Columbia Still Roiled by Iranian's Visit (MSM Bias Barf Alert)

The Washington Post ^ | December 16, 2007 | Dafna Linzer

[khnyny]

When the head of Columbia University suggested that free speech was banned in Tehran, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad not only disagreed, he also invited Lee C. Bollinger to come and see for himself.

The retort won Ahmadinejad applause on the New York campus and accolades back home. For Bollinger, the sharp remarks he made in introducing Ahmadinejad were meant to kick off a lively debate. But three months later, they have kept Columbia roiling.

The remarks, faculty members said in interviews, have exacerbated an already tense climate that is increasingly pitting Muslim and Middle East studies professors against positions held by Jewish colleagues, particularly on the issue of tenure for two Arab professors.

"There have been an accumulation of events since Bollinger arrived that have people riled up. I have never seen a situation quite like this one, and I've been here for 32 years," said Richard Bulliet, a professor of Islamic studies who helped negotiate Ahmadinejad's appearance at the university.

A new source of angst is Bollinger's refusal to take up Ahmadinejad's invitation and his ban on official visits to Iran by Columbia faculty members.

Middle East studies professors remain furious over Bollinger's handling of Ahmadinejad's visit. More than 100 faculty members signed a letter protesting Bollinger's leadership. And in closed-door meetings, some of them have accused him of pandering to donors, selling out Middle East scholarship and embarrassing the Ivy League institution.

At first, much of the anger was directed at Bollinger's presentation, which was seen by some faculty members as supportive of the Bush administration's tough stance against Iran. At issue was Bollinger's assertion that Iran has been behind terrorist attacks against U.S. troops in Iraq.

"The President has publicly taken partisan political positions concerning the politics of the Middle East, without apparent expertise in...

[khnyny]

The bottom line with this piece is that a tiny retraction was issued about this article in today's edition of the WP.

I highly recommend reading the the entire article to understand the full scope of it's incredible bias.

[khnyny]

Here's the "correction" in today's edition of the WP:

"A Dec. 16 A-section article on divisions at Columbia University incorrectly characterized as radical a group of Jewish students who had alleged intimidation by Middle East language professors."

Imho, that's probably one of the more blatant errors in the article, but by far, not the only one.

[G8 Diplomat]

"There have been an accumulation of events since Bollinger arrived that have people riled up. I have never seen a situation quite like this one, and I've been here for 32 years," said Richard Bulliet, a professor of Islamic studies who helped negotiate Ahmadinejad's appearance at the university.

Well that's what happens when you invite crazy Holocaust-denying freedom-hating dictators bent on nuking nations off the map to your campus. It doesn't go over too well with most people, y'know??

[khnyny]

Exactly. This Islamic studies professor is trying to blame the brouhaha on Bollinger. It seems the WP is doing their part to blame Bollinger and the Jewish "radicals" on campus too. (rolls eyes in disgust)

[drzz]

They don’t disagree about Ahmadinejad’s visit but about Bollinger remarks against the neo-nazi iranien president...

The universities are really the most stupid place in the US.