UW-Madison Chancellor John Wiley was met with boos from angered students when he did not issue a statement condemning the USA Patriot Act at an accountability session Thursday night in Science Hall sponsored by the Associated Students of Madison.
The session began with short speeches by members of the UW-Madison Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, the Teaching Assistants' Association and ASM. Speakers called the Patriot Act unconstitutional and urged Wiley to formally oppose the Act.
\The Patriot Act is a seriously flawed piece of legislation that was rushed through very quickly,"" Wiley said. ""UW-Madison, along with many other universities, belongs to organizations that are working to fix the flaws.""
Wiley urged students to support the Safe Act, an act that corrects flaws in the Patriot Act and is getting broad bipartisan support.
""I would encourage all of you to focus not on simply a blanket condemnation of the Patriot Act. That's basically old business,"" Wiley said.
The mood of the evening changed when Multicultral Student Coalition member and UW-Madison student Suri Kempe unveiled five questions written on a chalkboard for which ASM representatives demanded yes or no answers.
Wiley interrupted Kempe before she finished her first question.
""This is foolishness,"" Wiley said. ""These are not questions that can be answered yes or no.""
Wiley refused to issue a public statement but is going to Washington to meet with the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Tom Ridge to discuss difficulties of the Patriot Act and other acts.
Wiley told students he would write letters to the student newspapers explaining his stance.
""I will write a letter to both papers outlining what we're doing,"" he said. ""But I'm not going to issue a grand standing public condemnation.""
Many students attending the session said they were not happy with the outcome.
""It really puts us in a tight spot-that he wouldn't make a statement,"" ASM Representative Remi Aregbesola said.
However, UW-Madison senior Mike Shanley said he felt ASM representatives caught Wiley off guard when they asked yes or no questions.
Wiley said the session was disorganized and ineffective.
""I'm happy to talk with anyone about anything, but I'm not happy to be backed in a corner, or given a set of prearranged questions to answer yes or no to,"" Wiley said. ""That's just silliness.\
