Speech by Senator John McCain at the Hudson Institute

27 September 2007 speech by Senator John McCain at the Hudson Institute.  Note:  McCain noted that the Iranian president was welcomed at Columbia but ROTC was not, and said "Harvard and other great American universities remain closed to ROTC, whose graduates represent the bulk of the officers commissioned into our Armed Forces each year.  Some academic elites may not like ROTC, and they are free to voice their objections.  But they are wrong, and I stand with the many graduates of these institutions who for years have been trying in vain to bring ROTC back to their campuses."

Fox News interview with Columbia student Kelley Victor-Gasper '09

24 September 2007 Fox News interview with Columbia student Kelley Victor-Gasper '09.  Note:  Victor-Gasper, a Marine corps officer candidate notes the irony of Columbia's welcoming of Iranian President Ahmadinejad and banning of ROTC from campus.  He notes that the ROTC ban is a protest against US law about homosexuality in the military, yet Ahmadinejad's regime executes people for homosexuality.

Fox & Friends Interview with Ted Graske Jr., Chairman of the Columbia Alliance for ROTC

22 September 2007 Fox & Friends Interview with Ted Graske Jr., Chairman of the Columbia Alliance for ROTC.  Note:  Graske discussed the irony of Columbia hosting Iranian President Ahmadinejad and banning ROTC from campus.

Lee Bollinger, Tough Guy

21 September 2007 Wall Street Journal editorial "Lee Bollinger, Tough Guy".  Note:  The Journal criticizes Columbia for hosting the Iranian president, yet not allowing ROTC

Columbia University: Ahmadinejad Yes, ROTC No

20 September 2007 Weekly Standard column "Columbia University: Ahmadinejad Yes, ROTC No" by William Kristol.  Note: Kristol contrasts hosting a talk and question period by the Iranian president with Columbia's prohibition of ROTC based on its campus.  

Columbia's Priorities

20 September 2007 Wall Street Journal "Best of the Web Today" item "Columbia's Priorities" by James Taranto.  Note:  Taranto embellishes William Kristol's point about the Iranian president and ROTC by noting that Iran executes people for homosexual acts.

Outrage Builds Over Ahmadinejad Visit to Columbia

20 September 2007 New York Sun article "Outrage Builds Over Ahmadinejad Visit to Columbia".  Note: Mr. McCain said "A man who is directing the maiming and killing of American troops should not be given an invitation to speak at an American university. Rather than rolling out the red carpet for the leader of a terrorist-sponsoring regime, Columbia should be welcoming the Reserve Officers' Training Corps back on campus to honor the men and women who put their lives on the line every day defending our freedom."

Wall Street Journal letter by Shane Cotner

7 September 2007 Wall Street Journal letter by Shane Cotner.  Note:  Responding to an article about the role of alumni in university governance, Cotner wrote "Dartmouth alumni are fortunate to have a man like T.J. Rodgers to represent their views, and a mechanism that allows those alumni to elect leaders like him to its board of trustees. As an alum of Columbia, my views have no comparable representation of which I am aware. When I hear about Columbia pursuing policies such as the banning of ROTC, and its lack of punishment for students who abuse conservative speakers, I realize I have no recourse whatsoever."