Forgotten Columbians

Dr. Zalmay Khalilzad is the highest-ranking Muslim in the Bush administration. The Afghanistan-born scholar-turned-diplomat served for two years as the U.S. ambassador to Iraq. He currently holds John Bolton’s former position, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. In each role, Khalilzad has proven himself an effective leader capable of negotiating an international bureaucracy with his demure yet dogged personality. In fact, pundits have already named him the odds-on frontrunner to replace Condoleezza Rice as secretary of state, if there is a Republican victory in the 2008 presidential election. And why should we care? Because Dr. Khalilzad spent seven years as an associate professor at Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), but there are just six short references to Dr. Khalilzad on the Columbia network and one fleeting mention on the entire Spectator Web site. The Columbia community has disowned Dr. Khalilzad.

Why? The answer should be clear. Regardless of Dr. Khalizad’s awards and accomplishments, Columbia will have nothing to do with a registered Republican—especially the former director of the Strategy, Doctrine, and Force Structure for the RAND Corporation, a Project for a New American Century co-signer, and head of the 2001 Bush-Cheney Department of Defense transition team. Contrast this treatment with that of Madeleine Albright, GSAS ’68, Ph.D. ’76.

Not only did the University present former Secretary of State Albright with the SIPA Global Leadership Award and an honorary diploma, but it treats her like a certifiable show pony, something to trot out at every possible occasion to impress students and guests alike. Empirically speaking, there are 564 search results for Dr. Albright on the Columbia site—over 80 times more hits than there are for Dr. Khalilzad. Of course, this is not to say that we shouldn’t celebrate Dr. Albright’s success. We should, however, keep in mind that she isn’t the only foreign-born, path-breaking diplomat to have spent their formative years at Columbia. While Columbians will offer the occasional platitude, honestly, what are the odds that President Bollinger or the Muslim Students Association would ever invite Dr. Khalilzad to speak?

This prejudiced treatment is emblematic of a prevalent and woefully entrenched institutional bias. Columbia flaunts progressive and Democratic alumni and faculty members, while conservatives and Republicans are left to “Class Notes” obscurity. Because examples represent a particularly effective means of conveying the discrepancy, let us consider a few.

Judd Gregg, CC ’69, is the Republican senator—and former governor—of New Hampshire. Senator Gregg, the ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, has served honorably for 15 years, but because his name is neither Barack nor Hussein, nobody here really cares. Even so, Columbians continue to treat Senator Gregg’s classmate, progressive congressman Jerrold Nadler, CC ’70, like the prodigal son that never left home.

The Columbia University home page has, for one of its mastheads, a picture of Stalinist and Soviet apologist Paul Robeson. For Black History Month, Columbia will gladly overlook Robeson’s odes to Stalin and the Fatherland to capitalize on his popularity and success. But where is the picture of Thomas Sowell, GSAS ’59? Dr. Sowell, the Rose and Milton Friedman Senior Fellow on Public Policy at Stanford University’s Hoover Institute, is widely regarded as one of the nation’s most insightful (and prolific) economists. He is a conservative alumnus to be proud of. Sadly, he fails to meet Columbia’s standards of being black, an alumnus, and Marxist. Don’t expect to see his picture any time soon.

Polymath and former Nixon speechwriter Ben Stein, CC ’66, has addressed the graduating classes of Lynn University and Ithaca College, but not those of his alma mater. Incidentally, Columbia awarded George Stephanopoulos, CC ’82, the University Medal for Excellence and gave him the opportunity to deliver Columbia’s 2003 commencement address. Progressive playwright Tony Kushner, CC ’78, had the same nature of honors, but Ralph de Toledano, CC ’38 and one of the great authors of the American conservative movement, is nowhere to be found in our institutional history.
Scott McConnell, GSAS Ph.D., co-founded The American Conservative with Pat Buchanan, Journalism ’62, but one must wonder how many copies they sell in the People’s Republic of the Upper West Side.

Jeane Kirkpatrick, BC ’48, served admirably in Ronald Reagan’s administration as the first female U.S. ambassador the United Nations. Rather than celebrate this great feminist achievement, Barnard disavows all knowledge of her accomplishments. Incidentally, there are more references to Dr. Albright than Ambassador Kirkpatrick on the Barnard Web site. It should come as no surprise then that despite being offered every year since 1977, Barnard never awarded Ambassador Kirkpatrick the Barnard College Medal of Distinction. Dr. Albright, Mario Cuomo, and unaffiliated photographer Annie Leibovitz, however, have one. Don’t feel too bad. Ambassador Kirkpatrick; Whittaker Chambers (CC drop-out); Provost Jacques Barzun , CC ’27, Ph.D. ’32; Milton Friedman, Ph.D. ’46; and Norman Podhoretz, CC ’50, JTS; all won the Presidential Medal of Freedom for their conservative contributions.

Let’s end with a question: who among you knows that the current attorney general of the United States, Michael B. Mukasey, is a Columbia College graduate and, until recently, a Columbia Law professor?

If you didn’t, don’t feel bad. The administration, it seems, would rather us not know.

Chris Kulawik is a Columbia College senior majoring in history and political science. Chris Shrugged runs alternate Wednesdays.
Opinion@columbiaspectator.com