Letter to President Bollinger

President Lee C. Bollinger
Columbia University
2960 Broadway
New York, NY 10027-6902

Dear President Bollinger,

As a blogger for Democracy Project, a contributing writer to FrontPage Magazine, Queens Village Eagle and other media, and above all as a New Yorker, I write this letter with serious concern. I am adding my voice to the growing sense of outrage from the media, trustees, alumni and fellow New Yorkers who have seen the actual video footage of the violent protest and ensuing brawl to silence an invited guest of the Columbia College Republicans at Roone auditorium on Wednesday, October 4th. This disgraceful episode is apparently becoming the hallmark of Columbia, evoking a déjà vu of an event I attended a few years ago in the Columbia Law School auditorium where an audience of students and professors rudely shouted me down, as I tried to express a pro-Israel point of view. After the event, an embarrassed Law student vehemently apologized to me on behalf of Columbia for the animalistic behavior of the crowd. Additionally, the recent Columbia Unbecoming video documenting the political intolerance and intimidation exhibited by professors toward students has exposed the crisis that has fueled negative public perception that Columbia has failed in its mission as a scholarly forum for diverse points of view and instead has descended into a monolithic advocacy institution.

The news is out in the court of public opinion as reported in the New York Sun and numerous other news media as well as the blogosphere. The views and activities of the invited guest, Jim Gilchrist, the founder of the Minuteman Project, are embraced by many Americans but may be repugnant to some. However his right of free expression was denied at Columbia where he was assaulted by protesters who determined to silence any message contrary to their own. An interviewee, saying he felt ashamed to be a member of Columbia, testified to the animal behavior of a group of students who charged the stage, overturned chairs and tables, and punched and kicked people. Campus security officers helplessly stood by, failing to take action to stop the perpetrators. Instead they merely escorted the speakers to safety and terminated the event. Students representing campus organizations, including the Chicano caucus, the African-American student organization, and the International Socialist organization, took control of the stage, and declared a victory unfurling a banner that read in both English and Arabic, “No one is ever illegal.”

By not taking proper security measures to ensure the safety of the speakers and audience, Columbia has failed once again to protect freedom of speech on its campus. This incident was a devastating defeat for academic freedom, intellectual plurality and professional standards and instead scored a victory for fanatical intolerance bordering on fascism. It evokes a chilling precedent set by recent weeks of violent riots, murders, firebombing of churches and death threats against Pope Benedict XVI by Muslim religious extremists who vowed to silence views that they find offensive.

As of Friday evening, administrators were not planning to take any disciplinary action and Chris Kulawik, president of the College Republicans, said that no university official met with his organization, as reported in the Columbia Spectator.

My colleagues and I are outraged with the inadequate response by Columbia administrators to this disgraceful episode. In order to preserve and secure the academic freedom rights of all, we ask you to hold the perpetrators accountable for their acts of violent intimidation, and duly punish those who have endangered the safety of students and guests.

As you said in Statement on Freedom of Speech on Friday:

We have extensive University policies governing the actions of members of this community with respect to free speech and the conduct of campus events. Administrators began identifying those involved in the incident as it transpired and continue to investigate specific violations of University policies to ensure full accountability by those found to be responsible.

We are looking forward to the news that you will take swift action to bring the student perpetrators to justice. We also expect future events sponsored by the Columbia College Republicans to have adequate security to fully protect the expression of diverse opinions. We will not tolerate the reign of anarchy in our schools in New York nor will we condone the actions of thugs who trample on the freedom of speech of others.

Sincerely Yours,
Phil Orenstein

CC:
David Stern, Chair of the Board of Trustees, Columbia University
Senator Kenneth LaValle, Chair Senate Higher Education Committee
Senator Frank Padavan
Senator John A. DeFrancisco
Assemblyman Anthony S. Seminerio
Senator Serphin Maltese
Assemblymember Catherine T. Nolan, Chair Education Committee
Eliana Johnson, New York Sun
Chris Kulawik, President, Columbia University College Republicans
Columbia Spectator, Editor
Columbia students, faculty and alumni
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I have sent this letter via email, fax and hardcopy. Let’s give President Bollinger and Chairman Stern a piece of our minds.