The cartoons on the posters - which were taken down mid-morning by members of the Muslim Students Association - depicted the prophet Muhammad with a sword in one hand and a decapitated head in the other, underneath a speech bubble which included the phrase: "Don't mess with Ahmadinejad's nukes." Though most Muslim students expressed surprise and dismay at the cartoon, some viewed the incident as an opportunity to open dialogue on campus about Muslim issues. However, attending Halloween parties in a suicide bomber costume is OK with the MSA
MSA President Altaf Saadi '08 said she was shocked that the cartoons would be posted on a campus like Yale's and was unhappy that the individuals responsible decided to remain anonymous. "I'm very appalled by what happened," she said. "I'm disappointed that whoever put this up would be so cowardly. I would hope that people would acknowledge the hurt that it causes."
Saadi said the group has contacted the offices of President Richard Levin, Dean of Undergraduate Affairs Betty Trachtenberg, and Yale College Dean Peter Salovey about the incident. The MSA plans to hold a dialogue after Thanksgiving break in conjunction with the College Dean's office in response to the cartoon, she said.