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The Student News Site of San Francisco State University

Golden Gate Xpress

The Student News Site of San Francisco State University

Golden Gate Xpress

University Affairs to meet with self-proclaimed white nationalist

The Associated Students Inc. University Affairs Council wants a self-proclaimed white nationalist to explain why he is enrolled in race and resistance courses at SF State.

Francisco Lazo, 19, a second-year economics major and Campus Recreation representative, holds a reprinted copy of a Golden Gate Xpress story on the self-proclaimed white nationalist Brian Cofield at a University Affairs meeting, – a board comprised of elected Associated Students officials – at SF State on Monday, Nov. 5, 2018. The UA passed a motion to invite Cofield to a closed-session University Affairs meeting. (Aaron Levy-Wolins/Golden Gate Xpress)
Tachelle Herron Lane, 38, who is earning a teaching credential in social studies, speaks about inviting self-proclaimed white nationalist Brian Cofield to a UA meeting at a University Affairs – a board comprised of elected Associated Students officials – at SF State on Monday, Nov. 5, 2018. The UA passed a motion to invite Cofield to a closed-session University Affairs meeting. (Aaron Levy-Wolins/Golden Gate Xpress)

During a meeting on Monday, Nov. 5, Vice President of University Affairs Tachelle Herron-Lane led a discussion on Xpress coverage of self-proclaimed white nationalist Brian Cofield, whose racist views were exposed through anonymous fliers that were briefly posted around campus on Oct. 5.

She said since the coverage, many students have expressed feeling unsafe.

“You were at an event when a person walked in and people were scared that they were gonna shoot up the place,” Herron-Lane said during the meeting. “Right now … a lot people are afraid of people who look like a white supremacist because of the shooting that happened in Pittsburg.”

ASI Ethnic Studies Representative Wesley Cox said, via conference call, that he was uncertain inviting Cofield was good idea. He said giving Cofield a platform to express his views might cause more unrest and safety concerns among students and administration.

“I am trying to figure out the harm or jeopardy of having this conversation with someone, yet we don’t know their intentions,” Cox said. “I’m scared and curious as to what we are doing [as UA Council] by looking into someone else’s beliefs that directly go against our beliefs.”

Herron-Lane said the campus community can’t rely on conjecture alone to feel safe, yet she also does not want to validate his beliefs.

“It’s scary because we don’t know his intentions, and he is enrolled in race and resistance classes,” Herron-Lane said. “We want to know what is his objective.”

She said the only way to quell student’s safety concerns is to speak with Cofield directly.

“I want to extend palm branch like Jesus did to the Pharisees,” she said “Why are you here and what do you want to do with race and resistance class?”

ASI Campus Recreation Representative Francisco Lazo said he noticed various messages directed toward Cofield, like a posting at the 19th Street M-train station that read, “Be afraid nazi Brian” and “Fuck you Brian.”

Lazo said the type of media attention Cofield received might have played a factor in bringing the worst out of people.

“I don’t think this the best way to respond,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s the press’ fault, I get it. They had to report the story. But some of the language used in this article sets him up for failure at SF State.”

ASI Business Representative Zena Khesbak objected to suggestions that Cofield might be a victim.

“Everyone is allowed to have whatever opinion they want,” Khesbak said. “He is known to be affiliated with hate groups. He enrolled in a race and resistance class knowing the possible effect it would have on students. He knew, going in, about the repercussions.”

The UA passed Herron-Lane’s motion to invite Cofield and SF State’s Dean of Students Shimina Harris to a closed door meeting within the next two weeks to discuss his intentions and the safety concerns that have gripped some students since the fliers went up.

 

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About the Contributor
Aaron Levy-Wolins, Xpress Magazine Photo Editor
Aaron Levy-Wolins is a senior photojournalism student who specializes in portraiture. He has spent multiple semesters with the Golden Gate Xpress newspaper, working as a photographer. San Francisco Bay Area born and bred, his work has been published in SFBay, El Tecolote, and Broke-Ass Stuart.  While his passion is photography, he loves watching movies and cooking. He plans to freelance and travel after graduation.

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    Sam XieNov 13, 2018 at 9:16 am

    Several years ago, the president of the General Union of Palestinian Students (GUPS), Mohammed Hammad came under fire for similarly threatening posts. Mohammad’s social media account showed him brandishing a knife and threatening Israelis. Mohammad was ultimately allowed to graduate from SFSU. At the time, students who expressed concern were labeled “Islamophobic”. Interesting juxtaposition with recent events

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    Phil HaggardyNov 8, 2018 at 8:18 am

    Good old SFSU. No to a white nationalist (as well it should be) BUT when other people express the EXACT same antisemetic hate filled rhetoric SFSU goes out of their way to protect them. SFSU has long since been a bastion of antisemetism and acceptable Jew hatred. What’s with the double standard. Love the quote “I want to extend palm branch like Jesus did to the Pharisees,” Just couldn’t resist throwing in a little extra antisemtism in rejecting an antisemite. CLASSIC sfsu. Jesus wanted peace with the pharisees, but those damn Jews killed him anyway. Great thoughts to express. What I have come to expect

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University Affairs to meet with self-proclaimed white nationalist