PHOENIX -- A night aimed at discussing First Amendment issues with the controversial Maricopa County Sheriff ended with protesters disrupting the session and Sheriff Joe Arpaio walking out.
"People are saying this looks really bad for ASU, for one of the forward thinking journalism schools in the country," said student Elizabeth Shell.
The Arizona State University event in downtown Phoenix was part of a series at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication where guests respond to questions about journalism and media.
After 45 minutes of questioning Monday night, a group of protesters started to sing and chant in the back of the room, interrupting Sheriff Arpaio's response to questions about illegal immigration.
"Is this legitimate?" the protesters sang, to the tune of Bohemian Rhapsody, a popular ballad by Queen.
RAW VIDEO: WATCH ARPAIO WALK OUT AS CROWDS SINGDuring the outburst, Arpaio placed a University of Arizona hat on his head followed by an ASU hat.
"I thought this was going to be a situation not allowing this to go on," Arpaio said, referencing the disruption.
"You know what, this is ridiculous. I'm going to go," said Arpaio, before walking out of the forum.
"Was I forced," asked Arpaio, "Nobody forces the sheriff to stop, it was an agreement I made with the professors."
RAW: HEAR FROM THE PROTESTORS AFTER THEY BREAK OUT INTO SONG
ASU Dean Christopher Callahan called the protest misplaced.
"I think it's very short-sighted, because these are people who are against Sheriff Arpaio's policies, and what they succeeded in doing is stopping focused, intense questioning of his policies," he said. "It just seems kind of dumb to me."
Prior to the event, several dozen people rallied outside the Cronkite School.
Supporters carried signs praising the sheriff, while opponents chanted while carrying incense and banging on drums.
Phoenix police officers dispersed themselves throughout the crowd to help keep the peace, but at least one New Times reporter said a protester grabbed his digital camera and threw it on the ground.
Another person threw some food during the verbal clash.
When the Sheriff took the stage, students were quiet, and some Arpaio opponents, with handmade signs, remained silent as Arpaio addressed questions about his relationship with the media and whether he provides the media acceptable access to public records.
"I think we're improving even though we have a shortage of manpower," Arpaio said.
Arpaio responded to questions in a panel-style conversation from three ASU journalists:
Steve Elliott, digital news director of Cronkite News Service
Sue Green, broadcast news director of Cronkite News Service
Rick Rodriguez, the school's Carnegie Professor of Journalism
Dean Christopher Callahan explained Arpaio was invited to speak to students at his school because he was powerful, popular, and controversial.
When the professors asked him whether the media is his friend or his enemy, he explained his complicated relationship with reporters.
"People call me a publicity hound," he said. "By the way, you invited me. I didn't invite you. Is that correct?" he said, explaining why he attended the forum.
"Sometimes there are problems with the media," he said. "I'm human just like you're human. Sometimes I don't agree with the media. You know what? I'm still going to deal with the media. I have dealt with the media. Some people may say the media built me up, so they could tear me down."
"I think they've been trying to tear me down for 17 years, but I am still here," Arpaio said.
Green asked Arpaio whether his "open door" policy is really open to every journalist, explaining that she had heard of a few different cases of reporters being denied access to a press conference.
"What about those who have reported that, in essence, they are denied access to some of your press conferences?" Green asked.
Arpaio responded, "I probably average 200 interviews a month with the media. That's the irony. I'm supposed to be a publicity hound, but I'm the one who deals with the media all the time."
He suggested security reasons might be partly to blame for the denial of anyone to his press conferences.
Green questioned back, "The individuals who are saying they have not been allowed access are people who are doing stories that might not be so favorable to you." She also asked whether he is using access as a weapon.
"I face the media. I'm not afraid to face the media. I don't care what the subject is," Arpaio said.
Aside from questions about access, the professors asked Arpaio about various cases involving his office which landed in court. They asked whether his office distributed press releases sufficiently with a West Valley View newspaper, after complaints that the paper was not receiving them.
"We did improve our relationship with that newspaper," Arpaio said, explaining that his office now posts press releases online.
The professors also asked him about the arrest and jailing of two Phoenix New Times journalists after they printed information about a secret grand jury.
"In retrospect, were the arrests the correct police action?" Arpaio was asked. "Was this a mistake?"
"The issue is my chief deputy ... made a decision put those two people under arrest, and we have the probable cause. We have the right to do that," he said, explaining that more than half of the people in his jails are in jail because of misdemeanors.
Arpaio said litigation prevented him from speaking further about the issue.
Steve Elliot, one of the professors conducting the interview, said the students protesting were not future journalists for a reason.
"You have to maintain your appearance of objectivity, so as soon as you show how you feel about something you cease to be effective as a journalist," said Elliot.
