The University Union has booked a controversial artist to perform, and it’s not the first time.

This time it is hip-hop artist KRS-One, who made some critical comments regarding the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and “cheered when 9/11 happened” and said that “America needs to commit suicide if the world is to be a better place.”

Dean Sorensen, the program director for UNIQUE, a volunteer organization that books various types of entertainment to campus, venues said the organization decided not to cancel the event because it isn’t a violent threat.

“There’s nothing there, as far as violence,” Sorenson said about the comments. “I could see how plenty of people could be frustrated by his comments, but he didn’t say ‘go blow up the World Trade Center.'”

Sorensen said that it is possible that KRS-One, whose real name is Kris Parker, was being symbolic in his comments.

Parker’s comments were reported in several news services including Knight Ridder Newspapers.

Sorensen said that an event is cancelled when it presents a threat of violence, which was the case in late September when reggae artist Capleton was slated to perform in Sacramento, including Sacramento State, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Humboldt and Chico, but was cancelled for alleged anti-gay lyrics.

Capleton’s lyrics deprecated homosexuals by saying that they should be burned or killed. As a result, protest built and a possible threat of violence occurred, which led to the cancellations of his show at Sac State, Sorensen said.

Parker said justice was brought forth through the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The hip-hop artist told the New York Daily News that before the terrorist attacks security guards didn’t permit blacks into the building because of the way they spoke and dressed.

“When the planes hit the building, we were like, ‘Mmmm — justice,'” Parker said.

Parker said that the carnage of Sept. 11 only affected the rich, such as radio stations and recording companies, instead of the hip-hop community.

After the article was printed, Parker released a statement saying that his words were taken out of context.

“I was shocked and disappointed that the Daily News would go this far to assassinate my character and distort my views,” Parker said. “I would never just say something as crazy as ‘we cheered when 9/11 happened.’ I was making an objective point about how many hiphoppas as well as the oppressed peoples of the world felt that day.”

Parker also defended his comment about America needing to commit suicide.

“American interests must put a gun to its head and commit suicide, because as long as we are only interested in American interests we go out and invade the rest of the world,” Parker said.

Student Eustacia Demello, who plans to attend the Nov. 4 concert, said that the show shouldn’t be cancelled because he’s entitled to his own opinion. She said she didn’t believe Parker’s comments were a violent threat, but instead a view of U.S. history and international issues.

“The U.S. has an idea that they are untouchable,” Demello said.

Student Antonio Javier, who plans to attend the concert, said he didn’t believe Parker’s comments were a violent threat.

He said he respected UNIQUE’s decision to cancel Capleton’s concert because it targeted a certain group of people, and Parker’s comments did not.

“People need to get over it,” Javier said. “The terrorist attacks were a tragedy, but get over it.”

As of Monday afternoon, 30 tickets were sold, leaving about a thousand tickets available. UNIQUE’s policy states that refunds will be given only if the event was cancelled, a box office representative said.