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Ramadan, online data fees, Egypt
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January 27, 2011
Muslim studies expert draws crowds
Tariq Ramadan, an Islamic scholar known for drawing thousands of people to events, has already filled a theatre and overflow room at SFU’s Segal Graduate School of Business for his Feb. 3, 7 p.m. lecture. Ramadan’s lecture will be based on his latest book, The Quest for Meaning: Developing a Philosophy of Pluralism — an exploration of the most pressing issues affecting contemporary Islam and the West — and has attracted 450 registrants and a growing wait list. SFU’s Centre for the Comparative Study of Muslim Studies and Cultures and School of International Studies, the lecture’s co-hosts, have booked additional theatre space for more registrants to view a live webcast of Ramadan’s speech.
Ramadan has the following limited times to do media interviews before his lecture: 9:55 to 10:15 a.m. and 10:15 to 10:35 a.m. on Feb. 3. To book a time, phone or e-mail Ellen Vaillancourt, 604.614.3553 (cell), edvailla@sfu.ca.
Webcasting: http://www.lidc.sfu.ca/broadcast/
News release on lecture: http://i.sfu.ca/qmXOXo
Website: http://www.sfu.ca/ccsmsc/events.htm
Hold your horses on usage-based Internet billing
SFU social media expert Richard Smith says: “Let’s not get excited until we see how this plays out,” in response to the CRTC allowing Internet service providers to charge for over usage. Smith adds: “We need to see if a lot of people really do get charged and if those people then transfer their account to Shaw from Telus or vice-versa. Until now, Telus and Shaw have been reluctant to ding their regular customers for fear of sending them away. But they do harass the big down-loaders.” Meanwhile, communication professor Peter Chow-White calls it a case of “double dipping from the telecoms.”
Richard Smith, 778.782.5116; smith@sfu.ca, http://twitter.com/SMITH
Peter Chow-White, 778.782.7289; petercw@sfu.ca
Egypt blocks Twitter, unrest grows
There is a reported crackdown on using social media and text messaging to disseminate information about the growing anti-government demonstrations in Egypt. Tools like Twitter appear to be blocked in that country. Meanwhile, the protests continue to escalate over complaints about poverty and unemployment in the country. SFU international studies professor Tamir Moustafa can talk about the circumstances leading to the protests. Communication professors Richard Smith and Peter Chow-White can provide insight on how social media is increasingly being used in similar situations around the world.
Tamir Moustafa, 604.771.1379 (cell); tmoustafa@sfu.ca
Richard Smith, 778.782.5116, smith@sfu.ca, http://twitter.com/SMITH
Peter Chow-White, 778.782.7289, petercw@sfu.ca
Tariq Ramadan, an Islamic scholar known for drawing thousands of people to events, has already filled a theatre and overflow room at SFU’s Segal Graduate School of Business for his Feb. 3, 7 p.m. lecture. Ramadan’s lecture will be based on his latest book, The Quest for Meaning: Developing a Philosophy of Pluralism — an exploration of the most pressing issues affecting contemporary Islam and the West — and has attracted 450 registrants and a growing wait list. SFU’s Centre for the Comparative Study of Muslim Studies and Cultures and School of International Studies, the lecture’s co-hosts, have booked additional theatre space for more registrants to view a live webcast of Ramadan’s speech.
Ramadan has the following limited times to do media interviews before his lecture: 9:55 to 10:15 a.m. and 10:15 to 10:35 a.m. on Feb. 3. To book a time, phone or e-mail Ellen Vaillancourt, 604.614.3553 (cell), edvailla@sfu.ca.
Webcasting: http://www.lidc.sfu.ca/broadcast/
News release on lecture: http://i.sfu.ca/qmXOXo
Website: http://www.sfu.ca/ccsmsc/events.htm
Hold your horses on usage-based Internet billing
SFU social media expert Richard Smith says: “Let’s not get excited until we see how this plays out,” in response to the CRTC allowing Internet service providers to charge for over usage. Smith adds: “We need to see if a lot of people really do get charged and if those people then transfer their account to Shaw from Telus or vice-versa. Until now, Telus and Shaw have been reluctant to ding their regular customers for fear of sending them away. But they do harass the big down-loaders.” Meanwhile, communication professor Peter Chow-White calls it a case of “double dipping from the telecoms.”
Richard Smith, 778.782.5116; smith@sfu.ca, http://twitter.com/SMITH
Peter Chow-White, 778.782.7289; petercw@sfu.ca
Egypt blocks Twitter, unrest grows
There is a reported crackdown on using social media and text messaging to disseminate information about the growing anti-government demonstrations in Egypt. Tools like Twitter appear to be blocked in that country. Meanwhile, the protests continue to escalate over complaints about poverty and unemployment in the country. SFU international studies professor Tamir Moustafa can talk about the circumstances leading to the protests. Communication professors Richard Smith and Peter Chow-White can provide insight on how social media is increasingly being used in similar situations around the world.
Tamir Moustafa, 604.771.1379 (cell); tmoustafa@sfu.ca
Richard Smith, 778.782.5116, smith@sfu.ca, http://twitter.com/SMITH
Peter Chow-White, 778.782.7289, petercw@sfu.ca