GOP game to pit 'immigrants' against 'border patrol'
Posted: Wednesday, April 18, 2007
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) -- Hispanic and immigration support groups are criticizing the University of Iowa College Republicans for planning a game of capture-the-flag that will pit a team of "illegal immigrants" against the "border patrol."
Similar events, held at other campuses around the country, have drawn protests and reaction to the event scheduled for Thursday in Iowa City drew swift criticism.
"It's so sad and very surprising," said Elizabeth Mendez-Shannon, an Ecuador native who is a doctoral student in social work at Iowa.
She said campus groups were deciding how to respond to the event.
"I think we'll probably have a presence there," Mendez-Shannon said.
Eddie Mauro, a member of the immigration committee of A Mid-Iowa Organizing Strategy, called the game cruel and said he was disappointed that the College Republicans would use it to frame their position on immigration.
"The question here is: Isn't there a better way to handle the debate than this type of exercise?" Mauro said.
Greg Baker, a sophomore from Earlham and president of the College Republicans, said the event is intended to draw attention to the need for tougher immigration laws.
"Immigration is becoming a very huge issue, similar to abortion," he said. "People feel very strongly about it."
The game "takes a serious issue that people argue over and uses a nice, fun way to get the idea across," Baker said.
The event is part of the group's second annual Conservative Coming Out Week, which also includes a civil war re-enactment, an "Axis vs. Allies" flag football game, a "Support our Troops" grill out and a group volunteer day.
Baker said the group has about 50 members who attend weekly meetings.
Similar events, held at other campuses around the country, have drawn protests and reaction to the event scheduled for Thursday in Iowa City drew swift criticism.
"It's so sad and very surprising," said Elizabeth Mendez-Shannon, an Ecuador native who is a doctoral student in social work at Iowa.
She said campus groups were deciding how to respond to the event.
"I think we'll probably have a presence there," Mendez-Shannon said.
Eddie Mauro, a member of the immigration committee of A Mid-Iowa Organizing Strategy, called the game cruel and said he was disappointed that the College Republicans would use it to frame their position on immigration.
"The question here is: Isn't there a better way to handle the debate than this type of exercise?" Mauro said.
Greg Baker, a sophomore from Earlham and president of the College Republicans, said the event is intended to draw attention to the need for tougher immigration laws.
"Immigration is becoming a very huge issue, similar to abortion," he said. "People feel very strongly about it."
The game "takes a serious issue that people argue over and uses a nice, fun way to get the idea across," Baker said.
The event is part of the group's second annual Conservative Coming Out Week, which also includes a civil war re-enactment, an "Axis vs. Allies" flag football game, a "Support our Troops" grill out and a group volunteer day.
Baker said the group has about 50 members who attend weekly meetings.
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DB wrote on Apr 18, 2007 4:03 PM:
Chris wrote on Apr 18, 2007 9:25 AM:
They seem like such nice young men wrote on Apr 18, 2007 7:20 AM: