The tone deaf make unpleasant noises

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     The Muslim community in this town should hire a good public relations professional, because, on their own, they’re just pissing everybody off. Shouting a guy down (the Israeli ambassador, Michael Oren), not letting him speak?
     Bad form, that. Clueless, stupid, counterproductive.
     It’s hard to know what to make of this latest development—the University’s reported decision to “ban” IVC’s Muslim Student Union for a year. On it’s face, it looks awful. How did it come to that? Is UCI trying to piss off the entire Muslim world?
     The latest: now, there is some question concerning the the nature of the action UCI officials took with regard to the MSU:

Muslim Student Union members shocked by suspension

     …Campus officials at UCI have banned the Muslim Student Union for one year and placed the organization on disciplinary probation for an additional year, according to the Jewish Federation Monday morning.
     Federation officials say they obtained documents from the university through the Freedom of Information Act, which show that the Muslim Student Union has been suspended on campus effective Sept. 1.
     MSU members said contrary to the federation's statements, the student group has not been officially suspended.
. . .
     The group has appealed the decision, according to Husam Ayloush, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Members also denies that the Oren disruptions were an officially sanctioned MSU activity and that the students acted on their own.
     Their attorney, Reem Salahi, said based on her understanding of the university's policies and procedures, what has been issued is not a "ban," but only a recommendation. The student group is waiting to meet with university officials.
     "That said, I don't agree with their actions at all," she said. "This is nothing but collective punishment. All Muslim students on campus have been punished for the actions of a few."
     So far, UCI has not released any information about this ban and does not plan on doing so, said Cathy Lawhon, director of media relations.
. . .
     Ayloush said he is disappointed by The Jewish Federation's decision to release information that was meant to be confidential.
     "I'm puzzled at their attempt to score political points at the expense of the privacy of the students and the process that is internal to UCI," he said.
. . .
     Ayloush called the university's actions "unprecedented, heavy-handed and draconian."
     "It appears to be politically motivated to silence any future peaceful and legitimate criticism of Israel's brutal practices," he said. "This was nothing but a peaceful and symbolic protest of the Israeli Ambassador at UCI. It was a reflection of a growing worldwide campaign by human rights activists to end the Israeli occupation of Palestine and their racism toward the Palestinian people."
     The Muslim students did not engage in fraudulent, immoral or criminal behavior, Ayloush said.
     Shalom Elcott, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation Orange County, said he commends the university's decision to follow through on this issue.
     "The university's disciplinary action regarding the MSU establishes an important and appropriate precedent and sends a powerful message to other universities across the nation."
     Elcott said the federation along with other campus and local Jewish organizations have worked with the university to resolve this issue….