April 26

NEW JERSEY:

Rutgers U. in Uproar Over Cartoon in Student-Run Newspaper That Pokes Fun
at Holocaust


A Holocaust-themed cartoon on the cover of an alternative newspaper at
Rutgers University at New Brunswick has caused an uproar on the campus,
with both faculty members and students demanding that the college rescind
about $15,000 in financing allocated to The Medium, which describes itself
as an "entertainment weekly."

In a news release issued last week, Rutgers's president, Richard L.
McCormick, asked the newspaper's staff members to apologize for the
cartoon, which he deemed "outrageous in its cruelty."

The cartoon, which appeared in the April 21 issue, used the university's
spring fair as a backdrop and depicted a man sitting on top of an oven, as
if in a carnival game, with another man throwing a ball at him. At the top
of the cartoon was the headline "Holocaust Remembrance Week, Spring Fest
2004," and the caption below the drawing read: "Knock a Jew in the oven!
Three throws for a dollar! Really! No, REALLY."

According to Nathaniel S. Berke, a 19-year-old journalism major and the
paper's managing editor, he chose the cartoon because people in The
Medium's office thought it was funny, and he had not found anything else
to use for the cover.

"I appreciated the satirical value it took towards a taboo subject," Mr.
Berke said. "I thought people would just look at it and say 'that's
ridiculous' and laugh at it -- it wasn't meant to have any political
meaning."

The cartoon was submitted anonymously to the paper by an artist with the
pen name "Pancake Fiend," according to Mr. Berke. The editor, who said he
is Jewish, also said that he regrets that the cartoon caused such a
negative reaction, and that his staff is planning a meeting to discuss
what action they will take in response.

At a University Senate meeting on Friday, Mr. McCormick reiterated his
disapproval of the cartoon, and members of the senate discussed the
controversy. The senate, which includes students and faculty and staff
members, passed a resolution dissociating itself from the paper and the
"anti-Semitic message of the issue."

According to Mr. McCormick, The Medium has a history of publishing
offensive material.

"Unfortunately, this is not the first time the editors have caused
tremendous hurt among their fellow students and the larger community by
their disregard for the standards of civility, diversity, and
collegiality," he said in the news release. "The editors may think this is
satire, but I completely disagree."

The April 7 issue of The Medium featured a photograph of two topless women
in bunny ears and lingerie with the caption "Happy Easter, Everyone!
Except you Jews. You have a happy Passover." The raunchy 12-page issue
also features articles by people identified only as "Some Good Aryan
Stock" and "Big Boobs McGee."

Rutgers officials last week posted a "Question and Answer" news release on
the New Brunswick campus's media-relations Web page in response to the
controversy. In the release, the university explains that The Medium does
not receive money from tuition or tax dollars, only from the
student-activity fee. The document also repeatedly mentions the
university's obligation to honor the First Amendment rights of all student
groups and publications.

"Speech that is extremely objectionable, including highly offensive racial
slurs, may not be restrained by the university," the statement says. "It
is important to remember that Rutgers does not endorse these viewpoints
but is restrained from prohibiting their expression."

(source: Chronicle of Higher Education)