event is already being protested by many outraged students and has been met with vehement opposition from local and national media groups. The fact that the traditionally open and tolerant city of Gainesville will be the site of such an egregious event is a blight on our community and everyone who lives within it.
Every Gainesville resident should be ashamed of what is going to happen Sept. 11. Without question, most students are against such blatant bigotry. Many students at UF are Muslim and are subjected to the Islamophobic rants of the Dove World Outreach Center on a daily basis. However, on Tuesday night, all senators had the opportunity to condemn such racism and to reach out to Gainesville's Islamic community. Taking a stance against Quran burning demonstrates to the student body that the senate will not condone such intolerance. By voting on this resolution, the Student Senate could have affirmed the inalienable right of Gainesville Muslims to practice their religion without fear. The Student Alliance wanted to demonstrate that Gainesville and UF will not stand for backwater intolerance common to an era well past the lives of most members of Student Government. Even UF President Bernie Machen, usually hesitant to take a stand on issues related to student activism, has openly condemned the Quran burning event.
Instead of demonstrating that UF and the Gainesville community are no friends to narrow-minded bigots, the party in power, the Unite Party, refused to even bring the resolution to the floor; citing "dangerous precedent in procedure." Such cowardly indecisiveness in the face of blatant bigotry is a disservice to the Student Body. Does "procedure" combat the Islamophobia and xenophobia that demeans the city of Gainesville? Does "procedure" demonstrate the outrage felt by students toward the Dove World Outreach Center?
Instead of hiding behind "procedural matters," the Unite Party could have sent a clear message to the Student Body. Student Alliance, myself included, will continue to bring up this resolution on the floor of the senate until it is voted on. If some Unite Party senators do not feel this Quran-burning event is an insult to the Student Body and to the city of Gainesville, they will have to vote "No" and not hide behind procedure.
Neil Gundavda is a College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Senator from the Student Alliance.
