United States Congressman Peter King (Rep.) of Long Island made his appearance on campus this past Wednesday.’ He is’ the Chairman of the United States House Committee for Homeland Security, and his’ Stony Brook conference allowed him to address issues of national’ security.’

King was ushered into a lecture hall of the Humanities building surrounded by his staff and a few police officers. As expected, the conference was full of heated statements and controversy.

King is well known for his strong and controversial opinions. According to Professor Lee Koppelman, Director for Research for Regional Policy Studies here in Stony Brook University, some of King’s strongest features are that, ‘He is candid, vocal and not afraid to voice his opinions.’

King’s latest cloud of controversy was a result of statements’ regarding the Muslim population of the United States. King said, ‘Eighty-five percent of the mosques in the United States are run by extremists.’ When questioned by a Stony Brook student about this claim and ‘whether a scientific and systematic survey was conducted at the 1209 mosques recognized by the US Department of State,’ King replied ‘No.’

What followed almost immediately after King’s arrival into the lecture hall was a student protest. It took place in the lobby of the Humanities building. The chants of the protest muffled the prominent voice of the Congressman. Professor Mario Mignone, the director of the Cultural Center for Italian Studies, who was hosting the event, turned on the stereo for King.

The conference went on more to mention the projects and programs that United States Department of Homeland Security was overseeing and exercising. Most of the programs that were mentioned concerned domestic and international surveillance. King mentioned the revelations of the Terrorist Finance Tracking Program (TFTP) by the New York Times, which occurred in June of this year and the revelation of the NSA’s electronic surveillance program or Terrorist Surveillance Program, which occurred in December of 2005.

King expressed described the Times and its journalists as ‘disgraceful and reprehensible.’ King went further to say that the Times compromised U.S. security and that the reporters should be jailed.

Despite the leak, King said the United States is safer today than it was five years ago. ‘ According to King, a growing threat, however, is homegrown terrorism.’ ‘As we (the United States) adapt, they (the terrorists) are adapting,’ said King.

Following the conference, a protest organized by students confronted King in the lobby of the Humanities building. It was a contained and orderly protest. King made his way up the flight of stairs and the protestors followed chanting anti-King sentiment. King entered a room, not to be seen again.

Several of the protesting students were Muslims. King said during the conference that he experienced a ‘lack of cooperation by mosque leaders.’ One of the protesting Muslim students asked, ‘How can you expect people to cooperate if you are harassing them?’

King is the only Republican Congressman left on Long Island. According to Constituent Dynamics and RT Strategies, both organizations collaboratively conducted a poll from October 8-10, showing that King is facing cut-throat competition from Democratic challenger Dave Mejias, who is trailing King’s 48 percent command of voter polls with 46 percent.

Professor Koppelman believes that King’s tactics are polarizing and that he engages in ‘unfair’ profiling.’ Professor Koppelman said, ‘You can’t hold Muslims responsible for being religious,’ and that religious freedom is ‘a hallmark of this country.’

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