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Ahmadinejad to Speak on Campus
PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 20, 2007
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has accepted an offer to speak next week at Columbia’s World Leaders Forum, the University announced Wednesday.
The appearance of Ahmadinejad—widely criticized for espousing anti-Semitic views and condemned for apparent human rights abuses—will mark the head of state’s first-ever public engagement at a U.S. university and seems certain to fuel heated protest on and beyond Columbia’s campus.
University President Lee Bollinger announced the decision to invite the leader in a statement Wednesday evening.
“It should never be thought that merely to listen to ideas we deplore in any way implies our endorsement of those ideas, or the weakness of our resolve to resist those ideas, or our naiveté about the very real dangers inherent in such ideas,” Bollinger said. “It is a critical premise of freedom of speech that we do not honor the dishonorable when we open the public forum to their voices. To hold otherwise would make vigorous debate impossible.”
According to John Coatsworth, interim dean of the School of International and Public Affairs, Ahmadinejad expressed interest in speaking at Columbia in the past month to history Professor Richard Bulliet, communicating through Iran’s United Nations ambassador. When Ahmadinejad agreed to the conditions of speaking at the World Leaders Forum, such as answering spectators’ questions, the engagement was confirmed.
“Opportunities to hear, challenge, and learn from controversial speakers of different views are central to the education and training of students for citizenship in a shrinking and still dangerous world,” Coatsworth said in a statement.
The event, set to take place at 1:30 p.m. Monday in Roone Arledge Auditorium, will consist of a speech by Ahmadinejad as well as a question-and-answer session moderated by Coatsworth. A University spokesman said online registration for the 600-person event was capped within 90 minutes of opening Wednesday night.
The event will involve tight protection measures, including metal detectors, extensive security personnel, and a ban against any bags, purses, or signs. It will be the only event of the World Leaders’ Forum occurring in Lerner Hall.
The invitation recalled a similar proffer one year ago, when Lisa Anderson, then dean of SIPA, invited Ahmadinejad to speak on campus during the 2006 World Leaders Forum.
After learning of Anderson’s invitation, Bollinger chose not to lend it full University sponsorship. The next day, citing security and free speech concerns, Anderson rescinded the invitation—but not before tipping off a firestorm of criticism.
The similarity of the two invitations—and the deafening public response—were enough to confuse one major news service. Thursday afternoon, Bloomberg News reported that Columbia's offer to Ahmadinejad had been rescinded, mistaking a Sept. 2006 statement by Bollinger as having come from this year. The service later issued a correction.
The timing of Wednesday’s announcement coincided with the release of Iranian-American scholar Kian Tajbakhsh, one of four American citizens imprisoned in Iran more than eight months ago. According to Coatsworth, Bollinger had urged Iranian leaders to release Tajbakhsh, who earned a Ph.D at Columbia in 1993, over the summer, though it was not immediately clear whether the announcement of Ahmadinejad’s appearance was related.
“I don’t know whether the timing of this release is connected to President Ahmadinejad’s decision to speak at Columbia University,” Coatsworth said. “I can say that the timing is fortuitous and the coincidence of the two events is happy news."
Ahmadinejad’s appearance will likely spark intense protest from numerous religious, ethnic, and political groups, due to his stated desire to “wipe Israel off the map,” his denial of the Holocaust, his frequent anti-American comments, and Iran’s Uranium-enrichment program, which Iran maintains is for civilian energy use.
At least five student groups said last night that they planned to protest the event. Several student leaders received invitations Wednesday to speak with Bollinger about the event.
In a statement signed by the heads of at least thirteen campus groups, student leaders acknowledged the importance of hearing a diverse range of views but expressed concern that University officials kept them in the dark until yesterday’s announcement.
“In a university setting, no view is too disreputable to be excluded—the goal of a university is to hear and present a wide array of opinions so that they may be challenged and debated in the spirit of free speech and the pursuit of knowledge,” the statement read.
The news of the Iranian president’s arrival on campus came in a busy news week both for Ahmadinejad and Columbia. Less than two days ago, controversial Minuteman Project founder Jim Gilchrist said that he had been invited to return to Columbia, 11 months after his speech in Roone Arledge Auditorium was halted by protestors storming the stage. That offer was put in limbo following the withdrawal of sponsorship by the Columbia Political Union.
Early yesterday, Ahmadinejad caused a stir when authorities confirmed that he requested an opportunity to visit Ground Zero one month ago. The New York Police Department, Secret Service, and Port Authority officials denied the request, saying that it was not possible because of construction. The NYPD also denied it based on security reasons.
And yesterday, Iranian officials issued statements saying they had drawn up plans to bomb Israel in the “unlikely event” of an attack on Iran. While Israel’s foreign minister expressed alarm at the news, the U.S dismissed them as “not constructive,” according to BBC News.
Read the full text of Bollinger's statement.
Read Bollinger's statement on Ahmadinejad's 2006 cancellation.
Read a statement from student groups on Ahmadinejad's visit.
Read Bollinger's responses to student representatives on Ahmadinejad
More details will be posted on columbiaspectator.com as they become available.
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a little man in far from the world , put you in dark challenge, ha ha ha
I didn't know Bollinger was Jewi$h. Maybe that is why he is so extreme??
All of you Americans are fat and stupid. Look inside your own country first. Amerika is the number one terrorist nation on this planet.
It was horrible of Columbia to have such a violent and cruel man making a speech. They say its good to hear all views of history, but that is merely true.Havung him come to Columia show that Columbia supported his horrible thaughts of wiping ISrael off the mp. Just to tell everyone the Israelis spent their life and blood building Israel into the beutiful and magnificent country that it is today. This presentation hurt people greatly because they lost relatives in the holocaust. There was a holocaust. There are primary souces that say there was and how can we not be sure of what happend 60 years ago were sure of what happend more then 300 years ago. He also wants to destroy the U.S. why would you invite someone to speak to you if they want to kill you, your family, and everyone who you know? This was treasin against the USA. We do not have relations with Iran, but he is only allowed to come here for the UN, not to pursuade people to kill Jews isrealis and yourself. I want the deans of Columia to know that you mortally wounded millions of indivisuals and commited treason!
What was Ahmadinejad paid for this engagement?
He didn't receive any money, but he was able to fuck Lee Bollinger.
I am an alumnus and damn near threw up when I heard about this. My diploma has since been moved out of my office and Columbia won't see another penny from me. You have given the modern equivalent of Adolph Hitler a forum to spew his hate all over the world. If it were up to me, Lee Bollinger would apologize to every alumni and student and slither back under his rock. Resign now, save what little dignity you have left.
I think that some freedoms are reserved for humans only. The person is question and his fellow killer buddies long since lost this status.
This person plays innocents lives in his hysterical quest for world domination.
The fact that our school invited him, gives him a validation as if was a politician. He is no more politician that Adolf Hilter was.
The sooner we will bomb them into the stone age, the safer world will be. If people took care of Hitler in time, there would be no genocide that killed 40 million human beings.
Amazing. Everything is wrong with your reply. You call them killers, but want to bomb their country. No bombing campaign has ever NOT killed an innocent. The US and allied governments (and most others - China, Russia, Sudanese, Israel, Britain, etc) all have "played with innocent lives" in the course of their politics... i.e. they killed them.
He is a politician. He got elected in Iran. Unfortunately for American policy makers Iranians think differently than they do, and tend not to want to sell them oil. Dont get me wrong - Iranian laws are fooked up (re: women & homosexuals) - but then so are some American laws (most Westeners find it unbelievable that many american's sanction the death penalty - remember humans are falliable as are the judges who sentence people to death...).
Bombing them back to the stone age. Constructive. (Although Afghanistan with its stone-ageiness is doing REALLY well...)
I do not agree with Columbia U having the Iran terrorist and you giving him a platform. Your school most likely will suffer the consequences of opinion and future enrollment by the American people. You are allowing something you do not understand. Your University president will regret his decision of allowing this to occur on American soil. He should apologize for his ignorance for allowing this.
Outraged US citizen
Instead of spreading anger, hate and ignorance, participants of this forum should try to engage in more constructive work. For instance, creating together interesting questions that could be asked to Ahmadinejad (by the way, it's a disgrace that Columbia has not provided any mean for that purpose).
Here is my contribution: "Mr. Ahmadinejad, in the event that some terrorist network has decided to activate a WMD attack that would kill millions of Israeli civilians, and supposing that Iranian intelligence has provided you detailed information on the attack, would you, yes or not, do something to prevent it?"
I will pay $100 for a ticket to Monday's speech. Email me at ejn2002@nyp.org if you have one for sale.
Bollinger claims that there is some important relationship between the invitation that was issued to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Columbia’s commitments to the free exchange of ideas. What is this relationship? Do the aforementioned commitments require the invitation? If not, and thus not inviting Ahmadinejad is also consistent with these commitments, then what was the reason for the invitation? Moreover, that ideas can be exchanged at all is an acknowledgement of the fact that ideas can be debated and analyzed without the presence of particular proponents of the ideas in question. Since Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s ideas can be debated, analyzed and otherwise exchanged without him, what was the reason for the invitation?
Will the admins allow people to disrupt this terrorists and DO NOTHING like they did when the Minute men project was attacked by LEFTWINGERS on stage?
Columbia is nothing more than a liberal mind washing joke.
Is the liberals who invited the terrorist censoring the postings here?
Is that how you see free speech, only for those who views you agree with?
I, for one, am excited that Ahmadenejad is speaking at Columbia. The man is a character, a comedian, and a pretty smart one at that (regardless of however offensive his comments may be to some people). You all need to take his words with a grain of salt because truly people take him way too seriously in this country. He says what he says to get a reaction from people, to be controversial... and you all are reacting exactly the way he wants you too. The American / Jewish reaction to Ahmadenejad's visit to Columbia would be the same exact reaction that Arabs / Muslims would have if someone like Ehud Barak was invited to speak. Its a matter of perspective, they could both be seen as racist fascist murders... but guess what? Ehud Barak has spoken at many US universities before (I have seen him)... and if he is allowed to speak here then Ahmadenejad should definately be allowed to speak too! GET OVER IT.
This should be an interesting speech.
Ehud Barak tried to negotiate peace in the Middle East. Ahmedinejad has imprisoned academics, has threatened to rid Iranian Universities of "liberal" academics, incited to commit genocide, supported state sponsored terrorism against Americans and has engaged in historical revisionism. Equating Barak and Ahmedinijad reflect little understanding of both men. Should we take his imprisonment of Haleh Esfandiari with a grain of salt? Should we take his nuclear weapons and genocidal threats with a grain of salt? I don't think so. This man is playing Columbia for a fool and to gain propaganda points with his genocidal friends. This man would not extend to you the freedoms we are extending to him.
It seems like many Jewish students are taking this invitation personally. I agree, that it is hurtful that the man speaks against Israel, but we (US) also speak against so many other nations, and those nations don't bar us from speaking in their country because we bad-mouth them. Don't take it in terms of religion. Try to see it from political ideals and it will make sense. This is only discussion, nothing more. Don't keep him from speaking, challenge him about his beliefs. That's the way to do it.
My personal opinion is that he should be allowed to speak because this comes under the American ideal of free speech. One is allowed to present their views as long as it is not presenting any immediate violence or danger. Debate is important, if we refuse to talk to people how will be ever resolve any issues. Granted, he's radical in most of his views, but that does not mean that we should be uncivil to a president of another nation and refuse him an audience.
Okay so just who is FINANCING this university?
Protest with your buying power and start Boycotting.
This includes CBS and ALL of their advertisers (note: who is starring on 60 mins)
a lot of people, look up the names of the trustees and donors. they are financing.
I have no problem with this invitation. WHY would you? What are you so afraid of? What will happen? This is an excellent opportunity to confront a man who declares the USA his enemy and a person who will be making decisions that will affect our future as Americans. This is a chance to actually question him. I think it is an awesome opportunity and I only wish I could be there to question him myself.
1) IF YOU ARE GOING - PLEASE ASK HIM - WHY HE IS WILLING TO TAKE QUESTIONS HERE AND ENGAGE IN DISCUSSION BUT CONTINUES TO PUT STUDENTS AND POLITICAL OPPONENTS IN PRISON IN IRAN. ASK HIM WHY STUDENTS CONTINUE TO DISAPPEAR. If your a student at Columbia this should be of utmost importance to you because these students in Iran are your brothers on the intellectual level.
2) Also maybe someone can ask him specifically WHAT IS HIS SOLUTION FOR ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIANS? SPECIFICALLY WHAT HE VIEWS AS THE PERFECT SOLUTION.
This way we have an answer once and for all ( not all the grandious talk of destruction) and the world can know exactly where he stands.
I REALLY HOPE THAT THE STUDENTS & OTHER AMERICANS THAT ATTEND, DO NOT SHAME US BY EMBRACING THIS MAN AND FORGETTING HIS ACTIONS. LET HIM SPEAK, DON'T BE RUDE, & QUESTION HIM ... BUT NEVER FORGET HIS ACTIONS. He doesn't deserve your praise. You would not applaud any other dictator or murderer ... please don't forget that on Monday and disgrace yourselves.
I am truly amazed and shocked at the level of ignorance coming from an Ivy League University.
Perhaps it is not ignorance after all, but pure hatred. It is no mystery that many of you leftists hate American prosperity. Guess what? You have something in common with Mahmoud. Congratulations! You make me ill with the fear that our country has been hijacked by communists. McCarthy was right after all, wasn't he?
brentroos.com
if we have, indeed, been hijacked by communists, and McCarthy was right, then this forum doesn't exist anywhere other than, obviously, a mass digital hallucination. if what you say is true, your assertion is a figment of my imagination, and so, too, is my commentary. we're getting into pretty deep philosophical territory here, non?
As a Jewish man, a fund raiser for the IDF Volunteer Border Police and a friend of democracy I absolutely condemn how you can allow an international criminal to speak at a university where their is a large population of Jewish students, faculty and alumni. My mom is an alumni of Columbia university and you have no idea how much you disappoint her and everyone else in the free world. This man is going to cause WW III! I only hope someone assassinates him on your university campus and I only pray it's a Jew that does it!
You sir may perhaps be the most despicable man I have ever met. It is jews such as yourself who promote hate of the jewish people. The crimes committed by Israel in Palestine and other Middle Eastern countries is terrible. Evidenced by the substandard condition Israel induces. If there is one country that would be stupid enough to start world war 3 it would most certainly be Israel. My parents are both alumni of Columbia and firmly believe that each viewpoint should be allowed to be presented, in case you did not realize Columbia is a school. You sir are no friend of democracy but a semitic fascist who wishes to exact revenge for the holocaust by punishing other nations example LEBANON, PALESTINE AND MOST CERTAINLY IRAQ.
You sir may perhaps be the most despicable man I have ever met. It is jews such as yourself who promote hate of the jewish people. The crimes committed by Israel in Palestine and other Middle Eastern countries is terrible. Evidenced by the substandard condition Israel induces. If there is one country that would be stupid enough to start world war 3 it would most certainly be Israel. My parents are both alumni of Columbia and firmly believe that each viewpoint should be allowed to be presented, in case you did not realize Columbia is a school. You sir are no friend of democracy but a semitic fascist who wishes to exact revenge for the holocaust by punishing other nations example LEBANON, PALESTINE AND MOST CERTAINLY IRAQ.
let's get lateral for a second:why do Iraqis hate the US? because we went there and stayed far too long and are foreigners trying to tell them how to run their country. this is basically the premise behind the greater Middle East's disdain for the US-that we essentially use Israel as a front to stick our nose into other peoples' business.
let's get direct: i assume you're a US citizen because you're merely a fundraiser for the IDF, which means you're playing right into the scenario mentioned above. or maybe you're an Israeli chiming in on behalf of your mother, an alumna of Columbia. i won't go any further because it's too easy.
now, let's discuss the ignorance you display, specifically: you say Ahmadinejad will cause WW III and then you call for his assassination on a foreign country's soil (fucking coward) by a Jew, no less. you could disprove my declaration of your being a yellowbelly by doing the job yourself. but please, have the decency to do it in Iran. don't you know anything about history? assassinations are perfect tools for sparking off world conflicts, whether or not they serve as mere pretenses between hostile parties who would eventually go to battle in any case.
while you're at it, why don't you tone down your pride in the IDF. don't you know you're giving your money for an organization known worldwide for the 1956 massacre of 49 people? hey, i love cops, don't get me wrong. i think they're essential. more like a necessary evil, but i like knowing they're out there trying their best to keep me safe. but cops are usually assholes because of training and natural disposition so i wouldn't necessarily want to go to lunch with any of them. based on your comments, i'd actually prefer it if you'd never stepped foot in my country, much less had lunch with me.
Cops are usually assholes? I was going to go through your post and rip you to shreds on your obvious ignorance and faulty logic but this last comment made me realize that it would be a waste of time. How many cops do you know? You have a lot to learn still. Hopefully your not a senior and there is at least some hope for you to grow up a bit.
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