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

[doug from upland]

I've now sent DeGenova four times a letter asking if he wishes my son-in-law dead. Gee, no response.

[Jeff Head]

At a campus "teach-in" he indicated that America is imperialistic and rascist (nothing too new or overly dangerous there) but then went on to say that our forces in Iraq need to suffer a million Mogadishus at the hands of Iraq. He said that the true patriots were those fighting against our troops and indicated that our own troops should do what the Sgt. in the 101st did and take out our own.

Sorry, but such a statement, particularly in a time of war while our people are dying is beyond the pale. I know not how others may react to this ... but I am set in my path to oppose it and do all in my power to have folks like this feel the weight of their words and be dogged by the infamy of it.

[DBtoo]

You were even more hard-core right wing in your college days? Yikes!!!

You know that old saying......

[getitright]

I would like to emphasize that at this point it is entirely right and necessary to demand President Bollinger's removal more so than De Genova's. For the President to blabber meaningless tripe in the hopes that this will all blow over is inexcusable. HIS head must roll. Please let us not forget that angle.

[jc_ct]

I also wrote to Mr. Bollinger...


Mr. Bollinger,

I would like to express my outrage at Professor DeGenova's comments on the Iraq War, as widely reported in the press. Not only were they offensive with respect to our young men and women currently in harm's way, they were also wantonly brutal in their implications for the Iraqi people. The ratio of Somali dead to American dead in Mogadishu is estimated at approximately 100:1, perhaps even greater. His disgusting wish for "a million Mogadishus" is a wish for not only the deaths of American soldiers, but also the extermination of the people of Iraq. I think this proves the rational incapability and moral corruption of his views. Frankly, the man is apparently an idiot.

I am proud of my Columbia degree. I have served as an alumni interviewer for five years, interviewing the best and the brightest high school students in the Greater Hartford area. Please, tell me what to say to these young men and women when they ask how Columbia can tolerate such a sociopath in their Sociology department. I cannot explain it. Can you?

While I do not believe in censorship, I believe Professor DeGenova crossed a line. He has figuratively cried fire in a crowded theater. He made these comments in a Columbia sanctioned event and in the jewel of Columbia's campus, Low Library. Action must be taken. Such behavior is unacceptable. While he has a right to free speech, I would hope that the Columbia I am proud of attending and the Columbia that I represent to prospective attendees would elect not to renew his contract.

Best Regards,

John C.
EN 86

[Jeff Head]

He won't respond, he has no strength of his convictions. If he did, he's be in Iraq fighting us and being turned to ash like the others who are.

In this he is no different than the Bin Laden's, Husseins or Arafats of the world. Always willing to spew their vomit and swill to the effect that they can influence others to do the killing, risking and sacrificing for them to their vile ends ... but I do not see them showing by example how to be good suicide killers. Same with this guy as far as I am concerned.

[DBtoo]

Too many people want to do away with Free Speech in an effort to hunt down Terrorists.

It's frightening what is happening. This country was founded on certain priciples including Free Speech, and once those rights are gone so is America as we know it.

[Spiff]

We still have the PRINCIPLE of free speech in our Republic, and so long as this guy is representing himself and his own views, I'm not in favor of anyone "doing something" about it.

There's free speech and expressing ones private views and then there is sedition. De Genova clearly crossed the line. We allow this cancer to exist within us at our own peril.

[Jeff Head]

Thank you. You have great influence in this. Please use it to help redeem the good name of that institution.

Action must be taken. Such behavior is unacceptable. While he has a right to free speech, I would hope that the Columbia I am proud of attending and the Columbia that I represent to prospective attendees would elect not to renew his contract.

Amen. I believe the University should feel the weight of not doing this. It will cost them applications, good will ... and probably lots of money until they simply do what is right and let this guy go in my opinion ... at least that is my hope.

[Noumenon]

Hey, Jeff -

Got the same response to my email. It's got all the sincerety of a used car salesman's pitch. But they're not ignoring us, either. Evidently, they've been hearing from some of their alumni. Nothing else to do but keep the pressure up.

Regards - Ward

[Jeff Head]

What is being advocated here is not an end to free speech ... but an accountability for that speech, particularly in a time of war and when it is seditious.

Free Speech and all of our other rights come with a price, and that price is a high degree of moral responsibilty and accountability. You cannot have one without the other. If we lose moral responsibilty ... we also lose the Republic.

In this case, I am urging other citizens to exercise their own rights and to bring the free market to bear on Mr. De Genova. That is how it must be done.

[DBtoo]

Heck, lots of professors in the past 20 or so years have been telling their classes that the White Man has been the scourge of the earth since the beginning of civilization. They have even corporated such material into texts books. However, few people seem to complain about that. Some have even called for the extinction of the white race. They say all sorts of crazy stuff, the crazy ones that is.

[Jeff Head]

Amen ... and I know I will as long as I have breath and as long as anyone will listen.

I am talking to some Alumni and I know a good group of them are outraged and indicating that they will stop all donations until De Genova is gone. I believe we also have to get our reps involved to help address the hundreds of millions of OUR funds the institution receives.

I am writing ours here in Idaho this evening, my rep and both Senators.

Best.

[francisr]

did the same and sent snail mail to alum/president/public affairs office

[Rockitz]

Maybe that's the tact. His words are a "hate crime" of sorts. Certainly, his resignation would be demanded if he were to speak as you suggested.

[Jeff Head]

Amen ... and thanks. Please urge many others to do likewise.

[Jeff Head]

Word you letters/emails that way.

I didn't think of that, but believe it to be a good tact. Use their own words/principles against them to sear it into their minds what they are doing ... trying to defend and protect the indefensable.

[wrbones]

This is what I sent to him. I couldn't trust myself to be rational with any other comments.

I haven't received a response for some reason.....



U.S. Constitution

Article III, Section 3: Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court.

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Sedition: rebellion or incitement: actions or words intended to provoke or incite rebellion against government authority, or such a rebellion.


The U.S. Sedition Act

Whoever, when the United States is at war, shall willfully...promote the success of its enemies, or shall willfully...incite insubordination, disloyalty, mutiny, or refusal of duty, in the military or naval forces of the United States, or shall willfully... utter, print, write, or publish any disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language about the...military or naval forces of the United States...or advocate, teach, defend, or suggest the doing of any of the acts or things in this section enumerated and whoever shall by word or act support or favor the cause of any country with which the United States is at war or by word or act oppose the cause of the United States therein, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than twenty years, or both.

Robinson-DeFehr Consulting, LLC



Laws: Cases and Codes : U.S. Code : Title 18 : Section 2381


Title 18 U.S. Code Document Library Legal Dictionary Legal News FindLaw Guide LawCrawler Web US Gov Sites Mailing List Archives Sup Court 1893+ US Fed Circuits US Constitution

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United States Code
TITLE 18 - CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
PART I - CRIMES
CHAPTER 115 - TREASON, SEDITION, AND SUBVERSIVE ACTIVITIES

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U.S. Code as of: 01/02/01
Section 2381. Treason

Whoever, owing allegiance to the United States, levies war
against them or adheres to their enemies, giving them aid and
comfort within the United States or elsewhere, is guilty of treason
and shall suffer death, or shall be imprisoned not less than five
years and fined under this title but not less than $10,000; and
shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.



http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/casecode/uscodes/18/parts/i/chapters/115/toc.html

[Noumenon]

I've taken the step of building a CD that contains digital photos and videos of pro-American raliies that my daughter and I have either attended or received from others. This CD also contains a directory called 'Domestic Enemies,' which contains, amnong other things, the full text, context and description of De Genova's remarks and carious responses to them. This CD is going out wit heach and every book that I send via the Books For Soldiers program. I want those who are laying their lives on the line to understand who has been supporting them - and who has not. I want them to remember names and deeds when the time comes to settle accounts.

[fuzzthatwuz]

"I hope you sent the above after running it through a spellchecker first - there are at least two spelling errors in the letter, and such things have a tendency to influence the opinion of the recipient of the sender. Other than that, the letter is very good!"

I read the excellent letter and the content did not give way to any speling (sp?) errors. Why is it that each time someone steps up to the plate on an issue, there is always someone who is willing to correct their batting stance? Spel (sp?) check be damned! Way to go Jeff.