My response to the President of Columbia University and his email regarding Professor De Genova

Email from the Prsident of Columbia University | April 4, 2004 | Jeff Head

[Jeff Head]

Here's my response to President Bollinger email to me from Columbia UNiversity (the Presidnet's email I am responding to is included after my response):

President Bollinger,

I got your response to my emails regarding the atrocious comments by Professor De Genova.

While I am gratified that you find Professor De Genova's words revolting, I am wondering what you are going to do about it. Your response was completely absent of any action on your or the University's part regarding censoring, punishing or reprimanding the Professor at all. In fact, your email was noteworthy for that absence in my opinion.

Words are not enough Mr. President, we are dealing with a situation so outlandish and so beyond the pale that actions are required..

President Bollinger, a Blackhawk helicopter was downed a couple of days ago killing several Americans in Iraq. Reports from Baghdad indicate that the Iraqis learned a thing or two from Mogadishu.

Quite frankly, I am more concerned about the harm and death the Professor's words serve to incite from our enemy, and the pain resulting from THAT, than I am about sensibilities offended by his mere words.

There is responsibility and accountability that goes along with free speech and the professor exhibts neither.

I must say, that unless the University shows some responsibility and removes such an individual from your employ, I will continue to do all in my power to get not only Alumni funding cut off to Columbia ... but I will extend my efforts to their Federal funding you recieve as well ... I don't want my tax monies paying for someone like De Genova to make such comments to our youth at College "teach-ins".

Please respond and let me know what substanative actions you plan as actions showing consequence for De Genova's words.

Sincerely,

Jeff Head
http://www.jeffhead.com
Emmett, Idaho

Here is the email I received from President Bollinger to which I was responding. I received this email in response to my own initial email that was posted on FR HERE:

Mr. Jeff Head

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

[Arizona Pard]

You know Anamensis, that's pretty darn good. There's two sides to this politically correct crap aren't there? And while we're at it, let's get all the vegetarian-burgers banned from the cafeteria...since we can't smoke I mean fair's fair.

[Jeff Head]

He'd be fired in an instant. But taking sides with our enemies and wishing death on our service personnel, or inciting them to kill their own is "protected" ... total Bravo Sierra.

[Illbay]

The argument that it was "inciting" is academic, and you could never prove it.

If this guy was using the university itself as a platform for his views that would be one thing, but from the statements of his student he appears to take care not to do that.

Therefore, the University really can't touch him, and if they tried I'm sure it would be actionable.

Continue to speak out, continue to condemn him. That is the extent of your power to reach him.

[TLBSHOW]

Thanks for the update!

[Jeff Head]

That is the extent of your power, because you choose to define it that way.

I do not.

If enough people cut them off ... and if congressional action starts appearing, Mr. De Genova will be "history" at Columbia.

It was a campus "teach-in" held on campus property. Mr. De Genova does in fact use that same language in his class. Go on the Columbia Spectator site and read all of the comments of his students and his ratings.

That is beside the point. As a mid-level executive at several past companies, I can promise you, my public actions, if they were to anything like this extent, would get me terminated because they reflect on the company.

This man's actions, on school property, at a school function, as someone who ought to have some measure of responsibilty ... should net him the same. I will do all in my power to see to it that they do. ... and if I fail, then I will fail trying.

[Anamensis]

He has the right to ideas. And the university has the right to fire him. If he'd said something nasty about one of their pet causes, they'd exercise that right and everybody knows it.

[Jeff Head]

These people apparently have no notion of the high moral responsibility that goes along with their rights.

This entire Republic hinges upon that certain truth. I will not let it be trampled upon and drug through the mud while I have a breath to stand against it, speak out and resist.

[beaversmom]

I agree with you. We have free speech as far as the government is concerned--they can't come in and jail you for saying most things (at least not yet) but that doesn't mean everything has to be tolerated in the private sector.

We don't have free speech on FreeRepublic--there are many rules about what can and can't be posted. I also think that if the professor had wished for a million James Byrds to happen across the country (that's not meant to disparage James Byrd's memory in any way--he comes to mind because he died in an equally horrific way as did the soldiers in Somalia), the president's no action answer wouldn't cut it. The truth is, the left is free to make awful comments against people that aren't considered to be politically correct and their fellow leftists just pat them on the back.

Ask Marge Shott, Jimmy the Greek, and John Rocker about free speech! They may have all made racist comments, but I don't remember them wishing for the deaths of millions of people.

[Jeff Head]

You are welcome. Please write Columbia and you reps on this, particularly in your neck of the woods.

[Stopislamnow]

Cannot trust myself to contact these people.

As a vet of Mogadishu I am above and beyond enraged about this, days after the fact.

[Anamensis]

The James Byrd comparison is excellent. It's perfect. If he'd said something like that, he'd be outta there, packing his crap before midnight or he'd turn into a pumpkin.

[Diddley]

At a time of war, when American troops are in harm's way, his comments are especially disturbing.

(My e-mail to Bollinger.)

Mr. Bollinger;
Your comment: (His [De Genova's] remarks are disturbing). Does anyone (him, you, etc.) take responsibility for the remarks?

If one takes responsibility, it means that he will in some way make up for or pay for those actions (unlike Clintonistas, where "I accept full responsibility" really means, "OK, now shut up)".

What, if any, price will be paid?

[doug from upland]

I got the same letter.

[Jeff Head]

Please, if you can, find a way to control your understandable and justifiable outrage and write them and let them know this ... and how you feel ... and get others to do the same. Write your reps as a vet and ask them to cut off these people's funding if they do not act on De genova.

God bless you for your service ... and may we have the strength to stand against this form of attack on our nation and its principles. This is not free speech, this is moral depravity.

We cannot stay free if we allow such moral depravity to rule among us ... and it is us, using our rights in the appropriate way, as private citizens, to dry up the funds that these retrobates live on.

[beaversmom]

Thank you so much for serving our country! I am so grateful for people like you.

[DBtoo]

What kind of prof. is he and what were his outrageous comments? Professors making outrageous comments are nothing new. I've been away from the news for a couple of days so I missed this one.

[Jeff Head]

I know. It's a form letter and a covering attempt to use some seemingly tough language with no bite.

I am responding and calling them on it.

Best regards.

[Fred Mertz]

You mean this ivory fortress POS is sending out canned mail? Figures.

[DBtoo]

Nevermind, I clicked on Jeff's HERE link above and found it, wishing a million Mogadishus (sp) on our troops. That is sick; what a jerk. He should go to Iraq and join up with those ill-equiped men over there.