In April, we reported that rumors both on campus and in print were suggesting that Professor Joseph Massad would soon be granted tenure. Now, everyone’s favorite tabloid/monitor-of-all-Columbia-controversies, the New York Post, reports (via HuffPo) that Massad has been granted tenure.  In an article neutrally-entitled “Columbia Tenures An Israel Basher,” columnist Jacob Gershman writes that Columbia “officially — if quietly — awarded Massad tenure earlier this month.”

Gershman then runs through the many controversies that Massad has been involved in in his time in Morningside, before adding two new plot points. First, he calls Dean of Arts and Sciences Nicholas Dirks a “key ally” for Massad in getting an uncommon–though not unheard of–second tenure review. Second, Gershman alleges that “President Lee Bollinger and Provost Alan Brinkley took extraordinary measures to protect the secrecy of Massad’s tenure case and guard against an outcry from Jewish alumni and donors,” including shielding the names of tenure committee members from the Board of Trustees.

University spokesman Robert Hornsby did not comment to Bwog, citing the “longstanding policy” of no comment on tenure cases. While no complaints at the faculty level have made their way back to Bwog’s ears (yet), several MEALAC students told Bwog in April that, contrary to Massad’s first tenure review, far fewer details were leaking about the tenure process, and there appear to be fewer leaks to the media as well. Whatever makes the faculty happy.

- JCD

Image via Salon.com

The hidden forces around Columbia are readying themselves for the arrival of that mistress of madness Ann Coulter on Monday.  But oh, twist!  Conversio Virium, the BDSM campus group known for its sex toy demos, will be hosting author Kate Bornstein starting sixty minutes after the Coulter debacle.  She’ll be talking about when “the way you express yourself makes other people queasy.” Quite the back-to-back billing.

That touchy-feely liberal “victimization” might raise Coulter’s hackles a little bit.  The last time she sparred with Conversio Virium was two and a half years ago, when Fox News invited Coulter to comment on a report that Columbia has a lot of sex. A lot of kinky sex. Coulter told Fox, “[S]omeone who needs to join a club at college to find a way to have sex, probably not your lookers…probably something a little wrong about them.”

It’s so on. Bags and signs are forbidden at the Coulter event, but students do have a history of creative protest.

Let’s be honest: this semester’s been pretty lacking for controversial speakers. Until now, that is. Yes, famous author, commentator, and hater-of-all-latte-sipping-liberals Ann Coulter is coming to Columbia this May 4th.

Coulter is being brought by the Columbia College Republicans and the Columbia Conservative Forum, with assistance from Young America’s Foundation and the Clare Booth Luce Policy Institute (Coulter’s speaking fee is typically $20,000), and will speak at 8 p.m. in Altschul Auditorium in IAB. Her speech will be followed by a signing of her latest book, Guilty: Liberal “Victims” and Their Assault on America. No doubt many measured repartees will accompany the signings.

Not surprisingly, the event will be ticketed, with passes available starting either Sunday or Monday at the Lerner Box Office and at CUArts online. Should be a blast (photo from Wikimedia Commons).

- JCD

Last May, rumors circulated that controversial Professor Joseph Massad was up for a second round of tenure review, after having been denied tenure six months earlier. Now, word is spreading both on campus and in media outlets that Massad has been granted tenure.

Massad, who is in Egypt this semester, did not respond to an email request for comment (although this CSU-Stanislaus professor claims Massad’s already heard the news), and University spokesman Robert Hornsby told Bwog, “it is our longstanding policy not to comment on any tenure case.” But even when they do comment, the news will probably go unnoticed, and the internet will move on…or not.

- JCD

- Photo by JCD

Jonesing for a good Gaza protest? About 20 members of the Columbia Palestine Forum are out on Low Steps for several hours today, calling for divestment from Israel and other non-contentious ideas. Those looking for more background can check out the LectureHop of last night’s teach-in.

If nothing else, they’d appreciate the audience – when Bwog stopped by, listener numbers were rather low (and included at least several Hillel board members, who probably were not there in support). 

- JCD

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 Photo Courtesy of NYU Local

The Columbia Students for a Democratic Society, who used to know a thing or two about campus protest, just sent out a press release from Take Back NYU, the pro-Gaza-ish, Marxist-y group that took over Kimmel Hall last night.

Their first demand? They request, “full legal and disciplinary amnesty for all parties involved in the occupation.” Style tip for radical, leftist protests: Don’t mention yourself until the end.

According to the New York Times and NYU Local, the protest started with around 70 students and has dwindled to less than fifty. The Times posited that only half the students are native NYUers and many New School students, apparently addicted to building occupation, are among the crowd. Full press release after the jump.

-DJB

Read more…

Sure, seniors may be looking at the worst job market in decades, but at least they have some of Columbia’s fun senior traditions to look forward to!

Or, you know, not. The administration’s “War on Fun” campaign looks to be well on its way to destroying a proud senior pastime, as sources tell Bwog that Dean of Student Affairs Kevin Shollenberger and SDA Director Robert Taylor have ordered the student councils to come up with a replacement for the once-loved tradition of 40s on 40.

Up until two years ago, seniors would drink 40s on Low Steps to celebrate 40 days before graduation. The public drinking made for some actual class unity, and hilarious scenes of tour guides assuring parents “no, we only get this way once a year.” But, like any evil dictatorship, Columbia soon tired of the civil disobedience, and forced the class councils to put on a poorly-run picnic instead. Both years of cheap imitation saw nothing but frustrated students in long lines for little beer.

What’s the new excuse? Apparently, Shollenberger and Taylor told the councils that the university is “no longer comfortable” hosting an event whose primary draw is alcohol. Aside from the lack of any incidents to support this new crackdown, of course, the university’s quick to drop such quibbles when donors are involved: for example, the official Columbia University Club of New York, which has an open bar, or almost every single cocktail party that the university throws for potential donors. But if the War on Fun’s been any guide, justification is not the University’s strong suit.

Looking for a little activism to go with your lunch next Monday or Tuesday? A group claiming the name “The Columbia Community Stands With Gaza” has announced a series of pro-Gaza events to take place next week.

The events include a protest, a speak out, and a series of candlelight vigils (three types of events often called the “Activist Trinity”). The protest and speak out will start at noon on Monday on Low Plaza and Tuesday at the sundial, respectively, while the vigils will be held at sundial in the early evening throughout the week. For the protest, the announcement encourages students to make different kinds of posters, giving examples like “Columbia Students Stand with Gaza,” “Jewish Students Stand with Gaza,” “People of Color Stand with Gaza,” and “Queers Stand with Gaza.” Though there just may be a pattern in those examples, Bwog recommends against “White People Stand With Gaza” or “Ewoks Stand With Gaza.”

And since Columbia is known for its rational discussion of all things Palestinian and Israeli, we’re confident this’ll go just as swimmingly. Absolutely confident.

UPDATE: Bwog has been informed that the Monday protest coincides with a “Rally of Solidarity and Peace for Israel,” taking place at the same time on Monday at the sundial. Organizers tell Bwog that that the rally was scheduled before the “Columbia Community Stands With Gaza” events were announced.  Should be fun.

As you may have heard, there’s a bit of a to-do in Gaza right now. Being an utterly uncontroversial source for Israel-Palestine conflict analysis, Columbia hasn’t been able to keep its name out of the media, with several professors offering their thoughts on the latest clash. Some samples:

• Just before the start of the conflict, Yinon Cohen co-authored an editorial advocating for a new push on the two-state solution.
• Joseph Massad, in Gulf News (an English-language daily published in Dubai) “The lesson that Zionism has refused to learn, and still refuses to learn, is that the Palestinian yearning for freedom from the Zionist yoke cannot be extinguished no matter how barbaric Israel’s crimes become.”
• Massad also compared Gaza in 2009 to the 1943 Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.
• Old McCain-Palin target Rashid Khalidi has been busy as well: telling everyone in today’s Times “What You Don’t Know About Gaza,” and declaring the failure of the Israeli assault in Newsday and on NPR
• And finally, GS Dean and Middle East Institute director Peter Awn talked to the Wall Street Journal about “What Could Happen to Gaza After War?“

Bwog of course takes no position on the conflict, but, given that students held a vigil for Gaza when there wasn’t a full scale invasion going on, we suspect it might become a flashpoint when school resumes. Call it a hunch. (Photo by the Associated Press)

For those of you who don’t read your council presidents’ emails, there is a forum on NROTC tonight in Sulzberger Parlor (3rd floor of Barnard Hall) from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Both pro and con sides have chosen speakers to represent them in the forum, which will be moderated by SGA president Sarah Besnoff. The format will be as follows:

• Opening statements – 7 minutes for both sides
• Predetermined questions (3 questions about the impact on student life, the role of Columbia’s NROTC history, and the role of DADT in the debate) for a total of 30 minutes
  
• Audience questions for 30 minutes
• Closing statements – 5 minutes for both sides

Both the pro and con sides have chosen speakers to represent them, although names have not yet been released, thanks to ongoing negotiations over the number of panelists.

Maven reporter Lydia DePillis contacted Bwog just moments ago with this alarming and amazing tip:  “Chicken and rice stand on 116th–with a tv!”  Any guesses on what the Chef is watching? Josh Brolin on SNL tonight, must-see-TV perhaps? 

Want to relive some Bush administration history the day after Election Day? On November 5th at 8 p.m., former CIA counterterrorism leader and current vice-chair of Blackwater USA Cofer Black will be speaking at an event organized by the Columbia University International Relations Forum.

Black became head of the CIA’s Counterterrorist Center in 1999, and remained there over the next three years. He is particularly well-known/controversial for his advocacy, both before and after the September 11th attacks, of tough treatment of Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups. He has often been accused of being one of the main supporters of the more controversial “War on Terror” initiatives, includng the secret rendition and waterboarding programs. 

Since leaving the government in 2004, Black has been the vice-chairman of Blackwater USA. He also was Mitt Romney’s counter-terrorism advisor during the former governor’s presidential campaign.

You’ll recall Bwog reporting last week that Business School Alum and self-proclaimed “anti-feminist” Roy Hollander was suing Columbia for offering women’s studies courses. Apparently, these courses are discriminatory against men.

Now, according to Bwog tipster Stephanie Quan, some Columbia women are interested in hearing his views. More specifically, the group Women in Science at Columbia have invited him to speak at the school, where he will “give a short talk briefing us on the case against Columbia and then answer any questions from the audience.”

The talk is scheduled for tomorrow, August 28th, from 1-2 PM, and the room is TBA Havemeyer 209. Whether it includes free food is unknown at this time.