November 19, 2003
Northwestern University hate crime never happened
Xander Saide reported to police he was held at knifepoint by an attacker who used a racial slur. Other incidents on campus were reported this year, so a student rally was held last week. On Monday, Saide was arrested for filing a false police report. University officials and police say the communications major confessed to lying about the attack to "initiate dialogue about race relations." (via TMN)
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So he lied and commited a crime to help facilitate understanding and acceptance of his cause. Brilliant.
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Hmm, in the article about Saide's attack he says he didn't see his attackers because they got him from behind, yet they "attempted to write something on his face"? No wonder he confessed, he's crap at making up stories. I wonder if he had anything to do with the other incidents. The whole thing sounds like a screwed-up attempt for personal attention, especially given that he was the first speaker at the anti-hate rally.
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That was my thought, too, tracicle.
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When I went to school there a decade or so ago, the campus was in an uproar over an anti-gay slur that appeared on the side of Norris Center. I knew the gay guy who actually spray painted it. Perhaps this sort of self-slurring is an NU tradition.
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Dammit. theBone's keeping me honest. /grumblegrumble
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I'm watching you!
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Right behind ya, slick.
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I feel like I'm following a trail of breadcrumbs...
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Ah here we go!
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me, I just feel like a stalker!
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Hmm, I thought I commented in this thread, but maybe I just previewed and left before hitting post. Anyway, this post reminded me of a somewhat similar incident involving a professor who was a convert to Judaism, and I think she may have even claimed at some point that she wanted to "initiate dialogue" by doing it, though I can't find any such quote to that effect. "A former Claremont McKenna College psychology professor convicted of falsely reporting her car was vandalized and spray-painted with racist and anti-Semitic slurs was sentenced Wednesday to a year in state prison."