Legislatures May Act on Columbia

Silver Warns of Impact on State Aid

By JACOB GERSHMAN, Staff Reporter of the Sun
September 24, 2007

As the president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, prepares to address Columbia University today amid a storm of student protest, state and city lawmakers say they are considering withholding public funds from the school to protest its decision to invite the leader to campus.

Click to enlarge image >

John Smock / AP

Council Member David Weprin, left, Council Member James Gennaro, and Rabbi Zev Friedman speak to a group of demonstrators outside Columbia University yesterday in protest of Columbia's plans for President Ahmadinejad of Iran to speak on campus.

In an interview with The New York Sun, the speaker of the Assembly, Sheldon Silver, said lawmakers, outraged over Columbia's insistence on allowing the Iranian president to speak at its World Leaders Forum, would consider reducing capital aid and other financial assistance to the school.

Lawmakers warned about other consequences for Columbia and its president, Lee Bollinger, who has resisted campus and public pressure to cancel Mr. Ahmadinejad's appearance today, arguing that Columbia's commitment to scholarship requires the school to directly confront offensive ideas.

"There are issues that Columbia may have before us that obviously this cavalier attitude would be something that people would recall," Mr. Silver said. "Obviously, there's some degree of capital support that has been provided to Columbia in the past. These are things people might take a different view of … knowing that this is that kind of an institution."

Mr. Silver faulted Columbia for "attempting to legitimize this individual," saying, "We have an obligation because of the U.N. to allow him to come to this country. It doesn't mean we have to make him welcome. We don't have to give him a forum."

The speaker said he was infuriated by comments made on Saturday by the acting dean of the School of International and Public Affairs, John Coatsworth, who said in a television interview that it would have been proper for Columbia to extend a speaking invitation to Hitler in 1939. Mr. Coatsworth's school is sponsoring the event.

"What makes it more outrageous is the fact that some dean yesterday said he would have invited Adolf Hitler. It's totally outrageous. This is not a matter of academic freedom. This is a matter of legitimizing people, one who was the perpetrator of the Holocaust and one who denies its existence," Mr. Silver said.

"He's clearly responsible for the deaths of Americans both in Iraq and elsewhere. And he remains as much a threat to the world as anybody today. I don't understand what this dean and Columbia are thinking," Mr. Silver said.

Mr. Silver's criticism of Columbia was echoed by other elected officials, who argued that Columbia was lending its name and prestige to a leader of a terrorist-sponsoring dictatorship who denies the existence of the Holocaust, vows to eliminate Israel, preaches Islamic extremism, and aspires to build nuclear weapons.

"Bollinger made a big mistake, and there should be consequences for him for making that decision," the chairman of the New York City Council's Finance Committee, David Weprin, said in an interview. "We should look at everything involving Columbia, whether it be capital projects, city and state, or other related things that we do in the city for them," he said.

Mr. Weprin was one of several elected officials who joined Jewish leaders, Columbia students, and alumni yesterday at a demonstration at the Morningside Heights campus to protest Mr. Ahmadinejad's talk.

"It's not going to go away just because this episode ends. Columbia University has to know … that they will be penalized," an assemblyman of Brooklyn, Dov Hikind, who also attended the rally, said. The lawmaker said Mr. Ahmadinejad should be arrested when he sets foot on campus.

Speaking at the rally, a New York City Council member, James Gennaro, urged university donors to withhold their dollars from the institution, while Rep. Anthony Weiner, a potential mayoral candidate in 2009, said Columbia's reputation was taking a "brutal beating."

Mr. Silver's warning of sanctions against Columbia is a highly unusual departure for a state leader who has seldom, if ever, threatened to use the power of the state purse to punish a private university.

A spokesman for the Senate Republicans, John McArdle, said the majority conference is "going to review the whole situation and decide on how, or whether, to proceed."

Mayor Bloomberg, who visited the Flight 93 memorial site in Shanksville, Pa., yesterday told reporters he disagreed with Columbia's decision to host Mr. Ahmadinejad but promised the city would "provide the protection to make sure that when he gets there, he speaks safely without any threats and leaves."

Albany awards Columbia millions of dollars a year in student financial aid and also provides funding for smaller-scale capital projects. Last year, Albany awarded the school $10 million for nanotechnology center and $12 million for a cancer center in Washington Heights.

Columbia uses the state Dormitory Authority to borrow money at low interest rates. Mr. Silver could use his influence over the authority to weed out Columbia bonding projects before they are submitted for approval.

The school is also seeking approval from city lawmakers for its plan to expand into a 17-acre swath of land in West Harlem. Albany also has the power to use eminent domain to facilitate Columbia's expansion.

Mr. Bollinger has defended his university's invitation to Mr. Ahmadinejad, saying that in order to fulfill Columbia's mission, he must respect the rights of faculty and deans to "create programming for academic purposes." On occasion, he said, "this will bring us into contact with beliefs many, most, or even all of us will find offensive and even odious."

A year ago, Mr. Bollinger rescinded Columbia's invitation to Mr. Ahmadinejad to speak at the same annual forum, apparently overruling a former dean of SIPA, Lisa Anderson. Mr. Bollinger, at the time, said he couldn't be certain that the Iranian leader's presence at the school would "reflect the academic values that are the hallmark of a university event such as our World Leaders Forum." An assistant to Ms. Anderson said the event was cancelled because of security and logistical concerns.

Inside the university, Mr. Bollinger yesterday faced criticism from several student leaders, some of whom supported the invitation to Mr. Ahmadinejad but said they were angry that they were not consulted by the administration.

"I've heard a lot of feedback already from people saying they don't want to give money," Elizabeth Goldhirsch, who graduated from Columbia's school of journalism in 2002, said. "I will not make a donation if this stance is maintained."

Mr. Bollinger, who has served as president since 2002, also was confronting signs of increasing division in his administration.

The dean of Columbia Law School, David Schizer, in a statement called Mr. Ahmadinejad "a reprehensible and dangerous figure," and said it would be "deeply regrettable if some misread this invitation as lending prestige or legitimacy to his views."

Mr. Ahmadinejad, who is attending the U.N. General Assembly, arrived in New York late yesterday. He is scheduled to speak at Columbia for an hour, beginning at 1:30 p.m., and will issue his remarks in Farsi with simultaneous translation, a university spokesman said.

Columbia officials say the Iranian leader will be escorted onto campus through the gate at 114th Street, which leads directly to Lerner Hall. He is scheduled to depart immediately after the event. Campus security, which is coordinating with local and federal authorities, is planning for more than 10,000 protesters to congregate outside the university's gates.

Columbia distributed 600 tickets to the talk, where Mr. Ahmadinejad will field questions from Mr. Bollinger as well as faculty and students. The event is to be broadcast on televisions and lounges across campus.

Mr. Bollinger said in a statement that he would question the Iranian president on human rights issues, as well as his position that Israel should be "wiped off the map" and that the Holocaust did not occur.

Reader comments on this article

Title

Date

Zionist control is not about free speech [93 words]

Jerry

Sep 27, 2007 03:47

thanks mr bollinger [7 words]

ron mahfouz

Sep 26, 2007 18:13

↔ Thank you for exposing the human rights violation of the Islamic Regime [84 words]

Nov 5, 2007 23:45

outraged [155 words]

AMBER

Sep 26, 2007 10:51

Views not in support of Israel get axed [75 words]

June

Sep 25, 2007 15:47

Support Freedom of Speech??? [126 words]

Danny

Sep 25, 2007 14:43

Lee Bollinger's Opening Salvo [66 words]

ProudIranian

Sep 25, 2007 12:34

Immature city officials [111 words]

Sep 25, 2007 11:08

Changed Mind [261 words]

Robert

Sep 25, 2007 10:44

WHAT A TURNAROUND [81 words]

BOB WEISE

Sep 25, 2007 10:05

Help me understand. [101 words]

Branden

Sep 25, 2007 04:34

I see hate more than wisdom in the whole ordeal. [302 words]

A Forgetful Citizen

Sep 25, 2007 03:27

Columbia sellouts [87 words]

Chris

Sep 25, 2007 02:07

We Are Governed by Children [148 words]

dadanarchist

Sep 25, 2007 01:13

↔ Thank you. [48 words]

Branden

Sep 25, 2007 05:38

One should listen [46 words]

Mehmood

Sep 25, 2007 00:39

↔ Double Standard [43 words]

Mike Turlej

Sep 25, 2007 11:19

speaking ? legitimate [129 words]

Carl

Sep 25, 2007 00:01

Pillars of Freedom [280 words]

Dave

Sep 24, 2007 21:10

A short list of Iran's crimes [121 words]

Leonidas

Sep 24, 2007 20:34

Hello, pot calling kettle... [73 words]

MikeC

Sep 24, 2007 20:01

Congratulations to Columbia [244 words]

Charles

Sep 24, 2007 19:55

Hitler to speak at Columbia... [113 words]

Andy House

Sep 24, 2007 19:16

And this is where you go wrong... [439 words]

Ian Watson

Sep 24, 2007 19:16

An offer of blankets. [67 words]

Carlos

Sep 24, 2007 18:55

Freedom of speech [167 words]

Stan Anderson

Sep 24, 2007 18:48

University Arrogance [62 words]

Jackson

Sep 24, 2007 18:48

What, are you afraid of him? [127 words]

Joe

Sep 24, 2007 18:13

freedom [107 words]

nick

Sep 24, 2007 18:09

Our Country's is Freedom of Speech is at stake [310 words]

Wstdade

Sep 24, 2007 17:22

mark twain [27 words]

john

Sep 24, 2007 17:14

Protesting Bush [57 words]

Tonie

Sep 24, 2007 17:06

Bollinger Fails at His #1 Responsibility [41 words]

Gerry Lokhande

Sep 24, 2007 17:02

↔ Bollinger Fails at His #1 Responsibility [16 words]

Ziad Khoury

Dec 11, 2007 04:53

You are all nuts [74 words]

Craig

Sep 24, 2007 16:59

Arrest Bollinger, execute Ahmajenicide. [49 words]

James M. Baker

Sep 24, 2007 16:44

How dare legislators threaten academic discourse [91 words]

my2000

Sep 24, 2007 16:24

Thanks for Reducing the Worth of My Degree [36 words]

Steve Robeson

Sep 24, 2007 16:25

"Impact" on State Aid? [11 words]

Sean

Sep 24, 2007 16:12

With freedom comes responsibility [67 words]

Robert

Sep 24, 2007 15:55

↔ spineless intellectuals [89 words]

Heather

Sep 24, 2007 16:56

↔ Chaos [320 words]

Sep 25, 2007 00:44

Why all the anger? [172 words]

Rowdy

Sep 24, 2007 15:48

↔ Sentence Structure [34 words]

Bill

Sep 24, 2007 17:06

↔ STop the madness. WHat if it was you? [151 words]

cheyenne nicholson

Sep 24, 2007 19:04

Great job Mr. Bollinger [99 words]

Dan

Sep 24, 2007 15:43

↔ Bad job Mr. Bollinger. [186 words]

David mcCaig

Sep 25, 2007 01:49

Free speech, academic freedom, & responsibility [254 words]

JeanE

Sep 24, 2007 15:24

Shame [39 words]

TEP

Sep 24, 2007 15:13

↔ you are jokin` [13 words]

hugh

Sep 24, 2007 17:09

↔ the fear of truth [89 words]

mack

Oct 3, 2007 21:30

chess [30 words]

karin

Sep 24, 2007 15:07

↔ Look who is making comments... [279 words]

AJM

Sep 24, 2007 22:16

Who are we? [25 words]

PDC

Sep 24, 2007 14:48

Who get paid? [55 words]

Ted Doke

Sep 24, 2007 14:46

↔ I second this [15 words]

Lance Browning Pitman

Sep 24, 2007 14:54

↔ better yet... [41 words]

Stu

Sep 24, 2007 16:31

↔ Ball and Chain [176 words]

Mom of college age child

Sep 24, 2007 20:57

↔ Who's paying whom? [34 words]

Freeman

Sep 26, 2007 08:06

Take his words as Information : Then compare them to his Behavior = No solid conviction - Insanity. [155 words]

Lise D'Aristide

Sep 24, 2007 14:42

Hitler Comparison [199 words]

Lance Browning Pitman

Sep 24, 2007 14:38

↔ Complete sense [36 words]

LL in La.

Sep 24, 2007 15:04

↔ Pittman [125 words]

John Schuh

Sep 24, 2007 19:41

↔ So true... [9 words]

Jeff

Sep 24, 2007 22:26

Freedom of speech.. [13 words]

Marc M

Sep 24, 2007 14:17

free speech [62 words]

chris

Sep 24, 2007 14:05

the evil one is allowed but not the minuteman [123 words]

lea testyn

Sep 24, 2007 14:03

Right to FREE SPEECH is limited to Gov't!!!! [35 words]

Jarhead

Sep 24, 2007 13:58

free speech? [51 words]

christian

Sep 24, 2007 13:53

What a Bunch of Fury for Nothing - Columbia Fund threats [162 words]

Avvorio

Sep 24, 2007 13:52

He can speak, but I won't believe a word he says [86 words]

Lori

Sep 24, 2007 13:40

↔ how would you know [73 words]

Cheyenne Nicholson

Sep 24, 2007 19:07

↔ Big surprise [82 words]

NotAmerican

Sep 25, 2007 07:01

An Opportune Time To Have Him Arrested and Executed For Complicity In The Murder of Thousands Of American Soldiers [97 words]

Victor Galindo

Sep 24, 2007 13:38

↔ And who shall stand trial for the murder, rape and pillaging of Asia, south America, Eastern Europe? [426 words]

Ian Watson

Sep 24, 2007 15:40

↔ Who Saved Your Country MORE than Once??? [89 words]

L Guertin

Sep 24, 2007 17:46

UN [64 words]

Beck

Sep 24, 2007 13:38

↔ concur [6 words]

karin

Sep 24, 2007 15:08

About Adolf... [450 words]

Ian Watson

Sep 24, 2007 13:34

America * * Land of SHEEP, ill educated, destined to become a 3rd world nation [168 words]

James Salvatore

Sep 24, 2007 13:35

whats new? [81 words]

ric

Sep 24, 2007 13:15

Freedom has a price [277 words]

shinea

Sep 24, 2007 13:11

Hit them where they'll listen... [87 words]

Sep 24, 2007 13:02

Free speech is not the issue [135 words]

Dave

Sep 24, 2007 13:00

Cutting funding to Columbia is outrageous, foolish, and just another example of self seriving local politicing. [1100 words]

Geezer Batflabe

Sep 24, 2007 12:50

Why are we so afraid? [158 words]

John

Sep 24, 2007 12:50

Great opportunity to listen to the words of a different leader [121 words]

Moo

Sep 24, 2007 12:47

SO, when would Iran EVER get a green light to dialog with US? [241 words]

dan

Sep 24, 2007 12:47

Free Speech if you agree with Bush [91 words]

K. Mansfield

Sep 24, 2007 12:43

Are we forgetting what universities are for? [146 words]

George

Sep 24, 2007 12:42

Colombia will make it without your money and your ignorance. [145 words]

Sam Layssi

Sep 24, 2007 12:41

Ask tough questions and provide him with feedback. [149 words]

Dan

Sep 24, 2007 12:38

Teach them how free speech works [96 words]

James

Sep 24, 2007 12:33

Ahmadinejad [93 words]

Susie

Sep 24, 2007 12:30

Fairness [96 words]

Nick

Sep 24, 2007 12:28

We should put a few in the crosshairs [81 words]

ted zas

Sep 24, 2007 12:23

Let Columbia add credibility [15 words]

Bob

Sep 24, 2007 12:20

What is Freedom? [56 words]

Fred John jr

Sep 24, 2007 12:18

Fear of Ideas [482 words]

Eda Celis

Sep 24, 2007 12:15

Free speech and platforms are two different things [178 words]

Fernandez

Sep 24, 2007 12:14

Ahmadinijad not Hitler [356 words]

Scott Baker

Sep 24, 2007 12:13

Metallica said it fittingly: "Free Speech for the Dumb" [72 words]

Slippery Slope

Sep 24, 2007 12:13

The world does not belong only to the US [575 words]

Masyus

Sep 24, 2007 12:11

Iran President [91 words]

Vicki

Sep 24, 2007 12:07

↔ Its sickening that Americans still cant move on [148 words]

Cruz

Sep 24, 2007 12:25

↔ The true translation of the Iranian's words [108 words]

Ian Watson

Sep 24, 2007 13:41

↔ response to Ian Watson re the true translation... [35 words]

John

Sep 24, 2007 17:18

↔ Thank Goodness [58 words]

Terry Webb

Sep 25, 2007 21:39

Free Speech is not the issue [65 words]

Free Speech

Sep 24, 2007 11:55

Free Speech only allowed for some [64 words]

Diane

Sep 24, 2007 11:52

Liberty & License [154 words]

LeftCoastCurmudgeon

Sep 24, 2007 11:49

Under what legal authority can he go to Columbia? [91 words]

Bill McDonald

Sep 24, 2007 11:47

↔ LOOK HARDER! [96 words]

Jegggo

Sep 24, 2007 12:13

↔ Columbia no longer an institution of higher learning [160 words]

Paul

Sep 24, 2007 12:29

Why give Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad exactly what he wants? [94 words]

Bill

Sep 24, 2007 11:39

↔ Let him speak, prove him wrong [69 words]

I must be a fool

Sep 24, 2007 13:28

↔ Israeli Terrorism [131 words]

Ziad Khoury

Dec 11, 2007 12:59

Alumni Boycott [136 words]

Sep 24, 2007 11:37

↔ Patriot [5 words]

Tim

Sep 24, 2007 17:07

↔ Free Speech [65 words]

Sue Parker

Sep 24, 2007 19:42

Consequences [23 words]

Codeman

Sep 24, 2007 11:34

Higher education and demise of critical thinking [98 words]

Ron Mann

Sep 24, 2007 11:32

↔ Where were you when Freedom of Speech was denied? [89 words]

Danny Eller

Sep 24, 2007 12:16

↔ Honoring diversity of thought [101 words]

Elliott Althouse

Sep 24, 2007 13:03

↔ Freedom of speech is still protected last ime I checked. But that was early this morning and things may have changed. [75 words]

martykmunoz

Sep 24, 2007 14:24

↔ censorship [28 words]

karin

Sep 24, 2007 15:02

↔ Free Speech. [60 words]

gmaness

Sep 24, 2007 15:20

A Decision of Honor [116 words]

Mike Hogan

Sep 24, 2007 11:23

Freedom (including speach) is protected, FOR US CITIZENS [111 words]

B. Smith

Sep 24, 2007 11:22

↔ The govt can't prevent someone from speaking [190 words]

Paul Silhan

Sep 24, 2007 11:36

↔ Exactly..... [24 words]

Jody King

Sep 24, 2007 11:48

↔ Ahmadinejad [146 words]

Dick Sohn

Sep 24, 2007 12:50

↔ All your freedoms belongs to US [38 words]

NotAmerican

Sep 25, 2007 06:25

↔ law and free speech versus survival. [57 words]

max bernstein

Nov 26, 2007 08:53

Where's Dave [198 words]

Ed Dunne

Sep 24, 2007 11:21

Is it a proper forum? [118 words]

Don

Sep 24, 2007 11:20

Iranian President [30 words]

Marianna Jayson

Sep 24, 2007 11:17

Bizarre times [85 words]

Jim Rodgers

Sep 24, 2007 11:16

Equal Access [54 words]

MNC

Sep 24, 2007 11:15

↔ Hear him [31 words]

Y Abu Malik

Sep 24, 2007 12:26

Let's Not Fear Speach [65 words]

RonnieG

Sep 24, 2007 11:10

Columbia denies ROTC free speech on its campus [62 words]

Mario G

Sep 24, 2007 11:04

↔ federal funds for columbia [102 words]

joan

Sep 24, 2007 13:17

Why is he not allowed to speak again? [193 words]

Sep 24, 2007 11:00

The Issue is Truth [146 words]

Martin Gold

Sep 24, 2007 11:00

America the Ignorant [108 words]

Adam

Sep 24, 2007 10:54

↔ To Adam [85 words]

DaveS

Sep 24, 2007 11:54

Equal Treatment [25 words]

joe

Sep 24, 2007 10:53

To those who think it's not a freedom of speech issue [98 words]

Mike

Sep 24, 2007 10:51

Propaganda Value [71 words]

Mike

Sep 24, 2007 10:46

From a Democracy to a Dictatorship [171 words]

Avery

Sep 24, 2007 10:45

↔ Leadership in NY [12 words]

Leon Moore

Sep 24, 2007 12:57

Hypocrisy [28 words]

Dan Dismuke

Sep 24, 2007 10:39

↔ We've already heard it. [61 words]

K. Mansfield

Sep 24, 2007 13:08

Let him speak to us [112 words]

EMR 2044

Sep 24, 2007 10:33

↔ Let him speak at a cost to Columbia [98 words]

Rickie

Sep 24, 2007 11:25

Bring him on [61 words]

Not afraid of a little free speech

Sep 24, 2007 10:29

The Solution [71 words]

stonebridge

Sep 24, 2007 10:20

Politicians vying for votes [173 words]

Keith

Sep 24, 2007 10:16

Double Standard [24 words]

Genny

Sep 24, 2007 10:11

Interesting dicotomy [65 words]

Doug

Sep 24, 2007 10:09

↔ Willingness to hear ALL voices? [30 words]

rtodom

Sep 24, 2007 12:11

Give it to him [36 words]

Tim L

Sep 24, 2007 10:10

SimultaneousTranslation [36 words]

Phillip Lloyd

Sep 24, 2007 10:09

Afraid of the truth [26 words]

ed marshall

Sep 24, 2007 10:09

Since we are inviting him over... [142 words]

Dwayne

Sep 24, 2007 10:03

i agree [70 words]

A Romero

Sep 24, 2007 09:59

It's not about freedom of speech [98 words]

Pete

Sep 24, 2007 09:56

Outraged [35 words]

John

Sep 24, 2007 09:42

Freedom of speech is not a right to an audience [242 words]

Sara

Sep 24, 2007 09:39

Are we Iran all of a sudden [48 words]

Brian Perez

Sep 24, 2007 09:38

Resign Bollinger and Dean [37 words]

Sep 24, 2007 09:37

double standard [39 words]

J. B.

Sep 24, 2007 09:36

Shame on Columbia University [24 words]

Ann S.

Sep 24, 2007 09:25

Watch carefully kids... [16 words]

Matt

Sep 24, 2007 09:25

Grow up [108 words]

Mike

Sep 24, 2007 09:23

The Home Of the DEPRAVED ! [103 words]

Lyle

Sep 24, 2007 09:21

Thank GOD that Columbia has guts [100 words]

Beverins

Sep 24, 2007 09:21

Not in the U.S. [33 words]

Richard McLean

Sep 24, 2007 09:21

Really? [97 words]

andrew b

Sep 24, 2007 09:19

US Constitution [126 words]

tony

Sep 24, 2007 09:15

Freedom of speech [35 words]

George

Sep 24, 2007 09:16

Columbia development plans in NYC [47 words]

Sep 24, 2007 09:15

Foreign Citizens aren't entitled to our rights [63 words]

Sep 24, 2007 09:13

FREE SPEECH!!!! [64 words]

Jackie Domeneicis

Sep 24, 2007 09:10

Let's All Try and Get Along [233 words]

Cindy

Sep 24, 2007 09:09

Freedom of Speech? [15 words]

Max

Sep 24, 2007 09:07

Columbia has every right to invite him, but: [35 words]

Joseph Dobrian

Sep 24, 2007 09:05

Ivory Towers [37 words]

Jeff

Sep 24, 2007 09:04

Clueless in NYC [91 words]

Martin

Sep 24, 2007 09:00

Wake Up Soon [79 words]

JIM

Sep 24, 2007 08:57

Ahmdinejad [22 words]

Barry

Sep 24, 2007 08:58

the american way [23 words]

Q-Ball McKenzie

Sep 24, 2007 08:50

Right on Sheldon Silver - Times up for narcissistic fools like Bollinger [174 words]

John Crawford

Sep 24, 2007 08:46

Columbia U - Minute Men Not Welcome but Ahmadinejad Will Be [33 words]

Sam Rizzo

Sep 24, 2007 08:46

His safety is in danger... [22 words]

dave from tallahassee

Sep 24, 2007 08:46

schizophrenia [90 words]

Mary Richey

Sep 24, 2007 08:44

I am pleased [33 words]

B. Bernhart

Sep 24, 2007 08:32

Let him speak [82 words]

tunes

Sep 24, 2007 08:28

Dixie Chicks [105 words]

Bob

Sep 24, 2007 08:19

free speech [72 words]

a pro-Israel, anti-zionist

Sep 24, 2007 08:20

Choice [46 words]

Dick Tuck

Sep 24, 2007 08:17

Reason to support it [31 words]

renton

Sep 24, 2007 08:16

Does Columbia allow voices they DISAGREE with, not a chance... [175 words]

Kelly collins

Sep 24, 2007 08:16

In the words of Don Corleone........... [9 words]

D Cofffee

Sep 24, 2007 08:14

Good for Columbia [104 words]

S DeVo

Sep 24, 2007 08:13

Thumbs up Fred [51 words]

Chuck

Sep 24, 2007 08:11

It's about Time! [29 words]

karen anderson

Sep 24, 2007 08:10

Suprised? [10 words]

Terry Honeycutt

Sep 24, 2007 08:03

yes, stop all public funding to Columbia University [259 words]

Brenda Starr

Sep 24, 2007 08:00

Some free speech [67 words]

Jenny Bea

Sep 24, 2007 07:55

Freedom Wins. [57 words]

El Duane Whatley

Sep 24, 2007 07:34

Thomas Paine [41 words]

Steve

Sep 24, 2007 07:33

It's 1936 all over again [105 words]

Jowand

Sep 24, 2007 07:33

RE: Freedom [26 words]

Marilyn Chapman

Sep 24, 2007 07:06

Freedom? [32 words]

Robert

Sep 24, 2007 06:58

↔ Not a Free Speech issue [53 words]

Tom McGrath

Sep 24, 2007 07:17

↔ Stop with the freedom stuff already [19 words]

Sep 24, 2007 07:23

↔ Send the dean to Iran [82 words]

Darrell

Sep 24, 2007 07:46

↔ Spieakers Platform [101 words]

R.P. Foster

Sep 24, 2007 08:03

↔ Didn't know our rights... [73 words]

James Miller

Sep 24, 2007 08:07

↔ give me a break [190 words]

peter drang

Sep 24, 2007 08:11

↔ The priviledges of being an American does not apply to Iranian President. [84 words]

Sep 24, 2007 08:54

↔ It IS about free speech [242 words]

Steve

Sep 24, 2007 08:59

↔ Freedom of Speech? [22 words]

Ric

Sep 24, 2007 09:11

↔ It's a private school Robert, take a constitutional law class! [18 words]

Captain D

Sep 24, 2007 09:15

↔ Free speech is in the US Constitution - not the Iranian constitution [131 words]

Michael

Sep 24, 2007 09:24

↔ Free Freedom? [38 words]

porcine delight

Sep 24, 2007 09:39

↔ Free Speech [31 words]

Danny H

Sep 24, 2007 09:39

↔ Not about Ahmadinejad's free speech, but Columbia's [77 words]

Sep 24, 2007 09:43

↔ Another perspective [119 words]

Delaplane

Sep 24, 2007 09:44

↔ Let Him Speak [70 words]

Oliver Tighe

Sep 24, 2007 10:08

↔ Let him speak and show him this is USA, not Iran [70 words]

BubbleBoy

Sep 24, 2007 10:33

↔ Two Things... [97 words]

Dan

Sep 24, 2007 10:45

↔ Let Him Speak [73 words]

Sally

Sep 24, 2007 15:19

on Campus [87 words]

Fred

Sep 24, 2007 06:51

↔ Financial help for needy students threatened. [16 words]

Bob

Sep 24, 2007 08:17

↔ What are you afraid of? [187 words]

Bob Jones

Sep 24, 2007 09:04

↔ Tehran University Extends invitation to President Bush to Speak ! [4 words]

Bennett

Sep 24, 2007 09:41

↔ America : Land of the Sheep and Bullies [56 words]

a free thinking Amrican

Sep 24, 2007 10:25

↔ free thinking? [62 words]

Dave

Sep 24, 2007 13:06

↔ propaganda [81 words]

karin

Sep 24, 2007 14:59

↔ Have you met your President [4 words]

a free thinking American

Sep 28, 2007 09:13

It's about time... [13 words]

ricardo maxwell

Sep 24, 2007 06:38

Mr Silver's comments on Mahmoud Ahmadinejad [20 words]

J. Kobylka

Sep 24, 2007 06:23

↔ No Freedom [31 words]

Clay

Sep 24, 2007 07:15

↔ The state needs to [60 words]

Bernard

Sep 24, 2007 07:42

↔ Columbia moral standard- Highly Selective like her admissions [69 words]

Butchsnot Prebbie

Sep 24, 2007 08:07

↔ Praisinng Silver [12 words]

Robert Lo Dolce

Sep 24, 2007 08:17

↔ let him rant [47 words]

Richard

Sep 24, 2007 08:38

↔ Columbia from mountain to hill [84 words]

anonyous

Sep 24, 2007 08:37

↔ Minute men [32 words]

Roger Krell

Sep 24, 2007 09:11

↔ Free Speach?? [22 words]

George

Sep 24, 2007 09:13

↔ His ideas must be powerful since so many are afraid... [84 words]

Sep 24, 2007 09:19

↔ our education system is broken down [121 words]

dmk2000

Sep 24, 2007 11:53

↔ Silver is a clown [143 words]

John

Sep 24, 2007 13:12

I Agree with Columbia University [49 words]

Maria

Sep 24, 2007 06:17

Just how open are you? [89 words]

Kyrux

Sep 24, 2007 05:48

New generation of history students of Columbia no match for Ahmendinejad [184 words]

Mary A. Jackson

Sep 24, 2007 05:47

Hail, Columbia [261 words]

Jon

Sep 24, 2007 05:35

Shame on Columbia [102 words]

Jon Dame

Sep 24, 2007 05:17

Silver Way Out of Line [100 words]

Dan

Sep 24, 2007 04:51

American Hypocracy [220 words]

Scott

Sep 24, 2007 04:43

Denying Ahmadinejad a forum will not make the problem go away [276 words]

Bob Reynolds

Sep 24, 2007 04:36

Ironic [224 words]

Said

Sep 24, 2007 04:36

This amounts to extortion!!! [38 words]

lars nilsson

Sep 24, 2007 04:32

Visit [63 words]

Wes

Sep 24, 2007 04:31

You lose can't you see [29 words]

Shadowfax

Sep 24, 2007 03:41

All Publicity is Good [41 words]

Steve

Sep 24, 2007 03:34

He has all the right to be there [82 words]

Lara

Sep 24, 2007 03:24

Legislatures May Act on Columbia [60 words]

Crom

Sep 24, 2007 03:24

No to Ahmadinejad! [27 words]

Alex

Sep 24, 2007 03:20

Bollinger is lying [58 words]

Kurtiss

Sep 24, 2007 03:18

Ahmedinejads Visit to Columbia [241 words]

M Junaid Khan

Sep 24, 2007 03:16

Terrorists everywhere [126 words]

E Rodgers

Sep 24, 2007 03:12

Columbia and the military [192 words]

Bosun

Sep 24, 2007 02:44

omg~ [167 words]

Justin

Sep 24, 2007 02:39

What's the Harm ? [76 words]

Rick Barrett

Sep 24, 2007 02:31

How brave is Columbia's administration? [59 words]

AmericanMark

Sep 24, 2007 02:03

Throw the bum out [94 words]

Leopold Lacrimosa

Sep 24, 2007 01:56

Free Speech [144 words]

Dave Berthiaume

Sep 24, 2007 01:39

What are they afraid of? [16 words]

Marty

Sep 24, 2007 01:33

Balls [64 words]

Greg Baziuk

Sep 24, 2007 01:27

Responsible for American Deaths [296 words]

Owen Goldsmith

Sep 24, 2007 01:24

waste of time [37 words]

Jose

Sep 24, 2007 01:20

History Ignored Again. [160 words]

Martin D Miasserian

Sep 24, 2007 00:43

No Respect [78 words]

Lehman