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News

Campus protest draws opposition

Unapproved activist group responds to President Bush's second inauguration

By Ben Hill
The Daily Cougar

Several dozen activists and onlookers gathered Thursday at UH to protest the inauguration and second term of President George W. Bush.

The Inaugurate Yourself Puppetista Bloc, which included members from a variety of local and national organizations, walked through campus chanting, playing music, handing out flyers and encouraging students, faculty and staff members to walk out of their classrooms and offices.

Many carried signs, one protester wore a giant mask of Bush's head, and others carried a large effigy of a pink pig holding cash in its hooves.

The actual protest event seemed centered more on the individual groups' opposition to Bush than on bringing solutions to the table, onlookers said.

"I just don't like it," said Aaron Bell, a senior business major who was involved in a series of discussions with the protesters. "All they do is complain."

The group didn't get the approval the University requires for such events on campus, Dean of Students William Munson said.

Munson said the group did not register to use Lynn Eusan Park and violated the University's restrictions on amplified sound. 

UH policy requires advance reservations for groups that want to hold events on campus and restricts amplified sound outside Lynn Eusan Park, Butler Plaza, the University Center and the UC Satellite.

Within those areas, amplified sound may not exceed certain levels.

"This was the first violation by this group and, in keeping with our standard procedure, a written notice will be given to the group explaining the UH policy," Munson said in a statement.

Few participants in the rally identified themselves as UH students, and most refused to give their names. A few conservative students, including Bell, turned out to meet the protesters; some of their discussions turned heated, but the group remained orderly.

The demonstration did draw a number of passing students, who stopped to watch or begin discussions with the protesters on topics including human rights and torture, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the war in Iraq and capitalism.

Many of the onlookers said they were curious about the event, and some admitted they came expecting to see a fight.

"(It was) pretty interesting, pretty funny," said one passerby who asked not to be named.
 

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