Congressman vs. Columbia

A very good article by Congressman J.D. Hayworth at TownHall today:

.... As for academic freedom, Samuel Johnson said that, “Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel;” but for scoundrels like DeGenova the last refuge is now academic freedom.

But if DeGenova’s comments are to be protected under that principle shouldn’t there be some academic aspect to what he said? I can’t find one. Maybe Bollinger can explain exactly what is “academic” about wanting to see a bunch of young Americans slaughtered in battle and equating the flag and overt acts of patriotism with white supremacy.

DeGenova was not discussing some new anthropological theory or defending the unconventional or controversial work of some other academic; it was hate speech, pure and simple. And I shudder to think that racist rants and willfully wishing the deaths of millions of our young men and women in uniform apparently have now become protected categories under our long-established tradition of academic freedom – at least at Columbia University.

In his last two statements on the issue, Bollinger cites a new justification for not taking action – “freedom of thought and expression.” But Bollinger wasn’t always an advocate for such freedoms. He was Dean of the Law School at Michigan University when it imposed its notorious speech code on students that was later found to be unconstitutional. Despite being an expert on the First Amendment, Bollinger did not use his lofty position to fight the code, choosing silent acquiescence instead. Apparently Bollinger believes freedom of expression applies only to professors, not students.

Bollinger’s final cop-out is that DeGenova’s comment weren’t made in a classroom, but at a teach-in, which is “not an authorized or officially sanctioned classroom experience.” But if DeGenova had called for, let’s say, a million Oklahoma Cities at a KKK rally, I’m sure my letter would not have been necessary, and rightly so.

One of the many ironies of this sorry episode is that the first time one of America’s greatest military leaders, Dwight Eisenhower, was addressed as president was when he was President of Columbia University in the late 1940s. And if there is a shred of decency left in the academy, Bollinger will act as Ike no doubt would have and fire DeGenova.

Despite the mounting pressure, Bollinger will no doubt continue to reject that recommendation because he doesn’t want Columbia to be seen as caving into outside pressure. However, I predict that when the time is right, Nicholas DeGenova will be quietly denied tenure. At that point, the academy will regain some of the legitimacy it has lost in this sorry episode.

(Thanks, Jonathan.)

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Wed. 04/09/03 02:39:15 PM
Categorized as Social/Cultural.