Posters elicit criticism

Frustrated students tear down genocide signs

Posters advertising a speech sponsored by Amnesty International stating "Genocide Sucks" were torn down by students who felt the posters trivialized the speaker and content of the speech.

The posters advertised a speech by Constâncio Pinto, a survivor of a campaign of genocide set forth by Indonesia in East Timor.

Amnesty International was responsible for the advertisements. Rachel Pearlman, of Amnesty International said, "I personally felt I could see where they were coming from. Our intent was to reach a greater audience, though. A lot more people were being educated about what was going on."

Members of the International Socialist Organization (ISO) and other concerned students tore down the posters early in the week, claiming they were insensitive and commercialized Pinto.

"We're not having this event for people to go to and say, 'Oh my God, that sucks,'" sophomore Gillian Russom, a member of ISO, said. "His life is an example of what people can do to resist the atrocities perpetuated by the government toward one-third of his country to preserve economic interests. I would be very embarrassed for him to come here and see those posters."

Sophomore Ali McDowell, a member of Amnesty International who helped design the posters, said, "The meaning of the poster was getting lost. We showed it to the Amnesty publicity committee. Even our liaison from ISO gave the thumbs up."

McDowell and Pearlman felt it was inappropriate for people to take the posters down.

"I don't think people have the right to tear down posters they don't like," McDowell said.