Oct. 28, 2002 - (U-WIRE) FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Security was tight Thursday at Barnhill Arena for the forum discussing the United States and world affairs. The event featured Ehud Barak, former prime minister of Israel, and Benazir Bhutto, former prime minister of Pakistan.As a security measure, backpacks were not allowed inside the building. University of Arkansas students carrying backpacks were told to either take them back to their cars or to leave them in a locker inside the Arkansas Union. Because of the rainy weather, a few students were allowed to leave their backpacks hanging on a rail near the entrance.

Students were cooperative with the security measures, said UAPD officer Mark Nichols.

"We turned three or four [students] away at the door," Nichols said. "No one resisted us or gave us any flak," he said.

Women were allowed to carry purses into the building, but only after they were inspected for any kind of potential weapons, including personal security devices such as pepper spray and mace. This security measure was an annoyance, but nothing unreasonable, some people said.

"It wasn't the coolest," UA senior Amber Hulsey said.

One container of mace was confiscated, said Lt. Gary Crain, UAPD public information officer. The mace was returned to its owner as she was leaving.

The owner of the mace, Justine Middleton, a UA freshman, said she didn't mind the security measure.

"I really didn't even think about it," Middleton said. "It was no big deal. I understand where they're coming from."

Barnhill was filled to about half capacity for the event. Some students attended merely to fulfill an extra credit assignment. Others were there for more personal reasons.

"I'm from Jordan, so Israeli-Middle Eastern issues are important to me," said Toula Abuhamdan, a UA student.

Other attendees came because they were curious about what the speaker would say.

"I'm just interested to see what things they'll say, given the current turmoil in the Middle East, and how their views differ," said Keith Flores, a UA senior.

And what might happen.

"I'm curious about what's going to happen between the two prime ministers," said Paula Ehrle, a UA senior. "And whether it's going to be a heated argument or not."

The two speakers came from traditionally opposing religious backgrounds; Barak from Judaism, and Bhutto from Islam.

But no heated argument occurred. Both of the former prime ministers spoke out against terrorism.

"I come to you at a time of tension, turmoil, and terrorism," Bhutto said. "Al-Qaeda has pieced together a quilt of chaos, a mosaic that threatens every continent."

Bhutto also defended Islam and accused Osama bin Laden of giving her religion a bad name.

"Bin Laden wants his followers to believe that [the war on terrorism] is a war on Islam," Bhutto said. "But our religion is not what these people preach."

Barak also spoke out against terrorism.

"Would the terrorists that killed 3,000 people feign to kill 10,000, or even 30,000?" Barak asked, referring to the terrorist attacks on the U.S. East Coast on Sept. 11, 2001.

Overall, many students were satisfied with the event.

"I think it's good for people to broaden their view of the world," said Rivka Berman, a UA freshman.

And, said Allison Glahn, a UA freshman, "It was good that they showed two opposing views."

The two speakers came to campus paid for by a student fee of 85 cents each credit hour passed by students last spring.

The fee raised about $177,000 to bring prominent speakers to campus. Bhutto and Barak are the first of the speakers brought by the Distinguished Lecture Fee, each receiving $50,000.

The student-fee pays for one speaker each semester.

Bhutto and Barak came to the UA as a paired lecture group, but their appearance at the UA was also the first actual time they had both spoken at a forum together in the United States.