Steve Gilliard, 1964-2007

It is with tremendous sadness that we must convey the news that Steve Gilliard, editor and publisher of The News Blog, passed away June 2, 2007. He was 42.

To those who have come to trust The News Blog and its insightful, brash and unapologetic editorial tone, we have Steve to thank from the bottom of our hearts. Steve helped lead many discussions that mattered to all of us, and he tackled subjects and interest categories where others feared to tread.

Please keep Steve's friends and family in your thoughts and prayers.

Steve meant so much to us.

We will miss him terribly.

The Shame of NYU

A student Republican club at New York University is getting heat for organizing a "Find the Illegal Immigrant" game on campus tomorrow.

Participants in the contest will try to win a gift certificate by being the first to point out a club member wearing a nametag reading "Illegal Immigrant."

Other students at the high-priced school have bombarded club officials with e-mails branding the event "racist" and "disgusting." Some students plan to counter the game with a protest.

"It's not a racist event, first and foremost," said Sarah Chambers, 21, president of the College Republicans. "Just because we don't want illegal immigrants being able to completely disregard the laws of our country doesn't make us racist."

Chambers, a politics major, said students must show their NYU identification to be deemed "INS" agents and to search the person wearing the nametag.

"The person that is being the 'illegal immigrant' is not an actual undocumented worker or illegal immigrant," Chambers insisted.

She admitted the game is provocative, but it's intended to get students to pay attention and debate the issue of illegal immigration.

Up to 300 students are expected to protest the game. On a campus Internet bulletin board, protest organizers said, "We need to show that this type of racist action is completely unacceptable."

Labels: NYU, wingnuttery