<p>When colleges invite guest speakers they should have the right to express their beliefs. No matter what your political view is, charging a stage and throwing punches is inexcusable behavior. The incident has been nationally televised and makes you guys look like a bunch of barbaric monkeys not the "open-minded" intellectuals you claim to be.</p>
<p>Quote:
"We were aware that there was going to be a sign and we were going to occupy the stage," said a protestor who was on stage and asked to remain anonymous. "I don't feel like we need to apologize or anything. It was fundamentally a part of free speech. ... The Minutemen are not a legitimate part of the debate on immigration."</p>
<p>I think it's more than a little unfair to say that any action of a handful of people makes the entire university community look like "barbaric monkeys." I do agree, however, that the whole situation was out of hand.</p>
<p>I think what is important to note is the article states the event was advertised on the internet and many of the protestors were not Columbia students. I'm Rio Grande Valley born and raised and do not agree with the Minutemen Project...we think it's pretty ridiculous here in Texas actually. But people have a right to speak and be heard whether the message sucks or not. I think Columbia students are intelligent enough to realize this and the more barbaric behavior likely came from nonstudents.</p>
<p>Either way, it shows that Columbia is incapable of hosting events where alternative opinions can be expressed. These security issues should be addressed immediately. Nevertheless, we should all be thankful liberal groups embrace the ideals of free speech and tolerance.</p>
<p>I think this is much more than an isolated incident by a few kooks -- this is something that happens time and time again that the administration silently tolerates.</p>
<p>it's always the International Socialist Organization, or (not as much in the past few years) the Spartacist Youth Club.</p>
<p>We had some serious freaking security for this event with James Woolsey, William Bennett et al., and they were marching in a circle outside nevertheless. I dunno why they didn't think this necessitated the same levels of security.</p>
<p>There are freaks anywhere, Columbia's freaks just get more attention.</p>
<p>I think this is symptomatic of the liberal trend in academia. They are all for diversity as long as it represents the far-left viewpoint. And the administration is complicit in the matter because they never seem to discipline the students when the left-wing disturbs a right-wing event. Ironically, several of the protesters at the event cited their right to free speech - a courtesy they are not willing to afford those with an opposing viewpoint. They should have allowed the Minutemen to say their piece and then voiced their own point of view in an intelligent way. How can anyone respect people who behave like animals?</p>
<p>Yes, you're right. It's a giant liberal conspiracy to brainwash our children, co-opt our institutions of higher learning, and destroy the fabric of America. Why does Columbia hate America so much? We're such animals.</p>
<p>If you paint a diverse institution with such a broad brush, you're no better than anyone whom you seek here to denigrate. Columbia insulates ALL its students from the NYPD and other enforcers of real-world reality, because that ought to be part of the duty of a university - within reason. They're not going to haul away their own students, so I'm not sure what, exactly, you'd expect to happen here. And even still, nobody's defending the students' actions, just RTFThread.</p>
<p>
[quote]
We defend the right to peaceful protest and expression of opposing views. But it is never acceptable for anyone to physically take to a stage and interrupt a speaker.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>So, is the thuggish "protesting" that normally happens at Columbia events OK? Is it OK to interrupt a speaker by shouting out things as long as you don't charge the stage?</p>
<p>I completely blame the College Republicans for this one. If they properly screened at the door, they could have easily prevented this from taking place. The Almightly Kulawik (blessed be him!) was well aware that groups had been organizing for at least a week in preparation of this. Since it was a College Republicans event, those individuals could have been denied admittance to Roone. This was <em>not</em> a Columbia University event. This was a College Republicans event with space granted by university event management. Columbia University is absolutely not to blame. That being said, I commend Columbia security for largely standing aside once the morons rushed the stage, but it's impossible to say that the College Republicans and the Minutemen didn't bring this upon themselves. The founder - not exactly the brightest guy in the world - was quoted shortly thereafter, claiming that controversey only heightens his cause.</p>
<p>
[quote]
If they properly screened at the door, they could have easily prevented this from taking place.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Properly screened for what? CU Security giving potential audience members lie detector tests and asking them "Have you now or ever been a member of the Communist party?"</p>
<p>For an event like this, CUCR should have screened students against available active group rolls, or simply chosen an audience mindful to the speaker -- a far cry from McCarthyism. I know that this went on during the Ashcroft event, and hence the delay in RSVP confirmations. Once confirmations were sent out, we were informed that no bags would be allowed into Roone. Even though members of the audience disagreed with Ashcroft, he was allowed to speak.</p>
<p>That's also a recipe for disaster situation. Do you not let in people in the Dem clubs? The ACLU type clubs? The latino type clubs? The socialist type clubs? I suppose that CUCR has a <em>right</em> to prevent whomever they want from going into the room, but imagine the cries of discrimination if they shut out certain types of people.</p>
<p>I don't think Ashcroft is as controversial as the Minutemen leader, as controversial as he is. A little bit of apples and oranges, perhaps?</p>
<p>What a shame that speaking events at Columbia must be screened for terrorists in the same way travellers at airports must be screened these days.</p>
<p>Like it or not, advance screening has been a staple at RNC-sponsored "public" events for the past five years. It came under fire during W's '04 campaign, but proved effective in keeping outspoken dissenters to a minimum, allowing those in the audience to listen to the speaker (even if they mostly shared his views). If those who aren't allowed in wish to voice their displeasure, they may do so outside of the speech.</p>
<p>For the record, I think Ashcroft is far more polarizing (and important) than some radical trying to organize civilians to take up arms along the Mexican border. If illegal immigration weren't such a hot-button election year topic, CUCR wouldn't have bothered inviting this guy. At this time next year, you'll associate Minutemen with UMass (and maybe first years at John Jay), but certainly not this.</p>
<p>
[quote]
What a shame that speaking events at Columbia must be screened for terrorists in the same way travellers at airports must be screened these days.
[/quote]
what a shame you're an opportunistic, pot-shot taking, hyperbolic snob who takes things out of context. You're a poor academic and a poorer forum citizen.</p>
<hr>
<p>Anyway, I was a member of the Dems and ACLU groups on campus and was let into the Ashcroft event. No campus group gives (much less is required to give) its member roster to any other group or even to ABC / SGB. No cross-checking is possible, much less desired. </p>
<p>Now, if they wanted to insist upon CUID-only access to the event, that might've made a difference. Were non-CU people to blame at all for the rabble-rousing or the actual confrontations? Think about all the David Project BS with "Columbia Unbecoming" back when our MEALAC professor was under attack by jewish groups... it's happened before.</p>
<p>edit: does the NY Sun have a circulation beyond the friends and family of its staff anymore? It's a vanity paper, run at a financial loss for the prestige of its owner.</p>
<p>I'm confused. I've seen the video and read the reports. It looks to me like a few crazies stormed the stage and held up a banner forcing the event the stop. Kudos. Now my immediate reaction was that many of these individuals probably aren't even members of the university community. I don't know if that's the case, but it seemed more like something run by fringe socialist groups that got involved with campus groups once the event became public. Fantastic. So a few kids rush the stage, chant, and hold up a banner. Also fantastic. But where in any of that is there a riot, brawl, or even a fight? (Beyond Kulawik playing tug-of-war with the protesters). The media (especially the right-wingers) have gone to declare these few students not only everything wrong with the "ultra-radical-left" Columbia University, but with education in general. Then went on to blame this on The Great PrezBo. Either it's a slow news week or the media has lost the plot.</p>
<p>PS -- Can somebody on here teach this GS'er how to quote? I'd ask in a loud and obnoxious way and then tell you my life story, but I really can't seem to find it anywhere. Thanks.</p>
<p>Why would you choose to blame the College Republicans and not the groups who actually caused the disruption? Can't a group of supposedly educated people find a more civilized way to express themselves than by shouting someone down and physically attacking them? This isn't college behavior - it's kindergarten behavior.</p>