Ahmadinejad Does Columbia

The Columbia Spectator describes a meeting between student leaders and Columbia University President Lee Bollinger to discuss the invitation of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to speak there.

Nearly 50 student leaders and a dozen administrators sat down with University President Lee Bollinger for an hour on Thursday for a passionate yet civil discussion to air concerns about Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s scheduled speech on campus on Monday.

When asked by Bollinger, student leaders overwhelmingly agreed that the event was in line with the academic purpose of the University, but several students expressed their disappointment in Bollinger’s handling of the invitation, with many airing concerns about student participation. Meanwhile, students began to solidify plans for a rally on Low Plaza this Monday.

Students’ concerns with the event included the logistics of establishing a rally on campus and the worry that lending Ahmadinejad a podium from which to speak would elevate and legitimize his views. Those in attendance expressed their greatest concerns regarding how students would be involved in the event itself.

“A girl came up to me after [a College Democrats meeting last night]—she was an Iranian student, an Iranian refugee, and she was near tears. She said, ‘I came to Columbia just for this moment, and I can’t believe the event is closed off before I can even register for it,’” Josh Lipsky, CC ’08 and president of the Columbia University College Democrats, said, while expressing his disappointment that only the most well-connected of students had been able to snatch up seats. He called on those in the room to give their seats to underclassmen.

Apparently, the academic purpose of the University is to provide good seats to see the holocaust denier. Ahmadinejad's government hangs gays. That's really something to want to get good seats for, too, right? Bollinger should ask for reciprocal good seating. It's only fair. Iran also arrests dogs (they are lucky they aren't gay, aren't they?). Maybe some good seats to watch that show could be negotiated as well.

Just remember, kids, fascism is always welcome at Columbia. And there will be good seats.

Roger Simon would like to know if Columbia would also welcome some other diverse views:

I have a question for the Columbia crowd, since Holocaust deniers are welcome, would you allow a speaker in favor of a return to black slavery?

Hey, they could ask for really good seats for that, too.

Fausta wonders why he was invited. I wouldn't count him out on his scholarship, Fausta. It take a lot of concentration to studiously deny the truth.

Michelle Malkin reports on some furious Columbia students who do not want good seats.

WHEN: Monday, September 24, 1:00-3:00
WHERE:
COLUMBIA STUDENTS (w/ Columbia ID’s): On campus, outside Lerner Hall
NON-COLUMBIA STUDENTS: The Columbia Gates. 116th and Broadway – we have secured a permit to stage a protest there.

WHO: YOU and your friends, along with Hillel, Hasbara, StandWithUs, Amcha, ZOA, The David Project, Columbia student groups, concerned citizens. Expected attendance is in the thousands.

WHY: Remember – the world is watching. This is a monumental opportunity to make our voices heard. Generations will ask us, What did we do to protest? Where were we?

That is the most hopeful thing I have seen about this whole thing.