Posted on 11/26/2004 7:24:11 AM PST by Piranha
NEW YORK - Columbia University president Lee Bollinger plans "specific steps" soon in response to allegations that professors and lecturers at the Ivy League university made vitriolic and malicious comments against Israel in classes.
Bollinger made the pledge in a Wednesday phone call to Anti-Defamation League national director Abraham Foxman. Bollinger didn't detail the character of the steps, but emphasized "the matter will be handled immediately."
New York's Columbia University was recently embarrassed by reports that Middle Eastern professors are exploiting their academic standing to express extreme political views on Israel, using slanderous and defamatory statements.
The allegations against the professors, including their names and photographs, were published at the beginning of the week in an investigative report by mass-circulation newspaper the New York Daily News.
Jewish sources in New York reported Thursday that major Jewish donors to the university were considering severing ties with the prestigious institution in response to the "corrupt behavior" by academic staff. In particular, the sources mentioned Jewish graduates of the university active in alumni organizations.
They said that Bollinger had recently received irate requests from alumni protesting the behavior and explaining they expected an appropriate response from the university to what they called "malicious comments" against Israel.
The university president recently proposed the establishment of a special chair for Israeli Studies, with the view of separating it from Middle East Studies. The proposal was interpreted by the Jewish community as an appeasement gesture after the wave of protest against the professors' behavior.
Foxman told Haaretz on Thursday that he his meeting with Bollinger had left him with the impression that "he is aware of the problem and understands its seriousness."
Foxman called the Columbia events "particularly grave as the institution is located in New York, which has a large Jewish population, and Jewish students are exposed to insults from professors."
Foxman emphasized that "if Columbia handles the problem decisively, it will be a strong message to other U.S. campuses where similar phenomena occur."
All of the offending professors will immediately be granted tenure if they don't already have it, and be given a raise. That'll be Columbia's idea of "handling it."
I was just thinking the same thing. Granting them tenure is the best way for Colombia to claim that their hands are tied from taking action in the future.
too bad the USG hasn't got the cojones to do likewise for anti-American professors......taxpayers fund this and most Universities in a big way.
It's not just the MidEast department.
"Assistant anthropology professor Nicholas De Genova said at an antiwar teach-in Wednesday night [March 26, 2003] that he would like to see "a million more Mogadishus ..."
Considering this is Columbia he most likely will be given a bonus, a fat raise , and make him the department chair of mideast studies.
So, there are more Taylor Jeffrey's around? You know, the guy who talked about Jew, "ice greed", and Neanderthal. What is he doing now? Maybe he joined Jihad.
Raises and promotions all around probably will be the final result, or am I just being too cynical?LOL.
Good start. Now how about those who disparage the U.S. Not likely. Such views exhibit erudition.
Lots of Arab groups
have vast amounts of money.
If they step forward,
pledge to meet shortfalls,
university big-wigs
may have their hands tied.
The offending professors will be promoted and put in charge of their departments.
I know who you mean, but he was at CUNY
That's why I don't think that withholding contributions is the best solution. When you withhold contributions you lose access. When they talk about wealthy Jewish donors, though, I wonder if they mean Robert Kraft, the sports and paper mogul, who donated the money for the multi-story Jewish center.
I think that the Trustees (at least some of them) probably are as appalled by all of this as we are.
They let them (make them?) say anything bad they want about the United States, but say something bad about Israel? No way!
There is, already,
a global academic
offensive against
Israel. Our press
says almost nothing of it.
But it's organized.
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