As many know, Columbia University at one point banned military recruiters from their campus because of the military policies on gays. The recruiters are permitted on campus now - because the federal courts mandated it - but students are told that the interviews are contrary to school policy.

OK, I can understand that the military policy conflicts with the University's policies and I think the university is doing the right thing by fighting discrimination.

Columbia also bans ROTC from their campus, for the same reason.

But....

They are welcoming President Ahmadinejad to speak there on Monday.

So let's make sure I have this correct:

The military is bad, because they discriminate against gays, but a man whose government tortures and executes gays just for being gay is an honored guest?

WTF?

Matt

__________________
De duobus malis, minus est semper eligendum

Agreed.

If the University wants to make a public stand against discrimination in the US military, and are supported by their students and faculty, that's their right (theoretically speaking).

But they look like hypocritical idiots if they go and invite Iranian President Ahmadinejad to speak at the university.

Without a doubt, Iran, as a nation, is far more discriminatory against gays than the US military. This makes a mockery of the University's anti-discrimination policy.

Although... having someone speak is not the same thing as endorsing the speakers ideas and beliefs. A university may bring in speakers to expose students to a range of ideas, or because they are a prominent figure in some way, without any official agreement or endorsement of the speakers message.

__________________
please click and help the eggs hatch!

"The only abnormality is the incapacity to love"
-Anias Nin

Antioch had the same policy re the military at least 14 years ago, but I recall at least one speaker when I was there who was in favour of the military ban on gays. It was well attended, and there were many pointed questions from the audience.

__________________
please click and help the eggs hatch!

"The only abnormality is the incapacity to love"
-Anias Nin

In that case, the University ought to let military recruiters on campus for the same reason - exposing students to some range of ideas, without any official agreement or endorsement of the US military.

Since they don't, it is hypocritical. Either they stand by their principle of exclusion, or not. They can't have it both ways.

I'm not convinced that they are 'having it both ways'. If they are a private university, then they do have the right to determine what speakers or events are appropriate for the education that they see themselves providing. There's no obligation to have a particular event on campus just because some other, unrelated or opposing speaker was allowed to speak. I also don't think that having recruiters on campus is educationally equivilant to having a speaker; there is not the same structured, public exchange of ideas with recruiters.

__________________
please click and help the eggs hatch!

"The only abnormality is the incapacity to love"
-Anias Nin