Anticipating the arrival of Conrad Muhammad, a leader of the Nation of Islam and alleged anti-Semite, about 200 people braved the cold Friday afternoon to debate whether he should be allowed to speak on campus Saturday.

Members of campus Jewish organizations and their supporters gathered on the steps of Pattee at 12:30 p.m. Friday carrying signs reading "Racists shouldn't get rich off of our tuition money" and "Freedom of speech -- yes. Racism -- no."

Robert Davis (junior-premedicine) was one of those displaying a sign protesting Muhammad's speech. Davis said he believes Muhammad is an anti-Semite, and Davis was protesting to create awareness.

"The University seems pretty apathetic. If the Nation is allowed to talk, so are we," he said.

Other protesters handed out packets in which Muhammad was quoted saying ". . . many in the Jewish community, particularly those in leadership, seek to control black people."

Several students and faculty members spoke on the issue while a crowd accumulated to listen.

William Asbury, vice president for student affairs, took the microphone after Robert Eckhardt, professor of developmental genetics and evolutionary morphology, remarked that a representative of the University administration had been invited to speak but refused.

Asbury urged students to go to the speech and judge Muhammad for themselves, prompting another professor, Paul Lawrence Rose, professor of history and Jewish studies, to begin heckling Asbury.

But one onlooker shouted "Let him speak," and a protester standing near Rose said he did not think that interrupting Asbury was a good way to protest.

"As a Jew, as a human being, it's more important to do the right thing than to heckle someone. It's not the right thing to do," said Justin Ackerman (freshman-accounting).

Rose said heckling is one of the most effective forms of freedom of speech and should not be discouraged.

Asbury said he saw both sides of the issue.

"My initial reaction was one of understanding concerning (the protestors') perceptions about what might be said, but the process that brought the speaker here is not the issue," Asbury said, referring to the protesters' concerns that University money was used to bring Muhammad to campus.

But Dan Walden, professor of American studies and English and comparative literature, said he thought it was an issue.

"I'm here to make a statement about Conrad Muhammad to say that University money should be used to bring people to speak for knowledge and understanding, not for hate," Walden said.

Some of the crowd came to listen to what the protesters had to say but did not agree with those trying to prohibit Muhammad from speaking.

James Stewart, vice provost for educational equity, said he was hoping something more than tension came out of the controversy.

"I think this is a clear issue of freedom of speech. It's my hope that what comes out of this is an educational opportunity," he said.