Council on American-Islamic Relations criticizes University of Michigan's trespass policy
The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations is joining the American Civil Liberties Union in its criticism of University of Michigan's trespass policy that allows the school to ban juveniles and adults from campus property for life without charging them with a crime.
University officials recently proposed revisions to the policy after the ACLU challenged the constitutionality of it following a report last fall by AnnArbor.com highlighting several controversial cases of trespass warnings being issued.
Dawud Walid, executive director of CAIR-Michigan, a civil rights organization for American Muslims, said one of the group's members, Nazih Hassan of Ypsilanti, is on the list of about 2,000 people who have been banned from campus property since 2001. Walid is sharing his concerns about the policy with the ACLU.
“The University of Michigan's criteria for individuals being banned has the appearance of being subjective and vague,” Walid said. “That individuals including alumni can be banned from a state-funded institution for merely voicing political views or criticizing the administration without directly disrupting the university's learning environment or without being criminally charged is mind-boggling. 

We support the ACLU and other persons who have concerns about this vague policy that can lead to further infringement of Americans' civil rights.”
Hassan is well-respected in the Ann Arbor area Muslim community and is a vocal activist, Walid said. Hassan was born in Lebanon and became a legal permanent resident of the United States in 2001. He is mentioned in the ACLU's 2006 lawsuit challenging the National Security Agency's warrantless wiretapping program, in which CAIR was one of the plaintiffs. Hassan publicly criticized the program, arguing that it had a chilling effect on his free speech rights.
Records show Hassan was issued a trespass warning on Oct. 13, 2002 at the Diag, where University of Michigan police say hundreds of protesters had gathered to take sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Hassan got into a shoving match with someone, who also was issued a warning, police spokeswoman Diane Brown said. Hassan did not appeal the warning to the police chief, Brown said.
Court records do not indicate Hassan has ever been charged with a crime in Washtenaw County.
University officials have argued that the policy is necessary and an effective tool to keep people off campus who pose a threat to public safety. Hassan could not be reached for comment today.
As the university continues to review the policy, it is asking the public for input. For more information, go to http://www.vpcomm.umich.edu/pa/key/Trespass.html
Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and email at leehiggins@annarbor.com.
Comments
bedrog
Thu, Mar 17, 2011 : 4:30 p.m.
I certainly hope that a number of the names ( predictably approvingly) cited by certain other posters remain ' trespassed' ( as should a number of their co-trespassees) not because of their cause per se, but because of their actual behavior...strident, obnoxious disrespect of invited speakers and the repeated disruptive attempts to hijack legitimate university organizations to that cause... ..., for which CAIR happens to be an 'UNINDICTED CO-CONSPIRATOR", according to the recent congressional hearings on domestic Islamic extremism. No big surprise there.
Jay Thomas
Thu, Mar 17, 2011 : 3:10 a.m.
There is a misconception that because the University is a public institution everyone has the right to be there. You pay taxes but have no business being at an elementary school either unless you have a child attending there. The University grounds are certainly not a place for roughhousing around.
trespass
Thu, Mar 17, 2011 : 11:49 a.m.
Also keep in mind that more than 200 of those trespassed are children. They are banned for life for example for kicking a soccer ball around on the golf course.
Roadman
Thu, Mar 17, 2011 : 4:47 a.m.
"The University grounds are certainly not a place for roughhousing around". Yeah, however it is the U-M cops that often initiate the roughhousing, as Dr. Wilkerson had testified to at the trial resulting in a jury acquittal. Dr. Borisov could likely confirm that also.
1bigbud
Thu, Mar 17, 2011 : 2:16 a.m.
OMG Did we step on you toes We will try harder next time OK
trespass
Thu, Mar 17, 2011 : 12:44 a.m.
Does the UM treat pro-palestinian protests differently than they do other protest? Four people were issued trespass warnings in the same protest as Mr. Hassan. The Catherine Wilkerson case also involved multiple arrests at a pro-palestinian protest. This shows one of the problems with having the Police Chief be the final arbiter. He will always support the actions of his officers. Where is the Civil Liberties Board in evaluating this type of mass arrest?
Mike
Wed, Mar 16, 2011 : 11:30 p.m.
CAIR? oh pulease. Is anyone still intimidated by that terrorist front organization? Let's have an investigation into where their real money comes from.
Roadman
Thu, Mar 17, 2011 : 5 a.m.
Mike, there is a group that has been investigating similar civil rights organizations the last few years. See <a href="http://www.gwb.com.au/2000/pc/bnai15.htm" rel='nofollow'>www.gwb.com.au/2000/pc/bnai15.htm</a>
southyoop
Thu, Mar 17, 2011 : 3:19 a.m.
Mike, you are spot on. That organization needs to be fully investigated and shut down.
Roadman
Wed, Mar 16, 2011 : 9:56 p.m.
I appreciate the concern expressed by the Council on American-Islamic Relations and note that I have noticed a large number of persons with Arabic or Islamic names on the "Trespass List". Yousef Rabhi was another one I had earlier pointed out. Some I am acquainted with, most others I am not. I believe it is the product of an attitude by certain officers in U-M public safety to disrespect and hassle those political activists supporting minority causes. The Dr. Catherine Wilkerson criminal trial 3 years ago showed the violence displayed by U-M offcers against peaceful protestors. One arrestee in that case was violently knocked to the ground and sustained a concussion. Wilkerson testified to being tossed against a wall and injuring her arm . That incident involved persons involved in Middle Eastern issues.