Ahmadinejad comes to Morningside Heights
Dear GS students,
Yesterday, a number of student leaders met with President Bollinger to address concerns about the campus visit of Iranian President Ahmadinejad on Monday, Sept. 24th, as part of the World Leaders Forum. We know this is a controversial event and we encourage you to read President Bollinger’s statement on this invitation to Ahmadinejad to speak on campus.
As with all Columbia University World Leader Forums, attendance at this event is limited and reservations must be made through an on-line
reservation system on the World Leaders Forum website:http://www.worldleaders.columbia.edu/. This event, which is limited to 600 audience members, was filled within one hour of being posted on the website; 80% of the seats for this event were reserved for students. Students leaders asked President Bollinger and his staff if there was a way to broadcast the forum on campus and if there would be a way for students not in attendance to submit questions for the Q and A section of the forum. The university is now exploring ways that this forum can be viewed more widely on campus by members of the university community.
Also, the university has made arrangements for students to submit
questions in advance of the forum on Monday. Anyone wishing to submit a question may do so by e-mailing to the following address: worldleaders@columbia.edu. We suggest that you identify yourself as a Columbia student when submitting your question. We have been told that questions will be randomly selected and asked at the forum along with those questions from the audience members in attendance. More information about this will be posted on the World Leader website later today.
Dean Stellini from the GS Dean of Students Office will be sending out an email later today or this weekend concerning student protests that are planned for Monday related to this event. The administration of the university and the Office of Public Safety are working closely with student groups to facilitate these protests. We want to take this opportunity to remind students of the University Rules of Conduct: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/facets/0708_appendices.pdf
The Rules of University Conduct (Chapter XLIV of the Statutes of the University) provide special disciplinary rules applicable to demonstrations, rallies, picketing, and the circulation of petitions. These rules are designed to protect the rights of free expression through peaceful demonstration while at the same time ensuring the proper functioning of the University and the protection of the rights of those who may be affected by such demonstrations. The Rules of University Conduct are University-wide and supersede all other rules of any school or division. All University faculty, students, and staff are responsible for compliance with the Rules of University Conduct. Copies of the full text are available in FACETS: and at the Office of the University Senate, 406 Low Memorial Library.
Given the heighten level of security expected on campus on Monday due to this event and two additional World Leader Forums, we want to remind students to make sure to have their Columbia i.d.’s on hand.
Mary McGee
Dean of Students and Associate Dean of Faculty
On behalf of the Dean of Students Office
Columbia University School of General Studies
I must say I reluctantly almost admire Columbia U’s audacity in making possible this event. Compare this to the pusillanimous Concordia University, Montreal,
2002:
http://www.camera.org/index.asp?x_context=22&x_article=381
2004:
http://mediarelations.concordia.ca/pressreleases/archives/2004/10/former_prime_minister_ehud_bar_1.php
Two former Israeli prime ministers, respectable, democratic leaders, both of whom signed agreements with Palestinians, and tried to push for comprehensive peace with all Arab states, were prevented from speaking at Concordia.
And here is Columbia U, taking the bull by its two horns, one being academic freedom, the other – freedom of speech, by providing a stage for a bellicose, superstitious, antisemitic, misogynistic, homophobic, Holocaust denier, wannabe genocider and a megalomaniac of the first order.
You’ve got to admire such dedication to the absolute right of someone, not just to speak, but to be heard.
Oliver Kamm, speaking of another matter pertaining to the thorny issue of freedom of speech, comes close to providing a proper measure for evaluating the advisability of Columbia’s choice to host Ahmadinejad:
“I am close to being an absolutist on free speech. I do not, however, consider that defending someone’s right to utter pernicious sentiments obligates you to provide the vehicle by which he may do so. ”
http://oliverkamm.typepad.com/blog/2007/07/comment-is-free.html
I wonder if Columbia U would allow its students’ magazines to publish the Danish cartoons, in the name of the same absolutism?
I am not at all astonished to see Columbia University’s extraordinary measures taken to screen questions and assure that Amadinejad will be free to speak his views, (which are consistent with the orthodox liberal views promoted at that University) without restriction or discomfort, a courtesy that Columbia University refused to accord to members the Minutemen who had been invited to speak at that same University. There, the University allowed students to attack the podium, assault the speakers and cancel the event. It is my opinion that President Bollinger, the University Board and Administration are thoroughgoing hypocrites.
Muslims Against Sharia condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the decision of Columbia University to provide a speaking venue for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Apparently letting Akbar Rafsanjani speak at the National Cathedral was not the height of American Dhimmitude, because providing a venue for the world’s foremost anti-Semite, whose proclaimed goal is the destruction of the USA and Israel, definitely takes the cake. What is surprising is that we don’t hear any complaints from Columbia alumni who should be ashamed of their silence.
More on the subject: Why Does Columbia host Ahmadinejad?
Please take a stand and make a difference, do not be silent. “For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet, till righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch.”
Isaiah 62:1
He funds and supports terror around the world.
He wants a world without the US and Israel.
He is developing nuclear weapons.
He denies the Holocaust.
YOU can send a different message!
Join the National Rally To End the Threat Now.
Dag Hammarskjold Plaza across from the United Nations
Monday, September 24th at 12 noon, rain or shine
2nd Avenue at 47th Street in New York City
Subways: 4, 5, 6, or 7 to Grand Central Station
CUFI is co-sponsoring this rally with the Ad Hoc Coalition for Justice, the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York in cooperation with the United Jewish Communities, UJA-Federation of New York and Jewish Council for Public Affairs
For more information contact: Conference of Presidents at 212-318-6111 or info@conferenceofpresidents.org
JCRC at 212-983-4800 x 161 or info@jcrcny.org