PHOENIX — Like most things involving Maricopa County, Ariz., Sheriff Joe    Arpaio, a First Amendment Forum at Arizona State University designed to instruct journalism students on how to interview controversial newsmakers ignited a controversy of its own.   

Arpaio, who bills himself as "America's toughest sheriff," met with students, faculty and staff at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at ASU Nov. 30 to discuss First Amendment issues and Arpaio's relationship with journalists.  

The webcast interview was disrupted by a large group of students singing an altered version of the Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" that referred to Arpaio as a payaso — clown — who breaks up families, causing him to walk off the set.  

Arpaio has gained much national attention for his treatment of suspected undocumented immigrants, often humiliating those he detains under the authority granted to him by the 287(g) agreement to enforce federal immigration laws. He has paraded them in pink pajamas and marched them chained together in black-and-white striped chain-gang garb.  

Before the event began, Cronkite dean Christopher Callahan assured a gathering of more than 300 that the reason for Arpaio's visit was to discuss media issues.   

Callahan told Hispanic Link News Service that the sheriff was informed no questions would be off the table. He said the school anticipated a protest to block the interview and had a backup plan to move to a broadcast studio to hold the interview.  

"The whole idea of it —and it goes to the heart of what we do as journalists— Callahan explained when he introducing Arpaio and the Cronkite school's panel of reporters.   

Arpaio's history as a public official who has divided the community would help students learn about how seasoned reporters framed and asked questions on hot issues, he said.    

Panelist Rick Rodríguez, a Cronkite professor and former Sacramento Bee executive editor, told Weekly Report afterwards, "This was not a platform for the sheriff to make a speech. It was a chance for the panel of journalists to demonstrate how to do interviews."

At the heart of the discussion were Arpaio's reputed "slow and stifling" responses to media inquiries. The sheriff maintained that his office had an "open door policy for public records," adding, "Most of the time that I'm dealing with the media, it's controversial. I'm not afraid of the media."   

The program took a turn when Rodríguez introduced allegations that Arpaio racially profiled Latinos, following with questions regarding the 287(g) agreement.  

Before Arpaio could answer, a group of student protestors in the balcony began to sing the altered Bohemian Rhapsody with lyrics saying, "Hey, Arpaio, let them go" and "Spare all these folks from this monstrosity."   

The panelists tried to quiet the students, but after they continued chanting, he left the stage. "This isn't the way journalists should operate," he told his hosts.  

(Luis López is a journalism student at the Arizona State University. Email: [email protected].) ©2009