Thread: COLUMBIA 7 FACE DISCIPLINE IN SPEECH FUROR

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COLUMBIA 7 FACE DISCIPLINE IN SPEECH FUROR

By CARL CAMPANILE
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January 19, 2007 -- Columbia University has identified seven students who could face disciplinary charges for rushing the stage and preventing the leader of an anti-illegal immigrant group from giving a speech on campus last October.

Six students were informed last month they face penalties for disrupting the Oct. 4 speech of Minutemen founder Jim Gilchrist, who was forced to leave the stage after the incident.

Columbia spokesman Robert Hornsby said yesterday a seventh student was recently identified.

It is unclear if any more students could face disciplinary action.

Columbia's student newspaper, The Spectator, yesterday published a Jan. 7 letter received by one of the students.

"I have received a complaint from a member of the University that you may have engaged in conduct that violation sections . . . of the Rules of University Conduct by participating in a demonstration," the letter from the Office of Rules Administrator said.

"Some of these sections refer to serious violations and could lead to your suspension or dismissal from the University if you are charged and subsequently found guilty."

Columbia President Lee Bollinger has come under fire for his handling of the free-speech controversy.

carl.campanile@nypost.com

http://link.toolbot.com/columbiaspectator.com/55864

Seven Under Scrutiny for Minuteman Disruption
Letter of Notice Reveals Extent of InvestigationBy Tom Faure
Issue date: 1/18/07

The University is investigating a seventh Columbia student involved in the disruption of Minuteman Project founder Jim Gilchrist's speech, an official confirmed Wednesday.

The University notified the student that it had begun an investigation into possible violations of the Rules of University Conduct in a letter, which lists a total of nine violations that are being considered for investigation. University officials sent the same letter to six students in October.

Under the Rules of University Conduct students can be charged with either "simple" or "serious" violations of the Rules. Simple violations are dealt with under dean's discipline, for which students may receive either a disciplinary warning or a censure. Students charged with serious violations can choose between dean's discipline and a more formal hearing process-those students can receive censure, suspension or dismissal if found guilty. The letter indicates that all seven students have been investigated under both simple and serious violations.

On Dec. 22, University spokesperson Robert Hornsby confirmed that those students originally notified were only charged with "simple" violations of the Rules of University Conduct and that no proceedings had occurred.

Hornsby declined to comment on the charges the most recent recipient may face, but did confirm that, as of now, only the one additional letter has been sent, bringing the total number of students receiving letters to seven.

Though the original six students only ended up being charged with simple violations, four of the nine violations are "simple" while the remaining five are "serious."

"Some of these sections refer to serious violations and could lead to your suspension or dismissal from the University if you are charged and subsequently found guilty," said the letter, signed by Senior Vice Provost and Rules Administrator Stephen Rittenberg.

Students who were charged by the University declined to comment.

"I have noted before the need not to prejudge the actions of any individuals; the University rules have established standards and procedures that provide for a thorough review and hearing to ensure that all members of the community are treated fairly," University President Lee Bollinger wrote in an Oct. 12 e-mail to the community.

Daniella Zalcman contributed to this article.

What happened to freedom of speech? These students would be first to complain if someone disrupted one of their speechs. There is no reason not to allow any USA citizen to speak. Illegals are not given the same rights under the law and should not be marching in our streets.

These students aren't liberals, they are Socialists. Socialists/Marxists aren't big fans of "free speech." This kind of intimidation is going on in college campuses all over the country and it needs to stop. It will only stop if there are some serious consequences to those who try to shut down debate and free speech and they are made to know that it is not acceptable.