I have never been prouder to be a member of the Washington University community than on the late evening of Oct. 21, 2008.

Prominent conservative activist and Middle East expert Daniel Pipes took the podium last night in front of an audience of more than 50 people inside the Laboratory Sciences Building with a speech titled “Vanquishing the Islamist Enemy and Helping the Moderate Muslim Ally.”

This week, student groups across the country are hosting speakers, panel discussions and film screenings as a part of the third annual nationwide Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week. Sponsored nationally by the Terrorism Awareness Project, Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week fuels the dangerous and hateful lie that Islam is a violent religion and undermines the values of tolerance that lie at the core of the Washington University community.

Dr. Daniel Pipes, a conservative columnist and activist, will speak on campus about issues involving extremist Islamic groups Tuesday night, prompting a range of reactions from conservative supporters to Muslim detractors.