Columbia President feels the heat; admits receiving 15,000 emails opposing leftist professor

[Stop Legal Plunder]

At an invitation-only alumni reception in Washington, DC, yesterday, Columbia University President Lee Bollinger defended his refusal to fire Nicholas deGenova, the controversial professor who called for a "million Mogadishus," while admitting the public outcry, including 15,000 emails, was hurting Columbia's reputation.

In response to an angry alumnus' question about the controversy and its negative impact on Columbia's reputation and alumni donations, Bollinger said that deGenova's remarks, which occured during a faculty-organized "teach-in" and included a claim that "U.S. patriotism is inseparable from imperial warfare and white supremacy," were "reprehensible," but claimed they were protected by the First Amendment.

Bollinger said it was vital for a university to stand up for academic freedom and that taking such a stand required protecting the right of academics to express their opinions, even if such includes advocating "murder," as he described deGenova's position. Bollinger acknowledged that such a stand was costly, volunteering that not only had he received the aforementioned 15,000 emails but that the volume of phone calls was keeping his voicemail full of messages from those demanding deGenova be fired.

So this Ivy Tower university president is feeling the heat. But Columbia's endowment is big enough that he's been able to ignore the pressure so far. Perhaps those sending Bollinger emails should cc them to Columbia trustees, as they have the final legal authority over hiring and firing at the university.

[Stop Legal Plunder]

Can you list a source for this information?

I was at the event. I paid close attention to Bollinger's comments to be able to report them accurately on Free Republic.

[TheSpottedOwl]

So this Ivy Tower university president is feeling the heat. But Columbia's endowment is big enough that he's been able to ignore the pressure so far. Perhaps those sending Bollinger emails should cc them to Columbia trustees, as they have the final legal authority over hiring and firing at the university.

Lol, he got FReeped. Let's FReep the trustees next! It's too bad, actually. Columbia is(was) a great university.

[Gefreiter]

Well, DeGenova DOES have the right to say whatever he wants, especially on a university campus.

And Columbia alumni have the right to give their $ to another institution. Yes, their endowment is substantial, but ALL endowments are down in this economy. No university needs any more adverse publicity at this time, publicity that might lead to a smaller bottom line. It is a good time for organized alumni to make themselves heard by not giving this year.

[DensaMensa]

}Columbia's endowment is big enough that he's been able to ignore the pressure so far.

This is precisely why I never give money to enhance an "endowment fund". A big fund only gives such institutions the ability to ignore criticism and makes them harder to mangage. I would rather see them run lean and scared and very responsive.

[Mister Baredog]

Bollinger said it was vital for a university to stand up for academic freedom and that taking such a stand required protecting the right of academics to express their opinions, even if such includes advocating "murder,"

Personally I'm quite sure advocating "murder" was not what they founding fathers had in mind with the First Amendment. Free speech has never been free, unless you have "tenure" of course, then anything short of videos of you molesting small children could threaten your exhalted position.

[websterdog]

Does anyone have a list of e-mail addresses for the board of trustees and officers?

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Great Minds Think Alike!

[Stop Legal Plunder]

Yes, their endowment is substantial, but ALL endowments are down in this economy.

Among all the Ivy League schools, Columbia already has the lowest alumni giving rate. This hurts their ranking in U.S. News. That's why they sent a special appeal for donations to alumni just a few weeks ago. They said to give "any amount," as it will help the U.S. News rankings. Needless to say, Columbia's rank isn't likely to go up next year, thanks to Bollinger.

[2nd amendment mama]

Here are their names - don't have e-mail addresses for them....

Here are the current Trustees & where they work - interesting list!

David Stern (Chair)

David Stern has been the commissioner of the National Basketball Association since February 1, 1984. Mr. Stern began his association with the NBA in 1966 as outside counsel, joined the NBA in 1978 as general counsel and became the league's executive vice president in 1980.

Evan Davis (Vice Chair)

Evan Davis is a partner in the New York law firm of Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton. He is also president of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York.

Michael Patterson (Clerk)

Michael E. Patterson is vice chairman of J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. He had previously served as vice chairman of the board, chief administrative officer, executive vice president.

Lee C. Bollinger (President of the University)

José A. Cabranes

José A. Cabranes is a Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, to which he was appointed in 1994. He had previously served for 15 years as a United States District Judge for the District of Connecticut, the final two years as its Chief Judge.

William V. Campbell

Mr. Campbell is chairman of the board of directors of Intuit, Inc.

Stephen Case

Stephen Case is a partner in the New York law firm of Davis Polk & Wardwell.

John Chalsty

Retired

Ellen Oran Kaden

Ellen Kaden is senior vice president, law and government affairs at Campbell Soup Company

Robert Kraft

Robert Kraft is Founder and Chairman of the Kraft Group of Companies based in Boston, Mass

Marilyn Laurie

Marilyn Laurie recently retired as executive vice president of brand strategy and advertising at AT&T >

H.F. (Gerry) Lenfest

Gerry Lenfest is president of Lenfest Communications, a company principally involved in national satellite promotion of cable programming, digital satellite distribution, and cable advertising and market promotion.

Philip L. Milstein

Philip Milstein is president and a member of the board of directors of Emigrant Savings Bank

Joan Edelman Spero

In 1993, President Clinton appointed her to the U.S. Department of State as under secretary of economic, business, and agricultural affairs. She played a central role in formulating the administration's foreign economic policy. She also served as a top advisor on the G7 economic summits.

Savio Tung

Tung is a management committee member with the investment firm Investcorp International Inc., where he oversees the firm's global technology and telecommunication investment activities.

George Van Amson

Mr. Van Amson is an executive director and sales trading manager at Morgan Stanley Inc.

Harold Varmus

Harold Varmus, former Director of the National Institutes of Health and co-recipient of a Nobel Prize for studies of the genetic basis of cancer, has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City since January 2000.

Faye Wattleton

Faye Wattleton is the president of the Center for Gender Equality, a not-for-profit research, policy development and education institution created in 1995 to advance women's equality and full participation in society.

Richard E. Witten

Richard Witten is currently an Advisory Director of Goldman Sachs & Co. in New York City.

Clyde Wu

Dr. Clyde Y. C. Wu, an associate professor of medicine at Wayne State University School of Medicine

Here are some Trustees Emeriti

ARTHUR OCHS SULZBERGER
Chairman Emeritus
The New York Times Company

CHARLES F. LUCE
Chairman Emeritus
Consolidated Edison of New York, Inc.

LAWRENCE E. WALSH
Counsel
Crowe & Dunlevy

W. CLARKE WESCOE
Chairman and CEO(retired)
Sterling Drug, Inc.

CHARLES M. METZNER
Senior United States District Judge
U.S. District Court

MARTHA T. MUSE
Chairman
The Tinker Foundation, Inc.

CONNIE S. MANIATTY
Honorary Managing Director
Salomon Smith Barney

THOMAS D. FLYNN
Partner (retired)
Ernst & Young

THOMAS L. CHRYSTIE
Partner (retired)
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.

SAMUEL L. HIGGINBOTTOM, Chair Emeritus
Chairman and President (retired)
Rolls-Royce, Inc.

MICHAEL I. SOVERN, President Emeritus of the University
Kent Professor of Law
Columbia University

G.G. MICHELSON, Chair Emerita

WARREN H. PHILLIPS
Director, Chairman and CEO (retired)
Dow Jones & Co., Inc.

STANLEY L. TEMKO
Senior Counsel
Covington & Burling

EDWARD N. COSTIKYAN
Counsel
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison

JOHN GOELET
Goelet Corporation

HENRY L. KING, Chair Emeritus
Senior Counsel
Davis Polk & Wardwell

JERRY I. SPEYER, Chair Emeritus
President
Tishman Speyer Properties, Inc.

JOSEPH D. WILLIAMS
Chairman and CEO (retired)
Warner-Lambert Company

LIONEL I. PINCUS, Chair Emeritus
Chairman and CEO
Warburg Pincus

MARYLIN B. LEVITT
Assistant Professor
George Washington University

JOHN J. CURLEY
Chairman, President and CEO
Gannett Co., Inc.

EDWARD BOTWINICK
President
Botwinick-Wolfensohn Foundation, Inc.

EDWIN ROBBINS
Of Counsel
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom

ARNOLD S. RELMAN
Professor Emeritus of Medicine and of
Social Medicine
Harvard Medical School
Editor Emeritus
New England Journal of Medicine

WALTER BURKE

ANNA K. LONGOBARDO
Director, Strategic Initiatives (retired)
Unisys Corporation

MARGARET E. MAHONEY
President
MEM Associates, Inc.

MATHY MEZEY
Independence Professor of Nursing Education
New York University

PETER K.C. WOO
Group Chairman
Wheelock and Company Limited

MAUREEN A. COGAN
Children's Advocate, Philanthropist

DONALD F. McHENRY
University Research Professor of
Diplomacy and International Affairs
Georgetown University School of Foreign Service

YUZABURO MOGI
President and CEO
Kikkoman Corporation

STEPHEN FRIEDMAN, Chair Emeritus
Senior Principal
MMC Capital, Inc.

JOHN E. ZUCCOTTI
Chairman
Brookfield Financial Properties

JEROME A. CHAZEN
Chairman
Chazen Capital Partners, LLC

GEORGE E. RUPP, President Emeritus of the University
President
International Rescue Committee

LAURANS A. MENDELSON
Chairman, President and CEO
HEICO Corporation

ROBERT A. MCCORMACK
Executive Vice President (retired)
Citicorp

[hc87]

Want to guess what course Bollinger taught at University of Michigan Law School when I was there?

(Wait for it.)

First Amendment. No joke.

[Stop Legal Plunder]

PING

[Lee Heggy]

"vital for a university to stand up for academic freedom"

Academic freedom applies to academic studies not stupidity.

[jimt]

Perhaps if students started wearing T-Shirts with the Slogan "Million Columbines" these jackass SOB's would get a clue!!!

Given deGenerate's overtly racist "La Raza" orientation, I kinda favor "A Million San Jacintos" myself.

The Mexicans got their noses wiped clean at that battle.

[Stop Legal Plunder]

Want to guess what course Bollinger taught at University of Michigan Law School when I was there? (Wait for it.) First Amendment. No joke.

That's also the only class he now teaches at Columbia, as he told us last night. He said his speciality has been the First Amendment, especially Freedom of Speech. So I think it's clear that Bollinger's statements about the First Amendment aren't from ignorance.

[COURAGE]

"Yes, the american troops have advanced further. This will only make it easier for us to defeat them"

[Stop Legal Plunder]

Thanks for the list of trustees.

[2nd amendment mama]

You're quite welcome.

[McGavin999]

Yeah, he's perfectly willing to stand up and defend this kind of speech, but God help the professor who actually tries to teach the truth about this country and it's values. That guy is run off campus on a rail and the rest of the leftists just yawn.

Until people start withholding their checks these guys just won't get it.

[Jim Noble]

>>Bollinger said it was vital for a university to stand up for academic freedom and that taking such a stand required protecting the right of academics to express their opinions, even if such includes advocating "murder," as he described deGenova's position<<

Is there any question-any question at all-that if deGenova had said, "We need a million Matthew Shepards" or "We need a million James Byrds" that he would have been gone that night?

[Stop Legal Plunder]

I'd like to host a more suitable "reception" the next time Bollinger comes to the DC area. If you'd like to co-host, please contact me by Freepmail to be added to a contact list for future reference. If you're an alum, please indicate that as well.