<p>Wondering how accurate this story is?</p>
<p>It would be interesting to hear feedback from people in the know.</p>
<p>my personal opinion but i think the documentary probably had its share of hyperbole and distortion</p>
<p>Any university MIGHT have racial problems, but it's only if the students exposes it. Columbia is KNOWN around the block on as being extremely liberal and tolerant of minorites. It is this exact tolerance that makes the students expose and criticize the very first unjust thing the students see. And by showing light upon such ugliness, it'll probably be resolved within time.</p>
<p>I don't think THAT much of distortion and exaggeration is in place (especially looking at the content of the article and film). Meh, then again, just my two cents.</p>
<p>I've always thought that Columbia was one of the most diverse and tolerant schools, but any school is bound to have "racial problems." You can't expect a school to be a haven from the real world.</p>
<p>hmh..a school soo accepting..obviously your gonna have problems..if u want to call that problems..i really dont care what this arab teacher did because when my sister went to Stony Brook, she had a teacher who constantly talked crap about arabs and the islamic religion..it happens..doesnt make the school bad..but it happens..</p>
<p>I'm a Jewish student that is attending Columbia next fall. Personally, when I first heard about the accusations leveled on that film I was a bit shocked. Additionally, a friend of mine's brother went to Columbia and had a similar experience. He took a class on this issue and would turn in papers that were pro-Israel and consistently recieve C's. He went to the professor to talk to him about it but to little avail. Finally he decided to see what would happen if he turned in a pro-Palestinian paper - he did, and got an A.
However, that is not at all to say that I really believe the school as a whole is anti-semetic. My friend (the sibling of the person I mentioned above) is actually going to Columbia University next year as well, as have many members of my school (a Jewish Day School). There is a thriving Hillel and Columbia has a wonderful relationship with the neighboring Jewish Theological Seminary (they have joint degree programs etc.). I have no concerns about attending Columbia University next year. If anything I relish the opportunity to hear the other side more and to defend my own positions.
I think it is important that this issue be discussed becuase it is an important issue not only in the context of the classroom, but in terms of the way both sides frame the middle eastern conflict in general. However, I hope that the result is not stifiled opinions on either side.</p>
<p>Most of the Jewish students I know felt comfortable at Columbia. Just don't expect to feel comfortable in the Middle Eastern Studies department. Common sense really.
Frankly I would be surprised if these things did NOT occur. Though I am no less displeased about it.</p>
<p>that is pretty crazy. my image of columbia as this free speech and free everything is gone now.</p>
<p>If it is as ugly a situation as the media proclaims I suspect that fewer students would be registering for courses offered by the department. </p>
<p>Has this turned into a bash columbia thread? </p>
<p>I don't think Columbia suffers from "racial problems" any more than other schools...but its location and fame lends itself to be in the spotlight/media a lot, which is why we know more about these things.</p>
<p>I think too often people think a college is perfect, without a doubt, when no such thing exists. I think this shows it isn't perfect, it is a flawed- but teriffic school</p>
<p>Being anti-Israel is not racist . . . it is political.</p>
<p>Though I guess I can see how political arguments can be (and almost always are) seen as racist, given that Israel is a country, a political entity, which happens to be centered around certain race and a certain religion. So, attacking the political is seen as an attack on race and religion.</p>
<p>Anyway...
As for politics in the classroom... hmms.</p>
<p>So then, what's the verdict:</p>
<p>Anti-Israel?
Anti-Semetic?
Anit-freespeech?
Anti-social?
Anti-Islam?
What does the war or 9-11 have to do with the reactions of either party, if any.</p>
<p>I'm curious what Columbia students think.
I live right outside NYC, so it's kinda close to home.</p>