Hellen Thomas award

some links to bring you up to speed:

I'm sure by now you have heard the news about Wayne State University's decision to drop a journalism award that has been given in the name of Helen Thomas for more than twenty years. WSU's decision came after Thomas made comments about Zionism's stranglehold on "Congress, the White House, Hollywood and Wall Street" which WSU officials considered 'anti semitic'.

Here are some links to the story:

http://www.freep.com/article/20101204/NEWS05/12040418/Wayne-State-University-drops-Helen-Thomas-diversity-award-over-journalist-s-controversial-remarks

http://www.thesouthend.wayne.edu/index.php/article/2010/12/helen_thomas_wsu_betrayed_academic_freedom#comment475

http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2010/12/helen_thomas_wayne_state_unive.html

Background:
In a move that was offensive to all who believe in academic and journalistic freedom, Wayne State University decided to change the name of the journalism award named after one of the University’s most esteemed alumni. Helen Thomas, the 90 year old esteemed Arab American journalist and former Dean of the White House Press corps. Thomas is perhaps the best-known alum of WSU, having covered every President of the United States from the last years of the Eisenhower administration until the second year of the Obama administration. Her courage and independent questioning earned her a deep respect from her colleagues and the American people.

Unfortunately, some “public servants” at Wayne State University have reportedly been waiting for an excuse to rename the award after many supporters of Israel attacked Thomas for recent comments about getting the Israelis out of Palestine. The comments led to her forced resignation from her job. Most recently, at a conference December 2nd in Dearborn, Thomas remarked "Congress, the White House and Hollywood, Wall Street are owned by Zionists. No question, in my opinion." WSU leaders said they considered the remark anti-Semitic and pulled the award the following day.

http://arabdetroit.com/news.php?id=2379

http://www.arabamericannews.com/news/index.php?mod=article&cat=Community&article=3734

http://www.arabamericannews.com/news/index.php?mod=article&cat=OtherOpinions&article=3696

http://articles.cnn.com/2010-06-07/politics/pol.helen.thomas_1_helen-thomas-hearst-corporation-remarks?_s=PM:POLITICS

http://arabdetroit.com/news.php?id=2402