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

[DBtoo]

Similar remarks were frequently made by students and professors during the Viet Namn war. People didn't start demanding to take away Free Speech then, or during WW2 or WW1 either. This is a new phenomenon in our country being egged on by the Powers that Be. We are headed for an Orwellian society.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Go Jeff go!!

[Noumenon]

Part of our problem is that we have defined 'free speech' down to the point where sedition and treason are excusable offenses. I will point out that the 'free speech' sword only cuts one way. If I stood on that campus and called for a million Kent States, or perhaps a million lynchings of blacks, how long would I hold my job?

When sedition and treason are defined as just another opinion, where do you suppose that we go from there?

[Jeff Head]

Having lived through it, I do not remember these particular type of remakrs during the Vietnam era. Lots of protests, lots of spitting and name calling ... but I do not recall a prfessor calling for our soldiers to frag their own and calling for the enemy to kill ours by the millions.

If they did, they should have been similarly rejected and caused to feel the consequences for their seditious remarks.

Finally, no one is calling for an end to free speech. You are drawing a totally ilogical conclusion from what is proposed here.

Calling for the University to fire him does not prevent him from saying what ever he wants. It simply means there are consequences for words and actions ... you know, like in the grown up world.

My free speech allows me to urge others to stop funding Columbia ... both Alumni and representatives. If enough people do so ... then De genova will have to find another job ... and I hope the infamy of what he has suggested and urged dog him the rest of his days.

Jeff

[DBtoo]

This doesn't surprise me one bit. There are always those types in time of war. Remember Jane Fonda? It's sick, but traitors and trouble-makers will always be with us. I can't stand the stuff they spout off at universities, such as the Free Mumia BS, but all I can do is express how I feel about it. It's impossible to control the way people think, and those types will still be with us hundreds of years from now. I just wish they wouldn't get so much press.

[Jeff Head]

The man is clearly guilty of sedition by that definition ... and most do not need a law book to see it either ... it is as plain as the nose on their face, unless of course, as with some of these folks we are dealing with who live in an ivory tower and have their noses in a position where they canot see them or pull them out.

For the benefit and understanding of that ilk, thanks for sending it to the University!

[DBtoo]

I think pornography is moral depravity, yet it is everywhere.

[Jeff Head]

If enough of us express how we feel to those who control the purse strings, and if enough of them are influenced by it ... the free market will work so as to censure and punish Mr. De Genova.

I believe he is guilty of sedition. I would like to see him charged with such. I do not believe that will happen ... but I do belive he can lose his job over it if the University is adversley enough effected by it ... just as I would lose mine if I acted in such a way to adversley effect my employer.

[MattGarrett]

Here is my two cents to Pres. B.: Dear President Bollinger

As I am certain that you are getting more than your fair share of emails on this indivual's atrocious remarks, remarks that our brave men and women are dying to protect, I feel the need to state - in as pithy manner as possible - that one cannot merely state that DeGenova's remarks are covered under "free speech" since his activities were extracurricular. A "teach in" by it's very definition is education. And if he is an employee of the college and teaching students ON CAMPUS, it really doesn't matter if it was during classtime or not. The professor/student relationship exists, and thus, whether you wish to acknowledge it or not, this man is a representative of Columbia University.

So, while the bodies of Sgt. George E. Buggs, 31, of Barnwell, S.C. - Master Sgt. Robert J. Dowdy, 38, of Cleveland, Il - Pvt. Ruben Estrella-Soto, 18, of El Paso, Texas - Spc. James M. Kiehl, 22, of Comfort, Texas, Chief Warrant Officer Johnny Villareal Mata, 35, of Amarillo, Texas - Pfc. Lori Ann Piestewa, 23, of Tuba City, Ariz - Pvt. Brandon U. Sloan, 19, of Cleveland, Il. and Sgt. Donald R. Walters, 33, of Kansas City, Mo. - as well as other brave American soliders come home in body bags consider that notion.

Because I guarantee you that America is not amused, as - I suspect - neither is your alumni.

Nobody is suggesting putting him in jail for his comments. He is free to grab a bullhorn and spout his opinion as a private citizen all he wants on any stree corner in America.

The question you must ask is ... is he worth loosing millions in donations and scholarships because Americans don't wish to reward a university that chooses to do nothing ?

A tough question for you, but the rest of America has already answered that question.

[DBtoo]

Sociology department?! That explains it. That subject matter has gone the way of Anthropology, or whatever passes for it these days. Too many liberal professors use these subjects to spout off left wing tripe instead of teaching valuable material that actually pertains to the subject matter.

[Jeff Head]

When I see it in any establishment, I talk to the store owner and inform him that until it is removed, I will not return and spend my money there ... and then I live up to that commitment.

We can fight this stuff ... we (collectively) just have to have the backbone and moral commitment to do so.

If we fail morally as a society, the whole of society will fail and we will lose our liberty. Imorality is the greatest enemy to liberty.

[Jeff Head]

Very well said! Succint and to the point. Hit the nail on the head.

Thank you.

[Jeff Head]

Thanks ... unfortunately, I was seeing red again and it went out as is.

They will get the point, with or without spelling, when the money dries up.

[Jeff Head]

Exactly. If this man had made such disgusting staements about one of their pet issues ... he would be gone in an instant.

We have to make it plain that on these particular issues ... he'd better be gone too ... or the University will suffer for lack of funds, scholarships and applicants.

[DBtoo]

I bet he will get a lot of mail; I hope so. Sadly, these liberal hate-mongers have taken over the universities. I think the best option would be for Mr. De Genova to go to Iraq and join those his sympathies lie with. If he feels that strongly against this country, then he should go over there and put his words into action.

[DBtoo]

You have a good point. Free speech does seem to apply only to certain issues, but not to others. You're right, and it bugs me to no end. In reality we have selective free speech, which is not true free speech.

[Risa]

"This country was founded on certain priciples including Free Speech, and once those rights are gone so is America as we know it."

I think the crux of the issue is what is the mission of a University?

Do we want the marxist version, where the university is used by its professionals as a tool for converting and inciting youth to overthrow the existing culture, its values and institutions?

Or the democratic version where students, under the mentoring of a professional, examine, study, analyze and learn the accumulated knowledge of past and present?

IMO, many universities, Ivy League ones in particular, are populated by the likes of the Mogadishu guy, who are hell bent on converting students to their political view and inciting them to act.

The guy has a right to free speech, but does he have a right to be foisting his political views on the students at a 'teach-in' on campus property?

risa

[ladywolf]

Glad you wrote; so did I. Received an identical response.

[DBtoo]

Vietnamn was full of that stuff; remember people spitting on our soldiers when they returned home, professors on campus putting down Nixon, and again Jane Fonda and her trip to North Vietnamn? It was really ugly.

[DBtoo]

I make clear my point that I am not at all surprised by this behavior. Anti-American behavior has become almost fashionable among a certain crowd. If enough people raise hell over this man's remarks; he will most likely be given his walking papers.

Angela Davis is another one from the Vietnamn era that comes to mind BTW.