Columnist, comedian and former NIU student, Ray Hanania, was told he couldn’t perform his regular comedy routine at Zanie’s, a comedy club in Chicago, because he was Palestinian.

Last Tuesday, Hanania was scheduled to open for comedian Jackie Mason, who’s most known for his roles in “Caddy Shack” and “The Jerk.”

Hanania, a Palestinian-American, had been performing at Zanie’s regularly, completing about 10 to 12 shows since he first took up comedy less than a year ago.

Zanie’s called Hanania notifying him that Jackie Mason may be performing and there would be a good chance that he could open for him.

“I said great, I would love to do it,” Hanania explained in a phone interview with the Northern Star.

Zanie’s told Hanania not to tell anyone of the opening until it was confirmed. Zanie’s called Hanania last week and confirmed that he would be the opening for Mason.

Hanania then got permission to publicize the performance. Three hours before the scheduled act last Tuesday, Zanie’s called and told Hanania that it had bad news: Mason’s people didn’t think it would be a good idea.

Mason told reporters at a press conference on Wednesday that Hanania was a new comedian publicizing the event and Zanie’s was getting irrational complaints from some Jewish people causing the club, not Mason, to cancel Hanania.

But according to an Aug. 28 Associated Press article, Jyll Rosenfield, Mason’s manager, said, “It’s not exactly like he’s a regular Arab-American. This guy is a Palestinian. Jackie doesn’t feel comfortable having a Palestinian open for him. Right now it’s a very sensitive thing, it’s just not a good idea.”

Mason is a well-known member of the Jewish community in America. Mason also told reporters at the news conference that he wasn’t prejudice and had many Palestinian friends.

Hanania thinks Mason is stuck in the middle of controversy and is being told many different things by his staff.

“I think he is blowing this way out of proportion and I think he’s distorting things,” Hanania said. “I think he was given bad information on what I said and did.”

Hanania took up comedy after Sept. 11. His comedy focuses on his experiences as an Arab-American in America.

Hanania attended NIU from 1971 to1973.

“I was a pre-med major, of course,” Hanania said laughing.

Hanania was also a member of a fraternity while attending NIU.

“I think I was the first Arab-American in the fraternity system there,” he said.

Hanania left NIU in 1973 and joined the Air Force, later completing his education at the University of Illinois in Chicago.

“I think Americans need to see [Arab-Americans] as a part of society at different levels.”

Comedy is one of the most effective ways to do that, Hanania added.By Jenan Diab

Assistant Campus Editor

Columnist, comedian and former NIU student, Ray Hanania, was told he couldn’t perform his regular comedy routine at Zanie’s, a comedy club in Chicago, because he was Palestinian.

Last Tuesday, Hanania was scheduled to open for comedian Jackie Mason, who’s most known for his roles in “Caddy Shack” and “The Jerk.”

Hanania, a Palestinian-American, had been performing at Zanie’s regularly, completing about 10 to 12 shows since he first took up comedy less than a year ago.

Zanie’s called Hanania notifying him that Jackie Mason may be performing and there would be a good chance that he could open for him.

“I said great, I would love to do it,” Hanania explained in a phone interview with the Northern Star.

Zanie’s told Hanania not to tell anyone of the opening until it was confirmed. Zanie’s called Hanania last week and confirmed that he would be the opening for Mason.

Hanania then got permission to publicize the performance. Three hours before the scheduled act last Tuesday, Zanie’s called and told Hanania that it had bad news: Mason’s people didn’t think it would be a good idea.

Mason told reporters at a press conference on Wednesday that Hanania was a new comedian publicizing the event and Zanie’s was getting irrational complaints from some Jewish people causing the club, not Mason, to cancel Hanania.

But according to an Aug. 28 Associated Press article, Jyll Rosenfield, Mason’s manager, said, “It’s not exactly like he’s a regular Arab-American. This guy is a Palestinian. Jackie doesn’t feel comfortable having a Palestinian open for him. Right now it’s a very sensitive thing, it’s just not a good idea.”

Mason is a well-known member of the Jewish community in America. Mason also told reporters at the news conference that he wasn’t prejudice and had many Palestinian friends.

Hanania thinks Mason is stuck in the middle of controversy and is being told many different things by his staff.

“I think he is blowing this way out of proportion and I think he’s distorting things,” Hanania said. “I think he was given bad information on what I said and did.”

Hanania took up comedy after Sept. 11. His comedy focuses on his experiences as an Arab-American in America.

Hanania attended NIU from 1971 to1973.

“I was a pre-med major, of course,” Hanania said laughing.

Hanania was also a member of a fraternity while attending NIU.

“I think I was the first Arab-American in the fraternity system there,” he said.

Hanania left NIU in 1973 and joined the Air Force, later completing his education at the University of Illinois in Chicago.

“I think Americans need to see [Arab-Americans] as a part of society at different levels.”

Comedy is one of the most effective ways to do that, Hanania added.