Spring Break
The Daily OrangeSU student detained at VA hospital
By Darren Benda
Posted: 9/10/07, 12:44 AM EST Section: News
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Mariam Jukaku, who studies magazine, newspaper and online journalism at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, said that after 10 minutes of taking photographs, security officers approached her and demanded her camera.
The security guards caught her leaving the center and walking back to her car. They asked for identification and asked if Jukaku was a U.S. citizen. They also forced her delete the 15 photographs on the camera.
Jukaku wondered whether she was treated that way because of her appearance. She is a Muslim of Indian descent and wears a traditional head scarf.
"I hope it wasn't, and like to think it wasn't asked because of my appearance," Jukaku said in an interview. "But either way, I think it's indicative of what's going on, on a broader scale."
Jukaku's appearance was not an issue, said Gordon Sclar, VA Medical Center's public relations director, in The Post-Standard on Friday. Sclar was unavailable for comment to The Daily Orange this weekend.
The security officers were following a policy that restricts photographs on hospital property, Sclar said. He also said she was between the medical center's parking lot and the sidewalk on Irving Avenue.
However, Jukaku said she repeatedly told him that she was on the sidewalk.
"If I had the pictures, the flags would be in them, and it would be impossible if I was in front of the flags," she said. "But I can't prove that now."
Jukaku said Sclar told her on the scene that the issue was about patients' concerns for privacy.
"Even though I was on the sidewalk, he said that didn't matter, as I was on their side of Irving Avenue," she said.
Sclar said photocopying her ID was not necessary and apologized for deleting the images on the camera.
At about 3:20 p.m., Jukaku said she left her introductory photography class and walked to her car parked on the West Lot, located behind the hospital. When she came up to the medical center, Jukaku said she decided to take pictures of the flags and some of the signs.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
9000+ Jihad attacks (and counting)
posted 9/11/07 @ 2:48 PM EST
Apparently Leftist support surveillance when it's Muslim surveilance of American military hospitals?
It's now been six years. The global jihad proceeds apace, with well *over 9,000 deadly attacks* carried out in the course of those six years by believers in the proposition that "Islam must dominate, and not be dominated. (Continued…)
Jen06
posted 9/11/07 @ 8:52 PM EST
I think you managed to sum that up pretty well.
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