Pace Paw Print

Media Credit: The New York Times Protests, such as this banner in the form of an Iranian flag saying "No War on Iran" could be seen both in and out of Columbia's campus

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's visit to Columbia prompted debate and controversy, in and outside of the campus gates even before he stepped foot in the U.S. at the end of Sept.

When it was first revealed that Ahmadinejad would visit Columbia after the meeting at the United Nations, many people objected, claiming there would be no benefit to having an alleged supporter of terrorism speak out.

"…we have nothing to learn from tyrants who seek to murder and enslave us," said Dr. Yaron Brook, executive director of the Ayn Rand Institute.

"Iran is the leading state sponsor of Islamic totalitarianism, which for three decades has waged a proxy terror-war on the United States. Indeed, Iran is already responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Americans. It is outrageous to give the leader of Iran a platform. To do so is to participate in his pretense that he is the leader of a civilized nation with legitimate grievances against the United States," said Brook.

Despite the disagreements and criticism directed at Professor Lee Bollinger, President of Columbia University, for allowing the visit, Ahmadinejad did arrive at Columbia on Sept. 24.

As could be predicted, Ahmadinejad delivered controversial statements, which included questioning the existence of the Holocaust, defending his country's right to nuclear power for peaceful purposes, questioning who was truly involved in the events of 9/11, and denying the existence of homosexuals in his country.

He defended these statements by stating, as a fellow academic who teaches graduate and Ph.D. level courses at Iran universities, the need to question is crucial.

"Like you, like any academic, I, too, will keep -- not become silent until I get the answer. So I'm awaiting logical answers instead of insults."

During the speech, the audience both laughed at comments, such as his comments about homosexuals, and booed them.

Outside the hall where the event took place, however, many protestors surrounded the building as well as the gates outside Columbia, to such an extent that the campus was on a near lock-down mode, the guards only admitting those with Columbia University I.D. cards, according to a report by Newsday.

Upon exiting the hall from which Ahmadinejad spoke, students were shouted at by the protestors who chanted "Shame on Columbia! Shame on Columbia!," Newsday reported.

Advocators of Ahmadinejad's speech of Columbia expressed their opinion that although the speaker may not be favorable, his presence at Columbia symbolized the U.S. values of freedom of speech that Iran does not have.

One such advocator was the New York Times.

The newspaper printed editorial, titled "Mr. Ahmadinejad Speaks" in its Sept. 25 issue.

"There are many reasons we find Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's policies and pronouncements loathsome," it read. The editorial listed these policies including "the denial of the Holocaust, his call to wipe Israel off the map and his country's sponsorship of terrorism" and particularly "Iran's denial of basic civil rights to its citizens, including the right of free speech."

However, the paper went on to advocate Ahmadinejad's presence in order to demonstrate the U.S.'s democratic policies.

"We can imagine no better way to give hope to opponents of Iran's repressive state than by showcasing America's democracy and commitment to free speech. And we can imagine no better way to lay bare the bankruptcy of Mr. Ahmadinejad's views than to have him speak, and be questioned, at a university forum."

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