CAROLINE GLICK, Columbia College Class of '91

Here she is, at her absolute best.

... what was said yesterday at Columbia is of no consequence whatsoever. What matters is that by inviting Ahmadinejad to its campus, Columbia University announced that supporting or opposing the genocide of the Jews is a legitimate topic for discussion. In so doing, as an institution Columbia has taken itself beyond the pale of legitimate discourse. As an institution, Columbia has embraced depravity by renouncing the intrinsic sanctity of human life.

COLUMBIA'S supporters who have defended it over the years through mounting criticism, cannot look at Ahmadinejad's visit to campus as simply another policy dispute without themselves legitimizing the school's belief that genocide is a reasonable subject for debate. They cannot defend the school without themselves rejecting the basic principle of Western civilization - that human beings have an intrinsic right to live.

Given this, it is incumbent on all those affiliated with Columbia who adhere to this basic principle to distance ourselves from the university. As an alumna of Columbia College, class of 1991, it is with great distress that I say it is time to disassociate with the school. This does not simply mean cutting off donations. It means understanding that the problem with Ahmadinejad had nothing to do with legitimate policy debates. It means recognizing and openly stating that by placing genocide on the debating table, Columbia ceased to be an institution that can be said to represent our values. It means stating publicly that we will not send our children to the school. It means stating openly that Columbia has abandoned the moral underpinning of civilization and has descended into the depths of evil. It means stating openly that Columbia is a depraved institution.

Kol hakavod.

Read it ALL: Columbia's choice - and ours

BtB suggests:
Print it out, sign your assent, and send copies to

Lee Bollinger, President
Columbia University
535 West 116 Street
202 Low Library
Mail Code 4309
New York, New York 10027

Alan Brinkley, Provost
Columbia University
205 Low Memorial Library
Mail Code 4313
535 West 116th Street
New York, NY 10027

Robert Kasdin,
Senior Executive Vice President
Columbia University
311 Low Library, MC 4342
535 West 116th Street
New York, NY 10027

Jerome Davis,
Secretary of the University
Columbia University
211 Low Library
535 West 116th Street
Mail Code 4324
New York, NY 10027

David M. Stone,
Executive Vice President
Office of Communications & Public Affairs
Columbia University
401 Low Library
535 West 116th Street
New York, NY 10027

Susan K. Feagin, Vice President
University Development and Alumni Relations
Columbia University
475 Riverside Drive
Suite 964
Mail Code 7720
New York, NY 10115

Dan Baker,
Executive Director of Donor Relations
Columbia University
475 Riverside Drive
New York, NY 10115

Remember that AP writer Nahal Toosi wrote yesterday that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad "defended the right to cast doubt on the Holocaust"? The wording has since been changed to say that he "defended Holocaust deniers," but it just goes to show how much is on the table, how truth is up for grabs, and how very right Glick is in her analysis.

Welcome, Power Line readers.

Comments

[Rick Richman]

Done -- to all seven.

[Rick Richman]

. . . as a parent of a 2001 alumnus.

[David I]

Seriously, you all need to find better things to do with your time. Get lives.

[SEW]

Richman, You just wasted a boatload of money as a parent of a 2001 alumnus.

[Capitalist Infidel]

Interesting that David says we should "get lives" but according to Columbia it's open to debate if we even deserve to breathe.

[Daniel DiRito]

See a tongue-in-cheek graphic titled "Mahmoud Dearest", which has a little fun with the Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his unbelievable comments at Columbia University...particularly the one whereby he asserts that there aren't any gays in Iran...here: http://www.thoughttheater.com/2007/09/mahmoud_dearest_scrubbing_the_gay_out_of_iran.php

[Ranten N. Raven]

It just kills me that the Iranians are howling about how Bollinger was rude to their murderer-in-chief. "WE treat our guests better," they claim. Sure. Just ask those who were their "guests" for 444 days after our Embassy had been over-run. It seems they don't consider false imprisonment, beatings and death to be at all rude. Fatherless sons of unmarried mothers--the lot of them!

[Kavin]

I guess sometimes truth is stranger than fiction! In my opinion. Term papers