Bollinger: No Plan to Reprimand De Genova (Freep Needed)

Columbia Daily Spectator ^ | April 10, 2003 | Megan Greenwell

[tcostell]

Bollinger: No Plan to Reprimand De Genova

Bollinger issued a statement in response to a letter from the U.S. Congress.

By Megan Greenwell

Spectator Associate News Editor

Two days after Professor Nicholas De Genova returned to class for the first time in a week, the controversy surrounding his name continues. On Tuesday, in his fourth public statement since De Genova's comments at an anti-war teach-in two weeks ago, University President Lee Bollinger said, unequivocally and for the first time in an official capacity, that he would not consider punishing De Genova for his statements.

Bollinger released the announcement to CNN in response to a letter from 104 Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives calling for De Genova's firing.

"I have a deep respect for the members of Congress and appreciate their concerns," Bollinger said in the statement. "I have already expressed my strong disagreement with Assistant Professor De Genova's statements. However, under the principle of academic freedom, it would be inappropriate to take disciplinary action."

Congressman J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ) introduced the letter in the House on March 31. He collected 65 signatures on the letter the first hour of circulation, according to Hayworth's press office. Although the entire House was invited to sign the letter, no Democratic representatives lent their support.

"Assistant Professor De Genova has brought shame on the great institution that is Columbia University," Hayworth wrote in a letter addressed to Bollinger. "As an assistant professor, De Genova has not yet earned the promise of lifelong academic employment--i.e. tenure. We hope that you will take steps immediately to ensure he never gets it."

Calling De Genova's statements "outrageously offensive," a spokesperson from Hayworth's Scottsdale, Arizona office said that Hayworth and other members of Congress felt compelled to write a letter representing the U.S. House because they "had such a visceral reaction to hearing about this."

Larry Van Hoose, a spokesman for Hayworth's office, said that De Genova's remarks were unacceptable because of the pain and offense they had caused to U.S. soldiers serving in Iraq and their families.

"De Genova has every right to make such comments under free speech," Van Hoose said. "However, he gives up his right to his job if he exercises that right to free speech. It may fall under free speech, but not under academic freedom. What is academic about wishing for young Americans to be slaughtered in battle?"

Bollinger's Tuesday statement came on De Genova's first day back at Columbia since the teach-in on March 26. De Genova canceled his Latino History and Culture class on both Tuesday and Thursday of last week and his graduate-level Political Economy and Social History course last Tuesday. During the class's meeting time on Thursday, a group of De Genova's students held a silent protest on Low Plaza in support of their professor, who they said was afraid to return to the University because of the multiple death threats he had received.

This Tuesday, students said that De Genova thanked those who had stood behind him while he was gone.

One student in De Genova's Latino History class said that the professor apologized for his absence and the inconvenience it had caused in terms of the reading and homework assignments. The student said that De Genova devoted about 30 minutes of Tuesday's class to discussing the issues surrounding his statements.

"He was very eloquent but surprisingly unapologetic," the student said. "Considering his irrational comments, I would have thought he might have at least modified those statements, but he just went over his current stance on the issue which was pretty much the same as it was before."

"He acknowledged the death threats but refused to apologize for what he said," said Rebekah Pazmiño, CC '05. "He said 'I will not be silenced.'"

Students in the class said that they received an e-mail from the anthropology department yesterday notifying them about a new location for the class meeting. The e-mail asked recipients not to tell anyone outside the class about the new location in order to ensure De Genova's safety.

Columbia security personnel checked student I.D. cards against the class roster at the door so they could prevent members of the press from entering and avoid a repeat of last Tuesday's class meeting, when members of the press and angry students arrived at the class' scheduled meeting time.

The anger some students felt toward De Genova were shared by the General Studies Student Council, who last week unanimously passed a statement asking for University administration to "strongly reprimand" the professor and for De Genova himself to issue a public apology.

"Professor De Genova's statements were a direct incitement to violence against the men and women in the military ...," the statement said. "This is unacceptable, and his affiliation with Columbia University reflects poorly on all of us."

GSSC President Katie Daily, GS '03, said that the council's intent was to express their offense at De Genova's statements, especially on behalf of GS students who are associated with the U.S. military.

"What he said definitely hit close to home," Daily said. "We don't have a lot of tolerance for comments of that nature directed against anybody, but especially not against our military since so many of our students have been involved."

Unlike Hayworth's letter from the House, the GS statement stopped short of calling for De Genova's termination. Daily said that the group discussed what the appropriate consequences should be, eventually deciding that De Genova should not be fired because his comments are protected under academic free speech.

"We decided that saying he should be fired wasn't the right call to action," Daily said. "His free speech crossed the line, but it was still free speech."

[tcostell]

Columbia University would probably like to hear from us on such a critical community relations issue.

Columbia University in the City of New York

2960 Broadway

New York, NY 10027-6902

(212) 854-1754

http://www.columbia.edu/cu/news/03/04/statement_genova.html

[dirtboy]

Columbia University would probably like to hear from us on such a critical community relations issue.

Columbia University couldn't give a fig what conservatives think of it. There are exactly two groups of people that can impact that institution - parents of Columbia students and alumni - the source of money for Columbia.

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[Spiff]

Congressman J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ) introduced the letter in the House on March 31. He collected 65 signatures on the letter the first hour of circulation, according to Hayworth's press office. Although the entire House was invited to sign the letter, no Democratic representatives lent their support.

The intentional silence on the part of the Democrats is tacit endorsement of de Genova's treasonous, violent anti-American statements. This should be used as a millstone around the necks of the Rats.

[68skylark]

Personally, I wrote my Representative and both my Senators.

I told them that no school should receive tax money when they tolerate teaching hate and armed violence against U. S. military personnel.

I hope that's not too radical an idea.

Columbia gets $300 million a year or more in tax money. I don't think this is okay.

[TracyLynn]

I already wrote and demanded that he be fired.
I got this stinking pile of garbage in return from Bollinger.

Heres the message I got:


"I want to acknowledge your email message concerning Assistant
Professor De Genova's remarks. I am appalled by his outrageous
comments. I want to assure you that his comments in no way represent
my views nor anyone with whom I have spoken at the University. His
comments were not made in a classroom, but rather at a teach-in, an
informal gathering where faculty and students come together to discuss
and debate the pressing and important issues of the moment. They are
not authorized or officially sanctioned classroom experiences.

Assistant Professor De Genova was exercising his freedom of speech
when he made those remarks. However, free speech does not insulate
him from criticism. Our faculty and students, regardless of their
position on the war, have not been silent in their denunciation of his
remarks.

While Nicholas De Genova's words properly invite anger and sharp
rebuke, there are few things more precious on any University campus
than freedom of thought and expression. That is the teaching of the
First Amendment and I believe it should be the principle we live by at
Columbia University.

I appreciate your adding your voice to those who have expressed their
opinions. At a time of war, when American troops are in harm's way,
his comments are especially disturbing. I am particularly saddened
for the families of those whose lives are at risk and who must endure
the pain provoked by his statements.

Sincerely,

Lee C. Bollinger
President
Columbia University"

[Frumious Bandersnatch]

"We decided that saying he should be fired wasn't the right call to action," Daily said. "His free speech crossed the line, but it was still free speech."

Ever heard of sedition?

[TonyWojo]

Does Columbia have a Board of Regents? Who does Bollinger have to explain himself to.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Columbia mailed acceptance letters to freshman applicants on April 2. Most schools hold a campus visit day shortly after acceptances, for students (and their parents) who have been accepted but not necessarily yet committed to attend) -- usually on a weekend, quite possibly this coming weekend. I couldn't find info on it on their website, and invites are probably just sent to the accepted students. But current undergrads and faculty/admin could surely find out. Got any connections there? Freepers could help make it a memorable (and decision-influencing) visit for these youngsters and their families.

[itzmygun]

If this guy would have said that he hoped doctors who performed abortions would die, he would have been gone, and the democrats would have had his head on a platter.

[websterdog]

"I have a deep respect for the members of Congress and appreciate their concerns," Bollinger said in the statement. "I have already expressed my strong disagreement with Assistant Professor De Genova's statements. However, under the principle of academic freedom, it would be inappropriate to take disciplinary action."

HE NEEDS TO DEFINE "inappropriate" I'm not sure he understands the definition.
What a crock of S@*t.

[Rummyfan]

<<"I have a deep respect for the members of Congress and appreciate their concerns," Bollinger said in the statement. "I have already expressed my strong disagreement with Assistant Professor De Genova's statements. However, under the principle of academic freedom, it would be inappropriate to take disciplinary action." >>

Hypocrisy in action! If this prof had said anything like this in support of racism / homophobia / choose your topic, he woui=ld be gone. Instead, because he calls for the death of US servicemen and women, it is tolerated as free speech. Bullsh**!

[Ga Rob]

That is the truth pure and simple.

[Texas_Jarhead]

had he called for the massacre of gays, blacks, or muslims then he would have been fired within the day IMO

[Blue Screen of Death]

Had he said he only wanted to see Black or Female or Gay soldiers killed, he would be serving french fries by now.

[websterdog]

This makes me so mad. I just sent another email to the "Pres" of Columbia-
My dear sir:
Would you please send me the definition of "inappropraite" that was in your address regarding mr. degenova. As our country is in war securing the freedom of the Iraqui people, and my brother gave his life in the defense of this country, I hardly think it would be inappropriate to as mr. degenova to give his resignation and take up citizenship in another country.

PROUD TO BE AMERICAN

[jimt]

Perhaps at DeGenova's next little public foray someone with a loud bullhorn should tell him we need a million San Jacintos here in America.

He might take a different viewpoint on freedom of speech, seeing as that's where the Texans butchered the Mexicans.

[Poohbah]

"I have a deep respect for the members of Congress and appreciate their concerns," Bollinger said in the statement. "I have already expressed my strong disagreement with Assistant Professor De Genova's statements. However, under the principle of academic freedom, it would be inappropriate to take disciplinary action."

Fine. Under the concept of representative government, it would be inappropriate for Columbia University to get another dime of taxpayer's money--EVER.

[Poohbah]

HE NEEDS TO DEFINE "inappropriate" I'm not sure he understands the definition.

Or, as Diego Miguel de Rodrigo said in The Princess Bride, "I do not think that word means what you think it means."

[PhilDragoo]

bollinger@columbia.edu

Saccharine and glutinous disclaimers to the contrary notwithstanding, Bollinger is party to de Genova's filth.