by Merritt Beckett
Staff Writer
Senior Rosie Sinapi and junior Ray Garza, photographers for the Campus Times and the Lambda, respectively, were prevented from documenting the Million Man March Rally held in Founders Auditorium last Saturday.
The event was co-sponsored by the Afrikan American Student Alliance (AASA) and Associated Student Federation (ASF), which, according to ASF President Chris Braunstein, gave $750 for the event. Security for the event was provided by the Nation of Islam.
The event was intended to raise local awareness for the Million Man March being organized by Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, which will be held in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 16. The purpose of the event is to unify African-American males and to recognize the day as holy.
All attendees to the University of La Verne rally were searched before being admitted to Founders Auditorium, and electronic devices such as cameras and tape recorders were not allowed.
Asked why the press was barred from covering the event, “as a matter of security, one would not divulge his methods of security,” said Wayne X, Nation of Islam security representative.
Sinapi said she was disappointed that an event widely advertised on campus and paid for with student money was not allowed to be covered by the school yearbook or newspaper.
“I was followed to the double doors of Founders by security from the Nation of Islam. They made sure I left,” said Sinapi.
AASA President Ivan Tircuit accepted responsibility for campus media not being allowed to photograph the event.
“The Nation of Islam security needed more notice that the paper and yearbook were going to be there because media flashes distract the audience,” he said.
Tircuit was present at the ASF meeting on Wednesday and said that he felt the mistake was a result of his inexperience. He also said in a written statement to ASF that “the events of the rally do not undermine my desire to have the coverage of the various campus news agencies.”
