De Genova's hopes for the defeat of the United States were cheered by the crowd of 3,000, according to newspaper reports. But his mention of the Somali ambush -- "I personally would like to see a million Mogadishus" -- was largely met with silence.
A call Friday to De Genova, 35, was answered with a recording that said his voice mailbox was full.
Columbia University on Friday issued a statement that distanced the school from his comments but did not condemn them.
"Assistant Professor Nicholas De Genova was speaking as an individual at a teach-in. He was exercising his right to free speech. His statement does not in any way represent the views of Columbia University."
History professor Eric Foner, who helped organize the teach-in and spoke after De Genova, said Friday: "I disagreed strongly and I said so. If I had known what he was going to say I would have been reluctant to have him speak."
Foner said De Genova was a last-minute invitee, was just one of about 25 speakers and "did not represent the general tone of the event, which was highly educational."
"I thought that was completely uncalled for," Foner was quoted as saying, referring to De Genova's allusion to the Mogadishu ambush and firefight, known for the graphic image of a slain American soldier being dragged through the streets. "We do not desire the deaths of American soldiers."
Yes they do. That's the sickest part. This is exactly what the left, Bush-hating, anti-American crowd (which hides behind the name anti-War) wants. They want dead American soldiers because they think it will translate into power -- in the form of Democrat votes.
I'm truly convinced of this.